FOOTBALL’S BREAKTHROUGH SEASON ENDS IN PLAYOFF SEMIFINALS AGAINST MIAMI
4 decades of auto racing
Southern-style nanny empire in NYC
7 marathons, 7 continents, 7 days
Ole Miss Alumni Review
PUBLISHER
Kirk Purdom (BA 93)
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Jim Urbanek II (BA 97) jim@olemissalumni.com
ASSOCIATE EDITOR AND ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
Annie Rhoades (BBA 07, MBA 09) annie@olemissalumni.com
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Benita Whitehorn
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Kayden Breedlove
ART DIRECTOR
Amy Howell
CONTRIBUTORS
Marisa C. Atkinson (JD 03), Kevin Bain (BA 98), Hayden Carroll, Bill Dabney (BA 89), Joe Ellis, Jay Ferchaud, Stefanie Goodwiller (MA 17), Thomas Graning (BAJ 13), Jan Griffey, Tina H. Hahn, Marvis Herring, Brian Hudgins, Jordan Karnbach, Mary Knight (BA 00, MA 13, MFA 19), Anna Levenets, Hunt Mercier, Annie Oeth, Clara Turnage (BAJ 17), Rachel Vanderford (BS 19), Anaiah Wright (BBA 23)
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OFFICERS
Charles White (BBA 82) president
Gail Pittman (BAEd 72) president-elect
Bruce Ware (BBA 99) vice president
Jennifer Calhoun (BBA 96) athletics committee member
Zach Scruggs (BAccy 96, JD 00) athletics committee member
ALUMNI AFFAIRS DIRECTORS
Kirk Purdom (BA 93), chief executive officer
Joseph Baumbaugh, assistant director for information services
Sunny Brown (BSFCS 09, MA 11), assistant director
Clay Cavett (BBA 86), associate director, campaigns and special projects
All offices are located at 651 Grove Loop, University, MS 38677. Call 662-915-7375 to subscribe. Periodicals postage paid at Oxford, MS 38655 and Jackson, MS 39201.
It’s an extraordinary time for the University of Mississippi. In addition to enrollment growth and numerous academic achievements this fall, we captured the nation’s attention with a historic College Football Playoff run and showed the world what “Hotty Toddy” means to our beloved fans.
In a season for the history books, our football team won 13 games and reached the CFP semifinals after defeating Tulane at home and Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. At every turn, our extraordinary student-athletes showcased their exceptional talent, resilience and grit. They were fueled by the passionate support of the Ole Miss family, who created an electric atmosphere and stadium experience at Vaught-Hemingway that are among the best in the nation.
The culture of excellence we witnessed on the field is the same spirit driving record enrollment and outstanding academic accomplishments. In the fall, we welcomed 28,405 students to the Oxford campus, regional campuses and the University of Mississippi Medical Center, representing our third consecutive enrollment record and fifth straight year of growth. We account for an incredible 58% of the growth among all public universities in the state.
The incoming class of 5,464 first-time freshmen is the largest in Mississippi and the second-largest in our university’s history. These students are from all 82 Mississippi counties, all 50 states and 93 countries. Our freshman retention rate of 86.6% and our latest six-year graduation rate of 71.7% continue to exceed national averages, demonstrating that students are choosing Ole Miss and thriving here. That momentum continues this spring, with enrollment up more than 5% over the previous year.
Our research enterprise continues on an impressive trajectory. In 2025, faculty submitted over 540 proposals and secured more than $93 million in funding. We’ve launched three new centers focused on national security: the Center for Information Advantage and Effectiveness, the National Center for Tactical Readiness and the Mississippi Institute for National Security and Resilience. We’re also advancing economic growth by enhancing the University of Mississippi Research Foundation and exploring venture capital models and small business incubator programs to strengthen innovation across our campus.
The University of Mississippi Medical Center is celebrating 70 years as the state’s only academic medical center. UMMC’s legacy of innovation began early, with the world’s first human-to-human lung transplant performed in 1963. That pioneering spirit continues today: The medical center reached its 3,000th organ transplant procedure in 2022 and completed the state’s largest single-site kidney exchange in 2024. Looking ahead, UMMC has launched a $125 million campaign to help fund construction of a world-class cancer facility and advance efforts toward National Cancer Institute designation.
Spring brings an exciting energy to campus as students prepare for graduation and honors celebrations, prospective students visit while making their final college decisions, and we look forward to special events such as Mississippi Day on April 11, the Double Decker Arts Festival on April 24-25 and multiple athletic competitions. I hope you’ll join us!
Hotty Toddy!
Glenn F. Boyce (BAEd 81, EdD 96) Chancellor
from the President
Dear Alumni and Friends,
I wrote this message to you on a Southwest Airlines flight headed home from Phoenix. It was a long travel day, and, like many of you, I am disappointed in how the season ended. That feeling is real, and there is no point pretending otherwise.
But, I keep returning to something else that is also real: just how incredible this fall was for Ole Miss and the Alumni Association. Most of us have not had the privilege of being part of an organization blessed with leadership as strong as what we have at Ole Miss. Adversity reveals character, and the past days have been revealing indeed.
We watched Chancellor Boyce and Athletics Director Keith Carter navigate what looked like an impossible situation in a very public setting, under pressure from every direction. Yet they remained steady, patient and professional. Some may have mistaken that for passivity, but we can see now that it was something far more valuable: discipline, judgment and confidence in doing the right thing in the midst of a chaotic situation.
That approach turned what appeared to be a setback into an unmistakable victory, not simply for the program but for the athletes, the staff, their families and the university.
The same can be said for the professional staff of the Alumni Association. I want to recognize Kirk Purdom and his team (and I mean “team”). Through uncertainty, rapid change and an unpredictable postseason calendar, they kept energy high, worked tirelessly and executed event after event for alumni across the country. Many of those hours happened during the holidays when everyone else was gone.
We were blessed by their dedication, and we all got to experience the results.
All of this leaves me genuinely excited about what 2026 can bring. For both the Association and the university, this year should mark a noticeable step forward. You will continue to see the constant improvement of our campus, and you will see significant progress in fundraising and financing for the new Alumni Center (and hopefully dirt moving). The transformation of the area near the north end zone will begin, and it will become one of the most impressive additions to our campus experience in decades.
If you have been paying attention to the bigger picture, you also know that Mississippi is on a roll in many ways. I encourage you to read William McGurn’s Wall Street Journal piece titled “Mississippi’s Capitalist Awakening.” It highlights the growing evidence of a bright future for the state, and Ole Miss, as you would expect, is right at the center of the forces driving that progress.
The Alumni Association is in a special position to encourage, support and amplify those changes that will positively affect several generations of Rebels to come.
So, I urge you to get involved in any way you can, because this is likely only the beginning of what promises to be a long run of excellence.
It is truly a great time to be an Ole Miss Rebel.
Hotty Toddy, Charles White (BBA 82) President, Ole Miss Alumni Association
f rom the Circle
THE LATEST ON OLE MISS STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF AND FRIENDS
Michael McMullan, division chief of cardiology, examines Leon Stewart, of Madison, during a routine checkup. |
Archive photos (left to right): In this undated photo, four members of the original faculty and staff at UMMC reunite: Dr. Peter Blake (left), Dr. Orlando Andy, Irene Graham and Dr. Warren Bell. An early care team consults with a patient in University Hospital. Dr. Will Searcy instructs students.
A History of Healing
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICINE LOOKS BACK ON 70 YEARS OF PROGRESS
For 70 years, the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Department of Medicine has advanced health care for Mississippians, a legacy reflected in the experience of 82-year-old Leon Stewart, of Madison. Stewart has been under the care of Dr. Michael McMullan, professor of medicine and director of cardiology, since his first heart attack in 2002.
“Every day that I wake up and put my feet on the floor is a good day,” Stewart says.
He credits UMMC’s care with allowing him and his wife, Judy, to continue traveling and staying active well into retirement.
McMullan has witnessed firsthand the evolution of cardiovascular medicine during his tenure.
“I am continually inspired by the remarkable advancements in medical technology and pharmacotherapy, and the profound impact these innovations have on patient care and outcomes,” he says.
Breakthroughs such as drug-eluting stents and transcatheter valve replacement now help patients avoid major surgery and reduce mortality rates.
“Those innovations represent just how far cardiovascular medicine has come at UMMC,” McMullan says.
The Department of Medicine has expanded alongside those advances. When the Medical Center opened in 1955, Dr. Robert Snavely, founding chair, and early faculty set out
to build a center of excellence for a medically underserved state. What began with a few inpatient wards has grown into a department comprising 13 divisions, more than 150 faculty, 300 staff and more than 120,000 outpatient visits each year.
Its early milestones laid the foundation for today’s programs. UMMC performed Mississippi’s first cardiac catheterization in 1956. Soon after, faculty established the state’s first blood bank and hematology lab and opened the first artificial kidney program in 1966, which later pioneered home-based dialysis years before patient-centered care became standard.
Education grew in parallel. In the early years, internal medicine faculty delivered nearly half of all clinical teaching at UMMC. Today, the department trains 500 medical students, 124 residents and 72 fellows across 14 subspecialties and has been recognized as Best Clinical Department in 19 of the last 20 years.
As Mississippi’s health needs evolved, the department’s cardiovascular, nephrology, endocrinology, and hematology and oncology divisions expanded to meet them.
Reflecting on the department’s mission, Dr. Michael Hall, chair, says, “Medicine at UMMC has always been more than a department. It’s a living ecosystem of learning, service and discovery. Seventy years later, our mission remains the same: to train compassionate physicians, advance science and improve the health of Mississippians.”
Dr.
Photo by Anaiah Wright
Fast Track to the Courtroom
LAW SCHOOL DEVELOPS STATEWIDE NETWORK WITH 3+3 PARTNERSHIPS
The University of Mississippi School of Law has joined forces with Millsaps College and William Carey University to allow undergraduates from those schools to earn law degrees in less time through the schools’ new Accelerated Law School Pathway.
Officials signed and formalized the partnership agreements in Hattiesburg and Jackson on Nov. 19 and Nov. 20, respectively.
This Accelerated Law School Pathway provides a plan for undergraduate students in certain Millsaps and William Carey degree programs to shorten the time required to earn both a bachelor’s degree and a law degree by one year.
“The University of Mississippi School of Law is pleased to collaborate with William Carey University and Millsaps College on these innovative 3+3 programs,” says Fred Slabach (JD 82), dean and professor of law.
“It exemplifies all three universities’ commitment to academic excellence and student opportunity, allowing high-achieving undergraduates to earn both degrees in six years rather than seven. The programs reflect our shared commitment to preparing outstanding servant leaders for Mississippi and beyond.”
It is anticipated that most Millsaps College academic degree programs will participate in the partnership. It is expected, but not finalized, that the criminal justice and forensic science programs at William Carey will participate.
completing the first-year law curriculum.
Following two more years of successful legal studies, students will earn a Juris Doctor.
“This agreement represents a dynamic partnership to give students an accelerated pathway to serving their communities through the practice of law,” says Noal Cochran, William Carey University vice president for academic affairs and provost.
“We are honored to join with the University of Mississippi School of Law to give William Carey University students an opportunity to begin their legal career with the knowledge they have received the highest level of preparation.”
The partnership benefits the entire state, says Joshua Tucker, the law school’s assistant dean for enrollment management, access, opportunity and community engagement.
“Our collaboration with Millsaps College and William Carey University is rooted in a shared commitment to Mississippi,” Tucker says.
Part of the university’s 3+3 Accelerated Law Program, these agreements mark the fifth and sixth accelerated law program partnerships with other Mississippi institutions of higher learning. Earlier agreements launched partnerships with Tougaloo College, Jackson State University, Mississippi State University and the University of Southern Mississippi.
After completing three-fourths of the courses in one of these degree programs and meeting other competitive law school admissions requirements, students may then enroll at the law school.
During their fourth year of school, students will take required first-year law school courses. They will be awarded their bachelor’s degrees from Millsaps or William Carey after
This makes the school’s 11th overall partnership, which also includes Ole Miss degree programs from its School of Engineering, School of Journalism and New Media, College of Liberal Arts, School of Business Administration and Department of Legal Studies.
“We are opening new doors to legal education, supporting students from the moment they begin to consider law as a career and equipping them to become the advocates and leaders our state needs,” Tucker says.
Students can enroll beginning in fall 2026.
Ben Burnett (left), president of William Carey University, and Fred Slabach, dean of the UM School of Law, formalize the schools’ new Accelerated Law Pathway partnership. | Submitted photo
Joshua Tucker (left), UM law school assistant dean; Fred Slabach, dean of the UM School of Law; and Frank Neville, Millsaps College president, formally sign the schools’ Accelerated Law Pathway partnership. | Submitted photo
READY, Set, Thrive
UNIVERSITY TO OFFER INCLUSIVE HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRAM
Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities
can take advantage of READY, a four-week residential inclu-
sive higher education program being launched at the University of Mississippi.
Participants will enroll in classes, engage in college life and eventually pursue certificates that prepare them for employment. The goal of READY is to promote greater independence and
inclusion for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, or IDD, and prepare the next generation to be active, thriving members of their communities, UM organizers say.
“READY will embody the spirit of Ole Miss at its best — joy-filled, caring and passionate,” says Cade Smith, assistant vice chancellor for access and community engagement and the program’s co-lead. “Inclusive higher education creates new pathways for independence while enriching student life, teaching and research across the university.
“READY is not just a program; it’s a promising path to a brighter, more prosperous future.”
To make READY affordable and accessible to all interested students, the university is working to secure $125,000 in private gifts. So far, more than $30,000 has been pledged. These funds will directly support the programming and personnel that will make READY a transformational experience.
“When we celebrate the first cohort of READY graduates, every person in the room will feel the joy and pride of that moment,” Smith says. “Donors will know they helped make it possible. They will be more than witnesses; they’ll be partners in changing lives and strengthening the Ole Miss story for generations to come.”
A winter orientation event in January will introduce potential participants and their families to the READY four-week summer residential experience, which is set for July 2026. READY will provide a bridge for students with IDD who are entering their last year of high school or just beginning life after graduation.
“It allows them to ‘try on’ a residential college experience while helping Ole Miss ‘try on’ a new model of education,” Smith says. “Participants will leave READY with a clearer sense of their strengths, areas for growth and a plan for their next steps.”
Smith expects Ole Miss to launch a multiple-year residential inclusive higher education program and set the standard for excellence in the SEC.
The READY program was developed from two Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College theses submitted by students Bailey Beaird (BA 24), of Dallas, and 2025-26 senior Emily Davis, of Benton, Louisiana. READY is housed in the Division of Student Affairs, with collaborative partnerships with the School of Education, School of Applied Sciences, Department of Student Housing and several other UM units.
Melanie Dowell (BPA 80) — a Jackson business professional, Ole Miss alumna and grandmother of a Down Syndrome toddler — says the UM program is needed because the number of programs serving individuals with IDD is limited and Mississippi’s workforce lacks entry-level employees.
“Mississippi is waking up to the fact that we have a workforce we’re overlooking,” Dowell says. “Studies show when you have IDD employees, the overall attitude of all employees, the general culture and the comradery of the company improves. Employers find that these special-needs adults are great hires, as their contagious spirits permeate organizations.
“These individuals feel valued and accomplished and want to come to work each day. I would hope that all kinds of doors will open for READY participants and that the program gives their parents hope for their children’s futures.”
To learn more about READY, contact Cade Smith at cade@ olemiss.edu or 662-915-2933.
The university is launching a four-week summer residential program this year for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. | Photo by Adobe Stock
Bailey Beaird Emily Davis
RESEARCHERS LAND NSF FUNDING FOR BRAIN-INSPIRED CHIP
The growing energy needs for data centers and artificial intelligence computing generated an idea for two researchers who are trying to solve the problem.
Sakib Hasan, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Mississippi, and Raisul Islam, assistant professor of materials engineering at Purdue University, are developing a device inspired by synapses — the point where one nerve cell communicates with another — in a human brain to integrate long-term and short-term memory.
The device, which they call a diffusive ferroelectric field-effect transistor, would allow users to use AI more efficiently by performing the calculations on smaller devices instead of relying on energy-hungry data centers. The problem with this approach is how to provide enough energy for the smaller devices to use AI.
“We are hypothesizing that this new device … can enable us to do this with very low energy, because it has short-term memory,” Hasan says. “It peaks for a little bit, then it forgets. In other words, remembering is important, but forgetting is also equally important.
“What makes the human brain efficient is that it forgets; it’s a big
part of learning anyway.”
A ferroelectric field-effect transistor is basically a kind of memory device that doesn’t forget, Islam says. Once you save information on it, the data stays put even if the power is turned off.
“The importance of this project comes from being able to add short-term memory dynamics to the long-term memory of ferroelectric FETs,” Islam says. “The long-term memory can even influence how long the short-term memory lasts, similar to how the brain sometimes holds onto information for just a moment and other times for much longer.”
The National Science Foundation provided a grant of $655,000 to support this collaborative effort.
“I see this as a truly crucial grant,” Hasan says. “I’ve been working in this area for quite some time, but I lacked the facilities and experimental expertise that Dr. Islam at Purdue brings to the table. His ability to realize actual devices in hardware fills a critical missing piece of the puzzle.”
This material is based on work supported by NSF award nos. 2521468 and 2521469.
Setting Sail for Success
UM SENIOR JOINS ELITE RANKS WITH MARSHALL SCHOLARSHIP WIN
University of Mississippi senior Sophia Toner has been awarded a Marshall Scholarship, one of the most prestigious international fellowships for U.S. students. Established in 1953, the scholarship funds two years of graduate study at a British university of the scholar’s choice, recognizing academic excellence and leadership potential.
Toner plans to pursue a master’s in maritime policy and shipping management at Cardiff University, followed by a master’s in international security at Bristol University. Her goal is to understand global maritime systems and apply that knowledge to issues such as supply chain security, seafarer safety and environmental challenges such as overfishing and oil spills.
“She moves seamlessly from learning Man darin in Taiwan to researching Arctic shipping and security in Norway,” says Vivian Ibrahim, director of the university’s Office of National Scholarship Advisement. “Sophia brings linguistic ability, strategic insight and ethical seriousness to critical global issues.”
in Mandarin Chinese and Russian and is completing her capstone year in Taipei, Taiwan.
Toner’s international experiences have shaped her interdisciplinary approach.
“Studying abroad reinforced my belief that the pursuit of knowledge must be global and interconnected,” she says.
Her interest in maritime history and seafaring culture aligns with her academic pursuits, and she looks forward to exploring Wales and reconnecting with sailing during her studies.
Upon completing her graduate work, Toner hopes to contribute to maritime security think tanks, writing policy and engaging in international governance.
“I would love to work with the International Maritime Organization or the United Nations,” she says. “What happens at sea affects people on land all the time, which makes this field so compelling.”
As a member of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, Toner has studied extensively abroad, including in Taiwan, Beijing and throughout the Balkans. She is proficient
Toner joins fellow UM Marshall scholars Jilkiah Bryant and Christian Boudreaux, underscoring the university’s growing track record in producing students who achieve national and international recognition. Her scholarship demonstrates Ole Miss’ commitment to developing leaders who make an impact far beyond campus borders.
Sophia Toner
A Sweet Boost for Discovery
NIH GRANT FUELS NEXT CHAPTER FOR UM GLYCOSCIENCE RESEARCH
The National Institutes of Health has awarded more than $10 million over the next five years to the University of Mississippi’s Glycoscience Center of Research Excellence. The money will fund research that could have a broad impact on health and the treatment of diseases.
Glycoscience is the study of carbohydrates, or sugars, at the molecular level in the human body and how those molecules play a role in almost every biological process, such as helping cells communicate and affecting immune system response.
The UM School of Pharmacy established GlyCORE in 2020 with Phase 1 funding from NIH to support glycoscience research in the Mid-South.
“We are incredibly proud of the leadership of Dr. (Joshua) Sharp and the entire GlyCORE team for bringing together talented researchers from across disciplines to tackle complex problems that impact human health,” says Donna Strum (BSPh 95, MS 97, PhD 99), dean of the School of Pharmacy.
“This grant reflects the power of collaboration to truly advance discovery and drive innovation that will make a real difference.”
UM researchers plan to use the award to expand their expertise and build the center’s research cores into a sustainable business model, says Sharp, director of GlyCORE, professor of pharmacology and joint professor of chemistry and biochemistry.
The initial funding of GlyCORE established three research cores of the organization: analytical and biophysical chemistry, imaging research, and computational chemistry and
bioinformatics research. It also provided free support services for researchers in the fields.
GlyCORE is not focused on a specific disease state or biomedical technology like other NIH centers of biomedical research excellence, Sharp says.
“Rather, we bring together people from a wide variety of disciplines to support each other through the unique difficulties of studying these highly challenging, yet highly important, molecules,” he explains.
This allows GlyCORE to leverage the university’s existing strengths such as natural products research and biomaterials with participants’ interest in the field of glycoscience.
Paul Boudreau, assistant professor of pharmacognosy and research assistant professor in the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, is among those whose research programs are supported by GlyCORE. He is studying fat-like molecules called glycosphingolipids that are produced by some bacteria.
Because some bacterial fats can activate the immune system, Boudreau’s team hopes to determine whether the compounds could be useful as boosters to help vaccines work better by strengthening the body’s immune response.
“Additionally, GlyCORE support allowed me to recruit a new graduate student, Nathan Williams, who has joined the lab as a doctoral student,” he says.
GlyCORE has previously supported research ranging from exploring the link between stress and addiction and targeting breast cancer with sugar-coated particles to new cancer drug delivery methods, among other topics.
Photo illustration by Stefanie Goodwiller
Spicy Solution to Fire Ants
OREGANO OIL SHOWS PROMISE AS NATURAL FIRE ANT REPELLANT
Since fire ants first came to the United States in the early 20th century, researchers have sought ways to control their destructive spread and eradicate them from areas where people live.
A new study from the University of Mississippi suggests that an herb commonly used in Italian cooking may hold the answer.
A team of researchers at the UM National Center for Natural Products Research has discovered that essential oils from oregano may offer an effective, nontoxic way to control the stinging, invasive insects.
Xing-Cong Li, a principal scientist at the natural products center and research professor of pharmacognosy at the School of Pharmacy, is a co-author of the study published in Pest Management Science.
“Our study shows that a natural compound safe enough to flavor food can also manage one of the world’s most aggressive invasive species,” Li says. “By understanding the chemistry behind these natural repellents, we can develop pest control solutions that are both effective and environmentally safe.”
The repellent effects of the essential oils from oregano have not been tested on humans yet.
Fire ants are among the most damaging invasive species of ants found in America. They first entered the country through the port of Mobile, Alabama, and have spread across the southern U.S. from the Atlantic Coast to California.
The natural products center has an ongoing program to find safer alternatives to synthetic pesticides to control fire ants. After determining that oregano essential oil has the potential to repel imported fire ants, the Ole Miss scientists analyzed
the oil’s chemical makeup and discovered that one compound, called carvacrol, is responsible for its strong repellent effect.
“Carvacrol and its analogs could serve as the basis for new, plant-derived repellents suitable for gardens, farms and even home use,” Li says. “Since carvacrol is already recognized as safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, it holds strong potential for real-world applications in sustainable pest management.”
Besides causing agricultural and property damage, fire ants pose a health hazard for humans. The ants sting thousands of people each year, causing painful, burning rashes and allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.
Plant-derived compounds such as carvacrol are biodegradable and generally less toxic to people, pets and beneficial insects, says Abbas Ali, a principal scientist at NCNPR and a co-author of the study. This approach supports sustainable agriculture and safer pest management by reducing dependence on synthetic and potentially harmful chemicals, he says.
“The products we’re developing act as repellents — what we call digging suppressants in fire ants,” Ali says. “For example, when you treat an area with a digging suppressant, the ants can’t dig to build a nest.”
Ali has studied a variety of natural products for years, searching for alternatives to synthetic chemicals.
“As a researcher, I think this is an area that’s been lacking in fire ant research overall,” he says. “Even when a product is available, it’s important to know how to properly apply or position it in the field to achieve effective control, and that’s what we’re studying.”
Photo illustration by Stefanie Goodwiller
AI at the Ballot Box
SCHOLARS JOIN EFFORT TO ADDRESS INFLUENCE OF AI ON ELECTIONS
As artificial intelligence reshapes the speed of sharing election information across communities and social networks, two University of Mississippi journalism leaders are helping chart a path forward for pro tecting democracy and strengthening civic participation.
Andrea Hickerson, dean of the School of Journalism and New Media, and Marquita Smith, associate dean of academic affairs and associate professor of media and communication, contributed original research and perspectives to PROMISE — PROMoting AI’s Safe Usage for Elections (Springer 2025). The volume brings together international scholars, technologists, law and security professionals, and journalists to examine how AI can be used responsibly in electoral processes.
“This project is the outcome of long-term collaboration with my co-editors, who are experts in computing, business and information studies,” says Hickerson, who is also director of the UM Center for Information Advantage and Effectiveness.
“We believe in the power of interdisciplinary problem solving, and this book showcases the contributions different fields can bring to election security.”
The book arrives at a moment when deepfakes, algorithmic amplification and information overload are reshap ing how voters encounter political narratives, she says.
For the first time, the World Economic Forum’s 2024 Global Risks Report ranked AI-powered misinformation and disinformation as the most severe global risk over the next two years. AI issues ranked ahead of climate, conflict and economic instability.
Research shows that Americans of all political backgrounds are concerned.
public perception in an age of rapid digital message spread. Her research draws on journalism, communication, international relations and computing to provide a framework for analyzing how election narratives form and circulate.
It also examines what makes certain stories resonate with audiences.
Smith’s chapter, “The Power of AI to Strengthen Civic Engagement,” highlights how information systems driven by AI have the potential to make accurate election information more accessible, especially for individuals who may face barriers to participation. Those barriers may include registration requirements, polling locations, illiteracy or being unfamiliar with ballot topics.
Drawing on existing research and case studies, the chapter discusses how AI can summarize dense policy language, support multilingual access and provide reliable, real-time answers to voter questions. It also cautions that responsible design and oversight are essential to prevent bias or misuse.
But instead of treating AI as merely a technological tool or threat, the new book invites readers to consider the social, ethical, cultural and civic dimensions of how election information circulates.
Andrea Hickerson Marquita Smith
Hickerson’s chapter, “AI and Elections: The Narrative Approach,” examines how political storytelling influences
“Artificial intelligence offers a powerful opportunity to bridge long-standing civic gaps,” Smith says. “But the real power lies not just in the technology itself, but in how we choose to design it — with equity, clarity and access at the forefront.
“If we get that right, AI can serve as a tool for civic empowerment rather than exclusion.”
The Ole Miss scholars emphasize that AI’s influence is not inherently positive or negative. Its impact depends on how it’s used and understood.
Preparing students to evaluate AI-influenced messages is a priority for journalism and communications programs, Hickerson says.
“Media content fuels understanding for many people,” she says. “Our field, in particular, has an urgent responsibility to help our campus and communities understand risks and possibilities of AI in society.”
More Puzzle Pieces in Place
GLOBAL COLLABORATION REVEALS INSIGHTS INTO ‘GHOST PARTICLES’
University of Mississippi researchers supported a groundbreaking international study that has produced the most precise measurement yet of neutrinos, one of the most mysterious and abundant particles in the universe.
The United States’ NOvA and Japan’s T2K experiments combined forces to create the most advanced measurements yet of the fluctuating mass of these “ghost particles,” which are some 1,000 times smaller than an electron. The study was published on Oct. 22 in Nature
Gavin Davies, Ole Miss associate professor of physics and astronomy, was among more than 250 scientists and engineers from 49 institutions in eight countries who contributed to Fermilab’s NOvA experiment near Chicago.
“The two experiments have made their own measurements, but combining their data, we are able to start understanding any differences, improve global consistency and demonstrate strong global cooperation,” he says. “The experiments have complementary setups and are more sensitive to different pieces of the neutrino puzzle.
“Our understanding is refined and strengthened in the combination of the two.”
Neutrinos are minuscule particles that weigh so little that scientists have been unable to measure their mass. They are also the most abundant particles that have mass in the universe, with some 100 trillion passing through a human body undetected each second.
“Neutrinos are fascinating because they represent one of the few known ways in which the Standard Model of particle physics does not quite hold up,” says Jeffrey Kleykamp, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Physics and Astronomy’s high-energy physics research group. “The model predicts that neutrinos should have no mass, but the fact that they oscillate between types tells us they must.
“That single contradiction opens up deep and fundamental questions about how our universe works, from why matter exists at all to how forces might unify at the smallest scales. And yet, these are particles that pass through us by the billions every second, unnoticed.”
Understanding why neutrinos shift mass and flavor could help answer fundamental questions about existence, such as why matter and antimatter did not cancel each other out at the beginning of the universe.
Davies is the NOvA computing coordinator and is responsible for planning, managing and overseeing all aspects of computing and data management for the experiment. He and his students supported the software and computing infrastructure that made the analysis possible.
Kleykamp served as NovA’s data production convener and manager for more than a year.
“Neutrinos are tiny particles carrying big questions,” says Luiz Prais, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Cincinnati and former student in Davies’ neutrino physics research group. “The fact that we now have something that evidences the so-called Beyond Standard Model physics opens countless windows for potential new physics analyses using neutrino and antineutrino data.”
NOvA and T2K are also the only active long-baseline neutrino experiments in the world, and this is the first time they have combined their results.
“Being part of such a large team made me realize why we call these experiments a ‘collaboration’; you cannot do this alone,” Prais says. “The complexity of the physics we are dealing with requires hundreds of professionals, past and present, with the widest spectrum of specialization, which together built the machinery that made this analysis possible.”
This research is supported by the Department of Energy grant no. DE-SC0021616.
Members of the University of Mississippi high-energy physics research group visit Fermilab’s NOvA detector. | Submitted photo
Tiny Tech, Big Impact
UM SCIENTISTS TO HOST STATE’S FIRST NANOLITHOGRAPHY FACILITY
The University of Mississippi will soon host the state’s first fabrication tool that enables researchers to design and create structures on a nano scale, opening the door to collaborations both in Mississippi and across the region.
A $673,000 National Science Foundation Major Research Instrumentation grant will fund the purchase of a NanoFrazor Explore, a tool that can “write” nanoscale and microscale patterns. Because a nanometer is about one-billionth of a meter, or roughly 100,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair, these patterns are small enough to fit on the edge of a piece of paper.
“There were so many people on this proposal because this tool will have so many applications, both for this university and for other researchers,” says Vignesh Sundaresan, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry. “We listed several research groups and centers that are already interested, and each one of those contains three or four people plus their graduate students.
“Every one of them is going to benefit from using this technology.”
The tool will support 18 ongoing Ole Miss research groups in chemistry, physics, biomedical engineering and mechanical engineering, and enable projects ranging from drug delivery systems to wireless microheaters and renewable energy.
Cecille Labuda (BA 99, BS 99, MS 03, PhD 08), associate professor of physics and astronomy, will use the tool to design and test materials that can control how sound waves move. This research could improve technologies such as medical imaging and noninvasive sensors.
“We already have colleagues in Tennessee, for example, who have expressed interest in using it,” she says. “This
instrument will open up scientific avenues that we have not had access to before (and) allow us to grow and develop new research areas.”
Yiwei Han, associate professor of mechanical engineering, will use the device in his ongoing study of wireless microheaters. These machines can heat individual plant cells, helping researchers understand how crops respond to stress and potentially making agriculture more resilient to harsh or changing climates.
“We actually have tried to fabricate these devices in my lab, but because they are so small, it is difficult to get one in 100 tries,” he says. “With this device, we can make up to 10 heaters at a time, which saves us time.
“So, this device is going to be beneficial for my lab, yes, but it will benefit the whole university and the state as well.”
With the increased push for advanced manufacturing in the U.S., having the NanoFrazor Explore on campus will also help position students better for their future careers, Han says.
“When we talk about advanced manufacturing, and when we talk about chips, we’re talking about state-of-the-art devices like this one,” he says. “Now, when they graduate and go into that industry, they’ll know how to do these things.”
Han, Labuda and Sundaresan’s projects are just a few of the many that will benefit from having a nanofabrication tool in the state, Sundaresan says.
“Previously, if we wanted to use this instrument or one like it, we had to travel to a collaborator and use theirs,” he says. “But now that we’ll have it here in Mississippi, our researchers don’t need to go elsewhere, and researchers in other universities can come and collaborate with us.”
A broad range of UM researchers, including (from left) Yiwei Han, associate professor of mechanical engineering; Vignesh Sundaresan, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry; Cecille Labuda, associate professor of physics and astronomy; and Nikki Reinemann, associate professor of biomedical engineering, expect the acquisition of a NanoFrazor Explore to significantly boost their research efforts. | Photos by Kevin Bain, Thomas Graning and Hunt Mercier
A Change of Heart
COMMON HEART MEDICATION SHOWS PROMISE AGAINST LIVER CANCER
Liver cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, but a new study shows the solution to targeting this difficult-to-treat disease may already exist.
Yatendra Singh, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Mississippi, found that plant-derived cardiac glycosides — compounds that are commonly used in heart medications — show promise to fight hepatocellular carcinoma. This disease is the most common form of liver cancer and most frequently affects men and individuals with chronic liver conditions such as cirrhosis.
Singh and co-author Arun Kumar Jajoriya, assistant professor at Suresh Gyan Vihar University, published their results in Pharmacological Research –Natural Products
“We are surrounded by plants that face multiple biotic and abiotic stresses, such as pests, harsh weather and other environmental stresses,” Singh says. “To defend themselves, they produce special chemical compounds called secondary metabolites.
“Interestingly, many of these natural compounds also have therapeutic properties that can help in treating human diseases.”
One such group of natural compounds, cardiac glycosides, has long been used to treat heart diseases, but researchers recently discovered that they might also be useful for treating liver cancer.
Besides treatments such as surgery, radiation therapy and liver transplantation, the only FDA-approved drug for advanced liver cancer is sorafenib, but liver cancer commonly develops resistance toward sorafenib, Jajoriya says.
“The biggest challenge with liver cancer is that it’s usually diagnosed at a late stage,” he says. “Even though it ranks sixth in how often it occurs worldwide, it’s the third leading cause of cancer deaths. That gap really highlights how
limited our current treatment options are.”
Instead of testing the compounds directly in the lab, the researchers used network pharmacology to explore how cardiac glycosides might interact with human genes and proteins linked to liver cancer. This approach helps identify promising drug candidates faster and at lower cost before conducting lab experiments.
This approach identified five potential cardiac glycosides as drug candidates targeting three potential proteins responsible for hepatocellular carcinoma.
“If we did this the traditional way by isolating compounds and then performing biological studies, it would be very time-consuming and expensive,” Singh says. “But using network pharmacology, we can narrow down the list of compounds and evaluate the data efficiently and find potential targets for further research.”
These five potential new medications may be able to disrupt several key pathways that liver cancer cells use to
survive, but further testing is needed, Jajoriya says.
“Since they come from natural sources, they often cause fewer side effects compared to standard chemotherapy drugs, which makes them better candidates for future therapies,” he says.
Drug development is a slow process, often taking years to identify promising compounds and fully evaluate their potential and side effects. However, by cutting down on early screening through computational analysis, the researchers can focus on the most promising molecules to see how well they target cancer cells in real-world scenarios.
“This study lays a scientific foundation for developing natural product-based drugs against hepatocellular carcinoma,” Singh says. “Drug development is not easy as it requires numerous trials and experiments, but approaches like network pharmacology or machine learning can accelerate early drug discovery by revealing how natural compounds interact with complex disease systems.
“This can help move us faster toward effective new treatments.”
Yatendra Singh
Arun Kumar Jajoriya
from the Circle Security Innovation
NEW CENTERS POSITION UM AS LEADER IN NATIONAL SECURITY
The University of Mississippi has launched three initiatives aimed at advancing national security and resilience: the Mississippi Institute for National Security and Resilience, the Center for Information Advantage and Effectiveness, and the National Center for Tactical Readiness. Approved by
vice chancellor for research and economic development. “These centers will create an integrated research ecosystem addressing complex challenges in ways no single field can achieve alone.”
The initiatives are also expected to drive workforce development and innovation in Mississippi.
the Institutions of Higher Learning, the new units will tackle challenges such as cybersecurity, disaster preparedness, information verification and innovations in defense.
“National security today demands collaboration across disciplines and technologies,” says John Higginbotham,
The Center for Information Advantage and Effectiveness, led by Andrea Hickerson, dean of the School of Journalism and New Media, will help public and private organizations navigate the chaotic digital landscape. The center will analyze social media, online news and other platforms to verify information,
track message circulation and measure communication effectiveness.
“There’s a lot of noise in the information space,” Hickerson says. “Our goal is to protect public communication as a public good.”
Meanwhile, the National Center for Tactical Readiness, directed by Chip Wade, associate professor of biomechanics, focuses on preparing first responders — including police, firefighters and military personnel — for high-risk environments. The center’s priorities include human performance optimization, mental resilience, tactical medicine and operational physiology. Researchers will propose a comprehensive assessment program evaluating vision, strength, balance and cognitive health to ensure the readiness of Mississippi’s public safety personnel.
The Mississippi Institute for National Security and Resilience serves as an umbrella to coordinate the centers’ activities and foster collaboration.
“This institute will bring together experts with aligned priorities,” says Wes Jennings, director of the institute and professor of criminal justice and legal studies. “We want to build a resilient society, not just react to threats.”
These initiatives position Ole Miss as a national leader in security research and workforce development. They aim to integrate technology, human expertise and strategic planning to address contemporary threats, from cybersecurity and misinformation to disaster response and tactical readiness. By combining rigorous research with practical application, the university seeks to enhance statewide preparedness and national security capabilities.
“Globally, threats related to cybersecurity, misinformation and conflict are increasing,” Jennings notes. “Effectively addressing them requires the collective expertise of multiple disciplines. Our goal is resilience across the board — academic, operational and societal.”
Wes Jennings (left), professor of criminal justice and legal studies; Andrea Hickerson (center), dean of the School of Journalism and New Media, and Chip Wade, associate professor of biomechanics, will lead two new centers and an institute at Ole Miss. The centers will focus on advancing the nation’s security and resilience. | Photo by Hunt Mercier
Signals on the Spectrum
RESEARCHERS DEVELOP NEW TOOL TO STUDY AUTISM RISK FACTORS
University of Mississippi researchers have created a new model that gives scientists a clearer way to study how environmental and genetic factors interact in the development of autism spectrum disorder.
The work, led by Courtney Roper, assistant professor of environmental toxicology, and Shayla Victoria, a 2025 doctoral graduate in pharmaceutical sciences, appears in Neurotoxicology and Teratology and examines how urban air pollution influences the behavior and development of zebrafish.
Roper notes that current scientific literature points to autism being influenced by a combination of genetic predispositions and environmental exposures. Although the team did not see a consistent link between particulate matter and autism-like behaviors across every test, she says the research establishes a platform for future gene-environment studies.
“It gives us a new tool to study autism spectrum disorder,” Roper says.
Autism affects about one in 31 children in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While studies have shown that exposure to air pollution may increase autism risk, the mechanisms remain difficult to isolate. By designing a model that can test multiple environmental influences across varied genetic combinations, the UM team aims to help clarify these complex interactions.
“ASD in humans is very complex, and our study aims to establish a model for investigating part of this complexity,
which is how environmental exposures can influence ASD-like behaviors,” Victoria says.
Zebrafish offer particular advantages for this kind of research. Their genetics and exposure conditions can be tightly controlled, and they exhibit identifiable behaviors early in development. This allows researchers to observe large numbers quickly and identify patterns in neurodevelopment and behavior.
To validate the model, the team exposed zebrafish to valproic acid, an epilepsy and bipolar disorder medication known to increase autism risk when taken during pregnancy.
The valproic-acid exposure produced recognizable autism-like behaviors in the fish, creating a benchmark for comparison with particulate-matter exposure.
Although particulate matter altered neurological development and behavior, the effects did not consistently match autism-like behavior. Still, Victoria says the model is easily adaptable for studying other environmental contaminants predicted to affect neurodevelopment. Researchers can expose fish to different substances and evaluate behavioral changes, potentially generating new questions or research directions.
Roper emphasizes that the model is not designed to prove direct causes of autism but to support deeper inquiry into risk factors. Future studies may evaluate additional particulate types, longer developmental windows, and expanded behavioral assessments.
LOW-DOSE CT SCANS KEY TO FIGHTING LUNG CANCER
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. One reason is that it often goes unnoticed until it reaches an advanced stage.
When caught in early stages through low-dose CT scans, treatment is more effective, and survival rates increase significantly.
“When lung cancer is diagnosed in advanced stages, while we can provide treatments to improve quality of life and improve symptoms, cure is not yet an option,” says Dr. Devika Das, chief of the Division of Hematology and Oncology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and associate director of clinical affairs for UMMC’s Cancer Center and Research Institute. “If we can catch these cancers early, we can cure more people of lung cancer.”
A low-dose CT scan, short for low-dose computed tomography, is the only recommended early screening test for lung cancer. The scan uses a low amount of radiation to show detailed images of the lungs. The scan only takes a few minutes and is not painful.
Low-dose CT scans, sometimes called CAT scans, are only recommended for those who may be the most at risk of developing lung cancer, says Dr. Jonathan Hontzas (MSN 17), director of the ACT
Center for Tobacco Treatment, Education and Research and Lung Cancer Screening Services at UMMC.
This screening is best for those who are:
• 50 to 80 years old
• Have smoked or smoke cigarettes
Studies have shown that low-dose CT scans have reduced lung cancer deaths by at least 20%, Hontzas says.
When lung cancer is discovered at an early stage before having spread to other parts of the body, the five-year survival rate is 60.6%. However, when it is diagnosed in a “distant” phase where it has spread far from the lungs, that rate dips to below 10%, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Early detection of lung cancer significantly improves treatment outcomes and survival rates,” Hontzas says.
People who smoke can reduce their risk of lung cancer by giving up tobacco.
“Quitting smoking is the most effective step individuals can take to reduce their risk and support long-term lung health,” Hontzas says.
Calendar
Women’s Basketball:
FEBRUARY
7
Women’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Southeast Missouri. Palmer/ Salloum Tennis Center, 1 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
11
Men’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Alabama. SJB Pavilion, 6 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
12
Women’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Arkansas. SJB Pavilion, 8 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
13
Men’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Mercer. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, 10 a.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
13
Men’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Memphis. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, 5 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
13-15
Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Nevada. OxfordUniversity Stadium, 4 p.m. Friday, 1:30 p.m. Saturday, 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Visit olemisssports.com.
14
Men’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State. SJB Pavilion, 5:30 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
15
Men’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Belmont. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, 1 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
16
Softball: Ole Miss vs. Miami (Ohio). Ole Miss Softball Complex, time TBA. Visit olemisssports.com.
16 Performance: Tango After Dark. The intimate and powerful Tango After Dark delves into the
world of authentic Argentine tango. Gertrude C. Ford Center, 7:30 p.m. Visit fordcenter.org.
17Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Arkansas State. Oxford-University Stadium, 4 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
18
Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Jackson State. Oxford-University Stadium, 4 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
19
Women’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. LSU. SJB Pavilion, 8 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
19RMI Spring Career Fair: Paul B. Johnson Commons, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Visit olemissalumni.com/events.
20Women’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Memphis. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, 5 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
20-22
Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Missouri State. Oxford-University Stadium, 4 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday, 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Visit olemisssports.com.
21
Men’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Florida. SJB Pavilion, 11 a.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
22
Women’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. LSU. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, 1 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
22 Performance: UM Gospel Choir 50th Anniversary Concert. Fulton Chapel, 6-8:30 p.m. For tickets and more information, visit olemissalumni.com/events.
24Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Southeast Missouri State. Oxford-University Stadium, 4 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
25
Softball: Ole Miss vs. Central Arkansas. Ole Miss Softball Complex, time TBA. Visit olemisssports.com.
Photo by Hayden Carroll
25
Men’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. LSU. SJB Pavilion, 8 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
27
Men’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Arkansas. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, 3 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
27-28
Softball: Ole Miss vs. Jacksonville State. Ole Miss Softball Complex, times TBA. Visit olemisssports.com.
28-March 1 Softball: Ole Miss vs. ULM. Ole Miss Softball Complex, times TBA. Visit olemisssports.com.
MARCH
1
Women’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Texas A&M. SJB Pavilion, 2 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
3Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Memphis. Oxford-University Stadium, 6:30 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
3
Performance: Jazz at Lincoln Center Presents “Great American Crooners.” Soak in the sounds of the velvety melodies and smoky rhythms of quintessential crooners such as Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Bobby Darin. Gertrude C. Ford Center, 7:30 p.m. Visit fordcenter.org.
3
Softball: Ole Miss vs. UT Martin. Ole Miss Softball Complex, time TBA. Visit olemisssports.com.
4
Baseball: Ole Miss vs. North Alabama. Oxford-University Stadium, 6:30 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
5
Women’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Auburn. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, 4 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
6-8
Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Evansville. Oxford-University Stadium, 6:30 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday, 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Visit olemisssports.com.
6-8
Softball: Ole Miss vs. Alabama. Ole Miss Softball Complex, times TBA. Visit olemisssports.com.
7
Women’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Florida. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, 1 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
7
Men’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. South Carolina. SJB Pavilion, noon. Visit olemisssports.com.
8
Men’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Vanderbilt. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, 1 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
10
Alumni: Music City Rebel Club. Reception with Chancellor Glenn Boyce. Belle Meade Country Club, Nashville, 5:30-7 p.m. Visit olemissalumni.com/events.
17
Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Austin Peay. Oxford-University Stadium, 6:30 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
Photo courtesy of the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts
18
Softball: Ole Miss vs. Louisiana Tech. Ole Miss Softball Complex, time TBA. Visit olemisssports.com.
18-19
Ole Miss Insurance Symposium: Opening reception at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, South Endzone Club, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Visit olemissalumni.com/events.
19-21
Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Kentucky. OxfordUniversity Stadium, 7 p.m. Thursday, 6:30 p.m. Friday, 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Visit olemisssports.com.
20
Men’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Georgia. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, 3 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
20Performance: Wizard of Oz on Ice. Experience the enchantment of “The Wizard of Oz” like never before with a dazzling ice show. Gertrude C. Ford Center, 7:30 p.m. Visit fordcenter.org.
21
Women’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Missouri. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, 1 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
21-23
Softball: Ole Miss vs. Oklahoma. Ole Miss Softball Complex, times TBA. Visit olemisssports.com.
25
Softball: Ole Miss vs. UAB. Ole Miss Softball Complex, time TBA. Visit olemisssports.com.
27
Women’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Texas A&M. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, 3 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
27
40 Under 40 Awards Celebration: The Inn at Ole Miss, 4:30 p.m. Visit olemissalumni.com/events or email sunny@olemissalumni.com.
27
40 Under 40 Awards Post Toast: Circle and Square, 6:30 p.m. Visit olemissalumni.com/events or email sunny@olemissalumni.com.
27-29
Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State. Oxford-University Stadium, 6:30 p.m. Friday, 1:30 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday. Visit olemisssports.com.
29
Women’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Texas. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, 1 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
29Performance: Verdi’s Requiem. Memphis Symphony Orchestra with the Memphis Symphony Chorus and University of Mississippi Choirs. Gertrude C. Ford Center, 3 p.m. Visit fordcenter.org.
31Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Little Rock. Oxford-University Stadium, 11 a.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
APRIL
2
Women’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, 4 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
4
Women’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Alabama. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, 10 a.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
4
Men’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Tennessee. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, 1 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
7Softball: Ole Miss vs. Samford. Ole Miss Softball Complex, time TBA. Visit olemisssports.com.
7
Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Alcorn State. Oxford-University Stadium, 6:30 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
7Performance: Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra — Stage and Screen Spectacular! Gertrude C. Ford Center, 7:30 p.m. Visit olemissboxoffice.com.
10
Men’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Auburn. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, 3 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
10-12
Baseball: Ole Miss vs. LSU. Oxford-University Stadium, 6:30 p.m. Friday, 4 p.m. Saturday, 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Visit olemisssports.com.
10-12
Softball: Ole Miss vs. Texas A&M. Ole Miss Softball Complex, times TBA. Visit olemisssports.com.
12
Men’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Kentucky. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, noon. Visit olemisssports.com.
12 Performance: “Mrs. Doubtfire.” Based on the beloved film, “Mrs. Doubtfire” tells the hysterical and heartfelt story of an out-of-work actor who will do anything for his kids. Gertrude C. Ford Center, 7:30 p.m. Visit olemissboxoffice.com.
14
Softball: Ole Miss vs. North Alabama. Ole Miss Softball Complex, time TBA. Visit olemisssports.com.
21
Softball: Ole Miss vs. Southern Miss. Ole Miss Softball Complex, time TBA. Visit olemisssports.com.
21
Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Murray State. Oxford-University Stadium, 6:30 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.
24-26
Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Georgia. OxfordUniversity Stadium, 6:30 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. Saturday, 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Visit olemisssports.com.
30-May 2 Softball: Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State. Ole Miss Softball Complex, times TBA. Visit olemisssports.com.
For a listing of Ole Miss sports schedules, visit olemisssports.com.
For more Oxford events, news and information, go to visitoxfordms.com or call 662-232-2477.
Introducing The Ole Miss Alumni Association Wine Club
Crafted in Wine Country. Rooted in Ole Miss.
Rooted in the traditions that make Ole Miss special— from Saturdays in the Grove to the rallying spirit of “Hotty Toddy” and the enduring symbol of the Lyceum—this club invites alumni to raise a glass to the place that shaped us.
Together with alumni-owned Krutz Family Cellars, The Ole Miss Alumni Association is curating small-lot releases worthy of your tailgates, watch parties, reunions and milestones.
Choose the club that fits your cellar and your season: 3-bottle, 6-bottle, or 12-bottle case—each shipping twice per year. It’s an effortless way to stay connected to the Ole Miss family and toast the memories we share, from Oxford to everywhere.
Now shipping to Mississippi! To join, scan the QR code or go to olemissalumni.com/wineclub.
Sponsored By
Patrick Krutz (BBA 01) founded Krutz Family Cellars in 2003.
FAST TRACK FAST TRACK
By Brian Hudgins
Photos courtesy of Charlie Kemp
Kemp in a Corvette at the Sebring 12 Hours race in 1972. He had broken the lap record for GT cars, which earned him a spot on the pole in that category.
Alumnus’s racing career spans four decades
Charlie Kemp’s (BBA 59, MBA 62) introduction to racing included a Saturday night trip from Hazlehurst to Jackson, where a local dealership agreed to give him and his friends a 1949 Ford.
“We took all the glass out, and we each took a lap around a lake,” Kemp says. “I was the designated driver. I had my high school football helmet as a (racing) helmet. Somebody bumped the hell out of me in the back during the race, and I wound up finishing fourth.”
That moment in 1953 marked the end of Kemp’s dirt-track career. Kemp and his friends estimated their newly donated car was incapable of doing much more after those 20 or so nighttime laps.
Kemp upgraded to a 1955 Ford Thunderbird while he was enrolled at the University of Mississippi. He drag raced and rented a stall at a local filling station where he could work on the car.
“That was the start of any real racing for me,” Kemp says. “I went home on the weekends, would race and then drive back to Oxford.”
Kemp secured state drag-racing championships in 1956-58, thanks to a three-year unbeaten streak. Before he retired from racing in 1981, Kemp went on to win about 200 races. He was the owner and driver of the most successful Shelby Ford Mustang race car of all time, the 1965 Shelby GT350R Fastback.
OPENING LAP
Before enrolling at Ole Miss, Kemp applied to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He was able to secure an appointment with USAF personnel and was listed as a first alternate.
“All of the (incoming) college guys … none of them dropped out,” Kemp says.
Kemp then entered engineering school at Ole Miss as a freshman and switched to a bachelor’s degree program in economic analysis. He appreciated the challenging workload.
“I had a wonderful professor who made you work,” Kemp says. “He made you go do research before you went to his office.”
Kemp supplemented his bachelor’s with an MBA a few years later, after he served in the U.S. Army.
The business background provided Kemp with the chance to accept a position at Merrill Lynch in New York City in the early 1960s. Kemp knew Bob Childres (BA 57, LLB 60), a Rhodes scholar at Ole Miss, who was teaching law at New York University. He also knew the late Mary Ann Mobley (58) as part of that Ole Miss/New York City group.
However, Kemp soon found that maintaining his favorite interests was a different proposition in New York than in Mississippi. The cost of living (and flying as a licensed pilot) was a lot higher.
Charlie Kemp
“My wife and I had an apartment, and I knew I wasn’t going to make enough money,” Kemp says. “Merrill Lynch wanted to keep me up there, but I told them I am going to need a pretty good salary. Quality of life meant more to me than scraping along (in New York).”
So, Kemp left New York and returned to racing at home. He was able to win local and regional races often enough — 12 first-place finishes in the Sports Car Club of America, or SCCA, racing circuit between 1964 and 1967 — to buy a race car. In 1968, he finished in 11th place in the International Formula Vee race in Sebring, Florida. The wins Kemp compiled during those few years enabled him to go on a run with the Shelby GT350. Kemp also used his Ole Miss degrees to propel him as a driver.
“All of the business lessons I learned at Ole Miss helped me with racing,” he says. “It taught me to work hard for the sponsors.”
While securing sponsor deals, Kemp assembled a crew to maintain the GT350. Pete Hood, the GT350 mechanic, teamed up with Kemp. They tinkered with the suspension and examined ways to remove weight, pulling as much speed as possible out of the Shelby.
Out of 54 race starts, Kemp notched 34 first-place finishes between 1968 and 1971. He won 17 straight races in one stretch and recorded the highest speed ever at Daytona International Speedway in a Shelby GT350, clocking in at 184 miles per hour.
LONG-DISTANCE LESSONS
Endurance racing taught Kemp a new set of mandatory requirements for success. He won the Touring Class at the 24 Hours of Daytona in a Trans-Am Camaro in 1970 and placed second in the Sebring 12-Hour Grand Prix. The next year, Kemp drove in the Canadian-American Challenge Cup race series alongside competitors such as Jackie Stewart and Mario Andretti.
In those Can-Am races, the racers had to use roughly 140 gallons of fuel, which translated to nearly 750 pounds.
“There were so many tanks on the car for fuel, and once that fuel burns down, the car starts handling differently,” Kemp says. “Plus, we were all scared to death. If you crashed with that much fuel, there was no way you would survive. We told the rules committee, ‘We can’t do this.’”
Shortening the race distance knocked the fuel load down to a more manageable 80 gallons. Considering the chassis was made of magnesium, the frame itself only weighed 80 pounds — Kemp and his peers could pick up the frames of their cars.
In addition to various engineering lessons, Kemp quickly learned the physical requirements to handle the rigors of long-distance racing.
“We ran a lot of different tracks,” Kemp says. “The 24 Hours
of Daytona was a grind. (The late) Bobby Mitchell and I won it in 1970. We each were going to drive two-hour shifts and then rest a bit, but Bobby got sick, and I drove 16 of the 24 hours. I was really tired after that. People don’t realize what kind of physical shape you had to be in.”
Tom Fraser drove long-distance tracks with Kemp and other drivers in the ’70s and ’80s, when two-person teams were common. Mechanical obstacles came with the territory.
“The brakes would fail or the transmission would break,” Fraser says. “You would double clutch (to reduce wear and tear).”
Kemp showed great versatility whether driving a light or heavy vehicle.
“Charlie could drive a heavy stock car like nobody else,” Fraser says. “It was unbelievable. Not many could drive those big sedans.”
The endurance racing environment was challenging, but Kemp embraced the difficulty.
“I played football for three years at Hazlehurst High School,” Kemp says. “In racing, you don’t have time between plays and then going back to the huddle. It is constant concentration. During one Can-Am race, I suddenly wondered, ‘Why are my feet so hot?’ My feet were on fire. The car had leaked oil into the cockpit.”
The late Walter Payton, born in Columbia, Mississippi, forged his own bond with racing following his Hall of Famelevel National Football League career. After he retired from
Kemp with his grandson Charles Wilson Kemp II, who is a junior accounting major at Ole Miss.
football in 1987, Payton put his passion to the test. He drove in a pair of celebrity races before starting his racing career in 1989 with SCCA. He later switched from amateur racing to professional racing in 1991 via the SCCA Trans-Am Series.
Kemp and his peers enjoyed interacting with Payton whenever he could come hang out and talk shop or when they would run into Payton during their travels.
“I was flying to Chicago, and I talked with Walter in the lobby at the Jackson airport,” Kemp says. “Walter was four rows in front of me on the flight, and people were asking for his autograph.”
One of the flight attendants was unaware of Payton’s storied football career and his relatively new entrance into racing. Kemp advised the attendant to ask for the autograph of racing legend Walter Payton.
“Walter shook his finger at me and said, ‘I can’t believe you did that,’” Kemp recalls. It is a memory that makes Kemp laugh nearly four decades later.
“After Walter had retired from football, he used to come hang out at the Ferrari dealership,” says Kemp, who has owned several car dealerships. “I really liked Walter … one of the best athletes in Mississippi!”
Kemp sits on a Porsche 917/10 for a publicity photo taken for an ad by RC Cola, which was also used for a national TV ad. The 917/10 was a turbocharged, opentop Spyder version of the iconic 917 race car, purpose-built for the North American Can-Am series.
KEEPING PACE
Kemp had established himself as a versatile racer from the mid-1960s through the early ’70s. He switched to Porsche racing in 1973, when he won the first race of the season at Mosport Park in Canada by driving the Porsche 917-10K. The victory made Kemp one of seven Americans to have ever won a Can-Am race.
When Kemp was invited to drive the Interserie Championship of Europe with Porsche, he finished fourth at the Grand Prix of Italy before mechanical issues sidelined his car at the Nürburgring in Germany and Silverstone in England. The Porsche 917 Kemp drove is now in the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart, Germany.
Kemp also designed and built a race car for the International Motor Sports Association’s new American GT class: the Kemp Cobra II. It qualified on the pole (achieved the best position on the track at the start of the race) at Road Atlanta Racetrack during its fifth race. The Kemp Cobra II was timed at Daytona Speedway, reaching a speed of 212 miles per hour, and achieved several top-five finishes.
Kemp’s journey from dirt-track driver to drag racer to endurance racer had cemented a career that carried through to his 1981 retirement. In 1987, Kemp returned for a final race in Watkins Glen, New York, at the 24-hour IMSA race. Kemp qualified seventh out of 70 cars and was running in third when a wreck took him out of the race.
His racing influence remains strong — Talladega Superspeedway recognized Kemp’s legacy by naming its first sports car race the “Charlie Kemp Challenge” in 1970.
Retirement afforded Kemp the chance to mentor other drivers, but the nature of racing makes it a somewhat solitary pursuit.
“Most drivers are pretty independent,” Kemp says. “Driving today is so much different than when I was racing. Everything is controlled through buttons. It got too automated.”
NEW PURSUITS
Kemp was elected to the Smithsonian’s national board of directors in 1985 and elected to its executive committee the following year. Closer to home, Kemp served on the board of directors for the Mississippi Museum of Art and the Jackson Airbase Museum. He was also a member of the Kiwanis Club and several other organizations.
Post-racing retirement put Kemp in a position to become a benefactor of the Jackson Symphony and New Stage Theatre. His most cherished recent Mississippi honor circled back to the 1953 Saturday night at the Speedbowl Dirt Track in Jackson.
In the 2025 regular session, the Mississippi Legislature recognized Kemp’s career through House Concurrent Resolution No. 46 and acknowledged “his profound contributions to the sport of racing, and extend to him and his family deepest appreciation for his tireless dedication to the advancement of motorsports.”
Photos courtesy of Hartwell Furr
Alumna builds Southern-style nanny empire
By Annie Rhoades Best-Kept Secret
When she first boarded a plane from Jackson to New York during the summer of her freshman year, Hartwell Furr (BS 23), founder of the Nanny Network and co-founder of HARTWELL, had no idea that her parttime nannying job would evolve into a full-fledged business domain.
Today, from her apartment in the West Village, she manages a thriving network connecting college students and new graduates with highly coveted jobs in New York City.
“It all started really organically,” Furr says. “My freshman year of college, I nannied in the Hamptons during the summer. From there, I started a summer nanny agency program, setting up college students with live-in summer nanny jobs. When I graduated in 2023, I moved to New York and recently launched phase two, HARTWELL, which sets up girls out of college with personal, executive and family assistant roles in New York.”
A member of Chi Omega Fraternity, Furr graduated from Jackson Prep in 2019 with her sights set on Ole Miss.
“I always wanted to go there,” Furr recalls. “My mom went to Ole Miss, and we grew up being Ole Miss fans. It was the only major prospect I had.”
Like many students, she entered college undecided about her career path.
“I thought about doing business or different things, but I loved IMC (integrated marketing communications) and how broad it was,” she says. “It allowed you to learn different things. I got to learn basic journalism, writing, marketing and business all in one.”
That interdisciplinary approach would serve her well in the entrepreneurial journey ahead.
Birth of a Business
The spark for Furr’s nanny empire came from a fellow Ole Miss graduate already living in New York.
“I had an older friend, Kate Hayes (BS 16), who went to Ole Miss,” she says. “She moved to New York and babysat a lot on the side, so she connected me with a family that needed child care that summer. There was always a handful of girls from Ole Miss moving up to the Hamptons in the summer, so I did that with no (vision) of it being a company.”
Brenley Rinaudo (left) and Hartwell Furr
Spending summers living with New York families allowed Furr to build connections and a reputation. The first summer was particularly memorable as it coincided with the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I basically quarantined with a family for a few months that I randomly flew up and met,” she laughs. “They lived on a big compound with four different siblings and grandparents. We were basically confined there for a few months since New York was on major lockdown at that point.”
After a handful of nanny stints, Furr formalized that original network in 2022, establishing a business that has boomed exponentially since its inception.
“It has grown a lot over the years,” she enthuses. “This past summer, we had 100 nanny placements and had to cap it at that because we were overstretched.”
College roommate and former summer nanny Kendall Morgan (BA 23) is not surprised by her hardworking “humble, confident and intelligent” friend’s success.
“During my time living with Hartwell, I quickly learned that she was extremely dedicated to making the Nanny Network bigger and better,” Morgan says. “I have always respected and admired her work ethic. She was inherently meant to lead. I am so incredibly proud of [her], and I am even more proud to be her friend.”
Hartwell Furr (left) and Brenley Rinaudo
From Summer Nannies to Successful Assistants
After graduating in 2023, Furr made the move to New York permanent. The next evolution of her business, HARTWELL, was a natural step.
“A lot of the families that would hire college students to be their summer nannies fell in love with the [students] and would hire them at their companies to be an assistant or other various roles,” she says. “So, this is phase two of the business. I set up a lot of different assistant roles, including personal assistants for high-profile [clients], executive assistants for business owners, and family assistants, which is kind of the hybrid.”
Furr counts her friend and HARTWELL co-founder Brenley Rinaudo (BBA 23) as a key component in helping her streamline and scale the next phase of the business.
“Hartwell and I met at Ole Miss, early on freshman year, and became fast friends,” Rinaudo recalls. “[We] both lived in the Chi Omega house our senior year. At the time, Hartwell was running the Nanny Network out of the Chi Omega house. It was so fun to watch her do her thing!”
Like many seniors nearing graduation, Rinaudo grew anxious about her postgraduation plans.
“One day, Hartwell randomly walked into my room down the hall and asked, ‘How would you like to spend two months in the Hamptons this summer?’ Having zero plans following graduation the next month, I said, ‘Sure, why not?’
“I had barely heard of the Hamptons, but from what I knew, it didn’t sound like a bad place to spend the summer. I was only supposed to be there for two months, but in typical New York City fashion, I fell in love with the city.”
The duo officially moved to the Big Apple and soon began mapping out their new venture.
“I had always watched her run the business from afar at school, but now in New York, I was starting to get to see some of the behind the scenes,” Rinaudo says. “I am obsessed with all things technology, processes and efficiency.
“When Hartwell showed me how she was running Nanny Network, I [thought], what if we try it this way? We quickly started working hand-in-hand with Hartwell managing the front-facing sales of the business, and I managing all the backend operations that made it all work.”
Rinaudo says, in just two years, the systems set in place nearly tripled the business, allowing the pair to juggle fast-paced lives and careers in NYC while continuing the mission of the Nanny Network and watching it grow.
HARTWELL officially launched in 2025 and has already placed several candidates in high-profile roles.
“We recently held a huge launch party in December,” Furr says. “We have about 150 people in New York replacing a lot of full-time jobs at this point, so it’s going great.”
It’s a Southern Thing
So, what is it about these young Southern women that captures New Yorkers’ hearts? Perhaps that is one of the most fascinating aspects of Furr’s story — the way Southern charm has become a selling point in the competitive New York child care and assistant market.
“A lot of the families in New York have full-time career nannies that a lot of times don’t drive or swim,” Furr explains. “They’re wonderful, but in the summertime you need somebody who’s young, active and can swim and drive — almost like a camp counselor for the summer. The South is renowned for its hospitality and care for its people.
“I also think I do a really good job of recruiting people that are super ecstatic for the opportunity and have a positive can-do attitude.”
The model has proven to be not only sustainable but also deeply impactful for both the families and the students.
“Both parties absolutely love it,” Furr says. “After that first year, I knew this made complete sense.”
Paying It Forward
Furr runs her businesses full time from her apartment in the West Village, frequently bouncing between client meetings and candidate interviews.
Perhaps the most rewarding part of her work is watching the opportunities she benefited from multiply for others.
“I had such great experiences being a summer nanny and then doing an assistant job, so it’s really kind of exciting to pay it forward and see other people have really amazing experiences,” she says.
“The doors that this [opportunity] opens for people, the stories that come from that and the truly unexpected relationships that this has formed are all my favorite parts of what I get to do every day.”
Furr has built a business that opens doors for the next wave of Ole Miss graduates to take on the city that never sleeps. With a successful network of over 100 summer nanny placements and a growing list of full-time assistant positions through HARTWELL, the future looks bright.
“I see a continuation of this and making the network even larger, setting up cool opportunities for people and really cultivating a community here in New York,” she says. “I’m excited to continue what I’m doing — but an amplified version of it.”
HARTWELL launch party held on Dec. 4, 2025, at NYC’s Cowgirl. | Photo by Anna Levenets
HARTWELL launch party held on Dec. 4, 2025, at NYC’s Cowgirl. | Photo by Anna Levenets
CAPE TOWN (AFRICA) WOLF'S FANG (ANTARCTICA)
Photos courtesy of Forrest Johnson and the Great World Race
Into the
Alumnus completes seven marathons in seven days
By Brian Hudgins
Forrest Johnson (BBA 03) spent the early and middle stages of 2025 completing 63 marathons covering all 50 states. He is a certified member of the 50 States Marathon Club, a goal he achieved in December 2022.
That all happened before he encountered minus 22 degrees Fahrenheit and otherworldly wind gusts on an icy Antarctica runway.
Johnson’s first trip to Antarctica was one leg of his participation in the Great World Race, a competition in which marathoners complete seven marathons on seven continents in seven days. Antarctica was scheduled to be the opening race, but weather conditions were too severe for a flight landing and race. The crew of marathoners and half-marathoners instead began in Africa.
“We ended up running in Africa and then flew into Antarctica,” Johnson says. “I was in my hotel room at 1 p.m. in Africa. The clothes I put on after a shower were for Antarctica. That was when it really hit me.”
READY, SET, GO!
Johnson’s lead time into the Great World Race consisted of a few months. A friend referenced the event on social media, and Johnson became aware of it in more detail through
word of mouth. The idea of seven marathons in seven days in November, plus the travel involved, captured Johnson’s imagination.
“The prospect of attempting this was intimidating,” he says. “There was nobody available to give me any firsthand perspective.”
Johnson had to answer a broad question. How do you even prepare to train for something like this? The Natchez resident typically does most of his training locally. He decided to run a pair of marathons before the Great World Race, a summer event in Morgan City, Utah, and the Chicago Marathon in the fall.
“I viewed them as training runs,” Johnson says. “I tried to use those marathons as building up to (the big race).”
Johnson had previously traveled to Mexico and South Korea. However, the idea of not only traveling to seven continents but also handling multiple marathons was new to him.
“The physical training was important, but having the right mindset was really a challenge,” Johnson says. “The thing that struck me about Antarctica was the wind. It would cut
PERTH (AUSTRALIA) ABU DHABI (ASIA)
FARO (EUROPE) CARTAGENA (SOUTH AMERICA)
through you. I had run in zero temperatures. This was colder and harsher.”
The race atmosphere also differs greatly from that of a typical marathon. In Chicago or Boston, fans, friends and family members are present and easily visible to runners. This adventure required Johnson to complete the voyage while running in some isolated settings.
Ice Cap Adventures Ltd. organizes the weeklong race. David Kelly, the company’s CEO and race director, is a doctor and former Irish cross-country international runner. Kelly has traveled to the North Pole and Antarctica several times to medically oversee endurance competitions. Johnson talked with Kelly several times before signing up for the race.
The marathons are measured by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races, or AIMS, and World Athletics and sanctioned by respective athletics federations. The Antarctica Athletics Federation also recognizes the Antarctica race. Johnson’s primary goal was to finish. He did not set goals for finishing times.
“If I can run the second half of a marathon faster than the first — that is one goal,” Johnson says. “I was very pleased with how consistent my times were. I was confident. But what happens on the sixth day or seventh day? Am I going to have to walk one of these? My body held up well, and I was able to finish the races very strong.”
Aside from the mechanics of the marathons, where was Johnson going to receive moral support to get through the last race or two? Runners typically compete against each other in a single event. This format fostered a different atmosphere.
“You get to really know these people you are running with,” he says. “Talk about the most remarkable group of positive people. We were thrown together in a blender, and it was an interesting dynamic that developed.”
Because participants maintained a hectic schedule of hotel stays, meals, flights and marathons, the competing group was capped at around 60 people.
“The group was about half from the U.S. and also from all over the world,” Johnson says. “We had several people from Ireland and Australia.”
The first leg was Cape Town, Africa. Runners took six laps at Sea Point, a promenade with a paved runway. Johnson fought the temptation to push himself too hard during the initial stage. His mindset was to go slow early in Africa to help
maintain good conditioning for the ensuing six marathons.
“You get a good stride going, and you feel good,” he says. “I had to be intentional about slowing it down.”
When the traveling party reached Wolf’s Fang in Antarctica (directly south of Cape Town via a five-hour flight), Johnson gained insight into the work conditions navigated by pilots who essentially land on ice. The loop marathon course was situated in the vicinity of the runway, allowing runners to view Antarctica’s landscape. However, Johnson often had to keep his eyes on a much narrower field.
“The running surface was all ice … blue ice,” Johnson says. “The ice in the running lanes felt like pea gravel. When the path got worn, you felt that blue ice and had to stay on the treated ice.”
Johnson’s wife, Julie (BA 01, MS 03), was amazed to see how the race was set up for marathoners on an ice-covered continent.
“I was thankful when he finished that one. … The conditions were brutal,” she says.
Immediately after the minus 20 conditions in Antarctica, Australia’s environment presented opposite extremes — temperatures of 95-100 degrees in a switch from the second day to the third. A temperature difference of more than 100 degrees between Antarctica and Australia was unlike anything Johnson had experienced. The race path took him along the Swan River with the Perth skyline in the background.
As the third marathon unfolded at the West Australian Marathon Club in Perth, Johnson says he and his peers struggled — especially during the last 10 miles. Large buckets of ice were available at various stations to help runners cope with the triple-digit heat.
Abu Dhabi delivered a fourth stop that showcased both Asian tradition and modern amenities. When Johnson and his peers landed, they were greeted with a welcome reception.
“We had 12 hours, and we went to dinner,” Johnson says. “We saw beautiful buildings and that skyline. I got to take a deep breath.”
After the brief break, the capital of the United Arab Emirates provided two contrasting views — a desert landscape and the Arabian Gulf.
“It feels like you are in a magazine (shoot),” Johnson says.
The fifth stage, in Faro, Portugal, contrasted the Abu Dhabi setting with a coastal Old Town atmosphere. Cobbled streets
MIAMI (NORTH AMERICA)
of Old Town carried runners past landmarks such as Arco da Vila and Faro Cathedral. The Portugal-based marathon was a personal favorite for Johnson.
“I certainly would have loved to spend more time there,” he says.
As the competitors marched through the scheduled flights, landings, showers and race starts, one aspect was out of their control: the menu. The group ate most of their meals on airplanes. Johnson had made it through a handful of the seven marathons by focusing on what he could control.
“We would run and hop on a plane,” Johnson says. “The plane was a home base during the trips.”
The sixth marathon was held in Cartagena, Colombia. Although Johnson was coping with the mental and physical fatigue of having finished five marathons, going on six, he had a final boost coming his way if he could reach the last step.
THE HOME STRETCH
After Cartagena, Johnson and the rest of the crew boarded a flight to Miami, Florida, which lasted a couple of hours. They landed in Miami the night before the final race.
“It was a good feeling to get back in the U.S.,” Johnson says. “Julie and our daughter were waiting in Miami. Family and friends had taken over the hotel lobby. That was a powerful scene — them greeting us. It helped having all the support there for the last race.”
Julie Johnson had been able to keep up with her husband’s progress through a live feed via the Twitch app. She was able to give verbal encouragement and see glimpses of the marathoners along each course. However, Miami meant an actual reunion for the families.
For the last race, Johnson rode a bus to the starting line in Miami Beach. The six-loop course began on Ocean Drive, running along Beachwalk. Johnson finished the Miami marathon in 4:58:50, which resulted in an average time of 5:01:04 – good for 19th place.
Johnson had achieved his goal of finishing all seven marathons. Out of those dozens of runners, he also finished in the top 20. It was a surreal experience for someone who had never run much before enrolling at the University of Mississippi.
He got into running during his senior year when he
competed in the Crescent City Classic, an annual 10K in New Orleans. Johnson’s main goal in that race was a bit different from the Great World Race.
“I had a blast in the Crescent City Classic; it was a big party,” Johnson says. “That opened my eyes to running.”
Johnson laughs about one Ole Miss connection that may have pointed him in the direction of the Crescent City Classic. Although he majored in banking and finance on the way to becoming a chartered financial analyst and financial planner in Natchez, one of the electives he took was a running course.
It set up the path for Johnson to push himself with limited rest during the Great World Race. A motivating factor has been and continues to be raising funds and awareness to help find a cure for Type 1 diabetes. Johnson’s daughter, Mary Blair, was diagnosed at age 4 with the disease.
“It’s such a tough disease,” Johnson says. “There are no days off.”
The finish line represented Julie Johnson’s favorite moment of the Great World Race. Running and crossing the line with Mary Blair, a few steps behind her husband, has stuck with her.
“It was amazing to be part of his incredible goal!”
Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson (bottom center) presents the key to the city to Forrest Johnson in December after he completed the Great World Race. | Photo by Jan Griffey
Ole Miss Sports
Historic Run
FOOTBALL’S BREAKTHROUGH SEASON ENDS IN PLAYOFF SEMIFINALS AGAINST MIAMI
The incredible run for No. 6 Ole Miss came to an end as No. 10 Miami topped the Rebels 31-27, on Jan. 8 in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl/College Football Playoff semifinal.
Ole Miss would erase another halftime deficit, regaining the lead at 27-24 with 3:18 to play, but Miami would respond with a game-winning drive of its own spanning 75 yards over 16 plays, capped off by a Carson Beck three-yard rushing touchdown with 18 seconds remaining.
OFFENSIVE LEADERS
Trinidad Chambliss gave everything he had again for Ole Miss, going 23-of-37 for 277 yards and one touchdown. Chambliss finished his season with 3,937 yards passing and 30 total touchdowns.
His favorite target on the night was De’Zhaun Stribling who hauled in five catches for 77 yards. Cayden Lee would also tally five receptions for 67 yards. Chambliss’ favorite target down the stretch was Dae’Quan Wright, who recorded three catches for 64 yards and the lone touchdown reception.
Kewan Lacy crossed the century mark on the ground for the seventh time this season with 103 yards on 11 carries. Lacy’s 73-yard touchdown run marked his career-long as he extended his single-season school record with his 24th rushing touchdown on the season.
DEFENSIVE LEADERS
TJ Dottery paced the Rebel defense with a team-high 11 tackles. He had one tackle for loss, and nine of his tackles were solo. Behind Dottery was Chris Graves Jr., who had a career-high eight tackles including seven solo. Graves also tied a career-high with three pass breakups.
Three Rebels recorded at least one sack, led by Suntarine Perkins at 1.5. Princewill Umanmielen and Dottery recorded 1.0 each, and Will Echoles tallied a half sack.
In the secondary, Kapena Gushiken hauled in his first interception as a Rebel and fourth of his career.
Vrbo Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona | Photo by Hayden Carroll
Trinidad Chambliss | Photo by Hayden Carroll
Strong Start
REBEL SOFTBALL RECEIVES PRESEASON RECOGNITION
The Ole Miss softball program has been tabbed as the No. 25 team in the nation by Softball America ahead of the 2026 campaign, as announced on Jan. 14.
Softball America’s poll is the first of four major polls that will be released before the start of the 2026 season. The National Fastpitch Coaches Association, ESPN/USA Softball and D1Softball polls are still to come.
The mark is the program’s first preseason top-25 nod since 2023, when the Rebels were ranked No. 25 by D1Softball to open the year.
The Rebels had a historic 2025 campaign that ended with the program’s first Women’s College World Series appearance and highest national ranking, at No. 7 in the nation, by Softball America.
The Ole Miss roster features 16 newcomers comprising 10 transfers and six freshmen, as the Rebels seek to reload for the new season.
Four members of the Ole Miss softball program earned preseason honors, as Softball America released its top-100 players
and Freshman Watch List on Jan. 13.
Persy Llamas was tabbed as the No. 59 player in the nation according to Softball America , while the freshman trio of Payton Kennedy, Addi Linton and Kaidance Till all were named to the Freshman Watch List. Linton and Till were recently named to D1Softball’s same list.
Llamas had a freshman season to remember, hitting .354 with 10 home runs, 55 RBI and 10 doubles. She led the team with a single-season record in RBI, while also leading in hits (67) and striking out just 11 times all season. Llamas would go on to earn All-SEC Second Team and NFCA All-South Region Second Team honors.
Kennedy, Linton and Till all take home a preseason nod as members of a diverse freshman class that helps replenish the Rebels roster heading into the 2026 season. Kennedy and Linton are dynamic two-way talents, while Till will provide a versatile look across multiple defensive positions.
The Rebels open the regular season
Photo courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics
on Feb. 5 in a doubleheader at Cal State Fullerton to kick off the season-opening Easton Classic.
Persy Llamas | Photo courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics
Ole Miss Sports
On Tour
FORMER REBEL CHIARA TAMBURLINI EARNS PROFESSIONAL GOLF TOUR STATUS
Former Rebel Chiara Tamburlini (BBA 23) secured her Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour card for 2026 in December with a top-25 finish in the final qualifying of the LPGA Q-Series. She posted rounds of 71-70-70-68 for a score of (279, -7) at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Magnolia Grove in Mobile, Alabama.
After turning pro on Aug. 25, 2023, Tamburlini won her first tournament as a professional on the Ladies European Tour, or LET, Access Series. She followed that with another victory at the Rose Ladies Open. In 13 LETAS tournaments, she qualified for the top 10 a total of 10 times. Despite a shortened season, she finished third in the Order of Merit, or OoM, and thus qualified for the LET in 2024.
In 43 events on the European circuit, Tamburlini has amassed three wins and 18 top-10 finishes. All three victories came in her rookie season on the LET, along with eight top-five finishes in 2024.
While a fourth LET win evaded Tamburlini in 2025, it was still a season to remember as the 25-year-old recorded 11 top
10s, including runner-up finishes in Korea, Switzerland and China. On top of that, Tamburlini enjoyed a memorable major campaign, contending at both the U.S. Women’s Open and AIG Women’s Open, finishing T14 and T13 respectively.
Tamburlini built a stacked resume during her time in Oxford that includes a 2021 NCAA National Championship, Ole Miss’ first team title in a women’s sport.
The St. Gallen, Switzerland, native was the 2023 SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year and a three-time Women’s Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholar. She was a twotime All-SEC selection, garnering first-team honors for her play during the 2021-22 season. Tamburlini was also a twotime Arnold Palmer Cup selection and participated in the 2023 Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
The 2026 LPGA Tour schedule will feature 33 events and a total prize fund of over $132 million. The season will commence on Jan. 29 at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Orlando, Florida.
Chiara Tamburlini | Photo courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics
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BE A PART OF OUR FUTURE.
The Ole Miss Alumni Association allows you to have the connection with the place and people that share your past, while securing Ole Miss’ future with funding for student outreach, scholarships, reunions, alumni communications and athletics support.
Lend us your voice by remaining an active, duespaying member. Renew at olemissalumni.com/join or scan below, and encourage family and friends to remain active.
Thank you for being an active part of the Alumni Association.
Ole Miss Sports Elite Company
ELLIOTT NAMED PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA
Ole Miss starting pitcher Hunter Elliott was named to the 2026 Preseason All-America Team by Perfect Game, earning a spot on the publication’s Third Team.
Last season, Elliott became the first Rebel to earn All-America honors since 2023 and the first Rebel pitcher to be named an All-American since 2022. He also won his first career Rawlings Gold Glove, becoming just the third Rebel ever to win the award.
The senior made 16 starts for the Rebels as the team’s primary Friday night starter in 2025, posting a 10-3 record with an ERA of 2.94 and 102 strikeouts. He held opponents to a .197 batting average and picked off 13 baserunners, more than any other Rebel in
the modern era.
Elliott became the fifth pitcher in Ole Miss history to record a 10-win, 100-strikeout season finishing with a 10-3 record and 102 punchouts. He also became just the fourth pitcher in program history to record over 100 strikeouts in two different seasons. His 2.94 ERA was the lowest by a Rebel starting pitcher since his freshman season, when he finished with an ERA of 2.70.
Elliott was named to both the SEC Tournament All-Tournament team and the Oxford Regional All-Tournament team, allowing just one earned run over his two postseason starts. He finished the season with four consecutive wins, allowing just three earned runs during that stretch.
Hunter Elliott | Photo courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics
OLE MISS FOOTBALL 2026 SCHEDULE UNVEILED
Ole Miss football has its entire slate for the 2026 season following a primetime unveiling on SEC Network in December. The Rebels will open the season either Saturday, Sept. 5 or Sunday, Sept. 6 with a neutral site matchup against Louisville at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.
Ole Miss returns to Vaught-Hemingway the following week to open its home season, first with Charlotte on Sept. 12 and then with its SEC opener against LSU on Sept. 19.
The Rebels then go on a two-game road stretch to Florida on Sept. 26 and Vanderbilt on Oct. 10, following a bye week. Ole Miss then welcomes Missouri for the first time since 2013 on Oct. 17 before heading to Austin to take on the Texas Longhorns on Oct. 24 — the Rebels’ first trip there also since 2013.
A Halloween tilt against Auburn awaits Ole Miss at home to close out October, as November opens with the Georgia Bulldogs coming to town on Nov. 7.
Ole Miss makes a back-to-back return trip to Norman to take on Oklahoma on Nov. 14 before returning home for a nonconference matchup against Wofford on Nov. 21.
The Rebels will close the regular season with the annual Battle for the Golden Egg in Oxford on Saturday, Nov. 28.
As announced in September, the 2026 season will be the
first to feature nine conference games. In the new format, each SEC school will play every other SEC school at least once every two years, and every opponent home and away over four years. Included are three annual opponents, while the remaining six games rotate among the remaining conference schools. Ole Miss’ annual opponents through 2029 are LSU, Mississippi State and Oklahoma.
2026 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Sat., Sept. 5 or Sun., Sept. 6 – vs. Louisville in Nashville, Tennessee (Nissan Stadium)
Sat., Sept. 12 – vs. Charlotte in Oxford
Sat., Sept. 19 – vs. LSU in Oxford
Sat., Sept. 26 – at Florida in Gainesville
Sat., Oct. 10 – at Vanderbilt in Nashville
Sat., Oct. 17 – vs. Missouri in Oxford
Sat., Oct. 24 – at Texas in Austin
Sat., Oct. 31 – vs. Auburn in Oxford
Sat., Nov. 7 – vs. Georgia in Oxford
Sat., Nov. 14 – at Oklahoma in Norman
Sat., Nov. 21 – vs. Wofford in Oxford
Sat., Nov. 28 – vs. Mississippi State in Oxford
Soccer Gets New Leader
TODD SHULENBERGER NAMED FOURTH HEAD COACH
Ole Miss Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics
Keith Carter (BBA 01) announced the hiring of Todd Shulenberger in December as the fourth head coach in the history of the Ole Miss women’s soccer program.
“We are thrilled to welcome Todd and his family to Oxford and begin this exciting new chapter for Ole Miss soccer,” Carter says. “From early in our evaluation, it was clear that Todd is a culture builder who invests deeply in the success and well-being of his student-athletes on and off the field. He has proven the ability to recruit elite players and maximize their talent through consistent success and remarkable postseason runs.”
Shulenberger arrives at Ole Miss after 11 seasons at Washington State, where he became the winningest coach in program history with a record of 113-67-34. He crossed the 100-win mark in 2024 and led the Cougars to their first-ever College Cup appearance in 2019. Under his leadership, Washington State earned five NCAA Tournament bids, including three consecutive appearances in 2017-19, and finished .500 or better in nine straight seasons.
“I would like to thank Keith Carter, Bob Baker and the entire search committee for placing their trust in me,” Shulenberger says. “Ole Miss Athletics has a winning tradition across all sports, and my goal is to get soccer back to its winning ways. This is an awesome challenge, and I can’t wait to get started.”
During his tenure at Washington State, Shulenberger coached 43 all-conference selections and saw 10 players drafted into the National Women’s Soccer League and the USL Super League. His athletes included 2021 Pac-12 Freshman
IN HISTORY OF PROGRAM
and Goalkeeper of the Year Nadia Cooper, and All-Americans Elyse Bennett and Morgan Weaver.
The 2019 season marked the pinnacle of the Cougars’ success, as Washington State posted a 16-7-1 record and reached the College Cup for the first time in program history. Along the way, the Cougars defeated No. 1 Virginia and No. 2 South Carolina on the road and finished the season ranked No. 4 nationally, the highest ranking in program history. Weaver was drafted second overall by the Portland Thorns following the season.
Shulenberger also guided Washington State to multiple historic postseason breakthroughs, including the program’s first Sweet 16 appearance in 2017 and its best start in program history during the 2018 season.
Before Washington State, Shulenberger spent two seasons as associate head coach at Texas Tech, where he helped lead the Red Raiders to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances and the best conference finish in program history. He also served as an assistant coach at Missouri and Clemson, contributing to conference titles, top-10 recruiting classes and repeated postseason success.
In addition to his collegiate experience, Shulenberger spent 10 years as director of coaching for Atlanta-based TopHat Soccer Club, overseeing player development and college placement.
A graduate of Robert Morris University, Shulenberger played professionally with the Canton Invaders before beginning his coaching career. His hiring signals Ole Miss’ commitment to returning the women’s soccer program to national prominence.
Photo courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics
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Paper Girl’s World by Judy Williamson (BA 76), 396 pages (hardback), Chinoiserie Books LLC, ISBN: 979-8218454531
Award-winning travel writer and photographer Judy Williamson reflects on global travel in the 1980s in the coffee-table book Paper Girl’s World. A former staff travel writer for The Dallas Morning News and travel editor of the Houston Chronicle , Williamson’s work appeared in more than 200 newspapers in the United States, Canada and South America. Her stories were distributed on Knight-Ridder and Hearst wires and published by outlets including The Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, Baltimore Sun and San Francisco Examiner. She has received writing awards from Women in Communications Inc. and multiple writing and photography honors from the Society of American Travel Writers, where she also served on the Editors Council and chaired its 20-state Central States chapter.
Paper Girl’s World offers a nostalgic journey through Williamson’s globetrotting assignments, pairing evocative storytelling with striking photography from a bygone era when Sunday travel sections were a newspaper staple.
A New Orleans native, Williamson began her career at a small South Louisiana weekly before rising to prominent roles at
major metropolitan dailies. She lives in Dallas with her husband.
Stories From Ole Miss Baseball by Chase Parham (BUS 18) and Jeff Roberson (BA 83), 200 pages (hardback), Nautilus Publishing Co., ISBN: 978-1949455618
Discover the rich history of Ole Miss baseball through vivid stories that capture the spirit and milestones of the team. This book presents memorable moments, legendary players and behind-the-scenes insights, offering readers a comprehensive look at the tradition and impact of Ole Miss baseball. Perfect for fans and historians alike, it deepens appreciation for the game and the Rebels’ enduring legacy.
Chase Parham has more than two decades of media experience and has covered the Ole Miss baseball program for 20 seasons and counting. He is an editor and writer for 247Sports/CBS Sports and co-owner of MPW Digital, the most downloaded podcast network in Mississippi. His first book, Resilient Rebels: Ole Miss Baseball’s Remarkable Path to a National Title , was one of Mississippi’s top books in 2022.
Jeff Roberson has covered more than 1,000 Ole Miss baseball games in his sports writing career. He is co-author of Midnight Train, the life story of former
Ole Miss quarterback and Songwriters Hall of Fame member Jim Weatherly. He has served as an archivist and historian for Ole Miss athletics.
How to Avoid Strangers on Airplanes: Survival Guide for the Frequent Business Traveler by Brandon C. Blewett (MBA 10), 138 pages (paperback, also available in hardback and Kindle), independently published, ISBN: 979-8330643677
In How to Avoid Strangers on Airplanes, Blewett blends sharp humor with career insight, offering readers a survival guide for both the skies and the workplace. More than a comedic take on flying, the book doubles as a reflection on career development and resilience. Drawing on Blewett’s own pivots from lost law school graduate to failed tax adviser to consultant to private equity exclusive, it captures how moments of discomfort, both in flight and in the office, often shape personal and professional growth and serve as “connecting flights.” With wit and perspective, the book reminds readers that some of the best career lessons come at 30,000 feet.
Brandon Blewett earned his B.A. from Southern Methodist University (05), his J.D. from the University of Southern Carolina (09) and his MBA
from the University of Mississippi (10). He has served the Ole Miss community in many ways, including serving on the Ole Miss MBA board of advisers. He credits Ole Miss as instrumental in shaping the resilience, perspective and career pivots that defined his path and inspired his writing.
Ice Palace by George Vassallo (BA 68, MEd 71), 66 pages (paperback), independently published, ISBN: 979-8343333497
In Ice Palace, George Vassallo spins a suspenseful tale that begins with a call no reporter can ignore. When an old friend reaches out from Antarctica, a seasoned journalist receives the tip of a lifetime, setting off a chain of events that reaches far beyond the frozen continent. As buried secrets stir beneath the ice, the story builds toward a chilling revelation, suggesting that something long hidden has been waiting for the precise moment to emerge.
Vassallo is a writer living in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He has written for USA Today, Playboy and various newspapers about sports collectibles and other writers.
Burn It All Down by W.A. Pepper (BBA 01, MBA 03, PhD 14), 381 pages (paperback,
also available in Kindle), Hustle Valley Press, ISBN: 978-1958011157
Tanto carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. Determined to take down his enemies once and for all, he sets up a hack to expose their prison machine as a ruthless enslavement of humans. But when the operation goes horribly wrong, the nonviolent Bushido follower suffers another tragic loss. Now, targeted as public enemy No. 1, Tanto and his cyber team go on the run searching for allies. As he races toward an inevitable climactic confrontation, he is deeply betrayed once again.
Can Tanto win this impossible war without paying the ultimate price? Burn It All Down is the compelling final book in the Tanto Technothriller series. If you like clever characters, unpredictable twists and raw emotional suspense, then you will love Pepper’s gripping page turner.
W.A. Pepper writes thrillers and is an award-winning USA Today , Wall Street Journal and Amazon bestselling author for his contribution to the business anthology Habits of Success . He, his wife, Taddy, and their dog, Danger, split their time between Mississippi and Colorado.
I Remember Everything , by Brooks Eason (BA 79), 227 pages (hardback, also available in paperback and Kindle), WordCrafts Press, ISBN: 978-1967649112
Sam Thompson and Jeff Freeman become best friends on the day they meet in the summer they turn 8. Sam serves as the best man in Jeff’s wedding, and a decade later, they swap roles. They name their sons for each other and remain best friends until the night of a shocking twist of fate in 2023.
I Remember Everything traces the lives of Sam and Jeff for more than five decades, from growing up to growing old, and follows them on grand adventures to some of the most magnificent rivers and mountains in America. The book also explores their mutual love for the music of the late John Prine, one of America’s greatest songwriters. “I Remember Everything” is the title of his last song.
In his seventh book, Brooks Eason has crafted an unforgettable tale of enduring friendship and having to say goodbye. Eason retired after 40 years of practicing law to a life of walking dogs and writing books. He lives with his wife, Carrie, in Madison.
Information presented in this section is compiled from material provided by the publisher and/or author and does not necessarily represent the view of the Alumni Review or the Ole Miss Alumni Association. To present a recently published book or CD for consideration, please mail a copy with any descriptions and publishing information to: Ole Miss Alumni Review, Ole Miss Alumni Association, P.O. Box 1374, Oxford, MS 38655.
Rebel Traveler 2026
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, Netherlands
The alumni travel program is a service the Ole Miss Alumni Association offers as part of its mission to unite its alumni and keep them connected to Ole Miss and one another. OMAA has partnered with several tour operators that specialize in alumni travel to offer a broad selection of educational tours. Alumni and friends obtain group rates and discounts. Listed prices are per person, based on double occupancy, and pricing and dates are subject to change until booking. Airfare is not included unless noted. Visit olemissalumni.com/ travel for a complete listing and the most up-to-date information.
Offerings and itineraries are subject to change or cancellation. OMAA strongly recommends purchasing travel insurance. For a brochure or more information on a trip, contact the Alumni office at 662-9157375 or email travel@olemissalumni.com.
D-DAY: INVASION OF NORMANDY AND LIBERATION OF FRANCE
MAY 7-13, 2026
Tour Operator: WWII Museum
For more than two-and-a-half years, the Allies planned and gathered their military strength to launch the decisive amphibious invasion of northern France and strike a mortal blow against the Third Reich. In anticipation, Adolf Hitler stockpiled reserve units in the Atlantic Wall defenses across the French coastline, determined to drive the Allied forces back into the sea when the invasion was finally launched. There would be no second chance for the Allies: The fate of the continent hung upon this decisive day. Normandy’s World War II history is intriguing and moving in countless ways. You will experience these sacred sites in ways other tours can’t offer with the National WWII Museum. With
unmatched local expertise, our itinerary delves deeper into the stories and tumultuous times of the war while providing the convenience and attention to detail you expect while traveling. Offering a full week of touring in Normandy at an incredible price, this unforgettable tour offers great value and features top guides, upscale accommodations in prime locations, comprehensive dining and exclusive access to sites unseen on other programs. — From $5,750
CRUISE SICILY, MALTA AND THE AMALFI COAST
MAY 25 – JUNE 2, 2026
Tour Operator: Gohagan
Revel in magnificent scenic beauty and enthralling history on this exclusively chartered, seven-night cruise featuring the breathtaking Amalfi Coast, legendary sites in Sicily and the baroque grandeur
of Valletta, Malta’s capital. During your deluxe voyage, appreciate the remarkable archaeological ruins of Pompeii and Syracuse, and enjoy a choice of tours in Palermo that showcases glittering Byzantine mosaics. Coastal splendor awaits as you stroll through picturesque Positano and Capri on the Amalfi Coast and take in sweeping views from Taormina’s famous Greek theater. You’ll also marvel at the stunning interior of Valletta’s 16th-century cathedral and meander through charming Ortigia, Syracuse’s island old town. Along the way, relish enticing cuisine, sample Sicilian wines in a palazzo and dig into Palermo’s tastiest street foods. As you travel, expert guides and speakers will share meaningful insights about the many cultures interwoven within this fascinating region, while a travel director will manage the logistics. To enhance your experience, add the Rome pre-tour and/or the Valletta posttour extensions. — $6,995
GREAT EUROPEAN JOURNEY
MAY 26 – JUNE 6, 2026
Tour Operator: Gohagan
Embark on an exhilarating European adventure steeped in storied history, grand architecture and breathtaking scenery on this fabulous 12-day, 11-night itinerary. In Switzerland, discover unforgettable Montreux, a hub of music
and culture. Marvel at the beauty of Lake Geneva on a sightseeing cruise and the sweeping grandeur of the Alps during a panoramic train ride. Explore the picturesque towns of Gruyères and Basel. Then board the sumptuous Viva One, boasting luxurious amenities and impeccable service, to enjoy a deluxe seven-night river cruise. Soak up the timeless beauty of the Rhine and Moselle rivers as you wind past storybook towns, terraced vineyards and forested hills crowned by castles. After embarking in Basel, Switzerland, call at Strasbourg, France; Heidelberg, Rüdesheim, Cochem and Cologne, Germany; and Amsterdam, Netherlands. Add to your amazing European exploration with an optional post-tour extension in Amsterdam. — From $5,995
CRUISE THE DALMATIAN COAST AND ITALY
JUNE 11-20, 2026
Tour Operator: Gohagan
From bucolic hills to stunning harbor towns and traditions you can taste, uncover the wonders of three countries — Croatia, Montenegro and Italy — on this fantastic eight-night cruise. Board the deluxe World Traveller in Dubrovnik, Croatia, and chart a course for Venice, Italy. Call at ancient walled cities, medieval villages, iconic archaeological sites and smaller, seldom-visited ports.
Enjoy custom-designed excursions to UNESCO World Heritage sites such as the seventh-century walled city of Dubrovnik; Kotor’s old town; Split’s fourth-century Palace of Diocletian; and the remarkable Trulli in Alberobello. Trace the legacies of Roman, Greek, Byzantine, Slavic and Venetian civilizations, sip masterfully crafted wines and dig into sensational fresh cuisine. Ponder history in Korcula, reputed as the birthplace of Marco Polo; explore historic Hvar and glide into the breathtaking Bay of Kotor, surrounded by plunging emerald slopes. As you travel, your travel director will manage the logistics, while expert guides and speakers share meaningful insights — including special guest speaker Darius Arya, archaeologist and author based in Rome. To enhance your experience, add the Dubrovnik pre-tour and/or the Venice post-tour extensions. — From $7,995
FLAVORS OF NORTHERN ITALY
JUNE 12-20, 2026
Tour Operator: Orbridge
Immerse yourself in the flavors and charm of Northern Italy on a nine-day adventure based at Selva Capuzza, a welcoming wine estate near Lake Garda. Wander Verona’s cobbled streets, see Juliet’s balcony and admire the Roman amphitheater. Cruise the serene waters of Lago d’Iseo, sip sparkling Franciacorta and roll fresh pasta alongside local chefs. Discover Amarone wines in Valpolicella, taste artisan cheeses in Roncà and enjoy a private balsamic vinegar experience in Modena. From medieval villages to lakeside Sirmione, each day blends culture, history and cuisine, with expert guides ensuring a seamless, enriching journey. — From $5,695
GRAND SEINE AND NORMANDY
JUNE 20-28, 2026
Tour Operator: AHI
Join an unforgettable seven-night Seine River cruise that showcases poignant wartime history, colorful Norman cities and majestic Paris, the City of Light. Unpack once on your exclusively chartered, first-class ship and sail round trip from Paris, passing bountiful countryside and ports brimming with antiquity. Stroll
Artisan cheese tasting in Roncà, Verona, Italy
Rebel Traveler 2026
through centuries-old towns, including Rouen, host to a well-preserved medieval quarter, and maritime Honfleur with its enchanting Vieux Bassin. Delve into the dramatic history of the D-Day invasion at Normandy’s beaches and the Caen Memorial Museum while expert guides add context to your visit. Walk through bountiful gardens at Claude Monet’s home, gaze in awe at majestic Versailles and explore timeless abbeys. While in Paris, experience the city’s charismatic districts and landmarks, from the NotreDame Cathedral to the Latin Quarter. This extraordinary journey features an extensive meal plan, including wine and beer with lunch and dinner. There is no single supplement for solo travelers. — From $5,295
KENYA SAFARI: THE BIG FIVE
JULY 1-11, 2026
Tour Operator: Orbridge Journey deep into Kenya’s wilderness on this epic safari where expert guides lead you through reserves and conservancies to spot the Big Five — lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino. Stay in deluxe lodges and tented camps designed for comfort and immersion. Begin in Nairobi with visits to conservation projects, such as the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and the Giraffe Centre. Travel by land and internal flights to iconic wildlife havens such as Samburu and Maasai Mara where you’ll enjoy multiple game drives. Optional sunrise balloon rides over the Mara add magic. Along the way, engage with local cultures under vast skies and within spectacular landscapes. — From $7,995
SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS AND CALEDONIAN CANAL
JULY 10-21, 2026
Tour Operator: Gohagan
Discover the Scottish Highlands — with their mist-shrouded peaks, verdant glens and velvet moors — from the perspective of the Caledonian Canal aboard the stylish and cozy Lord of the Glens. Immerse yourself in breathtaking scenery as your expedition ship cruises the canal — built in the early 1800s to connect the Great Glen’s four lochs — and navigates passages inaccessible to larger boats. On this
unforgettable voyage, step inside ancient sacred abbeys and legendary castles; experience warm, welcoming cities; and glide alongside an untamable coastline. Stride across the battlefield at Culloden — where Bonnie Prince Charlie was dramatically defeated in 1746 — and discover Clava Cairns, a well-preserved Bronze Age cemetery. Take a train over the renowned viaduct to beautiful Glenfinnan. Search for marine animals and birdlife — including seals, whales, dolphins and seabirds — at Eigg, one of the Small Isles in the Inner Hebrides. Delight to Scottish dancers and whisky tastings, marvel at impressive nautical engineering and savor gorgeous views. This exclusive travel program takes you to destinations of wild beauty you’ll never forget. — From $9,695
CAPE COD AND THE ISLANDS
JULY 25-31, 2026
Tour Operator: Premier World Discovery “The Cape” — Cape Cod, located in eastern Massachusetts, is among New England’s favorite summer vacation destinations with beautiful ocean beaches and small unique businesses. Spend time in Boston and see Boston Commons, Old North Church, Beacon Hill and the ship Old Ironsides. Travel to Plimoth Plantation, a re-creation of the pilgrims’ 1627 village, and learn of the journey that brought the pilgrims to the New World some 400 years ago with a visit to the Mayflower II, the 1620 ship reproduction. Enjoy a ferry ride to Martha’s Vineyard for a tour of the island to see Victorian cottages, pristine beaches and colorful harbors. Along the Cape Cod National Seashore, explore a traditional cranberry bog and learn about harvesting this famous fruit. In Provincetown, enjoy free time to explore the lively artist community with its great restaurants and charming shops. Enjoy a city tour of one of New England’s most delightful coastal cities, Newport, Rhode Island, and cruise to historic Nantucket Island and visit the Nantucket Whaling Museum. Enjoy these incredible New England sights during your adventure to Boston and “the Cape.” Please review the itinerary details and count the extras. Round-trip airfare included. — From $3,995, including airfare
STUNNING SCOTLAND
AUG, 8-17, 2026
Tour Operator: Orbridge
Join us on a captivating 10-day journey through Scotland’s highlands and islands with the highlight of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Cruise serene Loch Lomond and explore The Trossachs National Park’s forests, hills and lochs. Visit the vibrant Isle of Mull and tranquil Aros Park, then step into history at Iona Abbey, the spiritual heart of Scotland. Take in Balmoral Castle and dramatic mountain views at Devil’s Elbow. Learn traditional craft at a Harris Tweed workshop and enjoy city tours in Edinburgh before the unforgettable Tattoo showcase of pipes, drums and Highland dancers. — From $6,795
DISCOVER THE CANADIAN ROCKIES BY RAIL
AUG. 12-18, 2026
Tour Operator: Orbridge
Embark on a breathtaking seven-day rail adventure through Canada’s most spectacular landscapes. Travel aboard the Rocky Mountaineer in luxurious GoldLeaf Service — enjoy panoramic views from glass-domed coaches, gourmet meals and outdoor viewing platforms. Begin in vibrant Vancouver, exploring Granville Island and Gastown, then glide through dramatic prairies and mountain passes to Kamloops and into the heart of the Rockies. Revel in the iconic peaks, glaciers and tunnels of western Canada, then spend three nights in stunning Banff with excursions to Sulphur Mountain, Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. — From $6,995
ALASKA’S GLACIERS AND THE INSIDE PASSAGE
AUG. 15-22, 2026
Tour Operator: Gohagan
On this unforgettable seven-night cruise from Juneau, Alaska, to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, sail through the magnificent, pristine Inside Passage. Immerse yourself in local cultural traditions and eye-popping scenery aboard Star Seeker , an exclusively chartered, deluxe, all-suite small ship. Stop at the remote fishing village of Elfin Cove —
population 16 — on pristine Chichagof Island. Marvel at the distinctive ancient rock carvings at Petroglyph Beach in Wrangell. In picturesque Sitka, choose to explore the “capital of Russian America” and tour the Alaska Raptor Center, or visit the Sitka National Historical Park, featuring totem-lined forest trails and cultural exhibits. Throughout, marvel at the spectacular vistas of forested hills, snowcapped mountains, calving glaciers and icy seas. Be on the lookout for orca, humpback and minke whales, sea lions, seals and raptors; you may even see foraging bears and moose along the shoreline. Onboard naturalists and guides will offer wildlife-spotting tips and insights. Enhance your experience by adding the Denali National Park pre - tour extension and/or Vancouver post-tour extension. — From $6,495
PACIFIC NORTHWEST DISCOVERY – SAN JUAN ISLANDS
AUG. 24-29, 2026
Tour Operator: Orbridge
Join us on this meticulously crafted journey through the San Juan Islands — an exclusive small-group sojourn offering an immersive exploration of one of North America’s most spectacular marine ecosystems. From the rugged coastlines of remote islands to the tranquil beauty of old-growth forests, each day unfolds with
extraordinary wildlife encounters, breathtaking landscapes and unique cultural discoveries. Come experience the raw beauty of the Pacific Northwest in a way that few travelers ever do. — From $5,895
BLACK HILLS, BADLANDS AND MOUNT RUSHMORE
AUG. 26 – SEPT. 1, 2026
Tour Operator: Premier World Discovery Discover the history and adventure of the American West on this seven-day Black Hills tour, with six nights in historic Rapid City, South Dakota. Stand beneath the monumental faces of Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln at Mount Rushmore, then see the ongoing work at the Crazy Horse Memorial. Get up close to buffalo on a thrilling jeep safari through Custer State Park. Venture west to the towering Devil’s Tower National Monument, the first U.S. national monument and sacred to native peoples. Step back in time in Deadwood, the legendary Wild West town home to Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane, and enjoy a scenic ride on the 1880 steam train through the Black Hills. Explore the dramatic landscapes of Badlands National Park, snap a photo at the quirky Wall Drug Store and finish with a lively chuckwagon supper and cowboy show that captures the spirit of the frontier. — From $3,995, including airfare
WONDERS OF PERU
SEPT. 5-16, 2026
Tour Operator: AHI
From majestic Machu Picchu nestled high in the Andes to the Amazon’s unspoiled beauty, revel in the very best of Peru on this incredible 10-night journey. In cosmopolitan Lima, take in splendid colonial-era architecture, admire the Larco Museum’s exceptional pre-Columbian art, and relish a Peruvian dinner at a historic home. Delve into Inca history in the stunning Sacred Valley at fascinating sites including Ollantaytambo and the Maras Salt Mines and at Cusco’s remarkable ruins. Enjoy a scenic train ride through the breathtaking Andes and tour the temples, palaces and plazas of lofty Machu Picchu. Then, cruise for three nights through the Amazon rainforest aboard the deluxe Delfin III, and set off on guided skiff boat rides for close-up views of the astounding biodiversity within one of Peru’s largest wildlife reserves. Keep an eye out for macaws, toucans, monkeys, capybaras, pink dolphins and much more. This active small-group experience features first-class and deluxe hotels, roundtrip air between Miami and Lima, two round-trip flights within Peru and an ample meal plan with wine at dinner. —
From $7,695
Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland
A lumni News
Pregame Fiesta
Before the College Football Playoff semifinal on Jan. 8 at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Ole Miss alumni and friends packed Heritage at Sportsman’s Park in Glendale, Arizona, for the Alumni Association’s Official Ole Miss Pregame Party, sponsored by Rebel Rags, Cannon Motors of Mississippi and the M-Club Alumni Chapter.
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Annie Rhoades
Class Notes
’60s GUY HOVIS (BBA 63), of Oxford, received the Daughters of the American Revolution Medal of Honor at the organization’s annual Veterans Day event. He was chosen for this award for his service as an entertainer for the troops, his service in Washington, D.C., for U.S. Sen. Trent Lott (BPA 63, JD 67) and his numerous volunteer efforts during retirement.
’70s RICHARD G. COWART (JD 78), of Franklin, Tennessee, was inducted into the University of Southern Mississippi’s 2025 Hall of Fame.
MARIAN LYLE (BA 72), of Tupelo, was chosen as the 2025 recipient of the Helen Foster Award for Library Advocacy. This award recognizes individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the Lee County Library through acts of advocacy, service and support.
GLENDA SEGARS (SPEd 79, PhD 87), of Tupelo, was chosen as the 2024 recipient of the Helen Foster Award for Library Advocacy. This award recognizes individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the Lee County Library through acts of advocacy, service and support.
BIRTHS
’80s DEREK J. HORNE (BBA 87), of Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, was named vice president of athletics for Bethel University.
LAURA TETLEY TODD (BBA 83), of Collierville, Tennessee, was appointed by Gov. Bill Lee to serve on the Tennessee Historical Commission representing the Western Grand Division.
’90s JEB BLACKBURN (BBA 97, MBA 99), of Vicksburg, has joined Delta Bank’s board of directors.
JENNIFER HAYES BUBRIG (BAEd 97, MEd 98), of Memphis, Tennessee, was awarded the Outstanding Faculty Service Award for the College of Education at the University of Memphis. She is a clinical associate professor in the Department of Instruction and Curriculum Leadership.
CHRISTINE BURGESON (BSJ 92), of Arlington, Virginia, was appointed as American Beverage’s vice president of government and public affairs.
’00s
KATELYN W. HARRELL (BA 09, JD 13), of New Orleans, was promoted to partner at BCLP.
James Thomas, son of Elizabeth White Lynch (BAJ 11) and John Edgar Lynch Jr. (BBA 11), Oct. 7, 2025
Edward Whitten, son of Hilary Pearson and Matthew Jason Pearson (BBA 05, BAccy 10), Nov. 2, 2025
WEDDINGS
KATIE YARBOROUGH NARON (BAEd 04, MEd 05), of Oxford, was promoted to lecturer of teacher education at the University of Mississippi. She was also named Parent of the Year for Della Davidson Elementary School in Oxford.
JONATHAN R. WERNE (BA 02, JD 05), of Jackson, joined Butler Snow’s Health Law practice group.
’10s
KAYLA RIGGS (BSCJ 14), of Jackson, was recognized by the G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery VA Medical Center as one of eight veterans inducted into its 2025 Veterans Day Wall of Honor. The honor celebrates veterans who have demonstrated exceptional service, leadership and commitment to both their nation and communities.
’20s
MCLIN SANDERS (BBA 25), of Madison, finished hiking the entire Pacific Crest Trail. The trail spans 2,650 miles, running from Mexico to Canada, and it took five months to complete.
MASON SCIONEAUX (BAJ 21, JD 24), of Nashville, Tennessee, joined the Stites & Harbison Nashville office in business litigation.
Shauneille Cassandra Jackson (BAEd 83, MEd 98) and Larry Pegues, Nov. 1, 2025
Lindsey Elaine Miller (BSPhSc 19, PharmD 22) and Stephen Anthony Rayborn (BSPhSc 19, PharmD 22), Sept. 18, 2025
The Future Alumni Network is the student level of membership in the Ole Miss Alumni Association.
Becoming a member is the first step in beginning students’ lifelong relationship with Ole Miss.
Get special gifts & perks:
• Free printing and Scantrons in Triplett Alumni Center Sponsored by Rose Business Equipment
• Special events throughout the year just for student members
• Receive special gifts every year
• Access to MEMBER ZONE on home football game days
• Discounts and special offers at local and national retailers
• Meet prominent alumni and learn valuable career advice at our networking events
• Special car decal Memberships are only $25 annually, or $75 for four years for undergrads!
Sugar Sweet
Ole Miss alumni and fans turned out in force at The Fillmore in New Orleans and for the Alumni Association’s New Year’s Bowl Bash presented by Rebel Rags before the Rebels beat Georgia 39-34 in the Allstate Sugar Bowl playoff quarterfinal.
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Annie Rhoades
Purpose Over Profit
NISOLO FOUNDER ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO PURSUE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
One year after graduating from the University of Mississippi in 2010, Patrick Woodyard’s (BA 10) life calling was revealed in a single moment in Peru while visiting with Doris, a local entrepreneur, and William, a shoemaker.
The encounter led to questions that inspired Woodyard to envision Nisolo, a shoe and leather accessories brand with a holistic commitment to connect underserved, high-skilled producers to consumers worldwide while benefiting the planet.
“Nisolo loosely translated means ‘not alone’ in Spanish, and I gave the brand that name to remind everyone who interacts with it that we’re not alone and our choices as consumers have a massive impact on people and this planet we call home,” Woodyard says.
The Ole Miss Women’s Council for Philanthropy presented Woodyard with its 2025 Emerging Young Philanthropist Award on Nov. 7 at the Powerhouse Community Arts Center.
Pursuing 100% living wages and 0% net carbon impact, Nisolo soared to significant heights — supporting thousands of workers across Peru, Mexico, Brazil, Cambodia, Kenya and the U.S.; exceeding $150 million in revenue through e-commerce sales; and partnering with world-class retailers such as Nordstrom, Anthropologie and Madewell.
Since launching Nisolo, Woodyard’s work has earned national and international recognition. He was named a 30 Under 30 honoree, received the Top 100 U.S. Impact CEO Award three years running (2022-24) and was honored as an Innovator Changing the South. He’s also served as board chair and strategic adviser for international manufacturers in South Amer ica and East Africa.
The Nashville resident says he was surprised and grateful to receive the Women’s Council honor. He says you can sometimes be so close to the work and mission you believe in that you cannot see the full picture as it develops.
“I am filled with gratitude for every team member and supporter who has pushed our vision forward, and it’s a profound privilege to receive this on behalf of our community,” Woodyard says.
One of the founding principles of the OMWC is to nurture philanthropic behavior. The council focuses on the primary pillars of scholar ship, leadership, mentorship and philanthropy. It is recognized as one of the nation’s most innovative and generous scholar ship programs.
Woodyard advises Ole Miss students to consciously incorporate social responsibility in their lives and careers. He says pursuing a path like his will be more rewarding than one might think, but also harder than imagined.
“You know deep down if you’re called to this work, and this leaves you with three options,” he says. “One, walk away knowing you’re not living into who you were made to be; two, press on, leaning on your own grit and run the very likely risk of eventual burnout; or three, commit and consistently surround yourself with deep friendships and mentors who will be in your corner, giving you the strength to carry on.”
Woodyard was an Ole Miss Student Hall of Fame inductee and Croft Institute for International Studies student. He credits his time at the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College with everything to do with his work at Nisolo.
“Of the incredible skill sets and knowledge I gained at this university, I’m most grateful for the way the Croft Institute and Honors College taught me that I am not alone on this planet,” Woodyard says. “This lesson transformed the trajectory of my life and, as a result, changed the lives of many others, too. It all started
He believes what matters most is understanding that you have been blessed with gifts to be used for more than just self-interest. Living with purpose beyond ourselves is not only what matters most, but it’s also what makes one happiest in life.
Patrick Woodyard (left) talks with Ole Miss Women’s Council scholars Madison Spears (center) and Jimmil Taylor following the Emerging Young Philanthropist Award presentation. | Photo by Mary Knight
Alumni News
IN MEMORIAM
1940s
Santo Julius Borganelli (49), of Hattiesburg, Nov. 1, 2025
Carl Lee Nance Jr. (BBA 48), of Ripley, Nov. 30, 2025
Mary Smith Neff (BSC 46), of Greenville, Oct. 22, 2025
1950s
Joan Bailey (BAEd 53), of Vicksburg, Oct. 9, 2025
Walterine Herrington Bell (MD 58), of Brandon, Oct. 30, 2025
Thomas Patrick Caffey Jr. (MA 56), of North Little Rock, Ark., Oct. 13, 2025
Wade Hampton Creekmore Jr. (BBA 56, JD 67), of Jackson, Nov. 28, 2025
Mary Murchison Gooch (60), of New Albany, Oct. 25, 2025
Ramelle Bell Greene (BAEd 67), of Oxford, Nov. 10, 2025
Wesley Wilkinson Hall Jr. (MD 64), of Reno, Nev., Aug. 31, 2025
Robert Melvin Hammers (BBA 64), of Waleska, Ga., Oct. 8, 2025
Randy Lee Harvey (69), of Bluffton, S.C., Oct. 5, 2025
Nancy Wood Holland (BAEd 63, MEd 77), of Fulton, Oct. 21, 2025
Thomas Owen Horn Sr. (BSPh 69), of Flora, Oct. 15, 2025
William Rollins Hurt (BA 68), of Houston, Texas, Sept. 17, 2025
William Byrd James (BA 65), of Grenada, Oct. 21, 2025
Fredric Earl Jones (BSPh 65, MS 69), of Seminole, Fla., Oct. 18, 2025
Peggy Anne Keady (BSHPE 63), of Kosciusko, Nov. 27, 2025
Johnny Keesee (BBA 66), of Waynesville, N.C., Nov. 14, 2025
Judy Cobb Kinard (BA 67), of Pascagoula, Oct. 11, 2025
Cyrus Eugene Kirkham Jr. (MEd 66), of Jefferson City, Mo., Oct. 28, 2025
Percy Carroll Kyle (BSHPE 68, MEd 73), of Pontotoc, Oct. 31, 2025
Lynn Taylor Laurenzi (BAEd 68), of Little Rock, Ark., Oct. 28, 2025
Herman McCurry Lesley Jr. (BBA 67), of New Albany, Nov. 20, 2025
Fenwick Stewart Lewis (BBA 67), of San Rafael, Calif., Oct. 23, 2025
Tanis Marble McKay (68), of Brandon, Nov. 15, 2025
Ronnie Richard Miller (MA 68), of Magnolia Springs, Ala., Nov. 15, 2025
Sandra Baker Moore (BA 60), of Denver, Colo., Jan. 17, 2025
Carla Brown Rhodes (BAEd 68, MEd 69), of Sykesville, Md., Nov. 8, 2025
Mary Joyce Ring (MBEd 64), of Walnut Ridge, Ark., Oct. 23, 2025
John Gordon Roach Jr. (BA 60, LLB 64), of Madison, Oct. 22, 2025
Alfred Bonner Roberson (MCS 66), of Lugoff, S.C., Nov. 2, 2025
Sarah Marie Smith (MBEd 60, SpecEd 77), of Como, Nov. 26, 2025
Roger Perry Tatum (BA 63), of Arlington Heights, Ill., Oct. 14, 2025
Donna Hobson Thomas (BA 68), of New Albany, Nov. 13, 2025
Thomas Ellwood Toney (MEd 66), of Batesville, Oct. 17, 2025
Susan Katherine Tutor (BSPh 66), of Milwaukie, Ore., Oct. 21, 2025
Herbert Sherley Watson Jr. (BA 62), of Earle, Ark., Nov. 7, 2025
Alexine Wilkerson (BSC 62), of Franklin, Tenn., Oct. 11, 2025
Max Warren Williams (BA 61, MA 64), of Oxford, Oct. 14, 2025
Lauranne Jones Wood (BAEd 69), of Lakeland, Fla., Nov. 20, 2024
1970s
Sheryl Prescott Aldridge (MEd 77), of New Albany, Nov. 10, 2025
Patricia White Baker (MEd 79), of Conway, Ark., Oct. 29, 2025
Joan Sauer Bertaut (MLS 77), of New Orleans, La., Sept. 28, 2025
Bonita Thompson Britt (BAEd 77), of Missouri City, Texas, Sept. 21, 2025
Robert Madison Brownlee (MEd 74), of Myrtle, Nov. 20, 2025
Bettye Morrow Butler (BA 79), of Oxford, Nov. 18, 2025
John Kelly Byrd (BBA 78), of Yazoo City, Nov. 22, 2025
Willard Earl Chatham (77), of Brandon, Oct. 22, 2025
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Playoff Launch Party
Rebel Nation gathered to
on Friday, Dec. 19,
celebrate the football team’s launch into the College Football Playoffs
at The Lyric Oxford and enjoyed live music by Doctor Zarr’s Amazing Funk Monster.
by
Photos
Bill Dabney
Alumni News
Chad Dotson Clark (BBA 75), of Jackson, Oct. 18, 2025
Sally Weales Clyde (MEd 71), of Spokane Valley, Wash., Oct. 17, 2025
Alvin Foster (BA 74), of Gettysburg, Pa., Oct. 6, 2025
Debra Leanne Tate George (BAEd 74, MEd 78), of Myrtle, Nov. 2, 2025
William Hudson Glover Jr. (BBA 73, JD 76), of Flowood, Oct. 10, 2025
Clarence Edwin Graves III (MFA 71), of Memphis, Tenn., Oct. 6, 2025
William Larry Hall (BBA 70), of Oxford, Oct. 22, 2025
Gary Crawford Hamilton (BBA 71), of West Point, Oct. 10, 2025
David Athey Haney (BBA 71), of Myrtle Beach, S.C., Oct. 12, 2025
Earnest Burdette Haney (BBA 71), of Pontotoc, Oct. 17, 2025
Hugh Miller Hartzog Jr. (BBA 70, MURP 72), of Baton Rouge, La., Nov. 8, 2025
Mary Margaret Bledsoe Hayden (BA 79), of Manchester, Tenn., Sept. 2, 2025
Charles Roy Horton (PhD 71), of Memphis, Tenn., Oct. 12, 2025
Larry Houchins (BBA 75), of Jackson, Oct. 26, 2025
Ray Anthony Inman (BBA 73), of West Monroe, La., Nov. 22, 2025
William Gilbert Jackson (MD 75), of Corinth, Oct. 24, 2025
William Eugene Magee (BA 73, JD 78), of Collierville, Tenn., Nov. 6, 2025
Dennis Michael Maynard (BBA 73), of Tupelo, Nov. 24, 2025
Susan Carol McCormick (BAEd 74), of Senatobia, March 22, 2025
Mary Herrington McMillin (MA 72), of Madison, Nov. 15, 2025
Jaime Rae Russell (BS 23), of Edmond, Okla., Oct. 15, 2025
STUDENTS
Knox Carter Boudreau (25), of Decatur, Ga., Oct. 24, 2025
FACULTY, STAFF AND FRIENDS
Elizabeth Nelson Adams (12), of Vicksburg, Oct. 3, 2025
Craig Edward Andres, of Somerville, Tenn., Oct. 9, 2025
Linda Tillman Climer, of Ridgeland, July 17, 2025
Robert Boone Cooper, of Brandon, Oct. 15, 2025
Minta Miles Craig, of Oxford, Nov. 2, 2025
Frances Lane Defenbaugh, of Grenada, Nov. 27, 2025
Doreen Angela Fowler, of Lawrence, Kan., Nov. 7, 2025
Gail Griffin Gilmore, of Meridian, Oct. 21, 2025
Wallis Perry Griffis Jr., of Daphne, Ala., Oct. 16, 2025
Kimberly Kay Hagwood, of Collinsville, Oct. 30, 2025
Robert Clark Leake, of Tupelo, Oct. 9, 2025
Martha Boatright Leggitt, of Bryant, Ark., Oct. 9, 2025
William Paul Liles Sr., of Oxford, Oct. 29, 2025
Bedford Forrest Logan, of Vernon, Ala., Oct. 27, 2025
Mary Felsher Moniot, of Biloxi, Oct. 28, 2025
Curtis Monroe Quinn, of Louisville, Nov. 26, 2025
Barbara Ann Brown Swords, of Belden, Oct. 5, 2025
Robert Lee Turgeon, of Oxford, Nov. 1, 2025
Moses William Vernon Jr., of Oxford, Oct. 7, 2025
Roxanne Hargis Watkins, of Cordova, Tenn., Oct. 16, 2025
Millicent Terney Wilkinson, of Meridian, Oct. 3, 2025
Due to space limitations, class notes are only published in the Alumni Review from active, dues-paying members of the Ole Miss Alumni Association. To submit a class note, send it to records@olemiss.edu or Alumni Records Dept., Ole Miss Alumni Association, P.O. Box 1374, Oxford, MS 38655. Class notes also may be submitted through the Association’s website at olemissalumni.com. The Association relies on numerous sources for class notes and is unable to verify all notes with individual alumni.
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