Letters from the Chancellor

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

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:

• where to park,
• where to eat on campus, and
• how to watch closed-captioned livestreams of the ceremonies for those who can’t attend in person.

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
Chancellor

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!

 

Dear faculty and staff,

Dedicated. Successful. Caring. Talented. Generous. Passionate. Accomplished. Supportive.

These are just a few of the words that describe the faculty and staff at the University of Mississippi, and some of the countless reasons why our faculty and staff make this a great university.

Today is National Employee Appreciation Day, and we’d like to share our deep gratitude for how you infuse these qualities into our campus community and work culture every single day. We’re so thankful for your commitment to making our university a great place to live, work and learn. Our faculty and staff are vital to fulfilling our life-changing mission that serves our students, our communities, our state, and our future.

Your unwavering service to our students is inspiring and sets our standard for excellence. And, we recognize that your meaningful contributions go beyond what a job description outlines. You are mentors, advisors, and role models whose spirit of support and care defines this community. The extraordinary thought and attention you give to our important work is noticed and appreciated, and we remain committed to supporting you in all aspects of your work, endeavors and goals.

Thank you for all that you do, and for all you contribute to achieving our shared goals and building upon our legacy of excellence. We’re incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work alongside you! 

Sincerely,
Senior Leadership Group

Glenn F. Boyce
Chancellor

Noel Wilkin
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Keith Carter
Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics

Josh Gladden
Vice Chancellor for Research and Sponsored Programs

Steven Holley
Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance

Shawnboda Mead
Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Community Engagement

Charlotte Parks
Vice Chancellor for Development

Charlotte Fant Pegues
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

Eduardo Prieto
Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management

Kirk Purdom
CEO, Ole Miss Alumni Association

Perry Sansing
Special Assistant to the Chancellor for Governmental Affairs

Wendell Weakley
President/CEO, UM Foundation

David Whitcomb
Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel

Jim Zook
Chief Marketing and Communications Officer