Education Edge 2023

2023 EDUCATION

EDGE

‘Wesley’. Oil on wood. By James Kane

U N I V E R S I T Y O F M I S S I S S I P P I n S C H O O L O F E D U C AT I O N

Willie Price student Wesley Boateng cheers “Go Rebels” during an SEC Nation re-enactment.

View it online:

Greetings from

THE DEAN

W

elcome to the ninth edition of Education Edge.

We are elated to share with you the work being accomplished by our alumni, students, faculty and staff who continue to forge a better future for Mississippi, for our nation and for our world.

A huge testament to the work and commitment of those in the School of Education is our new ranking as a top 50 graduate school for education by U.S. News & World Report.

Among public universities, we now rank 38th. Some crucial factors that determine this ranking are research activity, external grant funding and student selectivity. We have always known that our school is home to influential scholars and productive educators; we’re excited for prospective students and faculty across the nation to know it too.

These pages highlight much of that passionate work. You will read about educators who are using grants to improve learning outcomes with nutrition and movement science; navigate roadblocks to education equity for students who are disabled or disadvantaged; improve early literacy in Mississippi and more.

This year also saw the establishment of the National Center for School-University Partnerships, the new organizational home for the iLead network established by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The center has already recruited more than 20 members committed to using improvement science to strengthen schools and school systems.

We take pride in the work that happens outside of these walls too. You will have the chance to read about alumni such as Austyn Jones, a Knowles Teaching Fellow, who is making math more engaging and accessible for his Biloxi High students. Catch up with Grayson Spencer, a former UM basketball manager, now a teacher and coach in New Albany, whose teaching roles briefly included teaching himself to speak and walk again after surviving a car crash. Also featured is Ryan McGlawn, who is helping the University of Mississippi Medical Center to improve hybrid learning for physical therapy students and identify technologies that make students successful in an online learning environment. These are just a few of their incredible stories.

As always, we are proud to feature our Hall of Fame inductees and Practitioners of Distinction. I invite you to take a moment to consider the lasting impact made by the alumni showcased. Read about people such as Carole B. Haney, former director of the North Mississippi Regional Center; Judith Thompson, veteran educator and administrator in Oxford and Lafayette County and key player in the creation of the Oxford Boys & Girls Club’s L.O.U. Barksdale Clubhouse; and Mitzi Norris, executive director for academic effectiveness at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. These alumni show us that education truly transforms lives, institutions and communities.

Finally, thank you for being an active part of the legacy we are building. Without your support, hard work and continued engagement, none of these stories would be possible.

2 n 2023 Education Edge n School of Education

Photo by Thomas Graning

50 TOP

School of Graduate Education

by U.S. News & World Report

LOOK INSIDE 4

6 18

SOE, What’s New A Top-50 rating, a National Center for School-University Partnerships, an inspiring day of philanthropy, and a new vision for external affairs

Dean David Rock, EdD Associate Dean Amy Wells Dolan, PhD

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Teacher Education Creating better outcomes in the classroom, on the court, and in the cafeteria

Leadership and Counselor Education Minimizing bullying in schools, reducing rates of adult suicide, and improving mental health for young Mississippians

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Education Edge 2023 Published 11/23 University , MS

Higher Education Supporting and transforming universities and schools of medicine and law

Centers Promoting creativity, responsibility, and STEM education through robotics, accelerating early childhood literacy, and strengthening math education

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Alumni Awards

35

Student Scholarships

Transforming lives, institutions, and communities

Showcasing those who show up and show out

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Donors You all make the UM School of Education Mississippi’s leader in teacher, counselor, and education leader preparation.

Coordinator of External Affairs and Strategic Initiatives Kelly Smith Marion Development Associate Jacob Ferguson Editor-in-Chief Leslie Joblin, PhD Graphic Designer Stefanie Goodwiller University Marketing & Communications

Paintings by James Kane Contributing Writers Clara Turnage University Marketing & Communications

Photographers Sri Chattopadhyay Thomas Graning University Marketing & Communications

Bill Dabney

UM Foundation

Education.OleMiss.edu @olemissedschool

University of Mississippi n 3 Photo by Srijita Chattopadhyay

SOE, What’s New? State and national partners convene for the September launch of the center.

A New Vision for External Affairs

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new group within the School of Education will formally spearhead efforts to support and advance the SOE’s mission. The team, led by Associate Dean Amy Wells Dolan, aims to bridge the work of our students, faculty and staff with the needs of our education communities to help increase financial resources and cultivate the next generations of educators through enhanced admissions recruitment, public relations, grant funding, alumni engagement and private support.

Amy Wells Dolan Associate Dean for Research and External Affairs Jacob Ferguson Development Associate Leslie Joblin Communications Specialist Katie Mills Research Administrator Kelly Smith Marion Director of Development 4 n 2023 Education Edge n School of Education

NCSUP Mission

Photo courtesy Denise Soares

Achieve vastly improved learning outcomes for every child, especially those from historically marginalized groups.

National Center for School-University Partnerships established

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he SOE is now home to a growing professional community of districtuniversity partnerships from across the country. Using data-based continuous improvement methods, these collaborative partnerships aim to tackle issues like absenteeism, student mental health, student connectedness, among other shared problems of practice.

The center springs from the iLead network established by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, which supports members in their efforts to move away from transactional relationships and move toward collaborative, scientific learning approaches.

Under the direction of Assistant Dean Denise Soares, more than 20 partnerships have been established since the center’s launch early this year. The center supports members’ site-based efforts, providing assessment tools and guidance on the integrity of improvement efforts in schools.

NCSUP will also use findings from partnership projects as models for education professionals with shared needs. Much like the National Institutes of Health, NCSUP seeks to become a national center for fostering and disseminating best practices for education professionals.

Learn more here: ncsup.olemiss.edu

Giving Day Success

CATALYZING

A

cademic and outreach programs across campus rallied community support during UM’s fourth annual Giving Day. The day of fundraising proved an unparalleled success, with donations to the university totaling a record-breaking $6.83 million.

Within the SOE, five challenge gifts—gifts promised to a program once a specific number of donations to that program has been received—kept momentum high.

“Giving Day helps us dispel the myth that a donor has to make a major gift to be a philanthropist.” said Kelly Smith Marion, director of development for the School of Education.

Change

“Just as educators make a difference one student at a time, it only takes one gift at a time to make an incredible difference for our future teachers, school leaders, counselors, and higher educational professionals.

The SOE‘s five challenge gifts guided the School to another shattered record: the highest number of gifts received by an individual school or unit—440 individual donations!

2023 SOE Challenge Gifts Lisa and Chuck Nicholson – $50,000

unlocked when 120 donors gave a gift for the School's 120th anniversary.

Hosemann Family Autism Foundation – $5,000 unlocked when 20 donors gave to the Applied Behavior Analysis program.

Ashley and Joel Hanel – $1,000

Photo by Leslie Joblin

unlocked when 15 people donated to the School of Education Student Teaching Fund.

Ginny and Bill Street – $1,000

unlocked when 10 people donated to the Excellence in Education Fund.

How you helped:

n $3,000 bought 60+ school supply kits to set student teachers up for success. n $3,500 in Excellence in Education Funds provides support for 3 fully-funded outsideof-classroom teaching and service projects. Recent examples include Kindness Club programming and the Mississippi Science Teachers Association spring conference. n $7,273 secures partial scholarships for the incoming cohort of 12 students pursuing graduate degrees in Applied Behavioral Analysis. n $54,232 to the Annual Impact Fund provides flexible funds for critical needs not covered by tuition revenue, like technology replacements and scholarship aid for students facing unexpected hardship. n A new fish tank for the children at Willie Price.

Grow your favorite program!

Contact Kelly Smith Marion, ksmith13@olemiss.edu University of Mississippi n 5

Inspirational Alumni

Jones earns Knowles Fellowship

ustyn

Program provides $150,000 over five years

BY LESLIE JOBLIN

A

lumnus Austyn Jones (BAEd 22) is one of 29 high school math and science teachers nationwide to earn the competitive Knowles Teaching Fellowship worth $150,000.

The five-year fellowship program supports early-career STEM teachers in their efforts to develop teaching expertise and improve education for all students.

“There’s a lot of negative language that surrounds math and who is allegedly good at it,” said Jones, who is in his second year teaching math at Biloxi High School. “I want more students to know they belong in STEM fields.”

Knowles fellows challenge themselves to engage students in disciplinary practices that a STEM professional might do, rather than focusing on the quickest route to the right answer.

Jones said he encourages his students to “focus on testing their ideas, sharing varied approaches with peers, working on a problem collaboratively and modeling real-world phenomena.”

Fellows receive access to classroom materials, professional development, stipends, mentorship and membership in a nationwide community of more than 450 teachers.

Entering his second year of the program, Jones said he can see changes in his instruction methods. He is leery of instructional practices that do the thinking for the students and make them passive recipients of knowledge.

“Now, whenever I’m planning a lesson, I’m thinking, ‘What would I, if I were the student, walk away from this lesson thinking about?’

As a teacher, I like to tackle this by posing interesting problems to my students. Usually, they lack the skill to fully solve the problem, so now the lesson has this goal we’re marching towards.”

Jones said he is honored to hone his teaching in his home state of Mississippi.

“It means I can give back to the state that provided me with the strong education I received,” he said.

At UM, Jones was part of the Mississippi Excellence in Teaching Program, an honors-college style program within the School of Education designed to introduce more highperforming teachers into schools across Mississippi.

As of 2022, Jones is the third SOE graduate to receive the fellowship.

Previous recipients include Jessica Peralta (BAEd 13) and Justin Ragland (BAEd 16, MEd 18).

“I want more students to know they belong in STEM fields.”

6 n 2023 Education Edge n School of Education

‘Austyn’. Oil on wood. By James Kane

AUSTYN JONES BAED 202 2

University of Mississippi n 7

Inspirational Alumni

‘Grayson’. Oil on wood. By James Kane

GRAYSON SPENCER BAED 2021, MED 2023

8 n 2023 Education Edge n School of Education

Spencer rebounds on and off the court

BY LESLIE JOBLIN

A

lumnus Grayson Spencer (BAEd 21, MEd 23) teaches and coaches at Ingomar Attendance Center in New Albany, a perfectly ordinary place for a recent UM education graduate to be, unless you happen to be Grayson Spencer.

In 2020, Spencer was involved in a serious car accident that saw him transported by emergency helicopter to a Tupelo hospital for a two-week stay where he was placed in a medically induced coma.

A 22-day stint in the Methodist Rehabilitation Center in Jackson followed.

There, the aspiring teacher had to adopt the role of a very young student: He had to learn to speak and walk again.

Today, the former UM basketball manager teaches middle school math and coaches basketball, track and cross country. There is nowhere else he would rather be.

“When I first got into education, I didn’t know how much I would love teaching. You hear things like ‘the kids are rougher these days.’ Mostly, kids just need to know someone is there. I

rayson

Math teacher, basketball coach thrives with assists from UM Community

want to be someone they can count on because people did that for me.”

Spencer refers to the summer following his crash, long days spent with his supervisor Allan Bellman, professor of mathematics education, who gave him the one-on-one attention he needed to complete missed coursework. The basketball staff bolstered his recovery too, with a GoFundMe that raised over $10,000.

“Everyone rallied around me: my friends, my cohort, my supervisors, UM basketball and people in the education department who I’d never met but who reached out by email. That’s just the Ole Miss way.”

This year at Ingomar, teachers chose a word to set the tone for their classroom. Spencer’s is “next.”

“You’re going to have bad days: You get a bad grade or critical feedback you weren’t expecting, your friend disappoints you, you wreck your car.

It’s hard. But now the ball is in your court. You get to decide what to do next.

Be reactive? Stew? Or practice more?

Seek out feedback or support? That’s the cool part. The one driving the next play is you.”

“I want to be someone students can count on because people did that for me.”

University of Mississippi n 9

Inspirational Alumni

Hazen attends Vanderbilt

BY LESLIE JOBLIN

A “More to the point, we are learning that one approach doesn’t suit all learners.”

lumna Caroline Hazen (BAEd 23) still spends fall weekends in the Grove yelling “Hotty Toddy,” but her weeks are spent at Vanderbilt’s prestigious Peabody College, studying how to teach reading effectively. Despite the invention of the printing press over five centuries ago, debates and revolutions within the field of reading education are ongoing.

“Picture a kindergarten classroom,” Hazen said. “I bet you can’t imagine the walls without one of those alphabet posters that features an apple for A or a cat for C, but that’s disappearing from some classrooms.”

Hazen is describing a pedagogical shift toward an emphasis on phonics — sounding letters out — versus whole language, which involves connecting vocabulary (“sight words”) with images.

“In some classes, they no longer teach the name of the letters until students have already connected the shape of a letter with the sound it makes.”

The shift toward phonetic awareness is known as “the science of reading,” a label that Hazen sometimes chafes against.

“There is solid evidence to back up many theories in the phonetic camp, but just because other theories don’t have ‘science’ in the name doesn’t mean they lack evidence. More to the point, we are learning that one approach doesn’t suit all learners.”

Former Rebel pursues master’s in reading education at prestigious Peabody College The efficacy of different methods can change based on the person or context, Hazen explained.

The field may be polarized, but for now, Hazen sits comfortably in the middle.

Hazen identifies with young readers who may need novel interventions in reading instruction. As an elementary student, she struggled with reading herself.

“I know the frustration of feeling like everyone around you has achieved something that seems out of your grasp. I wanted to be able to help these students succeed as I was able to.”

After Vanderbilt, Hazen intends to spend a year teaching in New Zealand, a country experiencing a teacher shortage much like the U.S. “I think it’s so important to learn how other people teach and how other people live, and I wanted to do that somewhere teachers are needed.

“My Ole Miss professors knew so much; my Vanderbilt professors know so much. The Māori people know so much.

I just want to continue gaining new viewpoints and bringing those things together in my professional career.”

Caroline

10 n 2023 Education Edge n School of Education

‘Caroline’. Oil on wood. By James Kane

CAROLINE HAZEN BAED 2023

University of Mississippi n 11

Holistic Teacher Education Students in Najah Jones’ pre-K classroom at Rosser Early Learning Center in Moorehead practice yoga each week as a part of the Growing Healthy Minds, Bodies and Communities program.

Photo courtesy Najah Jones.

UM program helps Mississippi teachers teach ‘the Whole Child’ School of Education program teaches yoga, mindfulness, healthy habits for the classroom

BY CLARA TURNAGE

12 n 2023 Education Edge n School of Education

Photo courtesy Najah Jones.

I

Teachers and students at Rosser Early Learning Center plant their community garden.

n a pre-K classroom at Rosser Early Learning Center in Moorehead, children sit with legs crossed and eyes closed.

In what is normally a bustling classroom, an unexpected silence settles in.

This silence is not nap time; it is the practice of mindfulness.

Each summer, teachers from across the state flock to the University of Mississippi School of Education’s annual Growing Healthy Minds, Bodies and Communities retreat.

The program, which began in 2020, is designed to help teachers learn about whole-child curriculum – ways of teaching not just math and science, but also yoga, gardening, healthy eating and mindfulness.

The result in this Sunflower County pre-K classroom is students who are learning how to express themselves, said Najah Jones, who teaches at the Rosser Early Learning Center.

“We always tell kids, ‘Use your words,’ but if we don’t give them the words to say what they’re feeling, how are they going to use them?” Jones said. “Through the program, we give them the vocabulary to say what they’re feeling and express themselves in a different way from how they would have done previously.”

Alicia Stapp, assistant chair of teacher education, said she and Kenya Wolff, associate professor of early childhood education, founded Growing Healthy Minds, Bodies and Communities after studying the impact of yoga on young children and teachers.

“Dr. Wolff and I had a conversation about our passion Kenya Wolff for yoga in my office and the importance of ensuring that all children had access to a wholechild curriculum, specifically in early childhood,” Stapp said. “So, we began a study to look at the impacts of yoga on both children and teachers, and from the positive findings we found, we decided to develop our own whole-child curriculum pilot.”

Alicia Stapp

“We hope that teachers walk away inspired with new knowledge, make connections with other teachers using GHMBC, and an embodiment of what it truly means to teach to the whole child.”

Research – some of which Wolff and Stapp have conducted – shows that introducing children to yoga and mindfulness at a young age helps them develop emotional intelligence and ways to deal with stress.

The Growing Healthy Minds, Bodies and Communities program, funded in part through a 2019 UM Constellations Grant, brings teachers from across north and central Mississippi to learn how to incorporate these practices – along with nature hikes, dancing, cooking and gardening – into their curriculum.

“Our purpose of the summer retreat is to bring all of our teachers and administrators who implement our program together to dive into our GHMBC curriculum and experience activities they will be doing with their students during the upcoming school year,” GHMBC program manager Amber Markita Sims said.

Jones has been using the GHMBC curriculum in her classroom since 2020 and said she has seen students grow from crying and yelling when upset to using words to describe what they are feeling.

The program includes parents in the process, too, said Amanda King, who teaches pre-K at A.W. James Elementary School in Drew. Each of the participating schools also gets meal kits to send home with students to cook with their parents.

King, who has been teaching children for more than 31 years, participated in GHMBC for the first time this summer but said her students have loved getting to try new foods, some of which they’re growing in a garden at the school.

“It’s teaching students ways of staying healthy, and that’s the main thing,” she said. “It’s teaching them ways of thinking healthy, eating healthy and exercising.”

For the full story, visit Ole Miss News.

Exemplary Service Award

Melissa Leach FROM THE NOMINATOR: “Melissa’s willingness to help out

regardless of how full her plate is reflects on her heart for service. She could easily say she’s too busy, and she would be correct! She puts the needs of the SOE first and serves with motivation and a positive attitude. Melissa is a role model for service to all faculty, staff and students.”

University of Mississippi n 13

Holistic Teacher Education

SOE gets furr-eal about caring for campus cats Gary, the Guyton Cat, inspires student service

Photo by Leslie Joblin

G

ary, Guyton Hall’s resident black-and-white cat, has lived at Guyton since 2021. In the spring, Gary grew his real estate portfolio, exchanging his flowerpot cat bed for a modern wooden cat house, complete with porch and lounge roof.

More than 20 students gathered to build and paint his new home, beautify the Guyton Annex with fresh plants, and raise money for necessary supplies and surgeries for Gary’s feral friends across campus.

Members and friends of the SOE raised over $400 and collected a carload of supplies for Feral University Rebel Rescuers (FURR), an effort led by METP elementary education major Elle D’Angelo (BAEd 25).

Gary may be counted among the 30 feral cats on campus, but SOE members know he is one of the most pampered pets around.

The courage to be kind Students create “Kindness Club” to foster greater understanding for people with disabilities

BY LESLIE JOBLIN

A

s she progressed through her program in special education, Abby Newton (BAEd 23) realized that inclusive activities for people with disabilities could be easily integrated into school classrooms and at low cost.

However, there was a significant obstacle of which Newton was aware: teacher overwhelm.

“In addition to their instructional duties, they have bus duty, they have hallway duty,” Newton said. “Adding another task to their list of obligations won’t be appealing if they have to start from scratch. I wanted to create a club to minimize the amount of upfront work required and show how easy inclusion can be.”

Thus, the Kindness Club. The group facilitates accessible and approachable events around Guyton between popular class times. On World Autism Awareness Day, the group

14 n 2023 Education Edge n School of Education

hosted different sensory activities to demonstrate methods of self-soothing that are often effective for those with autism.

“We want educators to better understand people with disabilities and to encounter the sort of difference they will later see in the classroom,” she said.

The club also facilitates panels where teachers can learn from families what it is like to be a family member to someone who has a disability.

However, some of the club’s most prominent activities are random acts of kindness. Accessibility is the throughline connecting the disparate activities of the club.

“Kindness is completely accessible, and it doesn’t have to cost you anything,” Newton said. “Anyone can show random acts of kindness, regardless of their abilities, class or background.”

The club’s new leadership, president Anna-Kat McDonough and vice president Savannah Wehman, are keeping the club’s vision alive. The two have planned many activities for the 2023-24 academic year.

One such event is a panel discussion dedicated to Maxine Harper, an education professor who lived with cerebral palsy and consistently defied expectations about her abilities while encouraging others to “focus on what people with special needs can do, not what they can’t do.”

SOE launches Education Equity Initiative Two-year, $350,000 grant aims to minimize the performance gap associated with socioeconomic status

S

ummer 2022 saw the launch of the Education Equity Initiative, which aims to equip P-12 teachers — at UM and across the state — with tools to support underserved student populations and minimize performance gaps.

The initiative has hosted three summits led by national leaders, veteran educators and UM alumni. Summits have focused on early intervention frameworks and methods

for decreasing the negative impacts of poverty on student achievement.

The initiative has also supported the implementation of a Practitioner in Residence: a current P-12 administrator who helps current students to understand the challenges affecting their students as well as the systems in place to help address students’ educational, social and behavioral needs.

Education Equity Initiative believes: All students attending Mississippi schools should receive access to education that meets their individual needs.

Coaching fellows attend the Mississippi Association of Coaches’ 2023 summer clinic in Flowood. Photo courtesy Hunter Taylor

Coaching the Coaches

BY LESLIE JOBLIN

T

he Mississippi Excellence in Coaching Fellowship formally inducted its second class of coaches in fall 2023.

The program, created for leaders in middle school and high school athletics, was conceived in 2022 by Hunter Taylor, UM clinical assistant professor of teacher education.

“The aim is to improve coaches’ ability to foster teams that produce resilient, empathetic and responsible student-athletes,” Taylor said.

“To do so, we had to figure out how to cultivate and model generosity and

collaboration in a highly competitive profession.”

Fellows must represent the values of the program: a desire to develop young people for life within the context of sports and a commitment to place.

The emphasis on commitment speaks to the teacher shortage in the state and the decline in coaches who stay in the profession for more than 10 years, Taylor said.

“There is plenty of research that shows the benefits students receive from a school district that has continuity in personnel,” he said. “This fellowship is one proposed solution to help combat our best teachers and coaches from burning out.”

In its inaugural year, the program

Mississippi Excellence in Coaching Fellowship sees success in first year, inaugurates second class focused on rebuilding a program in year one and implementing a leadership program during the offseason.

This year, program leaders intend to cover how to combat the decline in girls’ sports participation post-COVID, how to better connect school programs to youth leagues, and the future of NIL regulations in high school athletics.

The UM School of Education hosts the program in partnership with the Mississippi Association of Coaches and the Mississippi High School Activities Association.

For the full story, and to learn more about this year’s recipients, visit edge. education.olemiss.edu/coachingfellowship-inducts-second-class University of Mississippi n 15

METP

METP Celebrates Ten Years

Percent of Teacher Education graduates that began teaching in Mississippi after graduation:

2017

2018

76.28%

92% 50%

100% 54.12%

60

52.25%

80

93%

100

100%

METP General SOE population

40 20 0

2019

2020

METP Students volunteer at 21 United Buddy Walk, advocate for the inclusion of individuals with Down syndrome.

Photo courtesy Ann Monroe

16 n 2023 Education Edge n School of Education

T

en years ago, the Mississippi Excellence in Teaching Program was created to address the severe teacher shortage in Mississippi public schools.

Since then, 185 students have graduated from the program, going on to teach in 42 different Mississippi school districts.

The honors college-style cohort program attracts high-performing students with a free ride, earlier classroom experience, and a study abroad opportunity. In exchange, students commit to teaching for 5 years in Mississippi public schools.

The program is supported by the Robert M. Hearin Foundation, which has invested more than $56 million in Mississippi educators. Additional donations totaling $1.5 million have created an endowment to keep the program operational long-term.

Folks can support METP by visiting umfoundation.com/METP

METP BY THE

NUMBERS

29

AVERAGE

ACT

AMONG ACCEPTED STUDENTS

P R OVO S T

149

% 102 102 SC H

METP students take part in team building exercises at the Rebel Challenge ropes course.

O LA RS

92%

RETENTION RATE

Honors College St u de nts

Students from

Photos by Srijita Chattopadhyay

26 STATES

185 providing 925 GRADUATES

YEARS OF QUALITY INSTRUCTION IN MISSISSIPPI

University of Mississippi n 17

Community-Engaged Leadership and Counselor Education

Counseling clinic expands reach of free services COPE uses Kellogg grant to bring telemental health care to Mississippi

T

he Clinic for Outreach and Personal Enrichment (COPE) is expanding accessible, online counseling services to students across Mississippi, thanks to a new grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

The grant, called “Mental Health Counselors on Campus,” has allowed COPE to expand services once limited to Lafayette County to communities where providers and access are scarce. New partner communities include Desoto, Sunflower and Tunica counties and the municipalities of Jackson, Rosedale and Greenwood. The clinic plans to include Warren County later this year.

Students can access services with a tablet, computer, or cellphone.

Established in 2015, COPE offers the campus and community a variety of mental health services for children and adults. The clinic also trains master’s and doctoral students in the university’s counselor education program.

The program’s initial pilot telemental health program began in 2020 for Lafayette County students in an effort to minimize the COVID-19 pandemic’s disruption to therapeutic services. In 2021, those efforts were bolstered by the Governor’s Emergency Education Response Fund. The pilot program’s success put a spotlight on the challenges of traditional, inperson health care, such as time and transportation.

“Most parents have jobs that don’t

18 n 2023 Education Edge n School of Education

BY LESLIE JOBLIN

“COPE meets students where they are, in both in-school and after-school settings.”

– RICK BALKIN allow for a two-hour intermission to cart kids to therapy,” said Rick Balkin, doctoral program coordinator for the Department of Leadership and Counselor Education. “COPE meets students where they are, in both inschool and after-school settings.”

“The free mental health care COPE provides allows us to catch those who might otherwise fall through the cracks.”

In Mississippi, the need for accessible services is critical. Mississippi youth experience rates of trauma – broadly defined to include abuse, neglect, mental illness, substance abuse or parental divorce – at rates higher than the national average. The state ranks 42nd on this measure, according to America’s Health Rankings.

A 2023 study from Kids Count reports that 28% of Mississippi children were diagnosed with an emotional, behavioral or developmental disorder – 5 percentage points higher than the national average – a number that has

only increased since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Compounding the issue, Mississippi is one of the most uninsured states, and Medicaid is the single largest source of coverage for children. At the same time, few providers accept Medicaid to cover the cost of care, according to a 2022 report from the Children’s Foundation of Mississippi.

Schools can sometimes minimize the gap in youth access to care; however, in 2022, only 140 school psychologists were employed in the state, approximately 1.7 per Mississippi county, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“To support youth mental health in a Mississippi context, ‘high-need’ schools need attention,” Balkin said.

“When youth mental health goes unsupported, we see a rise in teen suicides, a rise in antisocial behaviors, a spike in the school-to-prison pipeline and an entrenched cycle of poverty.

When a child’s holistic needs aren’t met,

Students can access services with a tablet, computer, or cellphone.

‘Boy with tablet’. Oil on wood. By James Kane

COPE

their educational needs cannot be met.”

Since August 2022, COPE has facilitated more than 2,000 hours of free counseling for youth – some more than 150 miles away – saving those students and their families more than $200,000.

Though the pandemic and rising rates of trauma influenced the pivot to telemental health, COPE’s telemental health counseling is not just a responsive service, Balkin said. COPE counselors also emphasize career and college readiness, helping youth to determine and reach their postsecondary goals.

It also provides Ole Miss students with diversified training in online competencies and experience working with clients from diverse racial and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Students in some areas experience more trauma, while others may require more targeted school support, said Rebecca Boyd, a clinical mental health counseling master’s student from Vicksburg.

“Providing counseling services to kids in diverse regions has helped me to learn how to adapt my skills to the specific needs of children and adolescents from different areas,” Boyd said.

Across the U.S., the telemental health care sector continues to diversify and grow. According to a Grand View Research report, market revenue for the sector is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 24% between 2023 and 2030, creating more job opportunities for counselors with requisite skills.

“Our field is constantly evolving, and counselors must keep up with the new services offered,” Boyd said.

“Understanding what it’s like to provide telemental health services and learning best practices benefits my ability to market myself as I search for a job.”

University of Mississippi n 19

Community-Engaged Leadership and Counselor Education

BY LESLIE JOBLIN

Leblanc identifies methods of preventing adult suicide Over a five-year grant period, research team aims to help 1,000 older adults

A

ssociate professor Erika LeBlanc has teamed up with researchers at Georgia State University and Virginia Tech to expand and evaluate a program that trains meal-delivery volunteers how to form meaningful connections with older adults and effectively respond to crises.

Older adults are the most at-risk group for suicide. Over one-third of those who die by suicide are 55 and older. At the same time, this group is the least likely to receive preventive services. For LeBlanc, this misalignment made identifying ways to reduce adult suicide a priority.

This work is part of a $4.1 million grant-funded project called project HOPEFUL (Helping Older Persons Find Useful Links), which builds upon the research begun in 2020 by the team at Georgia State. That team identified home nutrition delivery programs (such as Meals on Wheels and similar programs funded by the Older Americans Act) as a uniquely viable route for getting mental health supports to those most lacking them.

Over the five-year grant period of project HOPEFUL, LeBlanc and her team hope to reach about 1,000 people while transforming the program from a university-run program to one run by aging services networks.

As she begins year two at the SOE, LeBlanc reveals her first impression: “What I appreciate the most so far is the care we give to both our students and our research endeavors. It is difficult to find a place that does both well. UM does that. We want to teach well and support our students. We also want to create meaningful research, not just for the sake of completing research, but to make an impact in the community and beyond.” — Erika LeBlanc

Erika LeBlanc

“What I appreciate the most so far is the care we give to both our students and our research endeavors.”

— ERIKA LEBLANC

Winburn studies ways to decrease bullying in schools Technology used to turn bystanders into defenders

A

ssociate professor Amanda Winburn has received a grant from the National Institutes of Health to translate an in-person bullying intervention, known as STAC, into a technology-based format tailored toward middle-schoolers. STAC stands for the four bullying intervention strategies: stealing the show, turning it over, accompanying others and coaching compassion.

20 n 2023 Education Edge n School of Education

STAC teaches students how to defend targets of bullying with the four age-appropriate and safe strategies. The grant facilitates study of the technology-based format for students in Mississippi and several other states.

Amanda Winburn Since the federal government began collecting data on school bullying in 2005, reports of bullying have consistently remained at about 28%, according to Winburn.

“For future prevention and interventions to be successful, children and adolescents need to know that when they bring bullying issues to adults (the helpers), things can get better and not worse,” Winburn said.

Professors provide mental health first aid to north Mississippians Program has taught over 300 people how to help youth struggling with mental health

A

ssociate professors Mandy Perryman and Stephanie Lusk Smith are beginning their third year sharing lifesaving interventions for youth. The program, Mental Health First Aid, teaches parents, school staff, teachers, coaches, camp counselors, youth group leaders and others how to identify and respond to signs of mental health and substance abuse challenges in youths ages 12-18.

Adolescence is a crucial time for diagnosis and early intervention: 50% of all mental illnesses begin by the age of 14, and 75% by the mid-20s. One in five teens and young adults live with a mental health condition, and more than 10% of youths will be diagnosed with substance use disorder in their lifetime.

The program provides participants with a tiered protocol: • Assess the risk of suicide or harm • Listen nonjudgmentally • Give reassurance and information and encourage appropriate professional help and self-help.

“The most important thing is to ensure the child is not a risk to themselves,” Perryman said. “The hardest part is probably listening nonjudgmentally. We have a tendency to insert ourselves — what we would do, or how we had it harder when we were young — but what that child needs is for us to really listen, to be fully present, genuine and willing to hear what they have to say without correcting it or putting our own spin to it.”

Adolescence is a crucial time for diagnosis and early intervention

50% of all

75% of all

MENTAL ILLNESSES begin by

MENTAL ILLNESSES begin by

1:5

>10%

THE AGE OF 14

teens and young adults

live with a MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION

THE MID-20S

of youths

will be diagnosed with SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER in their lifetime

Anyone curious about attending a Mental Health First Aid course or scheduling one for their school, church or business should visit MHFA.org or email Hello@MentalHealthFirstAid.org.

Outstanding Teacher Award

Mandy Perryman

FROM THE NOMINATOR: “She is unafraid to continually

renew material, revamp teaching strategies and invite new points of view or potential collaborations in the classroom.

She strives to create as many opportunities as she can for students to experience something new, to have a salient and meaningful moment that will translate into their practice and build empathy for the clients and students they will encounter in their careers.”

University of Mississippi n 21

Cutting Edge Higher Education

Ty McNamee

BY LESLIE JOBLIN

McNamee studies interventions for rural student success in higher education McNamee secures two grants for projects

T

y McNamee, assistant professor of higher education, has obtained two grants that will enable him to study the supports and policies that can help rural students succeed in higher education.

One grant, supported by the Educational Credit Management Corp., facilitates a two-year study of rural, poor and working-class student experiences in three Wyoming community colleges. For the project, McNamee is joined by three colleagues from University of Wisconsin-Madison, Clemson University and Bridgerland Technical College.

The other grant is a Sarah Isom Fellowship supporting a two-year study of queer and rural students at a large university in the South.

“Institutions have focused a lot on access for rural students, but we don’t know as much about their success on

campus once they get there,” McNamee said. “What makes them feel engaged and supported? What compels them to drop out?”

Rural students face unique difficulties completing degrees.

According to the National Student Clearinghouse, only 56% of students from rural schools in the U.S. enroll in college; of those who enroll, only 41% graduate with a postsecondary degree within six years.

Rural students may struggle navigating a large, bureaucratic institution after coming from a small town where they knew everybody, McNamee said.

“They may not be as likely to take advantage of opportunities like office hours if their parents did not go to college and can’t relay expectations.

Even the language used on campuses can by mystifying.”

The retention of postsecondary students grows more important, even as cultural debates cast doubt on the value of college. According to a report from Georgetown University, by 2032, 72% of jobs in the U.S. will require postsecondary education and/or training.

With $9,000 in support from the UM Isom Fellowship, McNamee is piloting a study of the higher education experiences of queer, rural students attending a large, Southern university.

“Higher education settings have grown increasingly accepting of LGBTQ+ students, which is great, but, ironically, those same students can find their campuses less inclusive towards those with rural backgrounds,” McNamee said.

“When home, these students might be judged for their sexuality and/ or gender identity, then on campus, they may encounter stereotypes and limiting beliefs about people from their hometowns.”

A sense of belonging is critical for student success, McNamee said.

“How do we create spaces on campus where being from a small town is valued, where we aren’t stereotyping those students and where we are acknowledging that we have things to learn from them too?”

The 60th anniversary of integration at the University of Mississippi included a wealth of events inspiring the UM community to reflect on the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement and show appreciation for James Meredith, whose admission to UM in 1962 integrated the university.

Amy Wells Dolan, associate dean and professor of higher education, and Phillis George, department chair and associate professor of higher education, served on the planning committee for the 60th anniversary of UM’s integration. Events included concerts, lectures, field trips and a transcribea-thon, in which participants helped to make the UM library’s archive of 22 n 2023 Education Edge n School of Education

Photo by Leslie Joblin

Celebrating 60 years of integration

Higher education faculty and university leaders attend lecture by Joy Williamson Lott (center).

letters to James Meredith more widely available to scholars around the world.

The two also helped to plan the speaker series that brought Joy WilliamsonLott, dean of the graduate school and professor at University of Washington,

to UM to discuss how faculty and student activists challenged Southern white institutions during the Black freedom struggle and how historical research can be instructive to today’s campus activists.

Esports levels up Professor George McClellan champions esports on campus

W

hen George McClellan, professor of higher education, arrived on the UM campus five years ago, he was happy to find a thriving esports community and engaged faculty advisers. Still, his vision was bigger: He envisioned UM as a premier center for esports, a comprehensive program across the institution that would include co-curricular elements.

“You can tie esports to faculty research agendas and students’ disciplinary interests,” McClellan said. “You have faculty interested in esports and exercise science; faculty who are interested in gender and esports; people interested in the business of esports. We have students who want to become game developers, computer programmers, esports agents, marketing professionals and on and on.”

Outstanding Scholar Award

George McClellan FROM THE NOMINATOR: “Dr. McClellan’s productivity and

reach are the mark of an informed and trusted scholar who has a firm grasp on the pulse of the discipline. He is someone who helps drive the discipline forward while holding it accountable to pressing matters of equity and excellence in a socially responsive and ethical manner.”

McClellan recognized the recruiting potential of students’ passion for esports and joined the administrative committee that helped formalize the program on campus, hire a director and create a minor on campus.

“You know, esports began as this sort of underground thing. You don’t want to overprogram it. At the same time, you want to structure it in a way that’s purposeful so that students come away with knowledge about strategic thinking, leadership, wellness, diversity, along with any disciplinary skills they may glean.”

Since his arrival, McClellan has co-published a book on the subject, and UM has seen a huge investment in the arena. For instance, Abb and Jennifer Payne, of Hattiesburg, provided funds to establish a dedicated space for esports in Yerby Hall. They have also established multiple funds and an endowment to help develop the program and provide support for operational expenses and recruitment.

n Recently served as an ad hoc reviewer for Sage and Palgrave n Published a refereed journal article in Leadership Exchange n Co-authored a book on shared governance, law and policy in higher education n Contributed to the fifth edition of the canonical Handbook of Student Affairs Administration, a volume sponsored by the leading professional organization for student affairs administrators in higher education, which includes over 13,000 members at 1,400 campuses in 23 countries.

Edmondson helps set the standard for law student affairs New competencies provide student affairs professionals with best practices regarding academic support, extracurricular programming, crisis management and mental well-being

S

even years after co-founding the National Association of Law Student Affairs Professionals, Macey Edmondson, assistant professor of higher education, is drafting core competencies for the organization, alongside Andrea Crowley, executive director of the North Carolina Student Success Center for the NC Community College System.

NALSAP provides members with resources on best practices, ideas for student programming and opportunities

for professional growth. The new competencies are intended to help professionals navigate the evolving expectations of law schools and the multifaceted needs of law students, including academic support, extracurricular programming, crisis management and mental well-being.

Since its inception, NALSAP has grown to support over 700 members from schools throughout the U.S. and Canada.

University of Mississippi n 23

Cutting Edge Higher Education

Ryan

‘Ryan’. Oil on wood. By James Kane

Where can a degree in Higher Education take you?

24 n 2023 Education Edge n School of Education

What does a day in the life look like for you?

I teach a variety of classes, including anatomy, kinesiology, orthopedics, and a comprehensive capstone course.

I also serve as an academic advisor to students, guiding them during the three years they are in our physical therapy program and supporting their overall professional development.

On the days when I am not teaching, I do research and collaborate with my colleagues on committees dedicated to improving educational experience, admissions, curriculum development, awards and scholarships and strategic planning.

You earned your DPT in 2008. What compelled you to pursue another advanced degree over a decade later?

In 2013, I transitioned from a primarily clinical role to an academic one. This shift was a significant turning point in my career. While I found it incredibly rewarding to work directly with patients during my time as a clinical physical therapist, I felt drawn to the opportunity to shape the future of the profession through teaching and mentorship.

I was motivated by a desire to make a broader impact on the next generation of health professionals.

To excel in this role, I wanted to engage more deeply with the art and science of teaching, curriculum development, and educational leadership and build a foundation in educational theory and practice.

As a Professor in the School of Health-Related Professions (SHRP) at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC), Dr. Ryan McGlawn (PT, DPT, EdD, OCS) pursues a rigorous research agenda, supports the learning and professional development of physical therapists, and ensures that programs and curriculum meet rigorous accreditation standards.

How did your time at UM prepare you for this role?

There is a sense of community and collaboration, which has created an atmosphere of teamwork and shared goals. So many people have generously spent time helping me, sharing their knowledge and insights. Their mentorship has been instrumental in my growth.

Sadie What does a day in the life look like for you?

One of the things I love about my job is that no two days are alike! I connect students with campus and community resources, advise a student organization called the Well-Being Initiative, plan wellness-related programs and initiatives (such as our Wellness Week in October), and liaise with UMN’s Disability Resource Center to make sure that law students who need accommodations in the classroom receive them.

How does a law school setting influence your job?

Hugely! It is a well-known, and unfortunate, fact that lawyers experience higher-than-average rates of mental health struggles, substance use disorders, and burnout.

The high-stress environment of law school can be a good training ground for the high-stress career field of law, but it also means that students might internalize the wrong lessons about health, wellbeing, and work/life balance and bring those into their careers. My job is to make sure they take the time now to develop and practice those necessary life skills, so that they never reach a crisis point.

In the last 5-7 years, national groups like the American Bar Association have pushed to rethink how we discuss balance and well-being in the profession. It’s very exciting to me to be even a small part of helping effect meaningful changes at a system level, not just an individual one.

As a Wellness Coordinator at The University of Minnesota Law School, Sadie Britton (MA 23) develops programming, resources, and partnerships to support law students’ overall health and wellbeing.

‘Sadie’. Oil on wood. By James Kane

Like any school, SHRP has opportunities for improvement, some being student retention, student success, maintaining up-to-date technologies, and teaching in online learning environments.

An advanced degree in education and pedagogy has equipped me to collaborate on teams that tackle these problems and develop assessment strategies to ensure UMMC meets the stringent standards set

by The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).

How did your time at UM prepare you for this role?

My time at UM—both in and out of the classroom –prepared me extremely well for this new challenge. I have a greater appreciation of classes like Law and Finance of Higher Education now that I’m out of school and working full time!

Something I loved about UM was the emphasis on practical application of our classroom learning in our work experiences. I could put into practice the student development theory I learned in class when I did my practicum in Academic Support Programs, working with students on academic probation, or when I worked as a JumpStart counselor over the summer.

I was also a graduate assistant at the William Magee Center for AOD & Wellness Education during my two years at UM, which gave the tools to talk about health and wellness in a higher education context. That’s something I use every day! UM also prepared me to be a student affairs generalist who can pitch in elsewhere, like with academic advising and orientation planning.

Despite the learning curve of a new environment, I felt very prepared to work with our incredibly talented and driven students at Minnesota Law.

University of Mississippi n 25

Centers

MISSION ACCELERATION HAS HELPED

more than

800 CHILDREN IN NINE COMMUNITIES

+6mo

READING LEVEL IN JUST 10 WEEKS

26 n 2023 Education Edge n School of Education

CELI Builds Legacy of Literacy

BY LESLIE JOBLIN

CELI awarded a 2023 Volunteer Generation Grant by Americorps The grant supports more youth literacy programming in the state. With the funds, CELI will expand its Mission Acceleration program into two new Mississippi communities: Lee County and Long Beach. The program provides additional reading instruction to kindergarten and elementary school students who struggle to meet age-appropriate benchmarks. In some instances, students have made significant gains, including advancing six months in reading level in just 10 weeks.

Since its founding in 2021, Mission Acceleration has helped more than 800 Mississippi children in nine different communities improve their reading capabilities. The Volunteer Generation Grant will help the program reach 240 additional students over a three-year period.

For the whole story, visit news.olemiss.edu/grant-boosts-youth-literacy-in-mississippi

Mississippi Jumpstart turns 10 this year The program, created by CELI to reduce the kindergarten readiness gap in Mississippi, has grown from two classrooms in Oxford to four universities serving 15 classrooms across the state.

Since the program’s 2012 launch, 575 volunteer members have served more than 1,900 children. Over the decade, volunteers have dedicated more than 172,500 hours to the program.

These efforts are critical in Mississippi, where only about one-third of children demonstrated kindergarten readiness in 2021. Kindergarten readiness has been shown to predict long-term achievement and well-being. Children who receive quality early education are more likely to stay in school longer, graduate from high school, and attend college.

Early literacy skills, sometimes called pre-reading skills, can give the children the ‘jumpstart’ they need to succeed, including skills such as letter recognition, phonological awareness, vocabulary, and print motivation, or becoming interested in books.

To read more, visit news.olemiss.edu/mississippi-jumpstart-program-turns-10

172,500 More than

VOLUNT EER HOURS

University of Mississippi n 27

Centers

CMSE, Leading from the Center

Corliss Wesley, Carla Martin and Jasmine Russell explore the volume of rectangular prisms using wooden inch cubes Photo by Leslie Joblin

CMSE addresses teacher shortage with Middle Math endorsement pathway BY LESLIE JOBLIN Fifteen Mississippi teachers completed the Middle Math Institute this summer.

Created in 2021, the institutes help minimize the number of middle school math teacher vacancies in Mississippi by familiarizing licensed teachers who are already invested in a community with math content taught in grades 6-8.

Ninety-four of Mississippi’s 137 school districts experienced a critical teacher shortage in the 2022-23 school year. The state’s STEM teacher shortage is so severe that it made headlines in The Washington Post in early 2023. Of all subject areas, middle school math saw 123 vacancies, the highest number of middle school teacher vacancies in the state, according to the Mississippi Department of Education.

“Recruiting teachers to serve temporarily in rural and high-need areas has not proven to be a particularly sustainable approach to our teacher shortage,” said Julie James, assistant director of professional learning for CMSE. “It made us think, why not go straight to the source and offer teachers who are already connected to their rural communities a pathway to obtain mathematics content knowledge and credentials?”

Of the 23 teachers who have completed the institute’s training, 20 teach in a critical shortage area.

For the full story, visit: https://news.olemiss.edu/cmse-addresses-teacher-shortage-with-middle-math-endorsement-pathway 28 n 2023 Education Edge n School of Education

CMSE hosts 11th-annual Robot-weilding Championship

BY CLARA TURNAGE

The Mississippi FIRST Tech Challenge Championship Mississippi invited students in grades 7-12 from 37 school and community teams to engage in STEM education, and hone their skills in budgeting, marketing, and communications.

For the full story, visit news.olemiss.edu/robot-wielding-mississippi-studentscompete-in-tech-championship/

“Above all, the annual robotics challenge requires gracious professionalism. Students from one team may lend parts or knowledge to another and, regardless of who wins or loses, each team treats the other with respect.”

The Tupelo Tornado team competes in the Mississippi FIRST Tech Championships at the Tad Smith Coliseum.

Photos by Srijita Chattopadhyay

– MANNIE LOWE, CMSE PROGRAM MANAGER

Students compete with 18” metal robots on a 12-foot field.

“I’ve actually been fortunate enough to see some of my students get job offers. That’s been one of my focuses, to grow future employees who come from Mississippi instead of us having to go out of state to get that talent.”

—CODY GOSS, COACH, TRIAL AND ERROR ROBOTICS TEAM, VICKSBURG University of Mississippi n 29

Hall of Fame

Congratulations!

HALL OF FAME AWARDEES Hall of Fame awardees are career educators, administrators, and higher education professionals who have made lifetime contributions to the education field. Honorees are nominated by fellow alumni and selected by the School of Education Alumni Advisory Board.

Photos by Bill Dabney

Dr. Carole Haney Promoting Independence for Those with Disabilities Haney earned her bachelor’s degree in business education and master’s in special education from UM in 1972 and 1976, respectively. Haney then taught in the classroom for nearly a decade before starting a career as superintendent of Stovall School and director of the North Mississippi Regional Center. Through her leadership, the center doubled its scope and established special services and satellite programs to promote the independence of clients with intellectual and developmental disabilities in 23 counties.

FROM THE NOMINEE: “After receiving my business degree, I entered the School of Education graduate program in Special Education under the incredible leadership of Dr. Jimmy Mann.

He and Dr. Larry Tyler, Dean Sylvester Moorhead, and others instilled in me a continued love of education. My education at Ole Miss opened every single door for me throughout my career.

And it is so true: ‘….One never graduates from Ole Miss.’”

30 n 2023 Education Edge n School of Education

Dr. Kathy Mays Establishing a Culture of Educational Excellence Mays passed away in 2015 after dedicating over three decades to the Chester County Schools district in Tennessee. She first served as a public teacher and then the supervisor of special education and Title reading programs. In 1976, she was elected superintendent of schools at a time when there were fewer than 5 female superintendents in the state. After being elected to a second term, Mays completed her doctoral degree at UM in 1982. She ultimately served as superintendent for twenty years, never losing an election. On her first day in the role, Mays inherited a district with a $50,000 deficit; when she retired, she left a fund balance exceeding $2 million.

A HUSBAND’S PERSPECTIVE: “It’s an award my darlin deserves. Twenty-eight years and 26 days we were married, and I never heard her complain about anything or say a nasty word about anyone. That’s the kind of person she was.” --Ralph Mays

Dr. Mitzi Norris

Dr. Roderick Richmond

Transforming Institutional Culture

Supporting Student Growth

Norris earned a doctorate degree in educational leadership from UM in 1998, adding to her previous degrees in microbiology. Norris boasts almost 50 years of professional experience in medical technology and workforce development, which she honed in roles at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Jackson and the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC). In 2006, Norris became executive director for academic effectiveness at UMMC. Since that time, she has shepherded three SACSCOC accreditations for the medical school, with the last two receiving the best results achievable. UMMC administrators have recognized Norris for fomenting a culture in which accreditation is not a mere obligation but an evolving opportunity to improve institutional culture and procedures for the faculty, students, and clients served.

Richmond, who received a master’s degree in education from Ole Miss in 1997, has led a distinguished career in the Memphis City and Shelby County School districts. Under his tenure at Memphis City Schools, proficiency in core subject areas increased at a rate higher than the state. The district also disciplinary rates decrease, while high-priority schools saw improved accountability status. In 2013, following the merger of the Shelby County and Memphis City schools, Richmond served as Chief Academic Officer, ultimately garnering the district a Level 5 rating for student growth. That merger remains one of the largest in the history of U.S. public education. Today, Richmond serves as the Executive Director of Student Support Services for Shelby County Schools.

FROM THE NOMINEE: “My education degree from UM has helped me support the education mission at UMMC. Students can receive content from clinicians and scientists, but educators can help guide the best pedagogical practices and provide the framework for curriculum development, mapping, assessment, and other hallmarks of stellar educational programs. I am thankful that the School of Education recognizes the value that an education degree can provide in arenas outside the P-12 classroom, and I am humbled to be a part of this legacy.”

FROM THE NOMINATOR: Dr. Richmond has a true servant’s heart. For with every professional accomplishment there is an amazing act of selflessness that seeks to tap into the very best of the children he serves. These activities include anonymous donations for children to participate in youth sports and enrichments programs, countless individual mentoring sessions, and random acts of kindness that are just his way of operating. These are all activities that bear no mention in formal documentation.

The appreciation for these things are held in the hearts and successes of those lives he has touched. --Stephanie Taylor

University of Mississippi n 31

Hall of Fame cont.

Dr. Judith Thompson

Melody Musgrove

Going the Extra Mile for Extra-Curriculars

Ensuring Educational Opportunities for those with Disabilities

Thompson has earned four degrees from the UM School of Education, including a bachelor’s degree, two master’s degrees, and a doctorate degree. She has served as a teacher, an assistant principal, a principal, the director of ICS Early Head Start and the IHL Barksdale Reading Institute. Additionally, she served a 15-year stint on the Lafayette County School Board, ten of which she acted as president. However, the shining achievement on which her many nominators focused was Thompson’s role in helping to create the L.O.U. Barksdale Oxford Clubhouse.

The facility offers homework assistance and after-school programs for youth during hours when many parents remain at work. Over the course of two decades, Thompson oversaw its growth from its inception in one classroom at Central Elementary to its current club status, where 200 students filter through its doors every weekday.

FROM THE NOMINEE: Throughout my 42 years as an educator, I have always focused on educating the ‘whole’ child: academically, mentally, and socially. This would not nor could not have been successful if it were not for the ‘village.’ The parents, professors, and community were always there encouraging, providing, and helping whenever needed. This honor is not about me: it’s about those who encouraged, supported, and mentored me during my educational journey. My success was made possible through the encouragement and support of family, the community, and other esteemed educators such as Dr. Jim Chambliss, Dr. Fannye Love and Dr. Kathleen Sullivan.

32 n 2023 Education Edge n School of Education

Musgrove received The Outstanding Education Service Award, which honors friends of the UM School of Education who have served the field of education through paths not exclusively academic. Musgrove joined the UM faculty in 2016 after serving a six-year Presidential Appointment as the Director of the Office of Special Education Programs for the U.S. Department of Education. This office oversees the administration of the Individuals with Disabilities Act, which guarantees all children are provided with educational services and opportunities. Musgrove is the second longest serving director in the OSEP office’s history. Prior to her time at OSEP, Musgrove worked as an advisor and policy consultant to LRP Publications and as the Director of Special Education for Mississippi. At UM, Musgrove served as associate professor of special education and co-director of the Graduate Center for the Study of Early Learning, where she advocated for more quality pre-K programs throughout Mississippi.

A HUSBAND’S PERSPECTIVE: “Her work benefited so many students, perhaps changing the trajectory of their lives entirely. While she left us much too soon, her induction into the Hall of Fame assures that her life’s work advancing children with disabilities will not be forgotten and creates a shining example that emerging leaders in education may follow.” -- Ronnie Musgrove, former Mississippi governor.

Practitioners of Distinction

PRACTITIONERS OF DISTINCTION

Thank you!

Practitioners of Distinction exemplify the school’s mission to imagine, innovate and inspire in the field of P-12 education. The sixth class of inductees includes two firsts: a counselor educator and an educator specializing in racial equity initiatives.

Donna Sheperis

Donna Sheperis, who received a doctorate in counseling at UM in 2005, has spent the last three decades promoting ethics within the counseling field. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she created an e-clinic that incorporated AI-supported supervision to provide clinical services to students.

Her research into the public perception of counselor credentials and telemental health standards has made significant impacts on the profession.

“One of the most instrumental experiences (at UM) was the ability to join writing teams that helped introduce me to professional publications,” Sheperis said. “The other key thing was the faculty. They not only provided me with a strong academic foundation but also served as mentors and role models, pushing me to strive for excellence.”

Ishmael Miller graduated from UM in 2015 with a master’s in higher education and went on to receive a doctoral degree from the University of Washington. He is a project manager of racial equity initiatives at Highline Public Schools in Washington, where he has facilitated trainings for more than 2,000 staff members.

“I’ve always worked hard to center the communities I care about,” Miller said. “For the UM School of Education to say I am upholding the highest standard in the field brings such joy to me.”

Ishmael Miller

Catherine Tibbs has dedicated 29 years to Mississippi public schools and universities, where she frequently spearheaded public writing events and opportunities for student publication.

She spent 13 years as coordinator of the Live Oak Writing Project at the University of Southern Mississippi-Gulf Park, where she would eventually be named director.

In 2015, Tibbs was named the first director of the Hancock Performing Arts Center, where she uses her background to educate students and the wider community about the arts.

“When I learned I was chosen for the Practitioner of Distinction Award, I had no idea what to say,” Tibbs said. “I kept thinking about that first-year teacher who loved learning and was excited to share her knowledge of English with high school students in the 1990s. What would she think about this news? I wish I could step back in time and tell her that she is going to have an exceptional career in education with a supportive community of students, parents, teachers, administrators, family and friends who believed in her. I share this honor with all of them.”

Catherine Tibbs

Angela Ellison

Angela Ellison obtained her bachelor’s degree from UM in 1998, going on to earn a master’s and a doctoral degree from the University of Southern Mississippi. A veteran K-12 teacher for more than two decades, Ellison has helped improve school and district state accountability scores through high-quality instruction and the use of rigorous, standards-aligned curriculum resources.

She serves as head of school and JH/HS principal at Oak Forest Academy in Amite, Louisiana.

“To be awarded Practitioner of Distinction celebrates the many people who have contributed to me as an educator,” Ellison said. “Being a lifelong learner has given me the opportunity to meet and learn from so many teachers and mentors. To receive this award celebrates not only me, but those who have aided in developing my career.”

University of Mississippi n 33

Scholarship/Endowment News Stasiak extends legacy support for UM with new scholarship honoring sister Nancy Carden

Crews retires from School of Education after eight years, leaves legacy of service across Mississippi Billy Crews, who began his work as a School of Education development officer in 2015, retired in early 2023. Crews leaves a lasting impact on the school, not just in the funds he helped raise but also in his approach to cultivating support and building community around top education priorities.

He made possible a total of $100 million in giving, increased the 1903 Society to 100 charter members, and advocated for more resources to enhance education equity and better serve historically underserved and underrepresented populations.

Prior to joining the SOE, Crews led the Tupelo-based media company Journal, Inc., which owns the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, and later served as the vice president for strategic partnerships for Teacher for America’s Mississippi region. We thank Billy for his invaluable contributions and hard work to help improve public education in Mississippi.

________________________ 1903 Society achieves goal of 100 charter members, establishes million-dollar endowment

The School of Education’s 1903 Society inducted its 100th member this year, achieving a goal set with the program’s reconstitution in 2015. The 1903 Society honors those who committed $10,000 or more to the school’s Academic Enhancement Fund. Since 2015, 56 new members have been inducted to create a pooled milliondollar endowment, which will earn approximately $50,000 a year to support the most strategic needs of the school.

To support any of these endowments or initiatives, contact Kelly Smith Marion at ksmith13@olemiss.edu.

34 n 2023 Education Edge n School of Education

________________________ Nicholson honors spouse with METP scholarship, School of Education support

Chuck Nicholson of Brandon, MS, honored his wife, Lisa, by creating a School of Education scholarship in her name and directing a major gift to the SOE Annual Impact Fund. The Lisa Ikerd Nicholson Elementary Education Scholarship Endowment is the first for elementary education majors in the Mississippi Excellence in Teaching Program, which produces a steady stream of high-performing teachers to address the state’s teacher shortage. The $200,000 endowment gift and $50,000 Impact Fund donation will strengthen the SOE’s efforts to meet the educational needs of SOE Students and all Mississippians.

________________________ Ellwood Foundation expands support, gives to Willie Price Lab School for sixth consecutive year

The Ellwood Foundation, based in Houston, Texas, contributed $30,000 to support Willie Price Lab School’s mission of expanded access and inclusivity in its preschool classrooms. This gift marks the Ellwood Foundation’s sixth consecutive year of giving. Their total contributions of $160,000 have allowed Willie Price to increase support for all students and instructors, specifically students with special needs and instructors who work with students who face behavioral or developmental challenges in the classroom.

Photo by Leslie Joblin

Billy Crews

Katherine Stasiak Hankins honored her sister, Nancy, with the Nancy Virginia Stasiak Carden School of Education Scholarship Endowment, a gift commitment of $62,500.

The Stasiak family’s connections to Ole Miss span 80 years, 10 degrees, and three generations, and Hankins’s gift continues this family legacy while highlighting the impact of Nancy Carden’s 50 years of teaching across the country. This new endowment awards a $2,500 scholarship, for up to eight semesters, to full-time students who are education majors planning to become K-8 teachers.

Photo by Bill Dabney

EARLY EDUCATION MAJOR, MATH AND SCIENCE

Miss Ole Miss

Sam Sepe Recipient of the Bill and Sylvia Foran Scholarship

“I

Your Gift Matters HELP GROW OUR SCHOOL OF EDUCATION give.olemiss.edu

n high school I was a cheerleading coach for a tiny team. It was my first real encounter “teaching” children. My team practiced once a week, and I’ve never looked forward to something more than hugging the girls and hearing their stories as they’d transport me into the life of a five-year-old.

Although we regret to mention favorites, I couldn’t help but acknowledge mine: I’ll call her Molly.

She never knew who was going to pick her up after practice. Mom or dad?

When her parents bickered, she noticed. Once, she ran to me with tears in her eyes, pleading, “Coach Sam, can I stay with you?”

This was the moment I knew I needed to be an educator. Yes, to teach students the knowledge of phonics and physics, but also for moments like these. To be a light and a constant for children, to be

someone you wished you could’ve had.

Once I discovered my calling, I began searching for my future alma mater. Being from Pennsylvania, where universities are notorious for their steep in-state tuition, I knew I had to expand my search.

The light at the end of that tunnel?

Our beautiful University of Mississippi.

I was blessed before I knew it.

My days spent at Guyton have been memorable beyond compare; I have met people and professors from all walks of life; exchanged lessons with

those who have passions and dreams like mine; studied with professors who encourage their students daily to be the change our nation needs.

I believe Guyton is a small glimpse of what the world of education is growing to be: intentional, receptive, and affectionate.

The Guyton family would not be here today if it was not for scholarship. My peers and I are grateful and filled with humility. Being able to be a part of the Guyton family is one of the jewels on my crown of accomplishments at the university.

Thank you to all the scholarship donors, you are helping my peers and me follow and achieve our dreams.”

University of Mississippi n 35

Student Scholarship Recipients

2023-24 Scholarship Recipients 21 United Education Scholarship Raegan Gourley Ralph Armstrong & Beffie C. Armstrong Opportunity Scholarship Kathryn Jones Joseph Wiley Blackston Memorial Scholarship Tracy Crouch James N. and Bettye M. Butler Scholarship Callie Smith Charles Barrett Memorial Scholarship Macy Curan James I. Califf Scholarship Brianna Moose Nancy Virginia Stasiak Carden School of Education Scholarship Daely Hedgren Beth & John Cleveland Secondary Education Scholarship Lindzie Hurd

Bob Depro Education Excellence Scholarship for Social Studies Majors Jacob Dunahue Ryan Krance Joannie Olson Education Equity Undergraduate Scholarship Emonica Booker Robert B. Ellis Higher Education Scholarship Charlie Burrell Misa Fujinuma Peggy Emerson Education Scholarship Emma Cork John R. Fawcett Higher Education Scholarship Jacqueline O’Bryant Bruce Park Bill and Sylvia Foran Scholarship Veronica Olvin Emory Reinhard Sam Sepe

Luetta W. Ford Scholarship for Special Education In Honor of James W. Mann Camille Shall

Eddie & Jahnae Barnett Scholarship in Higher Education Mariela Gomez

Griffin Family Scholarship Joseph Dagg

Joan Gilbert Smith Scholarship for Special Education Hailey Hamil Aundrea Trotter

Hathorn Family Scholarship for Teacher Education Caden Harvell Karina Lopez Wallace E. and Elizabeth G. Hope Education Scholarship Emma Allen Jordan Bennett Melody Dawkins Ava Palmer Jacob Smith Elly Sweitzer Marina Trejo Marley Trosper Hosemann Family Autism Excellence Scholarship Allison Mister Burl and Clara Smith Hunt Teacher Education Scholarship Alyssa Davis Kaitlyn Young

Kathryn Webster Barnett Scholarship in Education Katie Caffrey Ray and Marguerite King Memorial Scholarship Avery Burgoyne Mary Kate Dozier Lakyrah Howell Taylor King Julia Morris Elizabeth Rangel Clara Wineland Thomas Richardson and Alice Ragland Lamar Memorial Scholarship Sarah Breithaupt Merryn Bruner Hailey Coursen Amy Jackson Farah Jaentschke

Thank You 2023 Donors Foundation & Corporate Major Grants/Gifts 21 United Accelerate Chick-fil-A at West Jackson Ave Funky’s LLC Hosemann Family Autism Foundation Mahserg Inc. Mathematica NetVoice, Inc. North Mississippi Education Consortium Inc. Northrop Grumman Parker Lifeshare Foundation Phil Hardin Foundation Robert M. Hearin Support Foundation Storey Foundation, Inc. Tennessee Valley Robotics The Ellwood Foundation

Tri State Educational Foundation

Major Individual Gifts ($5,000$250,000) Emily and Phil Bailey Donna and Jim Barksdale The Estate of Dorothy W. Blackwell Emily and Glenn Boyce Sara and Thomas Burke Carr Family Charitable Trust Katherine and Jordan Hankins Paige and William King Connie and Tom Lilly Dana Markham Stephanie and Jamie McNab Lisa and Chuck Nicholson Wanda and Dan Quon Judi and Chip Reynolds Jean Shaw

36 n 2023 Education Edge n School of Education

Ellen Shelton Staci and Thomas Tyler Phyllis and Thomas Wallace Edward Williston (In memory of Elsie Williston) Teresa Wood Annual Gifts

Advocate ($1,000-$4,999)

Ginny and George Abraham Michael Blackburn Mariya & Stanley Breaux Sandra and Edward Carlton Doris and Tracy Causey Lyn and Ben Cheney Robert Cowden Bo Dunn Lane Gauthier Ashley and Joel Hanel Laura Jolly Gail and Randy Jones

Jean and John Mattox Carole Lynn Meadows Ann and Stephen Monroe Jerilou and Walt Moore Martha Morgan Lynn and James Murff Jean Nichols Mitzi and John Norris Rosemary Oliphant-Ingham Pat Patterson Frances Phillips Leanna Range-Norwood Sparky Reardon Michelle and David Rock Susan and David Shaw Ginny and Bill Street Molly Goldwasser and Colin Tate Linda and Turner Tyson Donna and Gerald Wages Beth and Tom Webb Martha and Peter Williston

Carter Kruckenberg Katie Martz Erica McCoy Christian Patton Hannah Scott Kataen Shockley Kaitlyn Sills Catherine Smith Kamiron Tran Mali McGraw Moore Memorial Scholarship Maggie Willard Bernard Smith Murff and Marie Murff Duncan Education Scholarship Dagan Weatherford Ronnie and Melody Musgrove Educator Scholarship Caleb Buckley Raye R. & David S. Newton Education Scholarship Savannah Robertson

Sonni McKinney Lily Reid Autumn Roberson Jazmine Smith Caylee Wardlaw Caroline Gardner Ava Palmer North Mississippi Education Consortium Graduate Leadership Scholarship Cornishee Bruce Brittany Layton Eddie Neal Shadonica Scruggs Dr. Harry P. Owens Secondary Education Opportunity Scholarship Kyle Wedner Pamela P. and Jerome W. Smith Excellence in Educational Leadership Scholarship Kristen Land

North Mississippi Education Consortium Scholarship Lillie Burton Madison Derito Graham Gardner Jamie Hajek Keragen McCullough

Parker Lifeshare Foundation Scholarship James Rankin

Steward ($500-$999)

Anne and George Price Hack Smith Denise and Barry Soares Cathy and Mike Stewart Moira and Jason Stookey Sonia and Wright Thompson Richard Watters Cecil Weeks Sherri and Travis West Doug Woodard

Helen and Woodie Abraham Mary Beth and Coleman Barnes Allan Bellman and Donna Niewiaroski Nicole and Daniel Boyd Irma Paris Buchanan Family, LLC Terri and Tom Burnham Wanikka Vance-Clark Beth and John Cleveland (with Exxon Match) Virginia and Camp Craig Amy Wells Dolan Joan Driver Carolynne and Ray Fooshee John Grimes Sandra and Matt Holleman Jane Jones Sue and Ed Keiser Heather and Mark Kruthers Lenora and Cecil Lott Dana and Germain McConnell Harvey Murff Larry Murff

Hugh S. Potts Sr. Memorial Scholarship Cailyn Rape Jordan Rott Chloe Warren R.H. Price Memorial Scholarship Isabella Liberto Avé Mayeux Alexis Thompson Lynda Ramey Madison Davis Renasant Bank Scholarship Erin Boeni Taylor Carter Rachel Jones Macey Leap Muriel O. Rogers Literacy Education Scholarship Emily Taubken Glynne and Ann Simpson Scholarship Leslie Allen Rachel Chrestman Ashley Davenport Cynthia Gabriela Gonzalez School of Education Scholarship Reagan Hall

Partner ($250-$499)

Jackie P. Bailey Cresada and Ken Barnett Virginia and Glenn Campbell Mary and Anthony Cavallaro Catherine and Billy Crews Mike Edmonds Byron Ellis Margaret Laney Michelle Frenssen Teri Heinz Adair and Cal Laney Carolyn and Sean Lilly Wilson

Diane and Ken Lowry Kaye Pepper McFarland K.B. Melear Mary Mills Kim and Steve Mobley Sandra Morris Betty and James Nunnally Donna and Robert Patterson Catherine and Brian Phillips Jenny and Ebben Raves Jeannine and Reggie Robertson Mr. Peter T. Rogers Teri and George Rounsaville Tony Vukusich Ms. Linda B. Weisel

Associate ($100-$249) Blake Adams Geanell Adams Katie and Joel Amidon Melissa and Rick Balkin Pam Barbera Carol and John Batte John Berns

Lindsey O. Todd Scholarship Magdalene Gage Kaylee Markham Merhetta Patterson Matthew Surrell Transfer to Teach Laney Billingsley Abbey Burns Jaishun Gates Macie Gossett Brinley Locke Jaylie Mills Brandon Mitchell Neziah Smith Transfer to Teach - Tri State Educational Foundation Scholarship Annalise Bailey Rileigh Enlow Lisette Merino Benjamin Willis Dr. Theopolis Pride Vinson Memorial Scholarship Jamya Benson Dacia Buchanan Joy Madkins Elsie W. Williston Scholarship Samya Brooks Kaylee Fleming Jaishun Gates Joshua McPherson

Blakeney and Jake Black Jeane and James Blackburn Janet Bowman Diane Brown Angela and Nicholas Brown Lina Burk Qiang Cheng Marti and Brent Chumbler Stephanie Close Betty and David Cole Finney and Peter Couhig Svjetlana Curcic and Richard Morrison Ellen Foster and Robert Dalton Brandi and David D’Angelo Roy Daughdrill Pam and Charles Davis Doug Davis Kerri and Lawrence Doll Tom Dulin Macey and Gray Edmondson Larry Eubank Lisa and Lee Falkenheiner Sammy Felton University of Mississippi n 37

Donors cont.

Anna Catherine Ferguson Rose and Richard Flenorl Frank Ford Kelsey Fortner Jack Fredericks Marcia and Gregory Freeman Rhonda and Daniel Gallagher Mike Galyean Ann Grimes Dennis Grimes Becky and Clark Hall Carol Halliburton Rick Hamberlin Barbara and Brenton Hamil Patty and Dave Harner Peggy and Dreher Harris Terre and Samuel Harris Dale Hefner Sarah and Chris Hellman Brandon Helwig Ann and James Herod Sarah Hewlett Renee Hill-Cunningham Jennifer and Robert Hunt Linda Jensen Medora and Benjamin Justus Lloyd Kapp Brit Katz Peggy Keady Michael Kenney Rebekah and Randy Kesler Laura and Keith Kessinger Lisa and Stuart Keyes Patricia King Tammy and Scott Kirkland Roosevelt Kitchens Claudia Knight Maura and Alex Langhart Earl Leake Bruce Levingston Margaret and Carnell Lewis Mary Jon and Richard Lucas Kelly Smith Marion Mary McClary Susan and Ben McClelland Zella McDonald Shirley and Steve McGraw Roun McNeal Virginia Mears Pamela Moore Nancy and Richard Muller Lisa and Andy Mullins Katie and David Naron Linda Newell Joli and Mac Nichols Alli Parshall Virginia Pence-Waddell Sara and Brian Platt Mike Pope Janice and Terry Puckett Liz and Trace Randall Roderick Richmond Mack Riley Nicole and Bradley Roberson Leffie Robinson Nichelle Robinson Linda and Kevin Russell

Christelle and James Sadler Mary and Ike Sanford Cindy and David Sansing Karen Schwantz Billy Shannon Keith Shelton Susan and Edward Slaton Stella and Jerome Smith Kim and Norman Snow Jo Stanford Ellen Sumner Kelle and Joe Sumrall Elizabeth and Joe Sweeney Prenya Tapryal Kathleen Taylor Hunter Taylor Patricia Terry LaToya and Marcus Thompson Catherine and Ashley Tibbs Elizabeth Towle Shauna and Mark Trainer Willette Carla and Jeffrey Trevis Ryan Upshaw Shelia and Ronald Vinson Jeanine Walker Jane and Tom Walman Fran Webb Renee Webb Keren and David Wells Barbara White Amy Williams Thelma and Arzell Wilson Jerry Woods Robert Young Cuihua and Yang Zhang

Friend (Under $100)

Caroline B. Adams Sol Adams Libba and Mickey Akers Leigh Akins Mary and Thomas Allen Anne and Charles Allen Ann Elize and Charles Allen Joan Apple and Nate Kleinberg Teri and Joseph Armistead Christina Arnold and Christopher Wright Virginia Asbury Mohammad Ashfaq Erica and Shawn Avent Mackenzie Bailey Margaret and Drew Baker Olivia Barker Kimberly Barker Bryson Barker Kayleigh Barlow Blaire Barlow Brelinda and Charles Barlow Carolyn Barnett Paige Barnett Lindsay Dawson and John Barton Elizabeth and Jacob Batte Jen Batte Christopher Baughman Katerina Berezina Christine Blackburn

38 n 2023 Education Edge n School of Education

Jackie Blackwell Evie Bledsoe Francis Boateng Troy Bone Vietta Booker Olivia G. Boone Cindy Boone Jessica and Gant Boone Casey Bowen Danica and Jason Boyd Liz Boyer Kam’ron Bracey Tom Brady Mary Bramlett Ashley Bridges Novelette Brown Emily Brown Betsy Brown Marlene Brumbaugh Clio Bruno Lillian Buggs Rudolph Burdine Ron Burk Clint Burton Katie Busby Hattie Busby Sasha Cain Karrigan Callihan Becky and David Calvert Mattie and M. D. Cameron Cathy and Claude Campbell Courtney Carlton Gin-Gin and Frederick Carlton Avery Carpenter Amber Carpenter-McCullough Rollie and Lynn Carson Heesung Chae Vayunandan Chennamaneni Leah Chisolm Abigail Clark Leigh and Tony Clinard Anajah Coleman Kelli & Steve Coleman Hannah Collazo Candies Winfun-Cook and Jeremy Cook Judith Cooper Sally Cooper Kaitlyn Corales Valerie and Chris Cos Jordyn Cosman Patrick Costello Jill and Chris Cox Marie Cox Walter Cox Chloe Crane Carolyn Crawford Perrin Crews Lowrey Crews Caroline Crisler Kayla Crook Caroline Cross Joye Cullen Kiana Dale Ginger Daniels Nikki Daoust Jeanne and Penn Davidson

James Davis Cammy Devine Charlotte and Chris Dicus Betty Dismuke Kellee and Patrick Dixon Sherita Dobbins Allison Dodson Matthew Dolan Tavina Dortch Carolyn Doyle Whitney Drewrey Paige Driggers Brandie Ducrest Rachael and Matt Durham Evelyn Edgar Adrienne and E.J. Edney Claire Elkin Cristin Ellis Julia English Vance Eschenburg Courtney Estay Stephen Fafulas Frank Fernandez Sydney and David Fields Kirklyn Finney Stephanie and Martin Fisher Lauren Fite Katelyn Flake Natalie Fletcher Eden Flora Lynn Fogleman Hannah Fox Dwayne Franks Katharine Garner Molly Gay Saylor Gee Ashland Gentry Megan Gibson Sam Gilbert Matt Gillespie Jerry Ginn Macie Gossett Addy and Craig Gracey Kristen Grauer-Gray Amber and Duncan Gray Lauren Green Jerrold Greenberg Michaela Griffin Elizabeth Grimm Amy and Christopher Groves Taylor-Claire Groves Luke Guest Katie Guest Katherine Guido Zachary Guthrie Lisa Hadden Sophie Haga Dale Hair Meghan and Josh Hairston Marika Hall Reese Hammond Fletcher Harges Alina and Fletcher Harges Michelle Harges Deuce Harges Kimble Harges Lisa Harmon

Renee and David Harmon Seth Harmon Tammye & Christopher Harvey Anne Haughton Cheryl and Keith Hayward Mary Hayward Kaytee and Kenneth Hazlewood Mary and Stephen Hedges Daely Hedgren Thomas Hendricks Kenneth Henkes James Herzog Katy Hess Chris Heuser Jessica Hill Judy Hill Karen and Frank Hillis Alexa Hillis Aly Hoffman Matthew Holleman Savannah Hollis Mary Hopkins Miah Hopkins Destyn Howell Carolyn and Chuck Huffstatler Jennifer and Chadwick Hull Blair and Drew Hull Matt Hunt Erin Hurt Rodney Hurt Neal Hutchens Kelli and John Hykes Jeff Ingram Clarice Ivy Adriana Jacoma Emilia Jaentschke Ali Jaffery Whitney Jenkins Molly Jennings Julia and Scott Jimenez Leslie Joblin Anandi Johnson Beverly and Arthur Johnston Meritt A. Johnston Lydia and Dan Jones Libbie Jones Kia Jones Melissa and Dru Jones Caroline Kaiser Zoe Kayton Margaret Keach James Kelley Janay Kelley Jazmine Kelley Jeannie Kelley Jessica Kelley Kate Kellum and Jason Finch Taylor Keowen Mo Khalid Madison Killion Daniel Kleinberg Elizabeth Knotts Katie Krouse Margaret Krouse Alyce and David Krouse Julie and Philip Kyle Elizabeth and Guy Landingham

Roxanne Landmann Allison Larson Steffi and Barrett Larson Emily De Lashmet Tony Lathon Rory Ledbetter Katina and Tejuan Leland Madison LeMaire Karen and Tim Letzring Erin and Tom Levidiotis Renee Linebarger Mary Livingston Elle Lockard Brinley Locke Sarah Rose and Robert Lomenick Fannye Love Alden and Rhes Low Mannie Lowe Taylor Lunsford Lydia Lytal Isabella Madey Ruby Madkins Merrill and Josh Magruder Jennifer Main Renee Majeau Rivers Mallory William Mansfield Ella Martin Bailie Martinez Rachel Mattox Ave Mayeux Beverly and Stephen McAlilly Carlee McAnally Jasmine McClain Keelie McClellan Cheryl and Joe McCormack Antasha McCoy David McCullough Megan and John McCurdy Betsy and John McCurdy Britton and Mike McDermott Jennifer and Robert McGahee Heather McKenzie Mark McMillin Lyn and David McMillin Arda McMullan Jessica McMullen Lisette Merino Emily Messick Tracey and Jared Mewborn Michael Migliaro Sara and Kirk Milam Anne Miller Kenneth Miller Kathy Millner Cindy and John Misita Grace Mobley George Monroe Zoe Moore Ashley Moore Raymond Morgigno Carmel Morris Angela Morrison Heather Morrison Robert Morrison Regan Morse Abby Morton

Gail Morton Jackie Mosely Seth Mott Marsha Mountz Riley Mullen Connor Murphy William Murphy Patti Nalley Ashley and Carl Nelson Austin Newcomb Kimberly Newell Joannie Olson Veronica Olvin Mary Armour O’Reilly Gracie O’Rourke Sarah and Mark Ortwein Addison Osman Abby Overstreet Marissa Owens Katrina and Christopher Pace Anna Palmer Andrea Payne & Raymond Payne Charlotte and Tee Pegues Whitney and Darin Van Pelt Laura Permenter Rebecca and Locke Phillips Taylor Pierce Lindsay and Robert Pitts Lauren Plummer Will Poole Holly Beth Popek Madeleine Porter Brent Powell Caroline Powell Jack Powers Brooklynn Prestwood Laura Prior Audrey and Tommy Pritchard Mary and Chris Provence Ashley Pry Kimberly Puckett Anna and James Purvis Annie Quinlan Mia Quinn Sally and Joshua Quong Mallory Ragon Salma Rashid Kathryn Reardon Audrey Reid Emily Reyes Rebecca Rhea Diana and Dwain Richardson Krista Ritter Don Robbins Abigail and Nathan Robbins Lindsey and Patrick Roberson Riley Robinson Cassidy Rock Kyle Rock Carly Rock Katelyn Rock Susannah Rodman Marythuy Lam-Rodrigues and Nishanth Rodrigues Allyn Roulhac Lauren Saltzman Anna Samonds

Katherine and Phillip Sandifer Ruth Sandoval Charles Scott Betsy and Rhodes Scott Hannah Scott Kylie Scott Abbey Shane Sherry Shepard Vicki and Grant Shipley Sellers Shockley Leslie and Marc Showalter Steven Shults Tequila Shumpert Bonnie and Dennis Siebert Sarah Siebert Miriam Smith Pam Smith Peggy and Bernie Smith Shana and Justin Smith Emily Smith Chloe-Jade Smith Janet Sprinkle Alicia and Andrew Stapp Ann Stasi Laurie Steele Skylar Stokes Lee Ann and Ellis Stubbs Taylor Swartz Sylvia and David Tart Michele and Jack Thomas Noele Thornton Katherine and Christopher Thornton Tim Tindall Denise and Nicholas Trembelis Ashley Triplett Daniel Turnell Amy and David Turner Nicole Turner Bella Van Essendelft Melissa and Gary Van Essendelft Sydney Vanderlinden Leigh Vandevender Emily Vasiloff Haley Vassar Gabby Vogt Caitlyn and Colby Wakefield Mindy Waldrop Chelsea Walters Chloe Warren Hannah Watts Casey Webb Whitney and Neville Webb Walton Webster Jimmy Weeks Virgie Wells Nick Wendenon Kayla and Jacob Wheeler Jordan White Shelby White Katie Whitehead Riley Williams Amanda and Jonathan Winburn Jill and Trent Wood Bin Xiao Lauren Yates Kaitlyn Young University of Mississippi n 39

‘Gary’. Oil on wood. By James Kane

School of Education 130 Guyton Hall P.O. Box 1848 University, MS 38677-1848