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Seniors Awarded 2016 Hall of Fame Honors

Posted on: March 7th, 2016 by erabadie

Recipients chosen for academic achievement, community service and potential for success

MARCH 4, 2016 | BY SHELBY SANSONE

Hall of Fame 2016. Photo by Thomas Graning/Ole Miss Communications

Hall of Fame 2016. Photo by Thomas Graning/UM Communications

Ten University of Mississippi seniors have earned membership in the school’s 2015-2016 Hall of Fame, one of the university’s highest honors.

The Hall of Fame inductees were honored Friday (March 4) in a ceremony at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts. Recipients are chosen by a committee in accordance with ASB policy, with selections based on a student’s academic achievement, community service and potential for future success.

New Hall of Fame members are Brady Bramlett of Memphis, Rod Bridges of Madison, Jeremy Coleman of Jackson, Maia Cotelo of Oxford, Joe Curry of Stringer, Ann-Marie Herod of Abbeville, William Kneip of Mobile, Alabama, Justavian Tillman of Oxford, Debra Whitley of Natchez, and Elizabeth Wicks of Ocean Springs.

“We commend these outstanding students for their impressive accomplishments both in and out of the classroom,” said Morris Stocks, provost and executive vice chancellor. “We anticipate great successes for these young men and women, both professionally and academically. We also know that our Hall of Famers will contribute to the betterment of society.”

The 10 students, along with 150 other UM seniors, were also recognized for inclusion in Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. They are to be listed in the national publication’s 2016 edition.

The following eight of the 10 Hall of Fame students have majors in the College of Liberal Arts:

Brady Bramlett. Photo by Thomas Graning/Ole Miss Communications

Brady Bramlett. Photo by Thomas Graning/UM Communications

Bramlett is a biological science major, a pitcher for the Ole Miss Rebels baseball team and a tenor in the UM Concert Singers and Men’s Glee groups. He is president of Ole Miss Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and vice chair of the NCAA Division I SAAC. He is a member of NCAA Division I Strategic Vision and Planning Committee and a council member of NCAA Minorities Opportunities and Interests Committee. He is an SEC representative for Autonomy Five legislation and in the National Collegiate Honor Society. He also was a member of the Ole Miss Concert Singers European tour that included performances in Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic. Bramlett is a seven-time Ole Miss Scholar Athlete and a three-time SEC academic honor roll recipient. After graduation, he plans to enroll in the university’s MBA program and then pursue a career in athletics administration. His parents are Bobby and Amy Bramlett of Bartlett, Tennessee.

Rod Bridges. Photo by Thomas Graning/Ole Miss Communications

Rod Bridges. Photo by Thomas Graning/UM Communications

Bridges, a public policy leadership major, is president of the Associated Student Body, a member of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and a Trent Lott Institute scholar. He is an officer for the Kappa Alpha Order fraternity and received the UM Outstanding Student Higher Education Award for 2016. Bridges is in Phi Kappa Phi and Omicron Delta Kappa honor societies. He received the ASB Senator of the Year Award in 2014 and the UM Freshmen Leader of the Year Award in 2013. After graduation, he plans to attend Officer Candidacy School. His parents are Roddy Bridges of Madison and London and Thomas Wagner of Coos Bay, Oregon.

Jeremy Coleman. Photo by Thomas Graning/Ole Miss Communications

Jeremy Coleman. Photo by Thomas Graning/UM Communications

A biological science major, Coleman was chief of staff for the Black Student Union’s vice president and treasurer for the university’s Gospel Choir. He is an Ole Miss Ambassador, a member of the Columns Society, treasurer for Men of Excellence and has been a reporter for The Daily Mississippian student newspaper. Coleman was on the committee that opened the Ole Miss Food Bank. He received the Segal AmeriCorps Education award for serving more than 300 hours of community service at the food bank and the Boys and Girls Club of North Mississippi. After graduation, he plans to attend veterinary school and wants to open a small animal clinic and, eventually, an animal rescue center to protect endangered species. His parents are LaShaundra Coleman and Boris Thomas of Jackson.

Maia Cotelo. Photo by Kevin Bain/Ole Miss Communications

Maia Cotelo. Photo by Kevin Bain/UM Communications

Cotelo has a triple major in international studies, economics and mathematics. She is a member of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and a Trent Lott Leadership scholar. A founding member of the RebelTHON dance marathon, she was the event’s 2016 executive director. She received the World Cup Initiative Grant and was the Portuguese Outstanding Student of the year from 2013 to 2015. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi and Omicron Delta Kappa honor societies. She is also on Mortar Board and is recipient of a Taylor Medal, the university’s highest academic award. After graduation, Cotelo plans to take a year to travel and then pursue a career in the nonprofit sector. She is the daughter of Enrique and Irene Cotelo of Oxford.

Ann-Marie Herod. Photo by Thomas Graning/Ole Miss Communications

Ann-Marie Herod. Photo by Thomas Graning/UM Communications

A broadcast journalism and African-American Studies major, Herod has received the Gannett Freedom Forum Scholarship, the Robert Williams Minority Scholarship, the Daniel Phillips Memorial Scholarship and the D. Landrum & C T Hill Scholarship. Not only is she a College Corp member under AmeriCorps, but she is also a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award recipient. She has served as vice president and president of the university’s Association for Black Journalists, and as public relations and community service director for the Black Student Union. She has been a senator and co-director of inclusion for the Associated Student Body, an Ole Miss Ambassador, an Ole Miss Athletics Ambassador and a member of the Freshmen Council. Herod is a journalist and recording secretary for the Lambda Sigma chapter of Delta Sigma Theta sorority and vice president of the National Pan-Hellenic Council. With the Wesley Foundation, she did missionary work in Honduras. She has worked with the Horizons Summer Enrichment Program as a mentor and teacher’s aide and was involved with the UM Association for Black Journalist Mentor Program with the Boys and Girls Club of North Mississippi. After graduation, Herod plans to teach with Teach for America in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Her parents are Dr. James and Ann Herod of Abbeville.

William Kneip. Photo by Thomas Graning/Ole Miss Communications

William Kneip. Photo by Thomas Graning/UM Communications

Kneip is a public policy leadership major and member of the Trent Lott Leadership Institute. He was elected Mr. Ole Miss for the 2015-2016 school year. He is the president of Phi Delta Theta fraternity and holds the title of 2015 IFC President of the Year. He is the president of the Mississippi Columns Society and a member of Lambda Sigma and Omicron Delta Kappa honor societies. Kneip was also co-director of finance and fundraising for the Big Event. After graduation, he plans to work at the UM Foundation. His parents are Edward and Tori Kneip of Mobile, Alabama.

Justavian Tillman. Photo by Thomas Graning/Ole Miss Communications

Justavian Tillman. Photo by Thomas Graning/UM Communications

Tillman is majoring in general studies with minors in education, English and journalism, and is on the Chancellor’s Honor Roll. He is president of the Black Student Union and the Men of Excellence, and was the university’s Gospel Choir president for 2014-2015. He is the UM Association of Black Journalist secretary, on the Associated Student Body Inclusion Committee, Vice Chancellor Advisory Council and Black History Month Planning Committee. He is also on the Office of the Dean of Students Leadership Development Committee and Insight Leadership Advisory Council. Tillman is an African-American Male Retaining, Enrolling and Graduating Ambassador, Fastrack Peer Mentor, and a student worker for the Center for Inclusion and Cross Cultural Engagement. He interned at Brown University for the Association of College and University Housing Officers – International. He has worked as a volunteer for the Big Event, More Than a Meal, Boys and Girls Club of North Mississippi and LeapFrog. He is in Sigma Alpha Lambda honor society, is a UM Opportunity Scholar and is in the National Undergraduate Fellowship Program. After graduation, he plans to obtain a master’s degree in higher education/student personnel. He is the son of Sesame Hall and grandson of Nancy Hall of Bruce.

Elizabeth Wicks. Photo by Thomas Graning/Ole Miss Communications

Elizabeth Wicks. Photo by Thomas Graning/UM Communications

An international studies and French major, Wicks is a member of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, where she was a senator, and the Croft Institute, where she was a senator and vice chair for social activities. She co-founded the Honors College Student Union and was an Associated Student Body senator. She is an NSHSS Di Yerbury International Scholar, and a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Gamma Beta Phi and Phi Eta Sigma honor societies, Alpha Epsilon Delta pre-medical honor society, Alpha Lambda Delta freshman honor society and Pi Delta Phi French honor society. She served as community service chair for Omicron Delta Kappa and on Mortar Board. Wicks also worked with the Lazarus Project multispectral digital imaging team and was a Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine summer scholar and research intern in 2014 and 2015. She helped to organize TEDxUM and is in the Columns Society. Wicks is an Ole Miss Ambassador, Global Ambassador appropriations committee chair and a member of its rules committee. She has volunteered for numerous events and organizations in Oxford, including Boys and Girls Club of North Mississippi, Big Event, RebelTHON, Green Grove Initiative and Operation Christmas Child. After graduation, she plans to attend medical school. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Wicks of Ocean Springs.

Former NASA Rocket Scientist Set for Special Science Café

Posted on: October 27th, 2015 by erabadie

UM alumna Josephine Howard to discuss math and science careers Oct. 27

OCTOBER 26, 2015 BY EDWIN SMITH

Jo Howard | Photo by Dennis Irwin

A veteran scientist who helped NASA achieve one of the crowning achievements of the 20th century will discuss highlights of her career Tuesday (Oct. 27) in a special University of Mississippi Science Café.

Josephine “Jo” Howard, a UM graduate and former rocket scientist, will discuss “Reflections on the Apollo Space Program and Mathematics and Science Careers” for the second Science Café meeting of the month.

Co-sponsored by UM’s Department of Physics and Astronomy and Department of Mathematics, the session begins at 6 p.m. at Lusa Bakery Bistro and Bar, 1120 North Lamar Blvd. Admission is free.

“Jo Howard worked for Boeing on programming the trajectories that put a man on the moon in 1969,” said James Reid, interim chair and professor of mathematics. “She has had a long and varied career in programming space simulators, data management in the oil and gas industries, and real estate development.”

Howard’s 30-minute presentation will include insights about education and life that she gained throughout her eclectic career.
“Howard reminds me a lot of our students because she is very industrious,” Reid said. “This is one of the most exciting speakers our undergraduates will have an opportunity to hear.”

She worked on design trajectory for the Apollo lunar missions, programmed data management programs for oil and gas companies, wrote control language for data management systems, and organized and implemented successful political campaigns for 18 years.

A resident of Sugar Land, Texas, Howard also has taught junior high and high school, operated her own real estate company and helped found Living Water International, an organization that helps provide clean water in 26 countries. She assisted with typhoon relief in countries affected by a 2013 typhoon.

She graduated from UM in 1964 with her bachelor’s degree in mathematics and minors in psychology, French and education. She earned her master’s in combined science of mathematics and biology from Ole Miss in 1967.

For more information about Oxford Science Café programs, go to https://phy.olemiss.edu/oxfordsciencecafe. For more information about the Department of Physics and Astronomy, visit https://olemiss.edu/depts/physics_and_astronomy or call 662-915-5311. For more information about the Department of Mathematics, visit http://math.olemiss.edu or call 662-915-7071.

Moon Landing Scientist Speaks to Students

Posted on: April 29th, 2015 by erabadie

Josephine Howard offers problem-solving advice

APRIL 29, 2015 | BY DENNIS IRWIN

Jo Howard | Photo by Dennis Irwin

A veteran scientist who helped the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) achieve one of the crowning achievements of the 20th century visited the University of Mississippi recently to challenge students to face life’s problems by first checking their assumptions.

UM alumna Josephine Howard (BA mathematics ’64, MA mathematics and biology ’67), who helped put Apollo 11 on the moon in 1969, discussed relating mathematical studies to life applications during a lighthearted gathering April 21 in Hume Hall.

Howard recalled sitting behind James Meredith in one of her classes, then talked about one of her first jobs, which involved developing programs to guide a spaceship through the Earth and moon’s orbits for the first lunar landing. She also talked about some of her current projects, which include writing a novel.

Overall, her main goal was to inspire. She encouraged students to understand that problems, just as in mathematics, will always be present, but they should look past their assumptions when solving them. She challenged students to revisit their assumptions and evaluate choices from other angles.

“Whatever you do in life, whatever you think, your choices are based on your assumptions,” Howard said. “On all your choices, go back and check your assumptions; if your assumptions are wrong, you may discover you are way off base.”

Howard’s visit offered students a different perspective on subjects related to mathematics and suggested that students should branch out of their subjects and learn as much as possible for the value that knowledge will have in their long-term careers.

The lecture provided an incredible opportunity for students to speak with a veteran scientist, said James Reid, professor and interim chair of mathematics.

“Howard reminds me a lot of our students because she is very industrious,” Reid said. “This is one of the most exciting speakers our undergraduates will have an opportunity to hear.”

Howard has worn many hats throughout her career. She worked on design trajectory for the Apollo lunar missions, programmed data management programs for oil and gas companies, wrote control language for data management systems, and organized and implemented successful political campaigns for 18 years.

Howard has taught junior high and high school, operated her own real estate company in Sugar Land, Texas, and helped found Living Water International, an organization that helps provide clean water in 26 countries. She assisted with typhoon relief in countries affected by a 2013 typhoon.

Grants Help University Boost Number of Minority Math and Science Graduates in Mississippi

Posted on: December 3rd, 2012 by erabadie

UM receives nearly $400,000 to increase number of STEM Ph.D.s

Torina Lewis teaches a mathematics class at the University of Mississippi. UM photo by Kevin Bain.

Business, academic and government leaders warn that the United States must boost its production of professionals trained in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, fields to remain competitive in the world economy.

Such an increase will require investments in human capacity across diverse groups, with perhaps the greatest growth potential coming from groups that are underrepresented in the national STEM workforce, including African-Americans and women.

The University of Mississippi is helping to fill this pressing need by recruiting, supporting and graduating more minority doctoral candidates in STEM fields. Two UM departments have received funding under the Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need, or GAANN, program.

Twelve years ago with the help of a GAANN grant, the Department of Mathematics took on an aggressive initiative to increase the number of minority math professors in the state and nation.

It’s an endeavor that paid off when the university produced four African-American doctorates in mathematics in 2006, setting a benchmark in STEM fields. The achievement is even more outstanding given that only 15-to-30 African-Americans nationally earn Ph.D.s in mathematics each year.

And that’s just the beginning. The U.S. Department of Education has once again awarded the mathematics department a $399,798 GAANN grant to continue its leadership role in producing math scholars. In the same GAANN competition, the university’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry also won its own $399,798 award from the program to recruit and support minority doctoral students.

For each grant, the university contributes matching funds of $99,951 for a funding ratio of 80 percent federal to 20 percent nonfederal.

Gerard Buskes, professor of mathematics and principal investigator of one of the grants, said he is confident the program will help UM increase the percentage of STEM professionals in Mississippi.

“There is a broad, national movement to get more math professionals,” Buskes said. “GAANN has helped our relatively small department be at the forefront of bridging the gap and ultimately helping fill the shortage of STEM professionals in Mississippi and in the nation.”

The GAANN program provides fellowships through academic departments and programs to assist graduate students who have excellent records, demonstrate financial need and plan to pursue the highest degree available in their course of study in a field designated as an area of national need.

Producing more math professors is “truly important for Mississippi as the state continues to grow from an agricultural-driven state to a more technological-driven economy,” Buskes said.

What’s more, a 2011 report from the National Center for Education Statistics notes the percentage of African-Americans earning STEM degrees has fallen drastically during the last decade.

But STEM barriers are not unique to African-Americans, said Donald Cole, UM associate professor of mathematics and assistant provost.

“Across the U.S., we are simply not producing as high a percentage of STEM professionals as before,” said Cole, also a co-principal investigator on the grant. “Women and Latinos also lag behind. Because of GAANN, Ole Miss is able to carve out a unique program that eases the financial obligations of obtaining a Ph.D., and also offers mentoring, traveling and overall professional preparation.”

Since 2001, the UM math department has recruited 25 minorities into its graduate program. Thirteen have graduated with doctorates, while eight of the remaining 12 recruits are still in school.

Pursuing a Ph.D. is a long and arduous process with an average time-to-degree of at least five years, Buskes said.

“The investment pays off when we recruit, mentor, train, retain and graduate our students,” he said. “We are not just educating a group of students. We are investing, mentoring and essentially ensuring they finish this program and go into the field.”

In the chemistry department, associate professor Susan Pedigo is spearheading the effort.

“The department has had an aggressive program to increase the number of minority chemistry Ph.D.s for years, but graduate school can be a financial burden,” Pedigo said. “GAANN recognizes the need to help Mississippi promote excellence, graduate level education that produces and trains future young chemists.

“In Mississippi, we have the lowest household income and what that means is that our students just don’t have the resources to pursue higher level degrees. But GAANN recognizes the need and helps lift some of that financial burden.”

The funding should help UM accomplish its goals of providing accessible and affordable education to a diverse student body and preparing STEM leaders and professionals, especially those from underrepresented groups, said Alice Clark, vice chancellor for research and sponsored programs.

“Winning two GAANN awards in the same competition cycle is a first for our institution,” Clark said. “With this great success, Buskes and Pedigo have demonstrated what can be accomplished when faculty collaborate and share their experiences within the competitive funding process.”

The GAANN awards will enhance quality, enrollment and student persistence in core research-based graduate programs, said John Kiss, dean of the UM Graduate School.

“In addition to providing funding for eight or more students to complete Ph.D.s in math or chemistry, these awards serve as a gratifying affirmation of UM’s commitment to quality graduate education and our unique capacity to contribute toward diversity in research and teaching at the national level,” Kiss said.

Torina Lewis, a visiting assistant professor of mathematics, earned her Ph.D. at the university as a GAANN fellow. Before learning about the program, she never thought she would earn a doctorate.

“I was a member of the National Guard and a teacher,” she said. “Obtaining a Ph.D. never entered my mind. But Dr. Cole contacted me and told me about Ole Miss’ wonderful math department. Then he said those magic words, ‘We can get you funding.’”

A 2003 graduate of Southern University at New Orleans, Lewis said that she didn’t have to think long about Cole’s offer.

“I’m glad I came here,” said Lewis, who earned her Ph.D. in December 2010. “They pushed me. They mentored me. Just being around dedicated and respected professionals reminded me once again why I love math so much.”

Lewis, also an assistant professor of mathematics at Bethune-Cookman University, said her job is to introduce a love of math to other minority students.

“Black students lose a love for math so early in life and that’s a sore point for me,” she said. “Maybe, just maybe, the key to getting more students in this awesome field is to produce more professors and teachers. It’s a good starting point.”

State’s Research Universities, Public to Reap Benefits from New Internet2 Connector Site

Posted on: July 2nd, 2012 by erabadie No Comments

When researchers and faculty members at Mississippi’s research universities and institutions switch on their computers this morning, they have a new direct connection to the ultrafast Internet2 network via the new Jackson Internet2 connector site.

With more than 8 terabytes per second of potential capacity now flowing through Jackson, the Internet2 connection gives Mississippi’s researchers the ability to share large sets of data with collaborators across the country and around the globe. University officials expect the enhanced connection to boost research and economic development efforts statewide.

The switchover moves the high-speed connections used to support research at Jackson State University, Mississippi State University, University of Mississippi, UM Medical Center and University of Southern Mississippi from Baton Rouge, La., to Jackson. The start-up and transfer is a joint project between the Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and Internet2.

University of Mississippi physicists who work with researchers at the European Organization for Nuclear Research, or CERN, on projects at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland routinely use Internet2 to share and analyze vast amounts of data produced by experiments at the world’s largest atom smasher.

The project was made possible through expansion funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Broadband Technology Opportunities Program. The switchover was months in planning with representatives from each institution making a case for the move. Last fall, IHL signed an agreement with Internet2.

“Connecting to the Internet2 network represents a tremendous step for Mississippi public universities, the state and its citizens,” said Hank M. Bounds, IHL commissioner. “Our institutions collaborate very closely on academics and research, and improving our connectivity through Internet2 will strengthen this process. The end result is research and innovation that encourage and support economic growth and opportunities to benefit all Mississippians.”

The Jackson connector site is possible because of the new Mississippi Optical Network, referred to as MissiON.

Former Gov. Haley Barbour worked with AT&T to create the network for the Mississippi Research Consortium, which includes UM, MSU, USM and JSU. The network also serves the UM Medical Center, the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center in Vicksburg and NASA’s Stennis Space Center.

“We are delighted that MissiON is now directly connected to the Internet2 Network and that these expanded capabilities of the new Internet2 network are available in Jackson,” said Rob Vietzke, Internet2 vice president of network services. “The new network node dramatically improves Mississippi’s ability to collaborate with hundreds of similarly connected advanced research organizations across the globe.

“MissiON, which is the 21st regional network to become a connector to the Internet2 Network, now makes it possible for Mississippi Research Consortium members to use our newly upgraded 100G network – the nation’s fastest, coast-to-coast network – to implement new technologies that support scientific ‘big data’ and cloud applications to drive innovation involving clean energy, cancer cures, astronomy and other important global collaborative research.”

Research officers shared expectations of how the switchover will improve projects at their respective institutions.

“The quantity of information used for scientific discovery is rapidly increasing,” said Alice Clark, UM vice chancellor for research and sponsored programs. “This direct connection ensures that our researchers have the channels they need to participate fully in 21st century scientific discovery.

“From astrophysicists who are researching the mysteries of the universe to Shakespeare scholars who are using digital imaging to study Renaissance texts, Internet2 will have a broad impact across the diverse research activities at UM and will give all our students faster, more reliable access to a world of information.”

Internet2 supports and enhances JSU’s research mission in particular allowing significantly greater leveraging of its high-performance network.

“With our computational collaborative research projects being carried out with U.S. universities, government laboratories and our international partners, there is a need for fast transfer of large amounts of data,” said Felix Okojie, JSU vice president for research. “Internet2 facilitates such operations, thus making JSU collaborative research efforts more efficient and effective.”

David Shaw, vice president for research and economic development at MSU, said the direct connectivity to the new Internet2 point of presence in Jackson will allow for enhanced collaboration with other research universities and federal labs around the nation and the world.

“By enabling the development of new software applications, providing real-time control of remote instruments and allowing for massive data transfers more quickly and reliably than before, this enhanced capability will allow MSU to engage in new research endeavors, advance scientific discovery and promote economic development activities for the region and the state,” Shaw said.

“Since we frequently use the Internet to send large data sets or hi-def images, an upgrade to Internet2 will certainly benefit us,” said Glen Shearer, USM professor and chair of biological sciences and director of the Mississippi IDeA Network for Biomedical Research Excellence.

Internet2^® is a member-owned advanced technology community founded by the nation’s leading higher education institutions in 1996. Internet2^® provides a collaborative environment for U.S. research and education organizations to solve common technology challenges, and to develop innovative solutions in support of their educational, research and community service missions

UM Launches Effort to Become Regional Leader in STEM Education

Posted on: October 16th, 2011 by erabadie

October 16, 2011

The University of Mississippi has launched an aggressive initiative to increase the number of graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields, aka STEM, in the state.

The Innovations in STEM Education Initiative includes scholarship support, greater emphasis on scientific literacy across disciplines and expanded facilities for teaching and research.

Alice M. Clark, UM vice chancellor for research and sponsored programs, will direct the new effort. The announcement follows a year of planning, supported by a grant from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the conclusion that the university is positioned to become a regional leader in STEM education.

“The University of Mississippi has had a long-standing commitment to STEM education and research, and has established a strong foundation for future innovations in STEM education,” Clark said. “In the coming years, the University of Mississippi will be at the forefront of STEM education, answering critical national needs.”

The Innovations in STEM Education Initiative aims to substantially increase the number of STEM professionals educated in the state, thereby fulfilling critical national needs to sustain economic development and competitiveness, quality of life, homeland security and leadership in solving global problems related to energy, health and the environment.“An important component of this initiative will be to identify and implement the most effective methods to prepare K-12 teachers to nurture scientific curiosity at an early age and instill the math and science foundations students need to pursue STEM degrees and careers,” Provost Morris Stocks said.

A chief focus of the initiative will be to increase access to STEM education through undergraduate and graduate scholarships for first-generation college students and traditionally underrepresented groups in STEM, including minorities, women and persons with disabilities. UM STEM graduates will enter the workforce with a well-rounded education – the hallmark of a traditional Ole Miss experience – prepared to lead and work on diverse, interdisciplinary STEM teams, Stocks said.

“The university has recently earned national acclaim for its exceptional record of providing educational opportunities for groups that are underrepresented in STEM professions,” he said. “By providing these opportunities, the university has achieved a minority STEM doctoral degree completion rate that is much higher than the national average and, in one recent year, was responsible for graduating one-third of the nation’s African-American Ph.D.s in mathematical sciences.”

In addition to preparing scientists and engineers, the initiative will focus on providing every UM undergraduate student, regardless of major, with a greater understanding of science- and technology-related issues that affect every citizen, Chancellor Dan Jones said.

“American students face a rapidly changing job climate and global competition,” Jones said. “Now more than ever, skills in science, technology, engineering and mathematics are essential to giving students the broadest range of career opportunities.

“In the coming years, Mississippi will need more nurses, physicians, dentists, engineers, pharmacists and other STEM professionals, and we will all benefit from having a more scientifically literate public.”

“The urgent need for enhanced STEM education and more STEM professionals has been recognized not only by the university, where this effort has strong synergy with the new UM2020 Strategic Plan, but also within the Blueprint Mississippi 2011 workforce development goals and recommendations”, he said.

As a key part of the Innovations in STEM Education Initiative – and to accommodate record growth in undergraduate enrollment, exploding demand for STEM courses and a commitment to increasing graduate enrollment – the university plans to enhance and expand facilities in its science complex, a row of 10 buildings extending west from Coulter Hall to just southwest of the Lyceum.

An immediate priority is an expansion of Coulter Hall to accommodate growth in chemistry research and education programs, Stocks said. A long-range goal is the construction of a new science education and outreach facility, which will be designed to foster collaboration and innovation among faculty and students across STEM disciplines and to enhance public awareness of the importance of science in everyday life.

“The University of Mississippi is uniquely positioned to be a major player in cultivating STEM professionals and citizens who will contribute to the future, by attracting talented, diverse students to its campus and providing them with state-of-the-art STEM resources, programs and experiences,” said David Heil, president of David Heil & Associates, a consulting firm assisting the university with its Innovations in STEM Education Initiative planning.

The planning for the initiative is based on work supported by NASA under award No. NNX10AJ19G. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

For more information on the Innovations in STEM Education Initiative, contact the office of the vice chancellor for research and sponsored programs at 662-915-7583 or go to https://www.research.olemiss.edu/.