The University of Mississippi

Office of the Chancellor

Welcome

Celebrating 175 Years of Excellence at the University of Mississippi

Letters from the Chancellor, Uncategorized, Welcome

175th Anniversary, University of Mississippi

Dear students, faculty, and staff,

This coming fall, our beloved university will hit a landmark in our trajectory. The University of Mississippi opened its doors to its first students on November 6, 1848, making this fall our 175th anniversary. This milestone represents 175 years of delivering education, research, healthcare, and service to the people and the state of Mississippi. It demonstrates the tremendous staying power of our mission to prepare graduates for meaningful careers, provide access to higher education, and offer great value to our students and their families across generations. 

Our university has achieved much since its founding, and we are even more excited about our future. A committee is already hard at work planning the celebration and commemoration, and we want to thank the members for their service in what will be an important and highly visible event for the university. The members of the committee are listed below, and additional details of the celebration will be shared in the coming months. 

The theme for the anniversary celebration, “A Legacy of Calling,” is reinforced by the title of next fall’s Common Reading Experience selection, “Callings: The Purpose and Passion of Work” by Dave Isay, a celebrated radio broadcaster and creator of the StoryCorps oral history project. 

For 175 years, our university has empowered students, faculty, staff, alumni, and other stakeholders to define and pursue their personal callings and lead lives of purpose. That essence of our university is what we want to celebrate, and we want to learn more about your experiences. 

In support of the 175th anniversary campaign, we invite you to share your stories, experiences, and reflections in response to one or more of the following prompts: 

  • How has Ole Miss helped you build your legacy or define your calling? 
  • Share a story about a specific person or program on campus that made a difference in your life. 
  • What is one word to describe the university’s impact over the past 175 years? 
  • What is an amazing accomplishment you witnessed or played a role in at Ole Miss?

We’re excited for the university’s anniversary this fall and all the ways we will celebrate our legacy, highlight our future, and put on full display our talents and passions to make a difference in the world. Stay tuned for exciting things planned for this significant event.
Sincerely,

Glenn F. Boyce
Glenn F. Boyce
Chancellor

 

Noel E. Wilkin signature
Noel Wilkin
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

175th Anniversary Planning Committee 
Noel Wilkin, Committee Chair, Office of the Provost 
John Adrian, Administration and Finance 
Premalatha Balachandran, Staff Council 
Nikki Neely Davis, University Development 
Dan Durkin, Faculty Senate 
Emily Ferris, Division of Outreach and Continuing Education 
Phillis George, School of Education 
Julie Glasco, Office of the Provost 
Stefanie Goodwiller, University Marketing & Communications 
Jason Hale, Office of Research and Sponsored Programs 
Andrea Hickerson, School of Journalism and New Media 
Paul Johnson, School of Business 
Annette Kluck, Graduate School 
Jiwon Lee, Graduate Student Council 
Amy Lowe Lewis, Federal Relations 
Adrienne McDill, Admissions 
Neal Mead, Ole Miss Athletics 
Shawnboda Mead, Division of Diversity and Community Engagement 
Charlotte Pegues, Division of Student Affairs 
Rebecca Phillips, Special Events 
Kirk Purdom, Ole Miss Alumni Association 
Joy Schideler, Administration and Finance 
Doug Sullivan-Gonzalez, College of Liberal Arts 
Sara Austin Welch, Associated Student Body 
Jim Zook, University Marketing & Communications

Salary and wage increases for FY 2024

Letters from the Chancellor, Welcome

Dear faculty and staff,

We recently celebrated another successful academic year at the University of Mississippi, and I attribute our success to the difference that our people make. I’m very grateful for the incredible efforts and contributions of our faculty and staff. It is why I’m pleased to share that, for the third consecutive year, the university has allocated funds to support salary and wage increases for the upcoming fiscal year, effective July 1, 2023. Additionally, the university will provide funds to further support graduate students and student workers and increase our minimum wage to $14.00 per hour, a 30% increase of the university’s minimum wage since 2019.
 
As a campus community known for its talented and dedicated people, the university continues to enjoy great momentum. I’m deeply appreciative for how our combined efforts move our institution forward.

Sincerely,

Glenn F. Boyce

Glenn F. Boyce
Chancellor

Memorial Day Message

Letters from the Chancellor, Welcome

Memorial Day is an incredibly important time to remember our military heroes who have laid down their lives in sacrifice for our nation. They were selfless and brave with an enduring love of country. We are grateful for their noble dedication to protecting freedom and securing a world with greater peace and safety for all. Today is certainly an opportunity to reflect on the many blessings we share as Americans because of their sacrifices.

As a university community with more than 1,700 military-connected students, Memorial Day is also a time to extend our profound appreciation to the dedicated members of the Ole Miss military family — those who have served, those who continue to serve, and those who have answered the call to serve. These individuals risk their lives for this great nation and its citizens, and we are grateful for their heroic courage and commitment.

One way to remember those who died in service to our nation is to participate in the National Moment of Remembrance, a minute of silence observed at 3 p.m. local time each year on Memorial Day. To all those who have lost a service member, please know that our thoughts are with you.

Sincerely,

Glenn F. Boyce
Chancellor

At the Flagship, May 2023

e-Newsletter, Welcome

@TheFlagship May 2023. A group of graduates sit in their blue and red graduation regalia with one student wearing a cap decorated in silver with a red heart and the “Ole Miss” script on it.

CHANCELLOR’S 3 THINGS TO KNOW

This month marked the culmination of a spectacular academic year and a time to recognize the accomplishments of our students, faculty, and staff. Check out the special section at the end of this newsletter for highlights of their extraordinary achievements! Here are three things to know right now:
  • Our Unstoppable Grads: The Grove hummed with excitement and joy as we celebrated the more than 5,000 graduates and candidates of the Class of 2023. It’s worth noting that these amazing students persevered as COVID-19 disrupted the world and their expectations for the college experience. Despite tough circumstances, they came back, persisted, and achieved their dreams. The Class of 2023 included 26 staff members who continued their education while working for the university. Earning a degree while balancing work, personal obligations, and outside activities presents unique challenges, and I commend our newest Red and Blue graduates! Their dedication to excellence is evident every day.
  • Purpose Will Find You: Alumna Stephanie Hickman (JD 91) delivered an outstanding Commencement address to our newest graduates. Her inspiring words encouraged the audience members to embrace flexibility, tackle challenges, and ground themselves through service to others. During her address, she said, “Life will surprise you. You can’t know how your story will unfold, and that’s a beautiful thing” and told the graduates “I stand here as an example that purpose will find you.” She pursued a law career before taking ownership of her family’s construction company, and her story is a testament to the incredible feats one can accomplish with drive and confidence. You can watch a recording of the live stream here.
  • 175 Years Forward: This fall, the University of Mississippi will celebrate 175 years ofdelivering education, research, health care, and service to the people and the state of Mississippi. In honor of the anniversary, we invite you to share your stories, experiences, and reflections. Planning is underway, and we’ll share more details soon!
With Memorial Day coming up, please take time to remember our military heroes who have laid down their lives in sacrifice for our nation. One way to do this is to participate in the National Moment of Remembrance, a minute of silence observed at 3 p.m. local time each year on Memorial Day. We are incredibly grateful for their noble dedication to protecting our freedoms and for their enduring love of country.

Read More

Celebrating Commencement

Letters from the Chancellor, Welcome

Dear students, faculty and staff,

I’m thrilled that the culmination of the academic year is approaching — our 170th Commencement! We’re excited to celebrate our graduates and welcome their families and friends to campus May 10-14. I extend my deepest gratitude to the faculty and staff who helped our graduates reach this moment, and I hope all graduates will take a moment to express their gratitude as well.

We’re honored to welcome alumna Stephanie Hickman (JD 91), president and CEO of Trice Construction Co. in Chicago, as our Commencement speaker during Convocation on Saturday, May 13 at 8 a.m. in the Grove. Stephanie has a fascinating story of transitioning from an attorney to buying and transforming her construction company that now serves Fortune 500 companies, public entities, and more. Our graduates will learn a lot from her story and the legacy she has built with her life. We look forward to her address, and we’re excited to welcome Stephanie home to Ole Miss.

As we welcome the families and loved ones of our students to Oxford next week, we want to make sure everyone enjoys a wonderful celebration. To prepare for the ceremonies, please read this article about Commencement  with lots of information, including:

Most of this year’s ceremonies will be hosted in the Sandy and John Black Pavilion and the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts. Parking will be available in lots around the SJB Pavilion and the Ford Center, and shuttles will run to and from these venues and to Convocation in the Grove. More information about parking is available on the Commencement website, including information about ADA-accessible parking and shuttles.

Learn more about some of our extraordinary graduates by reading their stories in the 2023 Journey to Commencement series featuring profiles of members of the graduating class that showcase their tremendous accomplishments and plans for the future.

Congrats to all our graduating students! We’re excited to honor and celebrate you, and we can’t wait to see your bright, smiling faces at Commencement!

Sincerely,

Glenn F. Boyce

Glenn F. Boyce
Chancellor

Congrats, and finish strong! End-of-Year Message from Chancellor Boyce

Letters from the Chancellor, Welcome

Dear students,

Can you believe it? We’ve completed the last day of classes and reached the end of another exciting, incredible, fun-filled year at Ole Miss. Let me be the first to say, “Well done!” Because of you, we’ve seen outstanding accomplishments, enjoyed a lively campus life, and continued to make an impact on those around us. I applaud your drive and your zeal to grow and learn.

So, what’s next?

Exams

  • Tackle exams head on: Know your exam schedule, and prioritize how you use your time over the next few days. Do not ‘wing it’ on your final exams — challenge yourself and finish strong!
  • Still have questions? Contact your professor, a classmate or consult your syllabus for more information.
  • Take a break, get some fresh air, recharge. We live in an amazing community — take a moment to enjoy our beautiful campus and Oxford with your favorite people.
  • If you find yourself overextended or overwhelmed, our team of dedicated, caring professionals at the University Counseling Center is here to support you.

Commencement

The pinnacle of our year is almost here: Commencement celebrations are May 10–14. Congrats to our 5,000-plus outstanding graduates! We’re excited to welcome your families and friends to our campus and the best college town in America. And, we can’t wait to cheer on all your successes as you take the world by storm. Reaching major milestones is an important time to reflect, and now is a great opportunity to thank the faculty and staff who invested in your path to a bright future.

For our graduates, I want to share these words of wisdom from Ole Miss alumnus and award-winning writer and journalist Jesse J. Holland (BA 94):

“Right now, you think you love Ole Miss. You think you love the Grove and the Walk of Champions. You don’t know yet how you’ll yearn to be back home, to the place where you became an adult, to the place where you spent some of the happiest times of your life. That’s when you’ll realize that your body may have left Ole Miss, but your heart never will.”

Summer

First and foremost, safe travels to wherever your destination(s) might be this summer. To our returning students, take time to tackle something new, go on a grand adventure, or gain invaluable experiences. We’ll be here to welcome you back next fall for another sensational year at Ole Miss. And, we’ll be ready to support and encourage you in everything you do.

As always, Hotty Toddy!

Glenn F. Boyce signature

Glenn F. Boyce
Chancellor