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UM Professors Collaborate with Counterparts Through SEC Grant

Posted on: December 18th, 2019 by erabadie

Faculty Travel Program encourages, supports conference partnerships

DECEMBER 17, 2019 BY SHEA STEWART

Thirteen University of Mississippi professors are taking part in this year’s SEC Faculty Travel Program, strengthening the university’s collaborations with fellow Southeastern Conference institutions and offering UM professors an opportunity to interact with their counterparts.

Established in 2012 by the SEC presidents and chancellors, the program provides financial assistance from the SEC office for participants to travel to other SEC universities to exchange ideas, develop grant proposals, conduct research and deliver lectures or performances.

Travel of the Ole Miss faculty is made possible partly through a $10,000 award from the SEC.

“Being a member of the SEC means more than being in the most competitive athletic conference in the country,” UM Provost Noel Wilkin said. “It also means we are part of a conference made up of excellent research universities that are creating cutting-edge knowledge, developing innovative technologies and providing outstanding educational experiences.

“These travel grants enable our faculty to develop inspiring collaborations across the conference that advance research and creative achievements that otherwise may not occur. As a result, they make our faculty better, make our university stronger and, ultimately, improve what we offer to our students.”

The program has supported the efforts of more than 700 faculty from across the conference since it started. Last year, 10 Ole Miss professors participated in the program.

“We are again excited that the SEC has provided funds that allow our faculty to visit other SEC universities to share their scholarship and collaborate on research and teaching initiatives,” said Donna Strum, UM associate provost.

The 13 UM travelers have visited or will visit a collective total of eight SEC institutions between August 2019 and July 2020. Areas of interest for this year’s Ole Miss class include disciplines from biology and biomedical engineering to science education and secondary education.

Participants from UM for the 2019-20 academic year are:

Joel Amidon, associate professor of secondary education, visiting Vanderbilt University to collaborate on best practices for preparing mathematics teachers
Rich Buchholz, associate professor of biology, visiting the University of Florida to continue a collaboration on explaining the role of sexual ornamentation in the mate selection of birds
Yunhee Chang, associate professor of nutrition and hospitality management, visiting the University of Georgia to conduct a graduate research seminar presentation, conduct a U.S. Department of Agriculture National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey data analysis consultation and collaborate on a manuscript
Lainy Day, associate professor of biology, visiting Louisiana State University to access the LSU Museum of Natural Science’s ornithology collection and X-ray resources to measure endocranial and skeletal properties of avian specimens
Micah Everett, associate professor of music, visiting the University of Alabama to conduct a low brass recital with University of South Carolina trombone professor Michael Wilkinson
Toshikazu Ikuta, associate professor of communication sciences and disorders, visiting the University of Alabama to collaborate on an analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging data on language processing and an assessment of entropy processing in language
Samuel Lisi, assistant professor of mathematics, visiting the University of Georgia to explore establishing a new collaboration in homology
Jeremy Meuser, assistant professor of management, visiting the University of Alabama to collaborate on process personality and management models
Tamara Warhol, associate professor of modern languages, visiting the University of Kentucky to present her research on the sociolinguistics of writing to students and collaborate with UK linguistics professor Allison Burkette on a volume in Interdisciplinary Approaches to Language
Thomas Werfel, assistant professor of biomedical engineering, visiting the University of Florida to strengthen a collaboration in immunoengineering and develop a new collaboration in cancer immunotherapy
Brooke Whitworth, assistant professor of science education, visiting Auburn University to collaborate on a research idea involving the intersection of science education, engineering education, and the arts and crafts
Caroline Wigginton, associate professor of English, visiting the University of Tennessee to present on her in-process book at the UT Humanities Center’s Transatlantic Enlightenment seminar and give a talk on best writing practices
Yael Zeira, Croft Institute for International Studies assistant professor of political science and international studies, visiting Vanderbilt University to participate in the Vanderbilt-SEC Workshop on Development and Democracy, where she will present a working paper related to the comparative politics of developing countries

The SEC Faculty Travel Program is one of several academic endeavors designed to support the teaching, research, service and economic development focus of the SEC’s 14 member universities. Past program participants have been invited to present their research at conferences, been awarded competitive grants and secured publications in leading journals.

Supporting STEM

Posted on: June 4th, 2019 by erabadie

Estate Gift to Support Active Learning Facility

Participants in the Mississippi Bridge STEM Program take notes in a class led by UM mathematics instructor Kelvin Holmes.

JUNE 4, 2019 BY BILL DABNEY

A recent unrestricted gift to the University of Mississippi from the estate of Maurice Lucas Kellum of Tupelo, Mississippi, is being directed to support construction of a leading student-centered science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) building on the Oxford campus.

University leaders have a vision for the 200,000-square-foot-plus building to be an important tool to bolster science literacy in Mississippi by providing active learning classrooms and state-of-the-art labs to prepare STEM majors and K-12 teachers of those subjects. The building will help address the critical need to increase STEM graduates and support growth in the state, regional and national tournament.

Kellum’s gift of $187,025 will help offset building costs associated with the $150 million project, which is poised to be the crown jewel of the university’s Science District along University Avenue.

Maurice Lucas Kellum

Kellum, who died in October 2017, was married for 56 years to the late Dr. William Carl “Bill” Kellum Sr., a 1950 UM graduate. He was the first board-certified internal medicine specialist in Tupelo and served as the chief of staff of the North Mississippi Medical Center. He was also a U.S. Army veteran who served in World War II.

Maurice Lucas Kellum dedicated her life to her family and her church. The Kellums had six children, 14 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren – several of whom are Ole Miss graduates.

UM Provost Noel Wilkin believes Mississippi’s future workforce projections suggest a great need for professionals with degrees in STEM fields.

“Our science facilities at Ole Miss have served us well for decades and we are now faced with space needs for a student enrollment that has soared in the last decade and a half,” he said. “In addition, we need academic spaces that encourage more engagement; the new facility will focus on active learning spaces that better facilitate the work of students and faculty members.”

“The new STEM building is designed as a premier educational facility that will allow us to expand and enhance our ability to prepare students to become recognized professionals in these fields.”

In addition to the STEM facility, the UM Science District includes Coulter Hall (chemistry), Thad Cochran Research Center (National Center for Natural Products Research, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and School of Pharmacy); Faser Hall (pharmacy); Shoemaker Hall (biology); Hume Hall (mathematics); Carrier, Anderson and Brevard halls (engineering), the Kennon Observatory and Lewis Hall (physics and astronomy); and the Haley Barbour Center for Manufacturing Excellence.

The planned UM science, technology, engineering and mathematics building will be an important tool to bolster science literacy in Mississippi by providing active learning classrooms and state-of-the-art labs to prepare STEM majors and K-12 teachers of those subjects. The 200,000-plus-square-foot facility is poised to be the crown jewel of the university’s Science District along University Avenue.

A major pedestrian artery through the Science District is to be named in honor of the Gertrude C. Ford Foundation, which has contributed nearly $54 million to the university, including funds for STEM building construction. Ford Way will run between University Avenue and All American Drive just north of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, which includes the location for the new STEM building.

Kellum’s estate gift awarded her membership in the 1848 Society, named for the year the university opened the Lyceum doors to its first students. The society recognizes alumni and friends who provide for the university through planned and deferred gifts.

For information on including Ole Miss in your estate, contact Byron Liles, senior director of gift planning, at byron@olemiss.eduor 662-915-7601.

For Some in Regalia, This Isn’t Just Another Commencement

Posted on: May 13th, 2019 by erabadie

Several administrators and professors have children graduating from UM this year

MAY 11, 2019 BY MICHAEL NEWSOM

The Rocks

David and Carly Rock. Submitted photo

David Rock, dean of the School of Education, will hand his daughter, Carly Rock, a bachelor’s degree in secondary chemistry education at graduation, and she’ll get another one in chemistry. A few days ahead of the event, he hadn’t yet come to terms with the idea.

“I’ll shake 500 hands when 500 people come across that stage, and I’ll take 500 pictures, but this is way different,” Rock said. “It’ll be a tough day, but an amazing day for my wife, Michelle, and I.”

He knew from a young age that his daughter had what it takes to be a teacher, even if that wasn’t in her original plan.

“When she was in middle school, her mother and I saw that she had everything to become a teacher,” Rock said. “She is caring. She is nurturing. She goes above and beyond. She cares about kids. She has always wanted to watch children, and play with children and be a nanny.”

Though she is earning her bachelor’s degree, Carly Rock will enter a chemistry doctoral program, and also work on a master’s degree in science education. She is an aspiring chemistry teacher, which leaves her father astounded.

“For my daughter to be a future chemistry teacher, I can’t even imagine,” he said with a grin. “I have no idea what she is talking about half of the time anyway. She laughs at me as a math person. I am just absolutely in awe.”

Carly Rock said her mom and dad have always been supportive, but she has always been motivated. She didn’t plan to follow her parents’ footsteps into teaching.

“I didn’t want to be a teacher when I was growing up,” Carly Rock said. “All through high school, I was convinced I was going to be a doctor, and everybody always told me I was going to follow in my dad’s footsteps and my mom’s footsteps, but swore it was not going to happen.”

Once she got to college, she decided the classes she needed to be a doctor weren’t her passion. After taking Christmas break to mull it over, she opted to work toward a degree in education, which pleased her dad.

“He never pushed me to do it, which I appreciated; he let me come to that decision on my own,” Carly Rock said. “He suggested I take a special education class. I fell in love. The very first class I took, there was that atmosphere and a professor who truly wanted you to succeed.

“I realized how much I cared about education in general and how much I wanted to show other students that everybody can reach their highest potential if you have somebody who can help you.”

The Sullivan Gonzálezes

Douglass Sullivan González and his daughter, Renée, hike in the Great Smoky Mountains. Submitted photo

They’ll put on their regalia and head out like they do each Commencement, but for several University of Mississippi deans and faculty members, it won’t be just another graduation ceremony.

Their children will be among those 5,500 prospective graduates at the university’s 166th Commencement. Later in the day, some will actually read their child’s name over the public address system, or hand them their diploma.

Douglass Sullivan González’s daughter, Renée Sullivan González, will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in physics. The dean of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and his wife, Maribel Sullivan González, a UM modern languages instructor, took a supportive approach in raising their children.

“We gave Renée lots of latitude to pursue her own interests,” Douglass Sullivan González said. “I always thought she would venture toward English, given her love of writing and reading, but she pursued her love of the big questions in physics. To see her succeed has made us very proud.”

He said his daughter’s success has been rewarding to the family.

“She joined the world of physics and succeeded,” he said. “She even taught a lab for the Department of Physics, and we beamed with pride, given that great success.”

Renée Sullivan González is working for Hyperion Technologies and living in Tupelo, getting the swing of things as a “real adult.” She’s seen the presence of both her parents on campus as a safety net. She graduated in December and plans to return for Commencement.

“If I had a problem, I could ask my dad for advice on the best person to talk to or the best process to navigate a situation,” Renée said. “I still had to do all the work myself and come up with a solution and if it didn’t work out, I learned from my own failures.

“My parents were close by if something bad happened, and their offices were often a hideaway and quiet study space.”

It could also be a trap sometimes, she said.

“The proximity meant that when I messed up, either academically or in my personal life, there was always the chance that my parents would find out from a third party or that my actions would reflect poorly on them,” she said. “I guess in a way that did help me as well. It made me be more responsible and it was rather good motivation to study.”

Douglass Sullivan González said he’s learned lessons in the classroom and in parenthood that work in both arenas.

“I have learned to trust our students’ decisions and not ‘second guess’ the risks they take,” he said. “To step back and not ‘micromanage’ your daughter’s career takes courage and will power, but it is essential.

“We parents should learn to live out of grace, given our own missteps as young adults.”

The Eassons

The Eassons – (from left) Darlene, Carina, Lee and Greg – take in the sights on a trip through the American West. Submitted photo

Greg Easson, associate dean for research and graduate programs for the School of Engineering and director of the Mississippi Mineral Resources Institute, was initially worried his son, Lee Easson, wouldn’t get the full experience of going off to college when he enrolled at Ole Miss.

“One of the things I always worried about is going off to college and experiencing college,” Greg Easson said. “He did that. I don’t see him. I’ll ask him, ‘Can you come home for your mother’s birthday?’ He’ll say, ‘I am kind of busy. ‘”

Greg Easson, and wife Darlene, have a daughter, Carina Easson, who is rising junior psychology major at Ole Miss, and a son Cole Easson, who graduated from UM with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a pharmacy Ph.D.

Come graduation day, Greg Easson will read Lee’s name when he is called to the podium to get his diploma. Greg was usually the back-up voice of graduation for Ryan Upshaw, another member of the engineering administration who will be graduating that day, and can’t read the names. It’s kismet that it worked out that way.

“It’s kind of cool, actually,” Lee Easson said.

Lee hopes to break into video games after graduating. He believes a career in software developing can get him there.

He took a programming class in fifth grade, which was held on campus, and discovered that he loved programming. He begin to teach himself how to do it and ended up at Ole Miss, where he said he had a good experience and will always cherish memories of the time he spent here.

“I’ll remember all of the people I have met, and all of the collective experiences I have had with them,” Lee Easson said. “All of that put together in aggregate was the best part of being here – making friends that I know I will still be friends with after graduation.”

The Reids

James, Dottie and Bonnie Reid. Submitted photo

James Reid, chair of the Department of Mathematics, is looking forward to the graduation of his eldest child, Dottie Reid, who is earning a math degree and plans to become a teacher. Reid and his wife, Bonnie, adopted Dottie when she was only 11 months old. Time flies, he said.

“I am very proud,” James Reid said. “It just seems like yesterday we were in church and she was sleeping on my chest during the services. I just can’t believe it. She is my oldest.

“It is special to my wife and I because we haven’t been through this before.”

From an early age, it was apparent that Dottie would make a good teacher, her father said. She has had a strong intellectual curiosity and a natural ability to relate to people since she was young.

She also has grown spiritually at the university, he said. She deeply cares about those around her and tries to help them as much as she can. These are good traits to take the classroom.

“She has a real desire to serve people and also a real ‘save the world mentality,” James Reid said.

Dottie Reid, who will become a junior high teacher at North Panola this fall, also has been admitted to the Mississippi Teacher Corps and will work on her master’s degree at the UM School of Education. Math has always been a passion of hers.

“It is interesting having a math professor as a dad growing up,” Dottie Reid said. “I have always liked math, and having parents as educators is a big part of my life. I know that I am incredibly privileged to have these people as parents.”

UM Undergraduate Students Present Their Research at the Capitol

Posted on: March 23rd, 2018 by erabadie

Posters in the Rotunda showcases undergraduate projects at state universities

MARCH 23, 2018 BY SHEA STEWART

University of Mississippi students (left to right) Madison Savoy, Abigail Garrett, Cellas Hayes, Lindsey Miller and Brittany Brown present their undergraduate research during Posters in the Rotunda March 20 at the state Capitol. Photo by Shea Stewart/University Communications

Five University of Mississippi students displayed their undergraduate research on topics ranging from the Latino South to therapeutic treatments for cognitive disorders during Posters in the Rotunda Tuesday (March 20) at the Mississippi State Capitol.

They were among 33 students from Mississippi’s eight public universities at the event, which showcased to state legislators and leaders some of the undergraduate research and scholarly activity being conducted at public universities.

“Research experiences at the undergraduate level can be extremely impactful for our students, giving them the first thrill of defining and answering a question no one else ever has,” said Josh Gladden, UM interim vice chancellor of research and sponsored programs. “We have been expanding these experiential opportunities at UM and are excited for this opportunity for our leaders to learn more about the impressive work being produced by our students throughout the state.”

The event provided opportunities for state leaders to visit with students from their districts, allowed students to network with one other and showcased cutting-edge research conducted by undergraduates that benefits Mississippians.

“The work being done by undergraduates with their mentors at the eight state universities is quite impressive,” said Marie Danforth, chair of the steering committee for the Drapeau Center for Undergraduate Research at the University of Southern Mississippi and coordinator of the event, in a news release. “This event (helps) legislators appreciate the contributions that the students are making to the state in so many areas, including economics, health care and education.”

Ole Miss students presenting at the Posters in the Rotunda event were:

– Brittany Brown, a journalism major from Quitman. “The Latino South: Migration, Identity and Foodways” was the title of Brown’s poster abstract. According to Brown, her research “examines the demographic changes that result from the migration of Latinos to nontraditional settings in the American South.”

“It is important to understand how this increasing population will affect the idea of race and how Southern society views people of Hispanic descent in order to move forward as a region,” she wrote in her poster abstract.

– Abigail Garrett, a mathematics and computer science major from Mountain Brook, Alabama. Garrett’s research involves analyzing and sorting data with the mission of giving others “the ability to easily view and understand vast amounts of data provided about breast cancer patients and their treatments,” she wrote in her poster abstract.

“The research seeks to benefit Mississippi by helping its residents who are affected by breast cancer, and also benefit the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s research in regard to this terrible disease.”

– Cellas Hayes, a classics and biology major from Lena. As life expectancy has increased, so has diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, Hayes wrote in his poster abstract. The purpose of his research is to “identify therapeutic treatments for these diseases.”

“Within the last 50 years, life expectancy in Mississippi has increased to almost 80 years of age,” he wrote in his poster abstract. “This increased life expectancy has come with more age-related problems such as increased rates of dementia. Our goal is to understand how cognitive disorders come about in order to find potential therapeutic treatments.”

– Lindsey Miller, a pre-pharmacy major from Corinth. Miller’s poster abstract was titled “Finding the Dimerization Interface of Skp1 from Dictyostelium.” The research is focused “on understanding the function of F-box proteins, which are key proteins in regulating a wide variety of cellular activities in organisms including humans, plants and fungi.”

“Dictyostelium is an amoeba that lives in soil and is a good model system for studying how cells react to their environment,” she wrote in her poster abstract. “We are studying the Skp1 protein from this amoeba to understand how it works with other proteins. This information may help advance medicine and agriculture in Mississippi.”

– Madison Savoy, a communication sciences and disorders major from Southaven. Savoy’s research involves examining “how verb transitivity impacts pronoun interpretation for adults with intellectual disabilities versus typically developing adults,” she wrote in her poster abstract.

“Approximately 14 percent of Mississippians have intellectual or developmental disabilities. Understanding strengths and weaknesses in their language can help identify areas for targeted intervention. These targeted interventions could ultimately save the state of Mississippi a significant amount of funds to help these individuals go on to live independent lives.”

Started in 2016 and modeled after the Posters on the Hill event at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., which includes students from around the country, Posters in the Rotunda is held in some format in 17 states.

Both chambers of the Mississippi Legislature proclaimed March 20 as Undergraduate Research Day.

“Outstanding students from across the state have dedicated their time and have worked tremendously hard on their research projects for Posters in the Rotunda, and these students demonstrate the positive impact that higher education appropriation brings to our state, and supporting students who participate in Posters in the Rotunda is an excellent way for Mississippi to invest in its future,” House Resolution No. 54 stated.

“Undergraduate research is critical in developing solutions to the needs of Mississippi’s future workforce because it cultivates the students’ goals and aspirations and it encourages students to specialize in the biomedical and (science, technology, engineering and mathematical) fields after graduation.”

Award Recipients to be Recognized During Black Alumni Reunion Gala

Posted on: February 26th, 2018 by erabadie

Alumni Association to present slate of honors at sold-out event

FEBRUARY 24, 2018 BY MDIGGS

Donald Cole | Photo by Robert Jordan/ Communications

The Ole Miss Alumni Association is recognizing 13 distinguished alumni as part the University of Mississippi’s 2018 Black Alumni Reunion.

The awards include the Dr. Jeanette Jennings “Trailblazer” Award, The Rev. Wayne Johnson Community and Civic Award, the Alumni Achievement Award and the Celebrated Athlete Award.

The Alumni Association hosts a sold-out gala for the honorees at 6 p.m. Saturday (March 3) at The Inn at Ole Miss. Leadership, lifetime achievement and legacy awards also will be presented at the event.

“The Black Alumni Reunion, as well as the gala, have grown tremendously,” said Kirk Purdom, the association’s executive director. “The 2018 awards gala will be our largest ever, and it offers an opportunity to celebrate history and honor some outstanding alumni, in addition to providing classmates a great opportunity to reunite.”

The Dr. Jeanette Jennings “Trailblazer” Award recognizes Ole Miss alumni who served a vital role in the progress of black faculty, staff, alumni and/or students on the Ole Miss campus. Jennings came to UM in 1970 as the university’s first black faculty member.

Donald Cole (PhD mathematics 85) and Jacquline Vinson (BBA 01, MA 10) are the 2018 recipients.

As the university’s assistant provost and associate professor of mathematics, Cole plays an active leadership role in policymaking, teaching, research and diversification at UM. More than 40 minority doctoral degrees in a variety of disciplines are attributed to his grants, teaching and mentorship.

Vinson is project coordinator for the Louis Stokes Mississippi Alliance for Minority Participation IMAGE program and co-principal investigator of the Bridge STEM program. She was married to the late Theopolis P. Vinson and continues her husband’s legacy on the Ole Miss campus with a scholarship endowment in his name for minority students in the School of Education.

The Rev. Wayne Johnson Community and Civic Award recognizes exceptional service by Ole Miss alumni through commitment to their community in a civic, ministerial or volunteer capacity. An Oxford native, Johnson was instrumental in founding the Oxford Development Association.

Dr. Rashad Ali

This year’s recipients are Dr. Rashad Ali (BA chemistry and zoology 81, MD 85), Barbara L. Howard (BA biological science 92, MEd 94) and Reginald H. Turner (BBA 92).

Ali, who has more than 27 years of experience as an OB-GYN physician and is a highly regarded surgeon, is chief executive officer of the Family Health Center of Laurel. He continues to show his concerns for health care in Mississippi by collaborating with the nonprofit housing organization Community Connections Inc., and has contributed more than $250,000 to ensure that quality housing is available to qualified residents of south central Mississippi.

Barbara L. Howard

Howard is founder and director of Hearts Desire Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides educational resources to the community. One of her major projects is the Books to Prisons Ministry, where she provides Christian literature to prison libraries for incarcerated men and women. She is an assistant professor at Jackson State University and author of the books “Wounded Sheep: How to Calm a Storm” and “Wounded Sheep: How to Heal Church Hurt.”

Turner has more than two decades of experience in academia as a professor, academic dean, chief academic officer, chief student affairs officer and, ultimately, as president of Westwood College-Northlake in Atlanta. He has earned numerous awards including Adjunct Faculty of the Year, Staff Member of the Year and Administrator of Year. Turner has been inducted into Morehouse College’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. International Collegium of Scholars and awarded a congressional medal for Outstanding Community Service.

The Alumni Achievement Award recognizes Ole Miss alumni for exceptional achievement in their chosen professional field. This award acknowledges the entrepreneurial spirit, corporate prowess and dedication to succeed exemplified by alumni or former students.

Rose Jackson Flenorl (BAEd 79) and Markeeva Morgan (BSEE 01) are recipients of this award.

Morgan is a senior manager for avionics, guidance, navigation and control, and software at the Boeing Co. after serving nearly two decades in military and federal civil service. He is a PMI-certified project management professional who teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in management, leadership and organizational theory at the University of Alabama at Huntsville. Morgan is pursuing a doctorate in systems engineering from George Washington University.

The Celebrated Athlete Award recognizes former Ole Miss student-athletes or coaches for success in the field of athletics after their UM tenure. This year’s recipients are Peggie Gillom-Granderson (BSW 80), Terrence Metcalf (BBA 16) and Robert “Ben” Williams (BBA 76).

Gillom-Granderson led the Ole Miss women’s basketball team to the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women State Tournament Championships in 1978 and ’79. She is Ole Miss’ all-time leading scorer with 2,486 points and rebounder with 1,271 rebounds, and also served 16 seasons as an assistant coach to Van Chancellor. As an assistant coach for USA Basketball, she helped guide the 1999 U.S. Pan American Games team to a bronze medal and the 2000 U.S. Olympic team to a gold medal. She was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.

Metcalf, a fan favorite on the Ole Miss Rebel football team from 1997 to 2001, is assistant head coach and offensive line coach at Pearl River Community College. He was selected the 2001 SEC Most Valuable Lineman and was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American in 2001. Metcalf was inducted in the Class of 2017 SEC Legends. After playing seven seasons with the Chicago Bears, he finished his pro career in 2010 with the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints.

ALUMNI PROFILE: Chris Presley

Posted on: December 13th, 2017 by erabadie

December 13, 2017 By Bethany Fitts for the Ole Miss Alumni Association

Chris Presley

When Chris Presley (BA biology ’12) needs encouragement and inspiration to face life’s obstacles, he listens to songs like Andra Day’s “Rise Up” in which Day sings, “I’ll rise up. I’ll rise like the day. I’ll rise up. I’ll rise unafraid.” Presley’s recent placement on the St. Louis Business Journal’s “30 Under 30” list, which recognizes top people within any profession who are considered rising leaders within the community, is a testament that Presley took Day’s lyrics to heart.

“That was a big highlight—knowing that I’ve only been in St. Louis for about three and a half years [while] most of the people on that list were from St. Louis. That let me know that I had made contributions to St. Louis that people were starting to see,” Presley said.

After moving to St. Louis, he was moved by the tragedies within Ferguson and joined the Urban League Young Professionals (ULYP) to join the movement for social change. Moreover, Presley served the St. Louis area on community boards as vice president of finance for Urban League Young Professionals of Metropolitan and is past president of the St. Louis Ole Miss Alumni Club. Presley was also the youngest employee in the business school at St. Louis’s Washington University where he helped lead the undergraduate business program from a number four to a number one ranking.

Now in his second year as a Ph.D. student at Saint Louis University, he is well on his way to becoming a senior-level administrator in higher education with a goal of improving access, retention and success for students regardless of their background.

“This may sound weird, but a lot of what’s inspired me is the chaos that’s going on around America and knowing that I can make a positive impact not only on people that I’m around but also on future generations to kind of mold and shape them,” Presley said.

Presley’s success is no surprise, because he was a hard worker during his years at Ole Miss. He didn’t initially think he would attend the university due to its proximity to home, but he eventually came around due to the influence of Dr. Donald Cole (PhD ’85), an assistant provost and associate professor of mathematics, who encouraged him to pursue a degree in biology and who opened his eyes to the opportunities he had access to at the university.

Another selling point for Presley was the university’s marching band. He loved the Pride of the South and became a drum major during his junior year.

“I knew that I wanted to be in the marching band, “Presley said. “I auditioned and got a scholarship, and from the first day I fell in love with the Pride of the South. It was a great experience to lead the band and conduct the band at the football games and to be among 60,000 fans.”

Outside of the marching band Presley was a 2012 Campus Favorite, an Ole Miss Women’s Council scholar and an IMATE scholar. The IMATE program, which is an acronym for Increasing Minority Access to Graduate Education, serves underrepresented minorities who are interested in STEM fields.

“As a biology student I was part of [the IMATE] program,” Presley said. “It really helped me gain leadership skills but also exposed me to different areas to do research and to think about pursuing the next level of my education.”

The IMATE program’s dedication to promoting minority access impacted Presley beyond his years as an Ole Miss undergraduate. In fact, his commitment to diversity and inclusion led him to be chosen as one of only five employees at Washington University to participate in the 2015 Global Diversity Overseas Seminar, a nine-month professional development opportunity.

Since Presley’s trip to Seoul, South Korea, he has been a strong advocate for international and minority students, leading to his recognition as Advisor of the Year and a teaching role for an Identity Literacy course. Moreover, he recently launched the Olin Fleischer Scholars Program, a summer program for underrepresented students in high school to gain exposure to business majors and professions.

“I’m always very fulfilled when I’m talking to someone who never knew that one of the programs I established was an option for them,” Presley said. “And then once they go through the programs, being able to see how their attitude has changed when they continue to keep in contact with me and ask even more questions and when I see them reaching the goals they set for themselves–it’s very rewarding.”

Presley’s mission is to eliminate any obstacles people might face in pursuing their education and to help create a reality for people who may have never envisioned the opportunities available to them.

“I want to let people know that regardless of their background, whether it be socioeconomic status or race or religion or sexual orientation, they can achieve whatever goals they set for themselves,” Presley said.

Presley currently leads the operations team and manages the enrollment aspects for prospective MBA students at the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management, an alliance of 19 top-tier MBA programs across the country. The Consortium’s mission is to enhance diversity and inclusion in global business education and leadership. In the future, he would like the option to teach and be a senior level administrator and, “maybe return to Mississippi.”

Two UM Faculty Win Inaugural National Science Foundation Fellowships

Posted on: September 20th, 2017 by erabadie

Ryan Garrick and Saša Kocić among 30 nationwide selected for competitive research program

SEPTEMBER 20, 2017 BY EDWIN SMITH

Ryan Garrick, UM assistant professor of biology, examines insects as part of his research on the effects of environmental change. Photo by Robert Jordan/UM Communications

Two University of Mississippi professors have been honored for innovative research in their respective fields by being selected for fellowships in a competitive new National Science Foundation program.

Ryan Garrick, assistant professor of biology, and Saša Kocić, assistant professor of mathematics, have been chosen for funding under NSF’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research. The Research Infrastructure Improvement Track 4 program is designed to help junior investigators in EPSCoR-eligible states develop career-spanning collaborations through extended visits to other premiere research institutions around the nation.

Garrick will conduct his fellowship at Ohio State University, while Kocić will visit the University of California at Irvine.

Of 136 proposals considered by NSF in this competition, only 30 awards were made across 27 universities, for a funding rate of 22 percent. UM was among only three institutions receiving two fellowship awards in the competition.

Both recipients said they were pleasantly surprised by their selection.

“After many attempts to secure federal funding to support research and career development, during a time that appears to be a particularly difficult period for faculty doing basic research, finally having some success was a relief,” Garrick said.

“This award is certainly very special to me,” Kocić said. “Many people at University of Mississippi and beyond have helped me in that process. I am extremely grateful to all of them and glad that all that effort was not in vain.”

Chancellor Jeffrey Vitter congratulated Garrick and Kocić for their achievements.

“We are so pleased to see the success of our researchers in this highly competitive program,” Vitter said. “Their tremendous achievements help drive discovery and creativity on our campus and enhance our undergraduate and graduate education.

“I congratulate Drs. Garrick and Kocić for how their innovation, collaboration and research bolster UM’s role as a Carnegie R1 highest research activity institution.”

The awards reflect the promise shown by both researchers’ work, said Josh Gladden, interim vice chancellor for research and sponsored programs.

“That the university received not just one, but two awards in this crowded competition is especially gratifying and shows that the National Science Foundation sees the same great potential that we do in the research careers of both Dr. Garrick and Dr. Kocić,” Gladden said.

“NSF EPSCoR funding has helped to launch the careers of many successful researchers at Ole Miss and across the state, with more than $80 million in research infrastructure investments in Mississippi over the last 25 years.”

Each institution was allowed to submit only three applications. Garrick and Kocić each discussed the scope and goals of his particular research project.

Saša Kocić, UM assistant professor of mathematics, is continuing his study of dynamic systems and mathematical physics, which promises to help scientists better understand such diverse phenomena as heart function and stock market fluctuations. Photo by Thomas Graining/UM Communications

“Biodiversity, or the variety of species in an ecosystem, is declining in many areas of the world due to environmental change,” said Garrick, principal investigator on a project examining “Enhancement of technical and analytical skills for the application of genomics to research in molecular ecology and comparative phylogeography.”

With $110,413 over the next two years, he will collaborate with colleagues at Ohio State to understand how the numbers and genetic variability of four invertebrate species found in southern Appalachian forests change as their environment changes.

“This fellowship will enable research using genetic techniques to study how organisms have responded to past and present environmental change,” he said. “It will also generate new opportunities for sustained collaboration with the host institution.

“Findings will advance understanding of whether whole communities have the ability to respond to environmental change together, or as individual species. This information will aid in conservation and management of U.S. forest fauna.”

Kocić is the principal investigator on a project focusing on “Sharp arithmetic transitions and universality in one-frequency quasiperiodic systems.”

With his $161,681 two-year grant, he and a graduate student will initiate a new collaboration between the university and UC-Irvine, in particular with Svetlana Jitomirskaya, one of the top experts in dynamical systems and mathematical physics. The project will develop and apply state-of-the-art tools for studying dynamical systems, which will allow mathematicians to obtain new results by looking at systems at different spatial and time scales, revealing shared properties.

“Dynamical systems is a large area of mathematics that concerns the evolution of different systems and phenomena, ranging from the motion of celestial bodies to heart function to fluctuations in the stock market,” Kocić said. “The project is centered around a powerful tool called renormalization that acts as a ‘microscope’ and allows one to look at systems at different spatial and time scales, revealing properties of the systems that are universal, that is, shared by a large class of systems.”

There is a broad range of phenomena where these tools have led to an explanation. The transition between the liquid and gas phases – boiling and evaporation – is one familiar example.

A particular focus of this project will be on sharp transitions and universality in two types of systems: relatively simple systems that underlie more complicated systems, and systems arising from quantum physics, Kocić said.

“This project will lead to advancement of both areas, strengthen the research program in dynamical systems and mathematical physics at UM, and enhance its undergraduate and graduate education,” he said.

“This collaboration will be very important not only for my career and the field of research, but also for my current and future students, our dynamical systems group, the mathematics department and the whole of the University of Mississippi.”

Garrick’s fellowship is funded by NSF grant 1738817; Kocic’s by NSF grant 1738834.

The mission of EPSCoR is to enhance research competitiveness of targeted jurisdictions – states, territories or commonwealths – by strengthening STEM capacity and capability. EPSCoR envisions its targeted jurisdictions as being recognized as strong contributors to the national and global STEM research enterprise.

Seven UM Freshmen Receive Omicron Delta Kappa Awards

Posted on: June 12th, 2017 by erabadie

Honor society recognizes outstanding leadership, community service

JUNE 11, 2017 BY RYAN UPSHAW

This year’s recipients of the Omicron Delta Kappa Freshman Leader Awards are (from left) James ‘JC’ Pride of Jackson, Olivia Lanum of Brandon, Caroline Glaze of Hattiesburg, Leah Davis of Tupelo, Savannah Day of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Summer Jefferson of Cumming, Georgia, and Brock Huerkamp of Arkadelphia. Photo by Ryan Upshaw

Seven University of Mississippi freshmen have been inducted into the Alpha Phi chapter of Omicron Delta Kappa, a prestigious national leadership honor society.

The annual ODK Freshman Leadership Awards, which identify outstanding freshman leaders and community servants, were presented at the organization’s annual induction ceremony. Previous recipients have gone on to serve in roles such as Associated Student Body president and to be inducted into the university’s student Hall of Fame.

This year’s recipients of the ODK Freshman Leader Awards are Leah Davis of Tupelo, Savannah Day of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Caroline Glaze of Hattiesburg, Brock Huerkamp of Arkadelphia, Arkansas, Summer Jefferson of Cumming, Georgia, Olivia Lanum of Brandon and James “JC” Pride of Jackson.

“Each year, the selection process becomes more difficult as the university attracts outstanding students from all over the country,” said Ryan Upshaw, ODK adviser and assistant dean for student services in the School of Engineering.

“Our society is excited to be able to recognize their outstanding contributions during their first year on campus. We also look forward to their potential membership in our society later in their college career.”

A psychology major, Davis expressed gratitude at the recognition.

“Receiving the ODK Freshman Leader of the Year Award was a very humbling experience for me,” she said. “I was honored to know that the work and service I have done for my beloved university was recognized.

“I am excited for the opportunities that this recognition will bring, and cannot wait to continue to serve my campus!”

Davis is a member of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and is a LuckyDay Scholar. She has participated in the ASB Freshman Council and Black Student Union and is a member of the UM Gospel Choir and Concert Singers. She has volunteered with Green Grove, “Groovin’ at Move-In” and the Oxford Film Festival.

Day is double majoring in public policy leadership and broadcast journalism as a member of both the Honors College and the Lott Leadership Institute. The recipient of a scholarship from the Lott Institute, she served as a legislative aide for the ASB Senate and was a member of the inaugural ASB Freshman Forum program and Lambda Sigma. She also is a news reporter for NewsWatch Ole Miss and has volunteered with RebelTHON and Big Event.

Glaze is an Ole Miss Women’s Council Scholar studying public policy leadership and secondary math education. She is a member of the Honors College, Lott Leadership Institute and the Mississippi Excellence in Teaching Program. She serves as vice president of Pittman Hall Community Council and is a member of ASB Freshman Council and Lambda Sigma. Glaze has volunteered with the Marks Tutoring Project and the Ole Miss Food Bank.

A member of the Honors College and the Lott Leadership Institute, Huerkamp is studying public policy leadership. He has volunteered with RebelTHON and the Big Event and has been a member of the ASB Freshman Council and Lambda Sigma. He will serve on the executive board of RebelTHON 2018.

Jefferson is a biology major as a member of the Honors College. She is the recipient of the Stamps Scholarship, the highest campus scholarship, and is a member of the Chancellor’s Leadership Class. Jefferson is a team leader and accounting chair for Coaches Against Cancer and has begun undergraduate research in the Department of Biology. This summer, she will intern with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A member of the Haley Barbour Center for Manufacturing Excellence and the Honors College, Lanum is studying mechanical engineering with an emphasis in manufacturing. She is president of the Stewart Hall Community Council and a member of the Engineering Student Body Leadership Council, Society of Women Engineers, Lambda Sigma and the NASA Student Launch Initiative Outreach and Structures Team. She has volunteered with the FIRST Robotics Tournament and will travel to South Carolina next fall to work as a co-op student with International Paper Co.

Pride is studying mechanical engineering with an emphasis in manufacturing as part of the CME and the Honors College. He has volunteered with the Big Event, RebelTHON and Coaching for Literacy. Pride is the recipient of the W.R. Newman scholarship and is a member of the Chancellor’s Leadership Class, ASB Freshman Council and Lambda Sigma.

Omicron Delta Kappa is a 103-year-old leadership honor society that has initiated more than 300,000 members at since its founding. The society has more than 285 active chapters at colleges and universities across the United States.

UM Seniors Inducted into Hall of Fame

Posted on: April 10th, 2017 by erabadie

Recipients honored for achievement, service and potential for success

APRIL 7, 2017 BY CHRISTINA STEUBE

The 2017 Hall of Fame inductees are front row ( L to R) Acacia Santos, Leah Gibson, Yujing Zhang, Alex Martin. Back Row (L to R) Austin Dean, Chase Moore, Austin Powell, Miller Richmond, John Brahan, James Roland Markos. Photo by Robert Jordan UM Communications

Ten University of Mississippi seniors have been inducted into the university’s 2016-17 Hall of Fame, one of the highest honors afforded students at UM.

The inductees were honored Friday (April 7) in a ceremony at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts. A committee in accordance with policy developed by the Associated Student Body chooses Hall of Fame members. Selections are based on academic achievement, community involvement and potential success.

This year’s Hall of Fame members are John Brahan of Hattiesburg; Austin Dean of Hammond, Illinois; Leah Gibson of Starkville; James-Roland Markos of Jackson, Tennessee; Jane Martin of Madison; Chase Moore of Horn Lake; Austin Powell of Corinth; Miller Richmond of Madison; Acacia Santos of Southaven; and Yujing Zhang of Oxford.

“The students who are inducted into the Hall of Fame are leaders, scholars and community servants,” said Mindy Sutton Noss, assistant vice chancellor for student affairs and dean of students. “Their combined list of accomplishments and contributions to the university community is impressive and inspiring.

“They each leave a legacy at Ole Miss, and I know they will all go on to make a difference in the world around them. I believe we will hear more about the achievements of these individuals throughout their lives.”

The 10 students were among 150 Ole Miss seniors recognized for inclusion in Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. They are to be listed in the national publication’s 2017 edition.

Brahan, pursuing a double major in public policy leadership and theatre arts, is a member of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and a Trent Lott Institute Scholar. He served in several roles over the course of his education, including ASB vice president; director of Greek affairs for RebelTHON, the Miracle Network dance marathon benefitting the Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital; and vice president of standards for the Interfraternity Council. Brahan served the community as a Leap Frog tutor and mentor. He’s performed in theatrical productions of “Clybourne Park” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and plans to pursue a career in the entertainment industry upon graduation. His parents are Tammy Kolbo and John Brahan of Hattiesburg.

An integrated marketing communications major, Dean has served as vice president of the Columns Society, an organization of 24 of the top students who serve as official hosts for the university. He also served as vice chairman of the University Judicial Council in the Office of Conflict Resolution and on the board of the directors for The Big Event, the largest community service project at the university. Dean was awarded Excellence in Integrated Marketing Communications and the Christine Wallace Service Award. After graduation, he plans to move to Washington, D.C., to work for a firm focused on running campaigns for legislation and political candidates. His parents are James Dean and Christy Amey of Hammond, Illinois, and Katrina and Tyrone Wilkins of Atwood, Illinois.

Gibson, a journalism major, is a member of the Columns Society and a McLean Institute Innovation Scholar, a distinction awarded to students with interest in entrepreneurship and economic development in Mississippi’s rural communities. She is Miss University 2017. Gibson served as station manager of Rebel Radio at the Student Media Center and special events coordinator of the Black Student Union. After graduation, she will compete in the 60th anniversary Miss Mississippi pageant in June and plans to spend a year traveling abroad. Her ultimate goal is to work as a television host on her own network. Her parents are Kelvin and Tamara Gibson of Starkville.

Markos is completing a triple major in public policy leadership, biological sciences and biochemistry. He is a student director of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and a Trent Lott Institute Scholar. Markos is president of Sigma Nu fraternity and served as president of the UM Interfraternity Council in 2015. He is the editor-in-chief and co-founder of the UM Undergraduate Research Journal, a yearly, peer-reviewed publication of research articles written by UM undergraduate students. Markos was awarded a Taylor Medal, an award given to fewer than 1 percent of students each year for outstanding scholarship in their field. Upon graduation, Markos will attend the Mayo Clinic School of Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota, to pursue M.D. and Master of Public Health degrees to prepare for a career as a clinical physician. His parents are George and Clare Markos of Jackson, Tennessee.

Martin is double-majoring in international studies and mathematics. She is a member of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and the Croft Institute for International Studies. Martin has served as executive director of The Big Event, managing editor of the UM Undergraduate Research Journal and ASB director of academic affairs. She has been inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society and was awarded a Taylor Medal. Martin plans to work as a research assistant at the Federal Reserve Board of Governors and pursue a career in economics research. Her parents are Trey and Rebecca Martin and Traci Tigert of Madison.

A business management major and member of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, Moore founded and served as president of Student Affairs Leaders of Tomorrow. He served in the Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate achievement program, designed to prepare students for graduate research. Moore also served as student assistant for the Center for Inclusion and Cross Cultural Engagement, director of the UM Gospel Choir and an ASB senator. After graduation, Moore plans to attend Ohio State University to pursue a master’s degree in higher education and student affairs, with hopes of later earning a doctorate in management. His parents are Milton and Phyllis Moore and the late Nigela Patreece Moore of Horn Lake.

Powell, completing a double major in public policy leadership and philosophy, He served as ASB president during the 2016-17 academic year. He is a member of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and a Trent Lott Institute Scholar, and he was a Rhodes Scholar finalist last spring. Powell also served as assistant director for The Big Event and is a member of the Columns Society. He has been accepted to graduate school at the University of Oxford in England and will pursue a master’s degree in criminology. His parents are Eric and Gwen Powell of Corinth.

Richmond is an international studies major and a member of both the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and the Croft Institute for International Studies. He served as executive co-director of The Big Event and chief of staff for the ASB. Richmond is also a member of the Columns Society and was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. He also conducted research with Syrian refugees in Jordan while studying abroad during the 2015 fall semester. He plans to continue his work globally in the public health field and attend medical school in the future. His parents are Jim and Jennifer Richmond of Madison.

A mechanical engineering major, Santos is a member of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and the Haley Barbour Center for Manufacturing Excellence. During her time at Ole Miss, she has served has president of the Columns Society, community assistant for the Department of Student Housing and an orientation leader for incoming students. In 2016, Santos was elected Miss Ole Miss by the student body. She also served as committee chair for recruitment and retention for the Black Student Union. After graduation, Santos plans to go to Disney World, catch up on sleep and then attend graduate school at Boston University. Her parents are Paula Santos of Southaven and Francisco Santos Jr. of Bremerton, Washington.

Zhang is a pharmaceutical sciences major and is member of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College. She is a member of the Columns Society, served as RebelTHON director of catering and was a member of the Honors College student senate. Zhang also was awarded a Taylor Medal and inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi honor society. Upon graduation, she plans to attend the UM School of Pharmacy to pursue a Doctor of Pharmacy. Her parents are Darryl Scott and Jinping Stevens of Oxford.

PLATO Offers Students Personalized Learning

Posted on: March 30th, 2017 by erabadie

Program tailors lessons based on individual student needs

MARCH 30, 2017 BY CHRISTINA STEUBE

The PLATO program allows students in large lecture classes to get a personalized learning experience.Photo by Robert Jordan/Ole Miss Communications

The PLATO program allows students in large lecture classes to get a personalized learning experience.Photo by Robert Jordan/UM Communications

The University of Mississippi’s College of Liberal Arts is implementing a method of personalized learning for students in large courses.

The Personalized Learning and Adaptive Teaching Opportunities Program, or PLATO, uses adaptive and interactive lessons to personally engage students in classes such as biology, chemistry, writing and rhetoric, and mathematics, all of which generally have high enrollment.

PLATO is funded by a $515,000 grant awarded by the Association of Public Land-grant Universities and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which will oversee the initiative.

Through adaptive learning, instructors incorporate online lessons with class lectures. Coursework through the online system recognizes student responses and provides follow-up assignments based on each student’s answers.

Kerri Scott, instructional associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry, began using online homework in her Chemistry 101 sections in 2008. As the classes grew to more than 200 students, she sought ways to expand learning methods.

“I am always on the lookout for new and better ways to communicate with students, and technology that adapts to their needs is ideal,” Scott said. “It allows us to tailor the assignments based on the needs of the student.

“Instead of me standing in front of a chalkboard telling 200 students to solve the problem a certain way, now they’re getting targeted with their own individual assignments and study plans.”

Additionally, modules include content basics of the course as well as assessments, so class time can be used for deeper discussion of the material or active practice. The courseware also gives instructors additional data on student performance on assignments beyond a single grade, allowing them to identify students who are struggling with the material before the first high-stakes exam.

This strategic use of technology improves traditional learning and strengthens the general education curriculum, said Stephen Monroe, assistant dean of the College of Liberal Arts and an assistant professor of writing and rhetoric.

“We are grateful to the APLU and the Gates Foundation for their support,” Monroe said. “Our project is succeeding because of our wonderful faculty and Patti O’Sullivan’s leadership.

“Our students will be the ultimate beneficiaries. Adaptive courseware personalizes learning for our students, who can receive customized pathways through their homework assignments and then arrive to class better prepared for lectures and activities.”

Six other University of Mississippi faculty members are piloting the program this semester: biology professor Tamar Goulet and instructor Carla Carr, college algebra instructor Michael Azlin, trigonometry instructor Jon-Michael Wimberly and statistics lecturer Lanzhen Song and instructor Cody Harville.

Carr is using the LearnSmart technology of the courseware, which offers students an active reading experience.

Before each topic, students are assigned text to read in their eBook for the course. The adaptive courseware provides questions for students to answer as they read, making class preparation an assignment.

“Hopefully, the students are now gaining comprehension of what they’re reading, which will enhance lectures, rather than arriving to class unprepared,” Carr said.

Azlin is piloting the ALEKS adaptive courseware system in two sections of college algebra this semester. ALEKS provides an initial knowledge check that allows an individualized pathway through the homework goals of the course for each student.

“This initial knowledge check also allows me to see where each student, as well as the class as a whole, stands on each topic in the course,” Azlin said.

The grant will allow PLATO to expand across other sections of Chemistry 101 and writing and rhetoric courses in the fall semester.