SHARE THE WARMTH
Bring comfort and joy to a neighbor in need.
When you donate to Project SHARE, Mississippi Power will match your gift — doubling the warmth for families right here in our communities. That means more peace of mind for neighbors who need it most. Make the new year shine even brighter by adding a small donation to your bill today.
SHARE the warmth this new year.
HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR YEAR CHECKLIST
Apply for admission to Southern Miss.
Apply for campus housing.
Priority deadline: MARCH 1
Complete the FAFSA.
Apply for scholarships.
MARCH 1: Application deadline for institutional merit-based scholarships, including those through the Southern Miss Alumni Association and the USM Foundation
Admitted students are invited to attend Going Gold Day on APRIL 18.
Accept University scholarship offers by MAY 1.
Register for Freshman Orientation by MAY 1.
ADMITTED STUDENTS
Finish your checklist
‘“Some of my most treasured memories were made at Southern Miss. This is the place that shaped me—not only as a musician, but as a leader, teacher and husband.”’
– Bruce Pulver ’88
ALUMNI STAFF
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TUCKER SAPPINGTON
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS ALDEN BENNETT ’13, ’ 18
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR FOR INTERNAL OPERATIONS DANE REITER ’06, ’07, ’10
ALUMNI ACTIVITIES OPERATIONS MANAGER JENNIFER FELDER
MAIL CLERK EDWARD WALLACE
ADVANCEMENT COMMUNICATIONS
DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS SAMANTHA ALEXANDER ’09, ’10
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF MULTIMEDIA AND STORYTELLING CHLOE ARMSTRONG ’13
MARKETING PROJECT MANAGER ALEXIS RUTLAND
COMMUNICATIONS & ENGAGEMENT MANAGER GRACIE LEWIS 25
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
SAMANTHA MCCAIN ALEXANDER, GRACIE LEWIS, BAILEY HARRIS, UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS STAFF, MIKE LOPINTO, KARLIE HERNDON, JOYCE INMAN, JACK DUGGAN
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
SOUTHERN MISS ATHLETICS, SOUTHERN MISS PHOTO CENTER, CHLOE ARMSTRONG, GRACIE LEWIS, MEGAN COOK, ANA RUTH CORTÉS, JESSE JOHNSON
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OFFICERS
PRESIDENT DAVE ESTORGE
PRESIDENT-ELECT CHRISTEN DUHÉ
VICE PRESIDENT RYAN MOULEDOUS
FINANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR KYLE STONER
SECRETARY/TREASURER TUCKER SAPPINGTON
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BROOKS BOHTE, SARAH BUTLER, KATIE DIXON, BRIAN DOZIER, JOHN DUEASE, NELSON HASKIN, SCOTT WALKER, TORY BASS, KAILA MORAN GRIFFITH, JEREMY HESTER, MATT PACE, LESLIE STEVENS, CAIN ROBERDS, ADAM ROBERTS, STANCEY COLLINS DAVIS, TATE DICKEY, JACOB FITZGERALD, SHANE GERMANY, TORI GIEGER, CHARLOTTE GUINOT, MARIE ROBERTS
E X-OFFICIO BOARD MEMBERS JOSEPH S. PAUL, OMAR NELSON, STACE MERCIER, KAMI WERT, JEREMY MCCLAIN
For advertising information, contact Tucker Sappington by phone at 601.266.5508 or email at Tucker.Sappington@usm.edu.
The Talon (USPS 652-240) is published quarterly by The University of Southern Mississippi Alumni Association, 118 College Drive #5013, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001 Active membership dues of $45 (single membership) or $55 (couple) includes subscription
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Hederman Brothers Printing in Madison, Miss., and the staff of the Southern Miss Alumni Association.
Periodical postage paid at Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001 and at additional mailing offices (Approved January 20, 1955)
POSTMASTER:
Send address changes to 118 College Drive #5013, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5013
PHONE: 601.266.5013 | EMAIL: alumni@usm.edu
WEBSITE: www.SouthernMissAlumni.com
As we start the new year, I am excited about what is to come for the Association and Southern Miss. The spring semester brings countless ways to reconnect and soak up all that the University has to offer. From baseball and basketball games to Founders’ Day and commencement, I hope to see each of you back in Hattiesburg as you show your support for our Golden Eagle community.
The new year also represents a time of rejuvenation and newness. We have been working and updating our processes to deliver the best possible alumni experience for each of you. There are many fun and exciting things ahead that you don’t want to miss. Be sure that you are staying engaged on social media and in your email so that you can see what’s to come.
This issue of The Talon is one marked by service, accomplishment and heart–three things that live deeply within every Golden Eagle.
First and most important, we introduce you to our newest team member–Alden Bennett. Alden joined us in December and will serve as our associate director for external affairs. His enthusiasm for our University and its future trajectory is palpable!
Additionally, you’ll read about what an incredible year our student athletes have experienced and how our institution played an integral in the success of Hattiesburg restauranteur Nelson Haskin. Campus traditions, success stories from alumni and the many vibrant ways that Southern Miss is creating a strong base of students and alumni are also included.
As you turn the pages, I hope you are reminded that no matter where life has taken you, you are always part of the Southern Miss story. The strength of our University is built on the people who came before, those who are here now and the generations still to come.
We look forward to welcoming you back to campus soon, celebrating our shared traditions and building an even brighter future together. Until then—stay engaged, stay inspired and as always… Southern Miss to the Top!
Tucker Sappington Executive Director, Southern Miss Alumni Association
Upcoming Events Calendar
All events are subject to change and should be confirmed. Visit SouthernMissAlumni.com/UpcomingEvents for a full list of events hosted by the Alumni Association. Athletic schedules can be found at SouthernMiss.com. For additional events hosted across campus, visit calendar.usm.edu.
FEBRUARY 2025
13-15 Southern Miss Baseball Opening Weekend
Pete Taylor Park
MARCH 2025
3 Founders’ Day
Stay tuned for ways to celebrate!
APRIL 2025
18 Honors College 50th Anniversary
Undergraduate Symposium on Research and Creative Activity
Scianna Hall | 8 a.m.
Anniversary Celebration
T rent Lott National Center | 9 a.m.
ALUM
December Commencement 2025
ACCOUNTING EXCELLENCE SOARS
Two Southern Miss Students Receive Prestigious Scholarship
By Bailey Harris Shoemake, MBA ’17, ’22
Nila Griffin ’25 and Laura Stovall, two graduate students in the Southern Miss Master of Professional Accountancy (MPA) program, have been selected as recipients of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) Scholarship, a prestigious national award
recognizing outstanding accounting students nationwide. The PCAOB Scholars Program provides financial support to students who demonstrate academic excellence and a commitment to the accounting profession.
“We are deeply thankful for the PCAOB scholarships granted to our deserving students,” said Dr. Blaise M. Sonnier, director of the School of Accountancy. “These awards will significantly support Nila and Laura in being prepared for a career in accounting and achieving their goal of obtaining the academic qualifications needed to pursue CPA licensure. We are appreciative of those who provide financial support for our students to provide them with the time to be dedicated to their studies.”
Nila Griffin earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Southern Miss in May 2025 and is now continuing her studies in the MPA program. She has gained valuable experience through internships with TMH and Mississippi Power. At TMH, she prepared tax returns and worked with the governmental audit team. Her time with Mississippi Power was spent preparing customer performance reports and completing assignments within the regulatory department.
“I am so thankful to be named one of the PCAOB Scholars,” Griffin said. “I work to pay for school, so this scholarship relieved that stress and allows me to concentrate on studying for the CPA exam.”
Laura Stovall is pursuing her graduate degree at Southern Miss after being drawn to the supportive environment she felt from faculty and staff in the College of Business and Economic Development.
“Ms. Amber Hatten has played a key role in my decision to attend Southern Miss for my graduate studies,” Stovall shared. “When we first met, I left feeling like the faculty and staff at Southern Miss really wanted me to succeed.”
Stovall’s internship experience includes Harper, Rains, Knight and Company (HRK) in Ridgeland and Forvis Mazars in Jackson. Both experiences gave her hands-on exposure to auditing, networking opportunities and an introduction to the demands of tax season. After graduation, both recipients plan to pursue their CPA licenses and begin careers in public accounting.
Hatten, director of the MPA program at Southern Miss, praised both recipients for their achievements.
“It is such an honor to have the opportunity to work alongside incredible students like Nila and Laura,” said Hatten. “They are both exceptional students with bright futures, and we are very fortunate to have them pursuing their graduate degrees and working towards their CPA licensure at Southern Miss. We take our role of helping students be ready for life and ready for careers in the accounting profession very seriously, and we are so grateful to the PCAOB for recognizing and rewarding our hardworking, talented and deserving students in this meaningful and significant way.”
Nila Griffin
Laura Stovall
READY FOR COURT, READY FOR LIFE
Legal Studies at Southern Miss Serves Every Generation
By Gracie Lewis ’25
At Southern Miss, Legal Studies encompasses a multigenerational community grounded in mentorship, quality education and professional excellence. Current students build real-world skills and strengthen their networks through events like Dinner with a Dozen Legal Eagles and other Pre-Law Week events, while alumni and friends stay engaged through continuing legal education and interactions with students. Together, these touchpoints form a strong Hattiesburg legal community and reflect the University’s commitment to shaping Legal Eagles who are both ready for court and ready for life.
Sharpening Skills
This past fall, Southern Miss hosted the Elmo Lang/USM Legal Eagle Continuing Legal Education
(CLE) training for current legal professionals. This year’s program featured local chancellors, circuit court judges, federal judges and Mississippi Supreme Court justices—each offering insights on pressing issues from the perspective of the bench. Their sessions led to five hours of CLE credit and one hour of ethics, culminating in a day of illuminating, practical learning for attendees.
By offering such opportunities, Southern Miss continues to strengthen its Legal Eagle community and provide alumni with meaningful ways to stay connected long after graduation.
As opportunities like this CLE Training reinforce the knowledge of today’s legal leaders, the University also focuses on cultivating tomorrow’s—starting with its students.
Learning From Those Who Lead
The Legal Studies 2025 Pre-Law Week, held in September, gave Southern Miss students a frontrow seat to the world of law. Throughout the week, students met with recruiters and representatives from eight law schools, gained insights from practicing paralegals, stepped into a mock law school class and tested their skills with a practice LSAT or Certified Paralegal Exam.
The week culminated in Dinner with a Dozen Legal Eagles, where generations met at the dinner table for networking and fellowship. The evening showcased how Legal Eagles at every stage—from seasoned attorneys to first-year pre-law students— are building the skills and relationships that shape a meaningful legal career. Students connected with attorneys in their fields of interest and received
THANK YOU to the Judges Who Attended
Circuit Court Judge Prentis Harrell
Federal Judge LaKeysha Greer Isaac
Justice David Ishee
Mississippi Court of Appeals
Judge Tony Lawrence
Judge Mark Maples
Judge Keith Miller
Federal Judge Sul Ozerdon
Judge Amy St. Pey
Mississippi Supreme Court
Chief Justice Mike Randolph
Judge Jerry Sharp
Chancery Court Judge Rea Shelton
Justice David Sullivan
guidance on law school admission, finances and lessons learned through years of practice. Hearing directly from experienced professionals created an environment built for growth yet relaxed enough to encourage honest questions.
The Southern Miss Legal Studies program has paved a path to the courtroom built on intentional touchpoints and unique opportunities. By investing in students during their undergraduate careers and cultivating a strong alumni network, the program not only prepares Legal Eagles for flight—it welcomes them home to engage, serve and give back.
RESEARCH IN MOTION
The University of Southern Mississippi generates more than $100 million annually with innovative and life-changing research that is woven into the fabric of the institution. As a Carnegie R1 research institution, the University demonstrates a significant level of research activity and excellence in its chosen
fields, further solidifying its dedication to advancing knowledge regionally and across the globe.
Here’s a small glimpse at the breakthrough research currently taking place at Southern Miss. To learn more about these topics and more, visit usm.edu/news.
From Classroom to Open Sea
Southern Miss students Shakiya Ingram and Vandell McGill, majors in the Oceanography and Ocean Mapping program, recently participated in a nine-day NOAA research cruise aboard the Nancy Foster in Charleston, S.C. The voyage brought together 18 students to collect hydrographic survey data across 560 square nautical miles, contributing to NOAA’s seafloor-mapping mission.
Ingram conducted night-shift operations, including salinity, temperature and depth casts, and coordinated with the ship’s crane operator during deployments. McGill spent time on the bridge, where he assisted with navigation and vessel operations. They also gained experience in shipboard communication and emergency procedures.
“These kinds of opportunities bridge the gap between our academic curriculum and the professional hydrographic community they are about to join.”
- Dr. Calvin Martin, Southern Miss Marine Science Professor
Shakiya Ingram
IMPACT: The GTEC will help prepare the next generation of scholars to tackle cardiovascular health disparities, reflecting Southern Miss’ commitment to developing the biomedical workforce and advancing health for all.
Fueling the Future of Heart Health
Southern Miss recently received a $14.5 million contract to launch the Jackson Heart Study (JHS) Graduate Training and Education Center (GTEC), which will train 10 graduate students each year in cardiovascular and public health research.
Designed by the College of Nursing and Health Professions’ (CNHP) Gulf South Center for Community-Engaged Health Research and Innovation, the two-year program integrates coursework, mentorship and community-based projects focused on cardiovascular epidemiology, physiology, biostatistics and health disparities. Scholars will also engage with partners including the JHS Community Engagement Core, My Brother’s Keeper Inc. and Hattiesburg Clinic.
The project has been funded in whole or in part with federal funds from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, under Contract No. 75N92025D00039.
2025 Research Day
Southern Miss hosted its annual Research Day in the Thad Cochran Center on the Hattiesburg campus, featuring faculty, staff and student projects spanning artificial intelligence, ocean engineering, local tourism and more. The event included presentations, poster sessions and the Research Showcase Awards.
This year’s award winners were James Thompson (First Place) for work on uncrewed hypoxia data collection, Brent Hale (Second Place) for research on social media usage and psychoemotional outcomes among emerging adults and Jeffrey Parr (Third Place) for a study examining baseline indicators of football injury risk.
DID YOU KNOW?
Research Day brings together projects from multiple academic colleges, highlighting work from across the University. Vice President for Research
Dr. Kelly Lucas, shared, “By uniting scholars from diverse disciplines, we foster meaningful collaborations that extend beyond traditional boundaries. Events like this are essential to sustaining our research enterprise and advancing our continued success as an R1 institution.”
THE SOUNDS OF SOUTHERN MISS
By Gracie Lewis ’25
Each day, Southern Miss is bursting with energy— flowing not only with the steady rhythm of students but with the vibrant sounds of the School of Music. From band and orchestra to choir and musical theatre, this specific program is full of artistry and passion that transport audiences to a world of excitement, beauty and timelessness.
The work produced within and beyond the walls of the school serve as a reminder of the creativity woven into campus life—music notes that drift into the hallways from classrooms, the roar of The PRIDE on game days and the sweet melodies of choir rehearsals that echo late into the night. This steady hum heard throughout campus represents what these artists know to be true—music has the ability to connect us all.
Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, the School of Music maintains a tradition of excellence that reaches far beyond campus. Students and faculty combine performing, educating, storytelling and more into a world that invites audiences to feel, remember and connect—ultimately producing some of the top entertainment offerings in the South.
Students are given the chance to learn from distinguished faculty who perform on world-class stages and teach at international festivals, bringing global expertise directly to Southern Miss. Being exposed to such experiences has shaped a culture of true musicianship where students are encouraged both as artists and people.
Southern Miss ensembles include but are not limited to the Southern Chorale, The PRIDE, the Symphony Orchestra, the Wind Ensemble, the Opera and Musical Theatre and the Jazz Band. Together, they represent the heart of Southern Miss Music, performing at regional, national and international levels that allow students to gain experiences that rival many major conservatories.
Music excellence and the highest levels of musicianship are entrenched in the identity of Southern Miss, representing not only those who perform it but those lucky enough to experience it.
To learn more about the School of Music visit www.usm.edu/music.
COMING HOME Col. Bruce Pulver Returns to Southern Miss as Artist-in-Residence
By Dr. Mike Lopinto
When Colonel Bruce R. Pulver ’88 walks onto the Southern Miss campus in July 2026, it won’t be as a wide-eyed music education major, eager to take his place in the Pride of Mississippi.
This time, it will be as the newly retired Commander of the United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own,” the premier musical ensemble of the U.S. Army, and as the newest Artist-in-Residence for the Southern Miss School of Music.
Pulver’s Southern Miss journey began in the late 1980s, when he studied percussion with Dr. Sherman Hong, and conducting with Dr. Thomas Fraschillo. In those years, he fell in love with his craft, forged friendships that have lasted a lifetime and met his wife, Dianne ’91.
“Some of my most treasured memories were made at Southern Miss,” Pulver recalls. “This is the place that shaped me—not only as a musician, but as a leader, teacher and husband.”
After graduating in 1988, Pulver taught in Mississippi public schools for several years before enlisting in the Army. Over the next three decades, he rose through the ranks to become one of the most respected military musicians of his generation.
His assignments took him from Fort Rucker to Germany, from the Army School of Music to the global stage and finally to Washington, D.C., where he led “Pershing’s Own” during its centennial year. All along the way, he carried Southern Miss with him.
In 2012, he was selected to return to Germany and serve as commander of the United States Army Europe Band & Chorus. Following his second overseas tour, he became the commander of the United States Army School of Music in 2015, where he was responsible for all training of Army Band Soldiers. He was promoted to the rank of colonel in 2019 and later named as the chief of Army Bands.
Pulver has served the nation in uniform for more than 30 years. He has represented the Army in 37 countries and territories around the world, as well as in 44 of the contiguous U.S. States, plus Hawaii and Alaska.
Now, he’s coming home.
At Southern Miss, Pulver will conduct ensembles throughout the School of Music, lead clinics across the country and mentor students preparing for careers in music. He sees this new chapter as a chance to honor the legacy that built him while inspiring future Golden Eagles.
’91, ’93, ’04
“I’m eager to pour back into the next generation,” Pulver says. “My teachers believed in me before I even knew what was possible. I want to be that same spark for today’s students.”
University President Dr. Joe Paul calls Pulver’s return “a homecoming of the highest order.”
He explains, “Col. Pulver has led at the very top of his field, representing his country and his art with dignity, brilliance and heart. To welcome him back to Southern Miss, where his journey first began, is both fitting and profoundly exciting for our students.”
As leader and commander of The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own,” Pulver regularly performed for presidential events at the White House, congressional events at the U.S. Capitol, for senior military leaders at the Pentagon and memorial services and ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.
He led the band in historic events, including the state funeral for President Jimmy Carter, the 60th Presidential Inauguration, the NATO 75th Anniversary Summit and the Army’s 250th Birthday.
Dr. Chris Winstead, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences added, “His remarkable career leading the U.S. Army Band, including performances at presidential inaugurations, state occasions and national ceremonies, is an inspiring legacy of artistry and service.”
Dr. Colin McKenzie, director of the School of Music, adds, “Our students will have the rare opportunity to learn from a musician who has conducted some of the finest ensembles in the world
but more than that, they’ll gain a mentor whose life story shows what can happen when talent, discipline and passion come together.”
Pulver and his wife have kept their Southern Miss ties strong over the years. Both of their children, Christine ’12 and Zachary ’20, followed in their footsteps as Golden Eagles. Family, music and service remain at the heart of everything they do.
Looking ahead, he reflects with gratitude. “The Army gave me the honor of serving my country through music. Southern Miss gave me the foundation to dream it was possible. Now, I get to come home and help others chase their dreams. It’s the perfect full circle.”
Pulver's Military Awards and Decorations
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters
Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Army Achievement Medal
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star
Global War on Terror Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
NATO Medal
Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon
Non-commissioned Officer
Professional Development Ribbon
Army Superior Unit Award
Air Assault Badge
Parachutist Badge
CREATING MEANING Art and Design at Southern Miss
By Gracie Lewis ’25
Art at Southern Miss is grounded in exploration, craftsmanship and a strong culture of community. Within the School of Performing and Visual Arts at Southern Miss, the Art and Design program gives students space to experiment while developing the technical and conceptual skills needed to thrive as working artists.
Students can pursue degrees in studio art—with pathways in painting, drawing, ceramics, sculpture and more—or in graphic design, where they learn to merge visual communication with creative problemsolving. Every student begins with a foundations curriculum that sharpens essential skills in drawing, design and visual thinking before moving into specialized studio work. Across all areas, faculty emphasize both the process of making art and creating meaning, helping students develop strong portfolios rooted in personal voice.
This commitment to offering hands-on practice is further supported by a culture of exhibition. Located on campus, he Gallery of Art & Design host yearround exhibitions, bringing national, regional and student work together to foster conversation while giving Southern Miss artists the chance to showcase their work to the community.
Annual events such as the senior capstone exhibitions are free and open to the public, strengthening connections between the university and the wider Hattiesburg arts community.
This year’s senior capstone exhibition, featuring the work of Kayla Beeles, Emma Lee Nehlig and Raena Sosa, reflects what makes art at Southern Miss distinctive. Each artist has spent years refining technique, testing new ideas and engaging with peers and faculty in an environment that both challenges and supports them. Their final showcase of work showcases not only technical mastery, but also a thoughtful exploration of themes shaped by their own lived experiences and creative perspectives.
“Being in the Art and Design program, surrounded by many peers and teachers, has given me confidence and helped me go in a direction in life that I never thought I would,” said artist Kayla Beeles. “I appreciate everyone in the program and wish them luck as they graduate.”
These students represent the talent and passion that flows out of Southern Miss as students graduate. For them, being ready for life also means being ready to create, imagine and inspire. Their capstone exhibition is a testament to the art program and the fostering of artists who are both skilled in trade and passionate at heart.
“Being in the Art and Design program, surrounded by many peers and teachers, has given me confidence and helped me go in a direction in life that I never thought I would,” said artist Kayla Beeles.
ALDEN BENNETT JOINS THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Welcoming the New Associate Director for External Affairs
The Alumni Association recently named Alden Bennett ’13, ’18 as its associate director for external affairs, a role that will strengthen external partnerships and collaborate on initiatives that elevate alumni engagement across the University’s global network of alumni.
A proud double alumnus of Southern Miss, Bennett brings more than a decade of higher education experience to the role, all earned while serving within the University’s Office of Admissions. Most recently serving as director of recruitment, he led outreach efforts and implemented strategies to broaden the University’s reach and support students throughout their journey to Southern Miss.
“I’m truly honored to join the Alumni Association and continue serving my alma mater in this new capacity,” said Bennett. “I’m excited to help cultivate meaningful relationships, grow the membership of our Association and support the mission and vision that guide our beloved institution.”
Bennett’s service to the University extends beyond his professional roles. He is an instructor for the Joe Paul Leadership Scholarship Program, where he mentors incoming freshmen, and serves as chapter counselor for the Mississippi Gamma Chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon. He is also an active member of the Hattiesburg community through his service as a deacon and preschool ministry volunteer at Temple Baptist Church.
“Alden has demonstrated a remarkable commitment to Southern Miss through his prior professional roles and service to the institution,” said Tucker Sappington, the executive director for the Association. “His passion for building authentic relationships and connecting people to Southern Miss will be invaluable to the work of the Alumni Association.”
With an undergraduate degree in marketing and a graduate degree in business from Southern Miss, Bennett’s deep institutional knowledge and passion for strengthening the University family make him uniquely positioned for this new role.
He and his wife, Ashlynn ’12 live in Hattiesburg and are proud parents to their son, Charles, a K4 student.
WELCOME NEW LIFE MEMBERS
Kirk McCarty
Claire Monico
Jim and Merle Beverley
James Bostick
Jim and Bonnie Miltimore
Yvonne Brooks
Susan Dubuisson
Joseph and Susan Ratcliff
Ginger Clark
Steven Thompson
Linda Muller-Thompson
Fred Sartin
NEW ORLEANS BOWL ALUMNI PREGAME
DINNER WITH A DOZEN EAGLES
At this year’s Dinner with a Dozen Eagles, students networked directly with alumni across industries like government, banking, marketing, human resources and construction. Each alum brought a unique perspective shaped by their own time at Southern Miss.
Thank you to the alumni who offered students the chance to build connections that stretch far beyond the dinner table.
MISSY MCGEE ’90, ’93 State Representative, District 102
MATT PACE ’04 President, Codaray Construction
TORI GIEGER ’18
HR Generalist, Cooperative Energy
LESLIE STEVENS ’96 Owner, LWS Business Solutions
HUNTER SIMMONS ’23
PI & Publicly
Reported Data Manager, Forrest Health
A LEGACY OF SISTERHOOD, SERVICE AND SCHOLORSHIP
Delta Sigma Theta Celebrates 50 Years
By Gracie Lewis ’25
For the Mighty Mu Nu Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, their 50th anniversary celebration was more than a milestone—it was a moment to reflect, to honor a legacy of service and academic excellence and to build a lasting support system for students to come. That vision became reality through the creation of an endowed scholarship, an initiative established to support current members of Delta Sigma Theta at Southern Miss, ensuring that financial barriers never stand in the way of opportunity.
The purpose of the endowment is deeply aligned with the organization’s founding values: to uplift, empower and educate. As Kenya Horn ’99, who helped spearhead the fundraising initiative, shared, “We were founded by college-educated women, and we’ve always felt a responsibility to assist anyone who is in need.” The scholarship endowment reflects this commitment through a tangible way to leave Southern Miss better than they found it.
When the chapter began preparing for its 50th anniversary, the idea of launching an endowed
scholarship emerged as both a challenge and an opportunity. What happened next surprised even them.
“I’ve never seen group fundraising take fire the way this initiative did,” said Stace Mercier, executive director of the USM Foundation. “It became a model for how alumni can come together and create real impact.”
Horn and Mary A. Hill ’78, ’80, who assisted the 50th anniversary efforts, credit the chapter’s strong sense of sisterhood and a little healthy competition for the incredible momentum. “We’re a very competitive group,” they laughed. “Once we set our goal, we were determined to get what we needed!”
Their determination paid off. What began as a $25,000 goal more than doubled, soaring past $63,000. “It means I’ve added Southern Miss to my giving list,” Hill said. “And I know Delta Sigma Theta chapters across the country are doing the same. Our sisters everywhere are creating endowments and supporting their students.”
For Delta women, the value of an endowed scholarship extends far beyond the dollars it provides. Endowments build long-term strength. They ensure that students who need help today, and students 10, 20 and 50 years from now, will have support. Hill, who made her vows to Delta Sigma Theta in 1975 and has stayed active through all 50 years, describes it as a natural extension of the values she learned on campus.
“The values I learned at Southern Miss broadened my view of life,” she said. “They fueled my career, my commitment to public service, my fundraising— everything. Once you go through that growth period, you use it in every aspect of your life.”
For many alumnae, supporting the endowment is also a personal calling.
“It was hard for me to pay for school and not be in debt,” said charter member Margarett Barnes ’75. “I worked through college. I know how hard it is to make ends meet as a student.” Barnes feels that contributing to the scholarship felt like both a responsibility and a privilege. “Thinking back over my years in Delta Sigma Theta, the sorority gave me a moral compass. It taught me how to treat others, how to work as a team and how to engage with whatever community I’m in. Leaving this legacy was important, especially for students who might not otherwise be able to stay in school.”
Again and again, the women of the chapter pointed back to one thread: sisterhood. It is the constant that has shaped their experiences as students, alumnae, professionals and leaders.
“These values follow you,” Hill said. “Even though you learn them in Delta Sigma Theta, they have a flowering effect in your life—at church, at work, in your community. They don’t stay in one place.”
For many, Delta Sigma Theta has also been a compass for service. Members have led outreach efforts, supported young women and girls, advocated for education and strengthened communities across Mississippi and beyond.
“Our chapter’s work has always centered on addressing the needs of our community,” says current chapter president Teyanna Monroe. “We host various events from educational programs and voter registration drives to health awareness and community service. We believe that real change starts locally, and when we strengthen our community, we strengthen society as a whole.”
As the chapter looks back on its 50th anniversary, the women walk forward knowing they have left something meaningful—something lasting. “You walk away knowing you’ve left an impression,” Hill said. “Not just upon yourselves, but on the University and the people coming there after you.”
Delta Sigma Theta has always stood on sisterhood, scholarship, service and social action. Through this endowment, the women of Mighty Mu Nu are ensuring that future generations of students soar higher because of their commitment.
Those interested in making a gift to the 50th Anniversary Endowment Fund can visit www.usmfoundation.com/MuNuDST.
50 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE The Honors College Celebrates a Golden Anniversary
By Dr. Joyce Inman ’99, ’11
“He knew the thoughts of men as well as the ways of the world.”
Homer, The Odyssey
“What’s past is prologue.”
William Shakespeare, The Tempest
The Honors College at The University of Southern Mississippi began as a bold experiment in academic distinction, one that has, over five decades, grown into a defining part of the University’s legacy of excellence and discovery. With its first honors classes offered in 1965, the program evolved from the George Robert Olliphant Honors Program to a formalized Honors College by 1976.
As the first Honors College in the state of Mississippi, it has also aged as the sixth oldest public honors college in the nation. This decades long history of encouraging committed students to set out on what one 1970s era Honors College pamphlet termed “an adventure in learning” has provided decades of Southern Miss students with the opportunity to be curious, bold and imaginative.
Across generations, honors students have been more than achievers; they have been explorers of ideas, architects of innovation and stewards of service. They have sought meaning in complexity and connection through community. With a legacy, woven from thousands of such stories, the Honors College’s existence is a living testament to the University’s investment in intellectual ambition and to the enduring drive of its students to make a difference.
Past Honors College Deans
DR. WALLACE KAY (1977-1985)
DR. PEGGY PRENSHAW (1985-1991)
DR. MARUEEN RYAN (1991-2003)
DR. KEN PANTON (2003-2007)
DR. DAVE DAVIES (2007-2014)
DR. ELLEN WEINAUER (2014-2021)
DR. SABINE HEINHORST (2021-2023)
DR. JOYCE INMAN (2023-Present)
A Legacy of Vision and Leadership
Early visions for the Honors College focused on the need to provide students with opportunities to challenge themselves and to take their collegiate careers to the next level. The first dean of the Honors College, Dr. Wallace Kay (1977-1985), implemented a research-intensive, humanistic curriculum that his former students still talk about as inspiring.
Since then, the Honors College has increased its first-year student cohort almost tenfold, and the curriculum has become more interdisciplinary and more experiential.
Initiated in the 1990s, Dr. Maureen Ryan (19912003) implemented honors residence halls, leading to what is now the honors living-learning community, and Dr. Ellen Weinaur (2014-2021) advocated for and secured scholarship funding for all students accepted to the Honors College after 2016.
Indeed, each of the eight faculty members chosen to lead the Honors College over the past fifty years made changes designed to ensure that the Honors College was central to the core mission of The University of Southern Mississippi and that it served students with integrity and rigor, while holding steadfast to specific tenets and principles that define an education based in critical thinking and meaningful scholarship.
A College of Boundless Possibility
Today’s Honors College consists of almost 500 students. Beyond the traditional honors curriculum,
the College now stewards four cornerstone programs that extend its impact across the University:
• University Forum, a long-standing lecture series that brings world-changing ideas to campus;
• The Drapeau Center for Undergraduate Research, which empowers students to conduct original inquiry and creative work;
• Nationally Competitive Programs and Awards, guiding students to prestigious scholarships and fellowships; and
• The USM Beckman Scholars Program, fostering research excellence in the sciences.
Determined to ensure that all Southern Miss students have the opportunity to take their education to the next level, the Honors College is constantly working to expand its reach and offer increased educational opportunities that can ensure all students are ready for life and the next chapters of their journeys.
Looking Toward a Golden Anniversary
As the Honors College approaches and prepares for its 50th anniversary this spring, it honors the generations of faculty and students who have built this legacy of excellence and who have believed in the power of ideas to transform lives.
All are invited to join the Honors College in April 2026 for a celebration worthy of a golden milestone— an opportunity to reconnect with classmates, engage in special panels and gatherings, and witness the creativity and research of today’s honors students.
To learn more about the Golden Anniversary of the Southern Miss Honors College and to explore how you can support the next 50 years of discovery, scan the QR code. Together, let us celebrate what has been, and all that is yet to come!
FROM HAMBURG TO HATTIESBURG: de Grummond Hosts the “Rey-Union”
A five-year postponement.
A year of emails and planning.
Flights from Chicago, Ohio, New York, Germany, Italy, Brazil and Australia.
Two exhibitions; a beautiful luncheon; an actionpacked story time; a brand-new musical; and so, so many hugs.
These are just some of the things that went into making the Rey Family Reunion a special, unforgettable experience for both the family of H.A. Rey, the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection and Hattiesburg. Over the course of just a few days in October, the de Grummond welcomed more than 20 guests from all over the world to reunite as family and to see the lifetime of art, diaries and letters their “Oncle Hans” left with the de Grummond.
Hans Reyersbach, known for most of his life as H.A. Rey, collaborated with his wife Margret to create some of the most enduring children’s stories of the 20th Century. Their own story started in Hamburg, Germany, where the Reyersbach family lived before the Nazis drove them to escape to such far-flung
locations as Brazil, Sweden and South Africa. From Brazil, H.A. and Margret settled in the United States. With so much displacement, the family had difficulty keeping in touch.
The Reys—as they came to be known when they lived in Brazil before the war—were both exceptionally talented. They combined Margret’s words and her business acumen with H.A.’s art and humor, creating a little monkey who eventually became “Curious George.” Though they didn’t have children of their own, George has carried on their legacy and shared their zest for life and curiosity with the world for more than 80 years.
But even without their own children, the creativity and curiosity they both shared lives on in the descendants of H.A.’s siblings. Back in 2018, the family reunited for the first time in Hamburg, touring the city their ancestors called home. When they shared their intent to come to Hattiesburg in 2020, their plans were inevitably canceled due to COVID-19. In October of 2024, Margerita Gerborg, whose grandmother was H.A. Rey’s sister, decided it was time for a proper “Rey-union.”
Rey Family with Dr. Joe Paul at the Prospect Gallery in Downtown Hattiesburg
By Dr. Karlie Herdon ’21, ’25 Curator, de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection
At that point, serendipity stepped in and several things simply fell into place. As the new Prospect Gallery neared completion in 2025, proprietor Rachel Shemper Schwartz approached de Grummond about an off-site exhibition. Schwartz and her brother, gallery co-owner, David Shemper, decided that they would help to make the Rey Family Reunion an event to be remembered. With some skilled scheduling and careful planning, a time-limited Rey exhibition at Prospect Gallery was placed on the calendar.
As time and plans were made, multiple friends and partners of the de Grummond pulled together an itinerary bolstered by meaningful touchpoints that would honor the Rey family and the legacy of H.A. and Margret.
At a luncheon sponsored by Visit Hattiesburg at Bushman Street Cafe, Margerita shared, “You told us the whole city was waiting to welcome us. I thought you were just being nice!”
With just Sunday evening through Wednesday afternoon together, the family squeezed in so much…they connected with Louise Borden, the author who wrote “The Journey That Saved Curious George” and the Reys’ longtime HarperCollins editor, Bethany Vinhateiro, and enjoyed meals and gatherings all across the City of Hattiesburg.
On the Monday of their visit, University President Dr. Joe Paul and his wife, Meg, welcomed the family at Prospect Gallery for a private viewing of the exhibit, and Ross Arroyo added a memorable light display. That evening, Mayor Toby Barker offered a heartfelt proclamation before the premiere of “Rey of Light,” a musical that portrays the Reys’ remarkable journey of survival, hope and creativity amid persecution and war while honoring their contribution to American culture through “Curious George.”
“We value the Rey collection, and it was important to us to share how much we value their enthusiasm and support–for the materials and for the mission of de Grummond,” said Karlie Herndon, the de Grummond curator.
“It’s a precious gift to know that we have friends all over the world sharing the legacy of Curious George and the de Grummond.”
In the end, the reunion became a powerful testament to what the de Grummond exists to do: preserve irreplaceable stories and connect them to the people who need them most.
By welcoming the Rey family, Hattiesburg not only honored the extraordinary lives of H.A. and Margret Rey but also reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding their legacy for future researchers, readers and dreamers.
The exhibition of the Reys’ materials were on display at Prospect Gallery through November 15, and over 300 boxes of materials are forever available to the students, researchers and fans of Curious George for viewing.
The de Grummond will continue to protect and share this remarkable archive, ensuring that the curiosity and courage at the heart of the Reys’ story remain alive and accessible for generations to come.
TO SEE A SNAPSHOT OF THE REY FAMILY VISIT, SCAN THE QR CODE.
GOLDEN EAGLE IMPACT
WINTER 2026
The Golden Eagle Impact Report recognizes donors who made gifts to Southern Miss through the USM Foundation at or exceeding $25,000 during the period of September 1, 2025 – November 30, 2025.
SUPPORTING STUDENT SUCCESS
RANDY ‘72 AND CHERYL ’71 ALFORD • $20,000
PATRICIA BIESIOT • $30,000
GEORGE GRILL • $52,000
ROSI JOHNSON • $26,000
MARY ANN LEGETT MACH TRUST • $85,776
ANDY ’83 AND STACE ’89 MERCIER • $6,000 AND SHARES OF STOCK, THE PROCEEDS OF WHICH TOTALED $30,253
MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MEDICINE FOUNDATION • $25,000
VIRGINIA MORRIS • $30,000
MIKE MURKS ’72 • $25,000
ROBERT SEVIER ’79 • $30,000
DOUG ’79 AND SUSAN ’78 WILLIAMS • SHARES OF STOCK, THE PROCEEDS OF WHICH TOTALED $98,531
SUPPORTING VITAL PROGRAMS
RANDY ’72 AND CHERYL ’71 ALFORD • $5,000
NEAL ’65 AND KAREN BLADES • $25,000 CALCAM LOGISTICS & CONTRACTING, LLC • $200,000
CINTAS CORPORATION • $29,000
BEVERLY DALE ’68 • $50,000
SONDRA HOLMAN ’56 • $30,000
EZRA JACK KEATS FOUNDATION • $36,000
PAUL H. “BUD” HOLMES ’54 • $1,055,597 AND SHARES OF STOCK, THE PROCEEDS OF WHICH TOTALED $944,403
JOY ’73 AND MALCOLM LIGHTSEY • $205,000
PRECAST/PRESTRESS CONCRETE INSTITUTE • $40,000
LEAVING A LEGACY
BILL ’93 AND BECKY ’92 FRON • $200,000 SAWYER WALTERS ’18 • $50,000
A NEW OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE BACK What Recent Tax Changes Mean for Southern Miss Alumni and Friends
By USM Foundation Staff
For decades, Southern Miss alumni and friends have helped The University of Southern Mississippi create opportunities for students, strengthen academic programs and serve communities across Mississippi. A recent federal tax provision, often referred to as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), offers a meaningful update that makes the tax benefits of charitable giving more accessible for many Southern Miss supporters, particularly those who do not itemize their tax deductions.
Historically, only taxpayers who itemized deductions could receive a tax benefit for charitable contributions. Because most Americans now take the standard deduction, there previously was no tax incentive for their giving even though their support was essential to advancing the University’s mission and initiatives.
That has changed under the new law. Beginning in 2026, individuals who do not itemize may be eligible to deduct qualifying charitable gifts:
• Up to $1,000 for single filers
• Up to $2,000 for married couples filing jointly
This change represents a meaningful step toward making charitable giving more inclusive and acknowledges an important truth long embraced at Southern Miss: philanthropy isn’t defined by the size of a gift but by the heart behind it.
Annual support from alumni and friends plays a critical role in funding scholarships, supporting student success efforts, enhancing faculty resources and responding to emerging needs. By encouraging broader participation in giving, this tax change helps strengthen the culture of philanthropy that sustains Southern Miss.
ADDITIONAL WAYS TO GIVE
The bill also reinforces several giving tools that can make a meaningful difference for those who want to support Southern Miss in smart, taxefficient ways.
• Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) from IRAs
Individuals age 70½+ can give directly from their IRA to the USM Foundation. These gifts are beneficial because they count toward required minimum distributions without creating taxable income.
• Gifts of Appreciated Assets (stocks, bonds, mutual funds) Donating these assets directly may help donors avoid capital gains tax.
• Legacy & Estate Planning
The bill reinforces the value of charitable bequests made through a donor’s will or trust by permanently setting the estate tax exemption thresholds. Alumni can ensure their legacy continues beyond their lifetime, supporting scholarships, programs and future generations of Golden Eagles.
These expanded incentives send a clear message: every gift matters. Whether you are a long-time donor or considering your first contribution to Southern Miss, your support through the USM Foundation helps shape the lives of students, fuels research, enhances academic programs and heightens the student experience.
Alumni and friends are encouraged to consult with their financial advisors or estate planning professionals to ensure that the approaches outlined in the OBBBA align with their individual circumstances.
The USM Foundation’s development staff are also available to discuss options and help donors shape a plan that reflects their values and priorities. To learn more, call 601.266.5210 or email foundation@usm.edu.
A LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP Honoring Stace Mercier ’89, ’96 Through a Named Endowed Scholarship
By Gracie Lewis ’25
It is in the quiet, seemingly small moments where leadership takes root. It is built, not always in bold gestures, but by gentle conversations that encourage others and the steadfast belief in the value of people and their work.
Taken together, these moments underscore Stace Mercier’s leadership as executive director of the USM Foundation and the enduring impact of her journey as a Southern Miss alum.
In 2023 after Dr. Paul announced his desire to endow the Leadership Scholarship program, colleagues and friends began quietly assembling commitments to honor her with the creation of a named scholarship.
Led by former board president Louie Ehrlich ’81, the effort quickly gained momentum. “Shortly after Dr. Paul had announced the intent of the Leadership Scholarship program, I was speaking with a fellow USM Foundation supporter about how much we appreciated everything about Stace and the leadership she has provided for the Foundation,” said Ehrlich. “The idea for endowing a Leadership Scholarship in Stace’s name emerged from that conversation, and I volunteered to reach out to our colleagues to solicit the funds. It was the easiest $300,000 I’ve ever raised. That speaks volumes about Stace and her impact on those around her and underscores exactly why we wanted to do this”.
Coming together in just a few months, this outreach across the USM Foundation network: former board members, current leaders and staff, along with friends and family, yielded commitments to fully-fund the named endowment, unbeknownst to Mercier.
The announcement came during a board meeting and, as then president Joe Quinlan ’73 teased, an intentionally uncomfortable moment for someone who prefers to serve others behind the scenes.
“Joe looked at me and said, ‘I know how much you hate to be put on the spot,’” Mercier reflected. “I was stunned and moved beyond words–actually to tears. To know that our Board, both current and previous members, our staff, my family and others would invest at that level to create this legacy for me attached to something so meaningful, is remarkable and an incredible honor.”
The initiative is part of the University’s broader effort to raise $30 million to permanently endow the Joe Paul Leadership Scholarship Program, a transformative scholarship created to build Southern Miss through the students who lead it. The program helps recruit involved, highly committed students out of high school with the hope of building a strong base of leaders at the undergraduate level who will become even stronger alumni.
This mission resonates deeply with Mercier. “To forever have my name connected to a program like
this, at our University that means so much to me, is beyond words,” she said. “This scholarship not only changes the lives of the students who receive it; it strengthens the University as a whole. I am forever grateful to everyone who chose to invest in our students through this scholarship and to honor me in this way.”
As a part of the program, Mercier is connected to a current Leadership Scholar. Selected during the first cohort of students that began in the fall semester of 2024, the inaugural Stace Mercier Leadership Scholarship recipient is Anna Vickrey, a first-generation college student from Vancleave. For someone who shares that first-generation college student title with Vickrey, Mercier understands what this type of opportunity can mean for a student.
“The Joe Paul Leadership Scholarship Program has taught me a lot about leadership and ways to grow on campus,” says Vickrey. “I’ve been able to come to USM as a first-generation student and not only make a difference but also find a home and community.”
“I see firsthand the needs and the incredible work happening in every corner of campus,” she said. “When you have the ability to give, it’s hard not to. It’s something that’s ingrained in our family— you do what you can to support your community, whether that’s through volunteering or financial gifts.” Mercier has also represented USM as a leader on the national stage as a member of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education’s (CASE) College and University Foundations Committee and the Chair of the 2022 CASE Conference for College and University Foundations.
Now a sophomore, Vickrey has excelled in her academics and has made the Dean's List, joined the Mock Trial Team and is working toward several opportunities to deepen her engagement while on campus.
Mercier’s connection to Southern Miss runs deep. Her husband, Andy ’83, ’84, and daughter, Betsy ’16 are also alumni. In addition to her role at the USM Foundation, their family has built lifelong relationships across campus and prioritize Southern Miss in their annual philanthropic plans. Mercier and her husband are members of the USM Foundation Honor Club at the Black and Gold Society level, are charter members of the Aubrey K. Lucas Society with 25 consecutive years of giving and are life members of the Southern Miss Alumni Association.
Today, the Stace Mercier Leadership Scholarship Endowment stands as a testament to the relationships she has built and the lives she has touched by her own leadership and as a permanent investment in the future leaders of Southern Miss.
For those inspired to leave a lasting mark on future generations of Golden Eagles similarly, establishing a named Leadership Scholarship Endowment offers a powerful way to shape the lives of students who will go on to lead in their fields and communities.
And while leadership endowments create transformational opportunities, every gift helps move Southern Miss closer to its $30 million goal to endow the Leadership Scholarship Program in perpetuity.
With flexible giving options, including cash, stock or qualified charitable distributions from an IRA, donors can choose the pathway that best meets their needs and the legacy they hope to build.
Together, this collective support ensures that tomorrow’s leaders have the resources they need to rise, thrive, and carry the Southern Miss spirit forward.
To learn more, visit usmfoundation.com/ leadershipscholarship.
Stace shares a Give Wing Campaign celebration moment with board member Adalius Thomas, Valerie Cleaves, Natalie Allen and Jeffrey Rosensweig.
Stace with Anna Vickrey, her endowment scholarship recipient
ANONYMOUS $1 MILLION GIFT FUELS STUDENT AND FACULTY SUCCESS
Empowering Students and Advancing Programs Across Four Areas
By Samantha McCain Alexander, APR ’09 ’10
In a profound act of generosity rooted in gratitude, an anonymous donor made a $1 million contribution through the USM Foundation, an investment that will make a tremendous impact on students and faculty in perpetuity.
Made through a transfer of stock, the gift spans four academic areas—Nursing and Health Professions, Arts and Sciences, Education and Human Sciences and University Libraries—and establishes new scholarship endowments, enhances academic programs and creates a distinguished professorship.
For the donor, this gift is both personal and purposeful due to a life that has profoundly been shaped by Southern Miss and the mentors who were a guiding force.
“I count my experiences and education at The University of Southern Mississippi as among the greatest blessings of my life,” the donor reflected. “Scholarships and fellowships assisted me then, and I hope to share these gifts with other students.”
Honoring Lives of Service, Scholarship and Leadership
The newly created scholarships celebrate individuals who built meaningful careers in nursing, literature and history, education and the health sciences—individuals whose influence extended through generations of students, communities and professional fields.
One scholarship recognizes groundbreaking work in women’s literature. Another honors a nursing professional known for compassion in
patient care. Additional scholarships pay tribute to educators and advocates in Exercise Science whose leadership, research contributions and devotion to students significantly elevated the field. A scholarship in history acknowledges a longtime educator, genealogist and writer remembered for commitment to teaching and community.
Across these newly established scholarships, a consistent theme emerges: the donor’s desire to honor lives defined by service and to ensure that future students can pursue their dreams with the same support the donor once received.
Advancing Faculty Excellence Through a Distinguished Professorship
A significant portion of the gift establishes a professorship in Exercise Science, an investment designed to advance research, strengthen academic distinction and attract outstanding faculty leaders.
In addition to advancing faculty excellence, professorships play a pivotal role in attracting highachieving students. Strong academic programs are often built around renowned faculty whose scholarship, visibility and industry connections help shape the student experience. When a department can point to distinguished faculty roles, it signals a level of academic prestige that prospective students, and their families, actively seek. These positions help bring national attention to programs, strengthen recruitment efforts, and ensure that students learn from leaders who are advancing scholarship and practice in their fields.
By establishing this professorship, the donor is investing in the long-term reputation of Exercise Science within the School of Kinesiology and Nutrition at Southern Miss, helping the program compete for top scholars, attract motivated students and create an environment where teaching, research and student success work together to elevate the university’s academic profile.
A Legacy of Quiet Generosity
Though the donor chooses to remain anonymous, the impact is unmistakable. By supporting scholarships, programs and faculty across multiple colleges, this extraordinary act opens new opportunities for students, strengthens academic excellence and honors the people and experiences that shaped one Southern Miss journey.
To learn more about making a gift through a transfer of stock or establishing a plan that will provide for generations of Golden Eagles, contact the USM Foundation’s Senior Planned Giving Officer Daniel Barton at daniel.barton@usm.edu or visit usmfoundation.com.
THE HEART OF FRONT STREET Nelson Haskin’s Southern Miss Story—from Campus Kid to Downtown Restaurateur
By Gracie Lewis ’25
If you’ve spent any time in Downtown Hattiesburg, you’ve likely heard of Nelson Haskin ’13—often referred to as “The King of Front Street.” With a footprint of five restaurants (and a food truck) he operates along the area, his stronghold on this title is uncontested.
However, behind the storefronts and long hours of the restaurant industry is a story shaped by family, mentors and a university that taught him how to navigate new spaces, people and challenges with confidence. His Southern Miss journey didn’t just allow him to build businesses—it gave him the chance to build a community.
As a veteran with 20 years spent with the Army National Guard and a lifelong Golden Eagle, Haskin embodies a life rooted in a grit-forward mentality. He’s steady, resilient and deeply engaged in his community.
A Childhood on Campus
The beginning of Haskin’s Southern Miss story is unique, with its early days spent on campus long before he ever enrolled as a student.
“I’ve been in Hattiesburg since 1983 when we moved from Gulfport so my dad could enroll at Southern Miss,” he says. “I was only eight years old. [Because of that,] Southern Miss is my home.”
While his dad balanced being a student, overnight campus security officer and part-time member of the Army National Guard, Haskin and his siblings found themselves absorbing campus life from the inside out. Even when his father returned to the military full time, their family stayed in Hattiesburg.
“The plan was always to move back when my dad finished school, but we stayed. The rest is history,” Haskin says.
Haskin and his siblings found their childhood playground in the verdant trees and buzzing campus of Southern Miss. He recalls his earliest childhood memories being on campus.
“I remember going to football games and running around The Hub. My mom worked for Dr. Paul for 25 years in the old Union upstairs. I grew up in that building.”
One of the most defining pieces of his childhood came through NYSP—the National Youth Sports Program—held at the USM Sports Arena, the predecessor to Reed Green. “From ages 8 to 14, that’s what we did every summer,” he says. “It allowed me to learn the buildings and the campus. I found familiarity for the University at a young age and felt like I was a Golden Eagle before I even became a student.”
Haskin’s early exposure to a wide range of people and experiences taught him his first lesson as a
Golden Eagle: “It helped me learn to be comfortable in spaces I wasn’t familiar with. That lesson has carried me through every stage of my life.”
People Who Pushed Him Forward
Haskin’s path at Southern Miss wasn’t linear. Starting as a chemistry major, he shifted to accounting then business administration before finding a home in the hospitality program.
“I learned quickly that chemistry wasn’t for me,” he laughs. “Luckily, I felt safe and supported enough to pursue other majors. Taking all those classes gave me a diverse way of thinking which comes into play in my life now.”
Throughout those shifts, Haskin had the steady hand of the people who invested in him. He cites Clemon Terrell, Dr. Joe Paul, Sid Gonsoulin and Dr. Catherine Price as some of the many who shaped his time before, during and after his time as a student.
“Clemon Terrell looked out for us when I was a kid, and I feel like I’ve known Dr. Paul my whole life—he always had a genuine concern for how we were doing. Sid gave me my first job on campus, and Dr. Price helped me chart my path in hospitality and held me accountable. All the people around me were pushing me to go where they knew I could.”
Service, Setbacks and the Grit to Stay the Course
In 1995, Haskin joined the Army National Guard—a decision that instilled a different kind of resilience.
“I temporarily left school and did basic training in South Carolina. I served six years. From 2001 to 2007, I took a break and went into restaurants. And in 2008 I rejoined the military full time as an Army National Guard recruiter,” he says.
One of his final duty stations brought him back to familiar ground, Southern Miss, through the ROTC program.
It was this station that showed Haskin the value of service both to his country and his University, which gave him the opportunity to finish his degree.
Haskin Family
Moved to Hattiesburg
“Even though I felt like I was in the Southern Miss family, I wanted to officially become a part of it. It was important to my mom and I wanted to set that example for my kids.”
“It
all comes back to service. I was able to serve my community, serve my country, serve my state, serve the university.”
The grit that Haskin learned in the military carried him as he graduated, retired from the military and moved back into the restaurant industry full time.
From the hard days of his military career to closing a restaurant and struggling through the pandemic, Haskin was held up by both grit and his community. “I remember I wanted to close Southbound and a customer told me, ‘I will buy every bagel every day if I have to, but you will not close.’”
Haskin reflects on the hard times of his career not with sadness but a sense of gratitude to the people of Hattiesburg that stood as a pillar of support during periods of struggle.
“It showed me that the people who stuck with me can help me overcome anything.”
Enrolled at Southern Miss
Joined the Army National Guard
Started Full Time in Restaurants
Front Street: Built for People, Built for Home
Today, Haskin is proud to still call Hattiesburg home—both for his family and his restaurants. “Everything we do downtown is to be a part of the community.”
When asked what he is proudest of, Haskin doesn’t list new restaurant buildings or any margins—he immediately thinks of his people. “My employees know that I have their back. I can be their support system.” After working for years to build a team that can lean on each other and give back the wider community, Haskin’s Southern Miss story has come full circle as he is getting to pay forward the mentorship and guidance that he was offered as a student.
“Most of our waitstaff are Southern Miss students. I get to hear their experiences. I know their challenges. I try to give them the push when they need it. The same mentorship that was given to me, I try to give it back.”
Haskin counts himself lucky to get to experience Hattiesburg in almost every way that is offered—as a child, a student, an alumnus, husband, a parent and someone who chooses to give back.
“I met my wife at Southern Miss. Both of my sons, Jalen and Joshua, have been around campus from a young age. So, as a parent, I get to talk to other parents about their students and give them comfort
that they’re being taken care of here in Hattiesburg. And as an alumnus, I feel like I do more with the University now than when I was a student. I want to help create the experiences I had for other people too.”
Haskin has been exploring the true meaning of Southern Miss grit, and what it means to go To The Top, since 1983. “It’s a journey,” he says. “And as long as you’re pointing toward your goals, you have to take process over results.”
That process carried him from summer camps to military service and back home again—ultimately leading him to build not just businesses, but a place where people gather, connect and belong.
Today, he stands on a legacy shaped by perseverance and people, proving that for him, and for so many others, Hattiesburg and Southern Miss isn’t just where the story happens. It’s home—and the community he continues to grow is his way of paying forward the very grit that shaped him.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT NELSON HASKIN, SCAN THE QR CODE.
2008 Moved Back to Full Time Military Service as an Army National Guard Recruiter 2013 Finished Degree at Southern Miss
Opened Blu Jazz Cafe with his Wife, Felicia
from the Military and Returned to
Students, family and friends joined together to kick off the holiday season at Lighting the Way. This tradition welcomes in the spirit of joy and allows for a moment of connection.
SOUTHERN MISS ATHLETICS A Year in Review
By Southern Miss Athletics Staff
During the 2024-2025 athletic season, Southern Miss athletics celebrated many wins. From student athletes breaking long-standing program records to celebrating anniversaries, the Golden Eagles showcased
GOLF
talent and grit. These impressive statistics were met with the professional and personal excellence of each student athlete, reinforcing Southern Miss as a formidable force in collegiate athletics.
BASEBALL
A 47–16 season in 2025 anchored a standout spring, highlighted by hosting an NCAA Regional for only the fourth time in program history. Five Golden Eagles moved on to professional baseball, and multiple players earned Sun Belt and national honors, including Golden Spikes semifinalist and Ferriss Trophy winner JB Middleton. Seven players earned Sun Belt Conference Postseason Honors including Nick Monistere who was named Player of the Year and Carson Paetow who earned the Tony Robichaux Leadership Award. The Spring 2025 semester culminated in the highest GPA in program history with a 3.467.
The women’s golf team closed the 2024-2025 season as Sun Belt Tournament champions and landed a spot in the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history. Seven members of the women’s golf teamed were named All-American Scholars –Elena Melich, Momoka Ando, Louise Cuyvers, Taylor Trible, Alma Betoret, Ragini Navet and Jacee Fields. The team as a whole boasted a 3.92 Spring 2025 GPA, showcasing these athletes’ commitment both on and off the field.
The men’s golf team likewise had several impressive wins during their 2024-2025 season. The team got to showcase their skills in Puerto Rico where they placed 2nd at the Dorado Beach Collegiate. Will Burnham was named an All-American Scholar, making him the 22nd Golden Eagle in the last 12 years to earn this honor. Benjamin Fernandez claimed the South American Amateur and had the chance to compete for a spot in the Masters.
At the start of the 2025-2026 season, both teams are looking forward, boasting several fall wins both on the team and individual levels.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
In their 50th season that spanned 2024 and 2025, the Lady Eagles delivered historic moments. Former head coach, the late Joye Lee-McNelis, was inducted into the Southern Miss Legends Club. Melyia Grayson became the 11th player in program history to score at least 1,500 career points and was named to All-Sun Belt Second Team. Trinity Rowe was named Sun Belt Freshman of the Year.
Southern Miss named Missy Bilderback as the fifth head women’s basketball coach. Bilderback is on track to lead the Lady Eagles to success with a recordbreaking season ticket sale for the 2025-2026 season.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
The 2024-2025 season featured major personal milestones, with three Golden Eagles surpassing 1,000 career points- Neftali Alvarez, DeAntoni Gordon and Andre Curbelo. Denijay Harris was named Sun Belt Player of the Week and to Second Team All-Sun Belt Conference team. Head Coach Jay Ladner earned his 150th career win with a win over Louisiana on January 25, 2025. The team advanced to the second round of the Sun Belt Tournament and celebrated multiple conference recognitions.
The men’s basketball team is looking to add to these recognitions in the 2025-2026 season with Coach Ladner adding several wins to his total in early season play.
SOCCER
• With the close of the 2025 season, Southern Miss Women’s Soccer is excited to welcome coach Danny Owens into the fold.
• Ryan Smith led the team in goals and points.
• Goalie Maddie Ellis boasted 65 saves and a shutout.
VOLLEYBALL
• 17–12 season in 2025
• Sun Belt Conference Tournament Appearance where the team reached the quarterfinals
• Single-match attendance record of 923 with record breaking ticket sale numbers.
• Sunni Sheppard was named the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Libero of the Year and reached a 1000 career dig mark.
• G abby Zovko reached 2000 career assists.
SOFTBALL
• 28-run game in 2025—the secondmost in program history—and strong fan support with one of the largest crowds in recent years.
• Head coach Natalie Poole secured 600th career win with a win over Jackson State on February 19, 2025.
• Jana Lee earned a 2025 NFCA Leadoff Classic All-Tournament Team honor.
• Mikaila Fox was named Sun Belt Softball Player of the Week.
• Hannah Christian earned First Team All-Sun Belt Honors.
2025 SOUTHERN MISS FOOTBALL REGULAR SEASON IN REVIEW
By Jack Duggan ’89, ’91
Southern Miss Football is back in prime form, and the momentum is lighting up every corner of Eagle Nation. Bonus—for the first time in three seasons, Southern Miss football went bowling during the holiday season.
This will be the 28th all-time bowl appearance for the program, with the last one in the 2022 LendingTree Bowl in Mobile. The destinations have ranged from as far-away as Honolulu and Boise to nearby locales in New Orleans, Mobile and Memphis.
The Golden Eagles also forced 26 turnovers this season, which finished the regular season first in the league and in the Top 10 nationally for both turnovers gained and in margin. Cornerback Josh Moten, who led the way with five interceptions, tied for first in the league in this category and was Top 10 nationally. He is also one of 10 Golden Eagles to make an interception during the season. Two Golden Eagle safeties, Ian Foster and Ahmere Foster, ranked second with three a piece. The team total 21 interceptions tied for the sixth most in a season in school history.
With a 7-5 record in the regular season overall, the team’s play ignited a spark around Southern Miss football with students, alumni and friends alike—prompting a sense of excitement for upcoming seasons.
5-GAME STREAK
The Golden Eagles finished the regular season 7-5 overall and 5-3 in Sun Belt Conference play. The season included a five-game winning streak at one point—the longest streak since the 2015 campaign.
6-GAME TURNAROUND
& 7 VICTORIES
With a six-game turnaround and seven victories, this season marked one of the program’s largest singleyear improvements in recent history. The foundation is set for continued growth in the seasons ahead.
2,796 YARDS & 23 TOUCHDOWNS
Golden Eagle quarterback Braylon Braxton provided the spark for this postseason run by throwing for 2,796 yards and 23 touchdowns with only seven interceptions. He is the first Southern Miss signal caller to throw for that many yards since Jack Abraham tossed for 3,496 in 2019 and the most touchdown passes since Nick Mullens had 24 in 2016. He started the year by tying a school record with six multi-touchdown passing games and threw at least one scoring pass in all 11 contests he played in during the year.
FOR LIFE
Finding your place at Southern Miss is easy, and so is stepping into a leadership role. Every day, students take the lead through student organizations, Greek life, ambassador programs, and student government. They organize events, coordinate initiatives, and serve their communities, all while developing as leaders, building communication skills, and learning to solve problems under pressure.
Debra ’89, ’13 and Allen ’90 Chapmen took Flat Seymour on a trip to Europe. In this photo, they are visiting Edinburgh Castle in Edinburgh, Scotland.
A group of alumni from College Hill Baptist Church in Jackson hosted a ‘college fair’ for high school aged children in their church. They had around 50 prospective students attend.
The Ruffin family embraced the rain at this year’s homecoming game and reminisced on a similar moment from 18 years prior.
Leo and Archie Ready, sons of Drew ‘09 and Jacqueline “Jackie” Lee ’06 Ready share their Southern Miss spirit as they celebrated Halloween.
The Alumni Association and Children’s Center Staff hosted their annual Donuts with Santa event.
Jan Kathryn Hutchins ’17, Melissa David Hewes ’17, Claire Caldwell Hanson ’14, Sam Newman ’15 and Jacob Fitzgerald ’17 volunteered to work a Gulf Coast recruitment event to help find the best students for Southern Miss.
ALUMNI BOOKSHELF
James McDevitt has released “A Walk Among Heroes,” a novel told through the eyes of two young soldiers. The story weaves in a tapestry of lives that are connected through war, hope and resilience. McDevitt anchors these themes by a love story as he bridges the hardships of war and the bonds of family and costs of heroism. This novel is available for purchase on Amazon.
CHECK OUT THESE BOOKS BY ALUMNI AUTHORS
If you wish to be considered for coverage, please email alumni@usm.edu the title of your book, class year, publisher, year published and electronic image of the book’s cover in a jpg, tif or pdf at 300 dpi.
Anita Blount ’69 has released "Before She Was Brave: Book Three of The Tanacity Series," a romance series set in the fictional town of Tenacity, Mississippi. The novel explores themes of love and healing and can be purchased on Amazon.
KIRK MCCARTY ’18 has joined Raanes and Oliver Capital Advisors (ROCA) as a financial advisor, returning to Hattiesburg with a wealth of experience shaped by both athletics and academics. A Hattiesburg native, McCarty attended Oak Grove High School before earning his degree in accounting from Southern Miss, where he was also a standout member of the Southern Miss Baseball team. After three seasons with the Golden Eagles, McCarty was selected in the seventh round of the 2017 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Cleveland Guardians and went on to make his Major League debut at Yankee Stadium on April 12, 2022. His professional baseball career includes time with the Baltimore Orioles and a return to the Guardians during the MLB Playoffs. Kirk also played internationally in roles that took him to the Korean Baseball Organization with the SSG Landers in 2023 and later to the Chinese Professional Baseball League with the CTBC Brothers in Taiwan, where he captured a Taiwan Series championship in 2024. Following Spring Training in 2025, McCarty made the decision to retire from professional baseball and transition into the finance industry, a move supported by an existing relationship with the ROCA team. He now lives in Hattiesburg with his wife, Erica, and their daughter, Kate, where they enjoy supporting the Southern Miss Golden Eagles and spending time outdoors. McCarty brings his discipline, adaptability and commitment to service to his new role serving clients across the Pine Belt.
Kayla Saxton ’18, ’21 was recently recognized on the national stage as a recipient of the Milken Educator Award—often called the “Oscar of Teaching”—after the Milken Family Foundation traveled from California to Mississippi for a surprise school assembly at Mannsdale Upper Elementary School in Madison, where she teaches third-grade English/Language Arts. Saxton was named one of only 30 educators nationwide and the sole honoree from Mississippi for the 2025-26 school year, earning an unrestricted $25,000 cash prize for her exceptional dedication, innovation and leadership in the classroom. Since Mississippi joined the program in 1991, Saxton is the 80th recipient of the prestigious award, created by philanthropist and education visionary Lowell Milken. She earned her Bachelor of Science in elementary education in 2018 and her Master of Education in elementary education in 2021 from Southern Miss and is also a National Board Certified Teacher, reflecting the highest professional standards in the teaching profession. Saxton credited her time at Southern Miss for shaping her growth as an educator, calling the recognition an honor for both Madison County and the university. Her achievement further underscores Southern Miss’s national reputation for producing outstanding educators, as the institution ranks first in Mississippi and among the top 12 nationally for National Board Certified Teachers and is home to 24 Milken Educator Award alumni.
CHRIS ESTRADE ’04 was recently honored as a 2025 ABA Emerging Leader by the American Bankers Association, the nation’s leading banking industry trade organization. The prestigious national recognition was presented during the ABA Annual Convention and celebrates rising bank leaders who demonstrate exceptional achievement, service and commitment to both their profession and communities.
A vice president and business banker with Hancock Whitney, Estrade was recognized for his leadership at the local, state and national levels, as well as his dedication to creating opportunities for people and businesses across South Mississippi.
A Bay St. Louis native, Estrade began his career with Hancock Whitney in 2005 and has since held a variety of leadership roles supporting regional recovery efforts following Hurricane Katrina and strengthening long-term client and community relationships. Beyond his professional work, Estrade is deeply engaged in civic and nonprofit leadership, serving as chair of the Gulfport Chamber of Commerce, a past president of the Gulfport Rotary and a board member for Habitat for Humanity BayWaveland, while also championing financial literacy initiatives for students and young bankers across the state. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in management from Southern Miss, an MBA from William Carey University and has completed advanced banking leadership programs, continuing his studies at the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University, where he serves as class of 2026 president—further reflecting the leadership, service and lifelong learning that define his career.
DID YOU KNOW?
The earliest nickname for the University’s athletic teams was Tigers, but early teams were also referred to as Normalites.
For more fun facts about our alma mater, grab a copy of The Drawl, the history and traditions handbook for Southern Miss.
1960s
HOWELL PURVIS ’61 served as a Navy pilot for 10 years, is a Vietnam veteran and VFW member and has played Taps on trumpet for 576 military funerals and numerous memorial services. He and his wife, Mary Ann, celebrated 66 years of marriage in December 2025.
JAMES ’63 and Sarah HINTON celebrated 61 years of marriage.
1980s
MARY LINN ’84 recently began a new job as the executive director of the Baptist Health Foundation in Jackson.
VICKIE KING ’86, ’91 retired after teaching for 35+ years and is working on her first book which is based on her mother’s life as a black mom in the Mississippi south.
DR. AMY DAY CARR ’88 received a Doctorate of Philosophy in Health Promotion and Education from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She is currently in her tenth year as a faculty member in the School of Education and Human Sciences. Her extensive contributions to the field have helped her serve in leadership roles in regional and state professional organizations, and she is a frequent speaker on wellness-related topics at conferences and in classrooms.
1990s
MARY PETERS PRESLEY ’90 ’95 married Fred Presley in March 2022.
DR. PAUL NELSON ’90, ’92 is retiring after serving as a school superintendent in Louisiana for 11 years and has been appointed the new executive director for the Louisiana Retired Teachers Association.
2000s
MATT BURRIS ’01 is joining the national law firm of Quarles & Brady LLP as a labor and employment attorney. In this role, he will help educational entities understand their legal obligations and address legal challenges at the local, state and federal levels. He has experience advising and litigating on behalf of schools, colleges and universities on all issues affecting educational institutions in California and across the United States.
MATTHEW YOUNCE ’01, ’05 recently joined the Coastal Regional Commission in Darien, Georgia, as the senior GIS analyst. After nearly two decades in federal geospatial analysis, he’s glad to be back home on the Georgia coast, using GIS to support regional planning and sustainable growth.
KEITH WILSON ’04 has been named Local Program Board Member of the Year by Mississippi Crime Stoppers, a division of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety. This award comes as a result of his instrumental role throughout several officer positions, expanding the program’s outreach and community partnerships. Pictured with Keith Wilson is Suzanne Ferriss, director for Mississippi Crime Stoppers.
DR. BETHANY TISDALE ’06 and DR. VIRGINIA HEMBY ’95 are pictured at the Association for Business Communication Annual International Conference in Long Beach, California in October 2025. Dr. Hemby presented original research and Dr. Tisdale co-chaired the event.
HEATHER GLAUSIER ’06, ’08 was recently promoted from manager of career counseling to assistant director of career education and employment readiness in Career Services at Southern Miss.
DR. JAVIER G. GÓMEZ ’06, ’16 received his Court Interpreter Certificate from the Southern California School of Interpretation Hybrid Program.
LORI STREET ’07, ’12 was named West Marion High School’s Teacher of the Year for 2025-2026. This will be her second time to be selected as Teacher of the Year as she was previously selected in 2012-2013.
KALA GRICE-DOBBINS ’06, ’09 was awarded 2nd place in the AFA National Teacher of the Year after winning the Alabama AFA Teacher of the Year.
DR. SHANIECE B. BICKHAM ’08 has been named as director of the school of communication and design at Loyola University New Orleans.
2010s
KIRBY HARRELL ’10 has assumed the role of broker and owner of EXIT Realty Integrity First with more than 15 years of experience.
COURTNEY KENDRICK ’18 Obtained her Certified Mental Performance Certification through through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP).
2020s
AMANDA CLEMENTS ’25 has been named vice president for communications at Tallahassee State College and has been a part of the Office of Communications and Marketing since 2021. In her new role, Clements will provide strategic oversight for communications and marketing, including brand management, media relations and digital engagement.
AMY LEBERT ’22 was promoted to associate teaching professor at Southern Miss.
AMERICA GERARD ’23 was recently promoted to the position of assistant branch manager at the Mobile Midtown Branch of Keesler Federal Credit Union. She also welcomed her first grandchild Kenneth Tyler Couch on February 21, 2025.
ALEXANDRA BERTRAND ’25 was promoted to technical services librarian at Southern University Law Center.
In Memoriam
1940s
MERLE CARR COOPER ’44
ELLEN LONETTE CLIBURN ’45
MARGARET GENE TAYLOR ’49
1950s
PEGGY JOY TANNER ’52
ANNIE RUTH MOSER ’53
BARBARA ANN MCADAMS ’55
SADIE REBECCA HOLSHOUSER ’56
SUE BULGER ’56
MARY LOUISE SUMRALL ’57
ROSS CLARK PEARSON ’58
JAMES HAROLD THOMPSON ’58
CAROLINE ANNE WHITE ’59
WINFRED RANDOLPH
STRICKLAND ’59, ’71
1960s
KENNETH RAY SAMPLES ’60
FRANCIS D. MORAN ’60
TOBY LANE SIMS ’60
HENRY BUTLER TUCKER ’60
THOMAS GARY WALLER ’60, ’61
JANE LYN SELLARDS ’61
THOMAS GLENVALL ESTES ’63
LARRY CHARLES MYERS ’63
RONALD LEE RENFROE ’63, ’74
GERALD B. VAN COURT ’64
LORA GLADYS STEELE ’65
JIMMIE EUGENE MITCHELL ’65
ELLIS CLARENCE BALDWIN ’66
MELVIN EDWARD RILEY ’66
FRANK GEORGE PATES ’67
DANA JEAN SANDERS ’67
JAMES ORIN GAVETTE ’67, ’76
MARY PATRICIA PENNEY ’67, ’82
BETTYE ANN MILLIGAN ’68
ANN A. MOORE ’68
EDWARD DOYLE FREEMAN ’68
DANNY LANE HILLMAN ’69
JOHN FREDERIK PALM ’69
RICHARD GRADY WARREN ’69, ’70
LINDA NELL ROAN ’69, ’71
1970s
BOBBY LEE CALVERY ’70
STEPHEN FORD LAMPTON ’70
GEORGE RICHARD MUNTON ’70
RONNIE LARUE LEE ’70
JOHN KEVIN WALSH ’71
PRENTISS GAULTNEY ’72
HELEN P. THOMAS ’72
SYLVIA BALLARD HUETE ’73
IMOGENE P. HOFFMANN ’73
WANDA MARCELL KENDRICK ’73
WILLIAM FRANCIS HERLEHY ’73
JAMES NIXON WOOD ’73
RONALD HANEY HENRIQUES ’74
PRENTISS YATES ’74
ROLAND LOUIS BURNS ’74
JAMES BYRON GRECO ’75
CHALMERS RUDOLPH HURLBERT ’75
ROY LAWRENCE GOSSETT ’76
WILLIAM HUGH BOLTON ’76
MILLICENT GRAHAM CUEVAS ’76 , ’04
BILLY GUINN PRIDDY ’76 , ’79
PATRICIA D. SECHREST ’78
1980s
JEAN MARIE MASCHEK ’80
KENNETH R. STEPHENS ’81
CAROLYN L. SMITH ’82
GREGORY L. COTTEN ’83
KATHRYN MARIE BUCHWEITZ ’84
JO ANN BRADLEY ’84
JAMES RAY HARRIS ’84
REBECCA J. ANZALONE ’85
LINDA L. MCCARDLE ’85
HAROLD KIRK LUCKY ’85, ’08, ’11
DEIDRE JOY SMITH ’85, ’92, ’07, ’15
FRANK PORTIS POOLE ’86
DEBRA A. TAYLOR ’86
MARY KAY WHITSON ’87
KATIE RUTH CARTER ’87
NATALIE NOLAN HOWARD ’88
DOUGLAS M. ERVIN ’88
DENISE ALLEN BAUER ’89
1990s
KRISTI HUDNALL-BESHENICH ’90
JEFFERY W. HALL ’91
JACQUELINE DENISE HARTWELL ’95
BILL ALAN BARNES ’96
JANICE F. FELDER ’96
TAURUS K. WRIGHT ’97
PAMELA KENNEDY ’98
JANE CAVAROC BRENDEN ’98
KIMBERLY R. THOMAS ’99
2000s
MICHAEL CHANDLER HUMPHREYS ’00
JOSIE HUDGINS TOLBERT ’02
JULIAN DALE ALLEN ’02
SHAMEKA DANGERFIELD IDOM ’03
ALLISON ELAYNE LOCKETT ’05
PAMELA FAYE HARRIS KING ’08
2010s
DONAL MCLEAN SNYDER ’13
2020s
RACHEL BURKE ’21
Aaron and Michaela Naquin welcomed Alice Naquin on August 26, 2024. Alice is the granddaughter of DEREC HUDSON ’96, ’01.
ZACH ’04, ’12 and LUCY MOULDS ’05, ’07 welcomed Graham Moulds on September 23, 2025.
CAM ’14 and ELIZABETH ROBERTS ’09, ’11 welcomed Joseph Paul Roberts on November 5, 2025.
GROWING UP GOLD
Southern Miss alumni play an important role in keeping the black and gold spirit alive.
For many, Golden Eagle roots run deep, and your alma mater is committed to fostering relationships with Golden Eagles of all ages. Growing Up Gold is a legacy engagement program exclusive to members of the Southern MissAlumni Association.
Join or renew your membership and visitSouthernMissAlumni.com/GrowingUpGold to enroll your child or grandchild today.
Welcome to the Golden Eagle family! Announcements are organized by alum grad years.
ANN MARIE ’14 and Carson Miller welcomed Jackie Elizabeth Miller on October 23, 2025
JEFFREY ’16, ’17 and KIMBER GEORGE ’15, ’22 welcomed Crawford Banks George on September 28, 2025.
Browning and BETHANY CASEY ’17 welcomed Bowie Kay Casey on October 1, 2025.
JUSTIN ’20, ’25 and KELSI GRIFFIN ’20 welcomed Maggie Mae Griffin on September 24, 2025.
Dr. Brett and DR. KATE LEE ’11 welcomed Cooper James Lee on September 9, 2025.
BLAKE ’20 and BAILEY THOMPSON REID ’21 welcomed Olivia Grace Reid on October 1, 2025.
Austin and TAYLOR HENDERSON ’13 welcomed Kennedy Henderson on August 26, 2025.
SOUTHERN MISS ALUMNI MARKETING PARTNERS
Continue your support of The University of Southern Mississippi Alumni Association by doing business with the Association’s Marketing Partners. By utilizing the goods and services of these marketing partners, you will be generating additional revenue to support the programming and operations of the Association.
Balfour
Official Southern Miss Ring. For more information or to order, call 1.866.BALFOUR and ask for reference code 2315.
Hattiesburg Country Club
The Hattiesburg Country Club is the official country club of the University of Southern Mississippi Alumni Association. Established in 1919, the Hattiesburg Country Club carries the tradition of being the finest in Hattiesburg for private golf and country club amenities, and serves as the host for the annual Alumni Homecoming Golf Tournament.
and Noble Your school. Your bookstore. Located on the Hattiesburg campus of The University of Southern Mississippi. For more information, call 601.266.4381. Printing and Framing. For more information, call 601.758.4499.
