Spring 2011

For Alumni And Friends oF muW

Same PathWalking

the

Mississippi University for Women

A Tradition of Excellence for Women and Men

Calendar of EventsApril15-16 MUWHomecoming

MUW welcomes alumni and guests back with a weekend full of events! For more information, call the Office of Alumni Relations at (662) 329-7295.

MAy 7 Commencement

Graduation ceremonies will be held at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The time-honored Mag Chain ceremony will be held at 8 a.m. on Shattuck Lawn. For more information, contact the Registrar’s Office at (662) 329-7135.Whitfield Hall, Rent Auditorium

V I S I O N S • f a l l 2 0 1 0

For MUW news and events:

Time to Update Your WillKeeping your will current ensures future security and happiness for your family and loved ones. While reviewing your estate plans, we hope you’ll consider including a gift to Mississippi University for Women Foundation. There are many benefits of a charitable bequest in your will.

Simplicity A few sentences in your will or trust are all that is needed to include the MUW Foundation.

Flexibility Because this is a planned gift you are making after your lifetime, you can change your mind at any time.

Versatility Because this is your gift, you can structure it however you choose such as leaving a

specific amount, making your gift contingent on certain events, or leaving a percentage of your estate.Tax Relief

Your estate is entitled to an estate tax* charitable deduction for the gifts full value.

If you would like to remember MUW in your will, we are delighted to work with you and your attorney to plan a gift that’s a good fit for you and us.

Please call Brandy Williams toll free at 1-877-462-8439, ext 7151 or email bwilliams@dev.muw.edu.

“I am so grateful to be a graduate of MSCW. It was the foundation for my future, giving me the confidence and ability to face the world and the challenges waiting for me. Since I have no children of my own,

I want to give some deserving young people the same opportunity for an education and hope the recipients will, in turn, pass it on to someone else when the time comes.”

-Natalie Virginia Bowen, Class of ‘50, Reneau Society Member

*Currently federal estate taxes are repealed for any deaths that occur in the calendar year 2010. In 2011 and beyond, estate taxes are reinstated in full. Congress, however, may reinstate federal estate taxes

sometime in 2010. What the final legislation will look like is unknown at this point. Please check with our office for future updates.

This information is not intended as tax or legal advice.For tax or legal advice, please consult an attorney.

TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

The publication of Visions is funded by private funds contributed to the MUW Foundation.

MISSISSIPPI UNIVERSITY FOR WOMENS p r i N g 2 0 1 1

4 What’s Happening at MUW Fitness Testing Provided for More than 400 Students . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Students Learn Valuable Lessons During Mock Drill . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

6 Molding The Long Blue Line Biology Professor Receives $100,000 Research Award . . . . . . . . . . 6

Pinchuk, Newsome Honored at HEADWAE Program . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

9 Strengthening The Long Blue Line Back to The Future: $2 Million in 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Scholarship Recipients Welcome Donors Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

10 Feature: Grandmother and Granddaughter Walking the Same Path . . . . . . . .10

14 News from The Long Blue Line Jenkins Touring with Missoula Children’s Theatre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

‘Shipbuilder Shelia’ a Master of Multi-tasking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Credits:

19

5

6

10 MUW Office of Public Affairs StaffAnika Mitchell Perkins ’93,directorChris Jenkins,assistant director, photographerJanie Guyton Shields,office manager/editorNick Adams ’07,graphic design specialist

Contributing WriterJill D . O’Bryant ’95,special assistant to thepresident for communications

Art DirectorAlan BurnittHederman Brothers, Ridgeland

Editorial AssistanceTammy Godfrey,alumni relations data managerMacaulay Knight Whitaker,alumni relations assistant directorMary Margaret Roberts,alumni relations executive directorDr . Gary A . Bouse,vice president for institutional advancementAngela Richardson Jones ’93,assistant to the vice president for finance and administration

Dear `W’ Friends:

There is nothing as exhilarating as a fresh start – a new beginning. When we begin a new year or a new project, there’s so much hope – hope for success, for working together, for learning as we go, for reaching milestones on our way to the ultimate goal, and of course, for celebrating when we accomplish what we set out to achieve. January 2011 marked a new beginning for Mississippi University for Women. It also marks the commencement of efforts to create a culture of alumni and key stakeholder giving to this university. We have a plan for what needs to be done, determination to work as hard as possible to achieve the goals, and a bucket full of hope that we will accomplish what we’re setting out to achieve. MUW’s Development Office has set a goal of raising $2 million for undesignated scholarships by July 1, 2011. That is an ambitious goal for this university, but it is a “doable” goal. MUW alumni have the capacity to give $2 million and much more.

Having served as interim president for six months, it is apparent that the traditional role of MUW’s alumni must change radically and must surge to new levels of performance -- the likes of which our alma mater has never seen. MUW equipped us to live full, active and successful lives. Now, we must “rock” in our support for the institution that provided us the education and life skills to build thriving careers, to be productive citizens and to raise our families.

MUW needs alumni financial support more today than it has at any other time in its history. Alumni support was not as critical when MUW received special state funding due to its unique mission or during the good financial times in our state and nation. No doubt, our support could have made a difference, but a culture of giving was not developed among alumni.

The world has changed drastically. The funding formula for The W is now the same as the other universities and is driven by enrollment. The MUW ship has been cast upon the sea of financial equity and given the freedom of choice – to sink in the economic turbulence of the times or to find a way to navigate its own way financially. As you are aware, the major institutions have huge endowments and major alumni giving results. These initiatives allow the universities to provide scholarships to deserving students as well as provide additional support to various other aspects of the universities.

MUW has lagged behind in alumni giving programs; it is imperative that we change. We must develop a culture of generous alumni giving in order to sus-tain The W now and to build a brighter future. That process must begin now.

As you know from news reports, FY 2012 (which begins July 1, 2011) is pro-jected to be the toughest year faced by the Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) due to current economic conditions. As of this writing, budget fore-casts suggest the universities will experience anywhere from a 13 to 25 per-cent reduction in state allocated budgeted dollars for FY ’12 as compared to FY’09 state allocations. That is significant!

The campus community has been preparing for this tremendous loss of funding for some time and continues to explore ways to address it. We have

M E S S A g E F r O M T H E p r E S i D E N T

2011: A New Year, A New Focus on $2 Million for MUW

V I S I O N S • s p r i n g 2 0 1 12

worked to become more efficient by implementing steps to substantially reduce our utility costs and other expenses. We have outsourced in areas where savings have been significant. We have cut our administrative costs substantially. And, at IHL’s request, we continue to explore shared services with Mississippi State University.

Lowndes County and Jackson Metro area alumni have already been charged with rais-ing $500,000 each – or $1 million. Several alums in those areas have accepted leader-ship roles to help move The W toward the goals. Members of the MUW Development Office will be working with these leaders and many others to move us toward achieving the $2 million goal. Please call (662) 329-7146 and volunteer if you are willing to assist with this campaign.

Why $2 million? These undesignated scholarships funds will be used to replace university-funded scholarships for FY 2012, freeing up funds for use in the general university budget. By successfully raising $2 million, MUW will have the opportunity to look at our educational system differently than we could otherwise.

Whataretheconsequencesifwefailtoraise$2millionforunrestrictedscholar-ships? No doubt, it will have a negative impact and will lead to yet more tough decisions by administration as to where cuts can be made.

Whatarethebenefitsofraising$2million? Success in alumni meeting this goal will make an incredibly positive statement to students, faculty and staff: W alums care deeply about our university. It will make a bold statement to alumni: look what we can achieve when we work together. Success in meeting the goal of this campaign will also speak loudly to the Columbus community, IHL, the Legislature, the state and other publics.

Now, we as alumni, must examine our individual financial circumstances and give generously to our alma mater based upon our capacity to give. I am committed to giv-ing more to MUW than I have in the past. I sincerely hope you will take a moment to join me in making a gift to the MUW Foundation’s $2 million campaign. Our gifts will make a difference.

Sincerely,

Allegra Brigham, ’69, ’72Interim President(662) 329-7100abrigham@pres.muw.edu

Brigham Receives Oasis Award

Mississippi University for Women Interim President Allegra Brigham was one of four individuals honored with an Oasis of Freedom and Justice Award presented at the 2011 Dream 365 Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Breakfast. The awards were presented to community members who have advanced Columbus through their actions in the past year.

3w w w . m u w . e d u

W H AT ’ S H A p p E N i N g AT M U W

Mississippi University for Women has been notified

by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) that the univer-

sity has passed the fifth-year review of compliance with SACS

accreditation standards.

Interim President Allegra Brigham and Dr. Marty Hatton,

interim associate vice president for academic affairs, attended the

SACS annual meeting in Louisville, Ky., where they learned that 39

colleges were assessed in this past fifth-year review and only three

passed without further monitoring. MUW was one of the three.

“I cannot stress what an accomplishment this was,” said Dr. Hatton.

“Dr. Eric Daffron, now at Ramapo University in New Jersey, led an

outstanding team. His vision and leadership catalyzed the process, but

many outstanding folks at MUW were essential to the process.

“We’re proud of this accomplishment and our standing with

SACSCOC, and we will do everything in our power to maintain

that level of academic integrity earned by everyone who worked

so hard in the fifth-year review process.”

SACS is one of only a few accrediting commissions that conducts a

comprehensive review of its institutions every 10 years. MUW com-

pleted its reaffirmation of accreditation in 2005. Because the U.S.

Department of Education requires accrediting agencies that it recog-

nizes to monitor its institutions more often to ensure that institutions

having access to federal funds continue to meet accreditation stan-

dards, the Commission has developed a Fifth-Year Interim Report.

“The Commission on Colleges of SACS is the recognized accredit-

ing body in the 11 U.S. Southern states. This review acknowledges

MUW’s demonstrated commitment to quality enhancement and

institutional improvement. Continuous improvement is at the heart

of learning for students and faculty, individually and collectively, and

is what drives the success of our institution,” Brigham said. “We are

certainly happy to have successfully completed this process.”

MUW’s Fifth-Year report with SACS gets ApprovalBy Jill D. O’Bryant

in an effort to battle childhood obesity, Mississippi University for Women’s

Department of Health and Kinesiology has partnered with Franklin Academy, the

Medical Sciences and Wellness Magnet School in Columbus, for the third year.

More than 400 elementary students participated in fitness testing provided by the

Department of Health & Kinesiology during the fall.

The elementary students were assessed on campus using the Fitnessgram Fitness Test,

a nationally recognized battery of tests that measures cardiorespiratory endurance, mus-

cular strength and endurance, flexibility and body composition.

Each Franklin student received an individual report about his or her health-fitness status,

and the Franklin Academy Physical Education program receives group data about each grade.

Students will be assessed again in April to determine improvement that occurred

during the school year.

Dr. Mark Bean, department chair, said, “This is a great event for our students. They

get a chance to participate in fitness testing, and we all enjoy our interaction with the

Franklin students and faculty.”

For more information, contact Dr. Bean at (662) 329-7226 or visit the department’s

blog at http://healthkinesiologysite.com/blog.

Dr. Mark Bean tests the flexibility of 8-year-old Franklin Academy student Tyeice Callaway, while senior health and kinesiology major Analissa Carter of West Point records the data.

Fitness Testing providedto More than 400 Students

V I S I O N S • s p r i n g 2 0 1 14

W H AT ’ S H A p p E N i N g AT M U W

Approximately 20 agencies participated in a county-wide

disaster exercise that was held on the campus of Mississippi

University for Women.

The mock disaster held in the fall involved local, state and MUW emer-

gency responders as well as some MUW nursing students and faculty.

Dr. Deborah Miranda, assistant professor of nursing, said, “It is vital for

community agencies to periodically perform such tests in order to identify

opportunities to improve system procedures. The overall purpose is to pre-

serve and protect the lives and well-being of the citizens of our community.”

One of those agencies involved was the Columbus Lowndes

County Emergency Management Agency.

Its director Cindy Lawrence said “Collaboration with all agencies is

very important because we must all work together for one common goal

to protect the lives and property of our citizens. It is necessary to upgrade

our plans and make sure all agencies understand their role in a disaster.”

Miranda said the MUW students involved in the exercise walked away

with many valuable lessons including the ability to describe a variety of

characteristics of disasters, how community health nurses participate in

disasters, the ability to discern what factors contribute to a community’s

potential for experiencing a disaster, identifying agencies that must

respond during a disaster and victim triage and tagging categories.

One of those students was Meghan May of Saltillo, who is in the

Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.

May and other students served as victims with moulage provided

by Columbus Air Force Base personnel.

“It was neat to experience the drill from a patient’s perspective,”

she said.

Meredith Mallett of Greenwood added that it was interesting to see

the roles of the various agencies involved.

“I was surprised. I didn’t realize that they (fire department) do so

much with patient care.”

Following the exercise, Jeff Smith, with the Mississippi Emergency

Management Agency, said, “This is one of the best full scale exercises

that I have seen. Everybody was very professional.”

Curtis Jernigan, emergency response coordinator with the

Mississippi State Department of Health, added, “I thought it went

great. The students were energetic and enthused about doing this.”

Experiencing aMock EmergencyBy Anika Mitchell Perkins

MUW nursing student Spencer Dickerson of Philadelphia was one of several students who participated in the mock drill.

A firefighter checks on students participating in the county-wide disaster exercise at MUW.

5w w w . m u w . e d u

M O L D i N g T H E L O N g B L U E L i N E

Dr. Ghanshyam Heda,

assistant professor of

biology at Mississippi

University for Women, has

received a research award from

The University of Southern

Mississippi and the National

Institutes of Health as a part of

Mississippi IDeA Networks of

Biomedical Research Excellence

Projects.

Heda will receive $100,000 in

funding for the first year of the

grant with the possibility of receiving funding for an additional

two years for continuing his research on cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis is a pediatric genetic disease that is caused by

a mutation in gene that controls cystic fibrosis, Heda explained.

“It is important that protein product of this gene (called CFTR)

remains on surface of many epithelial cells, where it allows

entry and exit of chloride ions,” he said. “I was the first one to

show that mutated CFTR can be forced to traffic to cell surface,

however, it doesn’t stay there too long. My hypothesis, therefore,

states that there are other proteins that interact with mutated

CFTR and do not allow it to stay at the cell surface. The current

award will allow me to investigate such interacting proteins.”

Heda is collaborating on this and related projects with the sci-

entists and doctors at Mississippi State University, The University

of Health Sciences Center at Memphis, LeBonheur Children’s

Hospital at Memphis and Fujita Health University in Japan.

“The current funding will allow me to continue my research,

where I left it off at my previous position at V.A. Medical Center

at Memphis. I am hoping that this grant will allow me to

improve the research infrastructure at MUW in the area of biol-

ogy, and the beginning of some hard core research activities,”

Heda added.

Dr. Heda has been teaching courses such as human anatomy

and physiology, general biology, microbiology, comparative

anatomy and protein misfolding & human diseases at MUW

since August of 2008.

Mississippi University for

Women faculty member Dr.

George Pinchuk and student

Brandon Newsome were recognized as

nominees for the 24th Higher Education

Appreciation Day, Working for Academic

Excellence (HEADWAE) program.

Pinchuk and Newsome were among

68 outstanding faculty members

and students from 34 institutions in

Mississippi to be honored.

On Appreciation Day, which took

place in Jackson, the honorees visited

the state Capitol, where they were

welcomed and recognized in each

chamber of the Legislature. A lun-

cheon followed.

Pinchuk, associate professor of biology, is the 2010 Faculty

Member of the Year at MUW. Born and raised in Ukraine,

he graduated from Kiev Medical School in 1981 and went

on to complete an M.D./Ph.D program in medical genetics

at the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR. After being

invited to work as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of

Southern California in 1990, he taught at Mississippi State

University from 1998-2004. He joined MUW in 2004.

Newsome is a senior chemistry and psychology major

from Jackson. He is the president of MUW’s Student

Government Association and Senior Class Council and vice

president of Phi Kappa Phi. Newsome has worked as a tutor

and is also involved in activities such as Alpha Epsilon Delta

Premedical Honor Society, Hearin Leadership Council and

Kappa Mu Epsilon Mathematics Society. He plans to attend

the University of South Alabama Medical School in the fall.

HEADWAE was established in 1988 to honor individual

academic achievement and the overall contribution of the state’s

Institutions of Higher Learning. For more information about

HEADWAE, visit http://www.mississippi.edu/headwae/.

Heda receives $100,000 research Award

pinchuk, Newsome recognized at HEADWAE program

Heda

Pinchuk

Newsome

V I S I O N S • s p r i n g 2 0 1 16

p r E pA r i N g T H E L O N g B L U E L i N E

Art Students provide resources to High SchoolsBy Anika Mitchell Perkins

Students in the Art and Design Department at Mississippi

University for Women have raised thousands of dollars

for high school art programs in the Golden Triangle area.

The Drawing Out Success program run by students of MUW’s

Kappa Pi International Honorary Art Fraternity was developed to

support and foster the arts. The program is divided into three parts

including the Art in Autumn Auction in the fall, a day-long campus

visit for students from that year’s partner school in the spring and

an exhibition of work from all partner high schools in the summer.

Seeds of the program were sown in 2004 and the group hosted

its first auction along with two other student organizations in the

department, according to Dr. Beverly Joyce, associate professor of art.

Proceeds from that auction help fund a student summer trip

to Chicago. Since then, Kappa Pi has hosted the auction alone.

Proceeds from previous auctions have supported the Hancock

County Art Foundation for Mississippi Gulf Coast artists affected

by Hurricane Katrina and the Arts Off the Paper program

through the Lowndes County Juvenile Detention Center.

The decision to support local public high schools came out of

the students’ desire to give back to the art programs that first led

them into the visual arts, Joyce explained.

Kappa Pi has partnered with high schools such as Columbus,

New Hope and West Lowndes to raise money for their art pro-

grams. This year’s partner is West Point High School.

Supplies purchased have ranged from a digital camera to a suite

of computer design programs and even funding the conversion of

a hallway into an art gallery at West Lowndes High School.

Junior art major Amanda Brewer, who is the current president of

the chapter, said she enjoys working with the local high schools.

“I’ve been a part of the auction for two years now and look

forward to helping out again next fall. It’s a win-win situation for

everyone involved because the high school students benefit from

the equipment and supplies that are purchased with the proceeds,

and MUW students can get their work out into the community. “

Joyce added, “This program is tremendously important in

developing an interest in the arts at the high school level. In an

age of budget cuts, our chapter is able to help our partner high

school’s art program by purchasing much needed supplies. The

visual arts are not an `extra’ in a school’s curriculum as so many

people believe. Besides the obvious cultural benefits, recent stud-

ies have found that the study of art improves visual diagnostic

skills in medical students.”

MUW also benefits from the program.

“Our Drawing Out Success program educates the community

about our excellent art and design program and thus serves as an

important recruitment tool. We found that many of the high school

students whom we brought in during our spring visit had never

been on campus before. They reported that they were impressed

with our facilities. The same is true for many of the parents who

visited during the summer high school invitational exhibition.”

For more information, contact Dr. Joyce at (662) 241-7812 or

email bjoyce@as.muw.edu.

MUW alumna Chelsey Trayal ’10 makes a bid at the Art in Autumn Auction.

7w w w . m u w . e d u

S T r E N g T H E N i N g T H E L O N g B L U E L i N E

Dear Alumni and Friends,

A new year is always a special time full of anticipation of the future. Each year brings exciting possibilities and new challenges, and the

MUW Foundation remains ready to assist the University and its leadership as it moves forward.

Since the last issue of Visions, the MUW Foundation hosted several important events on the MUW campus. In October, the Foundation

held its second annual Scholarship Donor Appreciation Dinner. The dinner involved almost 100 scholarship donors, recipients and uni-

versity faculty and staff.

Donors from places as far away as North Carolina and Georgia attended the event as well as people from around the state. Kali Moore,

the recipient of the Hester-Howard Scholarship, a freshman from Houston, Miss., spoke of the importance of her scholarship and its role

in allowing her to pursue her studies at MUW. Kali is actively involved in several student organizations as well as a phonathon caller

for the MUW Foundation. Following her studies this spring, Kali will be taking part in a studying abroad in Spain through the Ina E.

Gordy Honors College.

Also in October, the Foundation was pleased to host the Welty Gala. Academy Award-winning actress Marlee Matlin captivated an

audience of over 180 Honors College students and guests with an inspirational presentation of some of her life experiences. She also

graciously spent the afternoon with almost 100 students from the university’s honors college and speech-language pathology program.

Those in attendance continue to comment about her visit to MUW. If you missed it this year, you’ll certainly want to mark October on

your calendars for next year’s Gala!

The holiday season allows us to visit with family and friends and strengthen our ties and relationships. To many we give a gift – some

big –some small, but all given in love. I hope that you count the “W” in that group and if you have not made a gift recently, that you

will consider it at this time. Your gifts to the MUW Foundation will assist in closing the

gap that reduced funding from the state has caused. If you or a family member feel that the

education that you received at Mississippi University for Women is one of the reasons you

are successful at what you do, I ask you to “Pay It Forward” and allow another student to

have that experience also. I truly believe that The W made that kind of difference in my life.

As always, I enjoy reading about the remarkable people and experiences that make

Mississippi university for Women a special university. I hope you will agree with me that

we have much to celebrate at MUW because of the generosity of alumni and friends who

believe in this university.

Sincerely,

Jo Anne Arnold Reid, Class of 1960

Chairman

MUW Foundation Board of Directors

V I S I O N S • s p r i n g 2 0 1 18

S T r E N g T H E N i N g T H E L O N g B L U E L i N E

MUW celebrated its second annual Scholarship Donor Appreciation Dinner

where donors and scholarship recipients alike braved a raging thunder-

storm to join together for an evening of thanks and celebration. Almost 85

percent of MUW students receive some form of financial aid. Thanks to the generous

contributions of donors, the MUW Foundation awards more than 300 scholarships

annually, providing over $1,000,000 of support to scholarship recipients.

For more than 125 years, Mississippi

University for Women has strived

to give its students the best of

everything, including the best college

and classroom experiences.

In order to continue attracting out-

standing students for these opportunities,

alumni and friends of the university have

been invited to join “Back to the Future…

It’s Time to Rock MUW” by making a gift

to the MUW Scholarship Fund.

“While we celebrate achievements and

accomplishments, this school year brings

many financial challenges to MUW as

a result of statewide budget cuts,” said

Andrea Nester Stevens, executive direc-

tor of development. “It is imperative

we find a way to assist our university

through these difficult economic times.”

With anticipated budget reductions

for fiscal year 2012, MUW will need $2

million to continue to award university

scholarships which are normally funded

from state appropriated money.

Nearly 85 percent of MUW students

receive some form of financial aid,

according to Stevens, who explained

that every dollar given to the MUW

Scholarship Fund will go directly to a

qualified student as a scholarship.

“These scholarships are vital to stu-

dents and so many who receive these

scholarships might not otherwise be able

to attend college,” she said.

For more information, contact the Office

of Development at (662) 329-7148.

$2 Million in 2011 Scholarship recipientsWelcome Donors Home

Peggy Cantelou, Joy Denham (recipient of the Douglas and Betty Boyls Stone Humanitarian Scholarship) and Betty Stone

Barbara Dees, LeAnn Potter (recipient of the Barbara Ann Ehrlich Dees Scholarship) and Wilbur Dees

Charles Ritter, Anne Roberts, Beth Keys, Beverly Jones and Becky Perkins

Sara Rayburn, Kelley Ann Jones (recipient of the Sara Griffith Rayburn Scholarship), and Frank Rayburn

9w w w . m u w . e d u

F E A T U r E

Mississippi University for Women has always held a special

place in Frances Hairston’s heart. It’s even more special

now that she and her granddaughter, Elizabeth “Liz”

Kennedy, will be able to share some of the same memories.

Both are currently enrolled as students. Hairston is a senior who

will graduate in December with a bachelor of fine arts, and Kennedy

is freshman majoring in political science.

“My grandmother told me about MUW. She talked about it a lot,”

Kennedy said. “She said the teachers were awesome.”

Kennedy moved to Columbus from Texas and was considering

schools further away, but that all changed after she visited MUW dur-

ing the Hearin Leadership High School Conference.

As a result of that visit, she was able to earn both the Hearin and

Reneau scholarships. When she is not in the classroom, Kennedy is

busy with extracurricular activities such as the Revelers social club, W

Reps or College Republicans.

Hairston is a member of Kappi Pi and has held offices of president

and secretary in past years. In 2009-2010, she was named the Most

Outstanding Student in the art department.

“We don’t just attend classes,” Hairston said. “We are very involved

in campus life.”

Kennedy added, “I really like the people here. The faculty members

are very nice and helpful. I really like the private school feel.”

The same qualities also attracted her grandmother to the university

almost 50 years ago.

Affectionately, known as “Frannie” to her seven grandchildren,

Hairston is on her third tour with MUW.

In 1961, she earned her history degree with a minor in English, and

in 1973, she decided to obtain her master’s in history.

By Anika Mitchell Perkins

Frances Hairston and her granddaughter, Elizabeth “Liz” Kennedy, pictured in Welty Hall.

Hairston shares some of her artwork with Kennedy.

V I S I O N S • s p r i n g 2 0 1 110

Same PathWalking

the

GrandMother & GranddauGhter

F E A T U r E

“I love The W,” she said. “Because it’s a

small school, you receive lots of attention

from the professors. It’s a friendly atmo-

sphere.”

In 2005, two years after her husband

passed way, Hairston decided to take

some art classes. It was the extra attention

and nudging from the professors that kept

her going through the program.

“The professors know you and they

believe in you,” she said. “I like the size

and I can go up to my adviser. He knows

who I am.”

And while some things are still the

same, a lot has changed about the univer-

sity over the years.

As an undergraduate student, Hairston,

her sister-in-law and another friend found-

ed the Highlanders social club, which was

a two-year club at that time. Today, it’s a

four-year social club.

She lived in Columbus, Fant, Keirn

and Taylor halls. Kennedy is residing in

Kincannon.

“We used to have house mothers and

room checks once

a week to make sure

our rooms were clean.

We also got the white

glove treatment where

the deans would come

and do inspections,” she

said.

Of course, Kennedy is

glad those days are long

gone.

“I love The W. Because it’s

a small school, you receive

lots of attention from the

professors. It’s a friendly

atmosphere.”

—Frances Hairston

Hairston and Kennedy in front of McDevitt Hall.

11w w w . m u w . e d u

Dinner with A Star Academy Award-winning actress Marlee Matlin, right, was the guest speaker for the Welty Gala. She is pictured with Tammy Higgins, wife of Columbus Lowndes Development Link CEO Joe Max Higgins and MUW Interim President Allegra Brigham.

Welty Writers’ Symposium Dr. Steve Pieschel, retired MUW Humanities professor, shakes hands with author Tom Franklin.

Matlin, accompanied by her longtime sign language interpreter Jack Jason, signs a book for Dr. Sue Jolly-Smith, interim dean of the College of Education and Human Sciences.

Welty Prize winner Ellis Anderson accepts her prize at the opening session of the 22nd Eudora Welty Writers’ Symposium.

Man on A Mission Author Dolphus Weary, executive director of Mission Mississippi, an organization which encourages unity and reconciliation, addresses a group of MUW students at the president’s home.

S N A p S H O T S

Planning a 100th Birthday Celebration The planning committee for the Tennessee Williams 100th Birthday Celebration in Columbus met at the Tennessee Williams Home Museum and Welcome Center with the Robinson and Associates Advertising Agency to plan the national promotion of the celebration events for March 24-27 to honor America’s great playwright, Tennessee Williams born March 26,1911, in Columbus. Pictured, front row, Brenda Caradine, Tennessee Williams Tribute and Tour of Victorian Homes Committee (Sept. 6-11); Lacy Luckett, vice president Robinson Agency; Mary Margaret Roberts and Dr. Bridget Pieschel, MUW Representatives; back row, Gil Harris, conductor Big Band Theory Orchestra; Ty Robinson, vice president of Robinson Associates; James Tsismanakis, former director of the Columbus/Lowndes County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CCVB); Elizabeth Johnson, Arts Council president and Nancy Carpenter, project manager with the Columbus CCVB. The CCVB has designated 2011 as “The Year of Tennessee” and the March event will include a big band concert, plays, scholars discussions, unveiling of a historic marker, library display of Williams memorabilia and a birthday party/book signing at the Welcome Center for the public on March 26.The birthday celebration has received a $15,000 anonymous gift for events to the Columbus Cultural Heritage Foundation of the CCVB .For information, visit the CCVB website--columbus-ms.org or call (662) 328-0222.V I S I O N S • s p r i n g 2 0 1 112

Master Teachers Mississippi Hall of Master Teacher inductees include Amy Bishop of DeSoto Central High School, Gina Guess of Caledonia Elementary, Terry Wiygul of Caledonia High School and Charles “Chuck” Yarborough of the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science. The Hall of Master Teachers was established in 1991 to recognize educators for their excellence to teaching.

Campus Day of Service The Town & Tower club hosted its first Day of Service at MUW. Volunteers, including MUW students, faculty, staff and members of Town & Tower, worked together to beautify campus. Dr. Mark Bean, Health and Kinesiology Department Chair, and Janie Guyton Shields, MUW Office of Public Affairs office manager/editor, rake leaves on Callaway lawn.

S N A p S H O T S

Educators Are Essential Mississippi Economic Council President Blake Wilson addressed a group of educators at the first Celebrate Educators event held on campus. Approximately 1,000 teachers from public and private schools in Columbus and Lowndes County were honored.

Nancy Adams Collins, a registered nurse from Tupelo and 1969 graduate of MUW, was the winner in a special election to fill Senate District 6 in Pontotoc and Lee counties. Collins filled the vacancy created when then-Sen. Alan Nunnelee of Tupelo was elected to the U.S. House in early November. She will serve nearly the final year of a four-year term.

At The CapitolMUW culinary students Christopher Washington, Donneil Seamster, Michelle Both and ASN nursing students Tracy Brown and Taiwanna Pittman at Higher Education Day at the Capitol.

13w w w . m u w . e d u

N E W S F r O M T H E L O N g B L U E L i N E

Hello and Happy New Year to All!

My message to you is centered on the long-term future interests of MUW and the great need for each of us to support our dear uni-

versity at a crucial time. With Allegra Brigham’s outstanding leadership and the unwavering campus-wide effort of faculty, staff and

students, MUW is accomplishing big steps to increase academic offerings, to offer more services on campus and in the community

and to strengthen the support of constituents.

You likely know that the university’s $2 million campaign is under way to raise funds for undesignated scholarships BY JULY 1, 2011.

Please seriously consider and commit to an amount that you can give that will help to make a significant and positive financial dif-

ference. As I reminded myself when I made the commitment last year to give an increased monthly amount, we can most effectively

help MUW at this time with a regular monetary donation that the university can count on receiving into the long-term future.

You can also make a significant and positive difference in recruiting prospective students. Please do not underestimate your influence

with the effort to spread the word about the excellent education that you received as a student at MUW. Your personal account of the

advantages of attending MUW can be a powerful statement to a person who is deciding his or her college plans. We can be assured

that the same excellent education that we received is continuing to be offered with the very best faculty, well-known, highly-ranked

and unique academic programs, beautiful campus facilities and innovative technology—all in a setting with individualized atten-

tion. So many students need a smaller, personalized environment to maximize his or her academic skills, to seek extracurricular and

leadership activities and to build overall confidence and self-esteem with the support of faculty.

You can make a world of difference for MUW’s future by speaking positively about your alma mater. Please be reminded of all the

wonderful ways the university helped you to be where you are now as an

individual and/or with your career. As alumni, we can help MUW tremen-

dously every day by telling the university’s accomplishments in conversa-

tions, letters, emails and other outlets. Just by reading this Visions issue from

front to back and by visiting the university website regularly at www.muw.edu,

you will be reminded of all that you can share with other people in your part

of the world.

Again, let’s not underestimate our individual abilities to help MUW.

Sincerely,

Mitzi Chandler Green, Class of 1977

President, MUW Alumni Association Board

P.S. Please do all that you can to support the current $2 million campaign!

Visit our MUW Alumni Association website at www.muwaa.org. We hope you will

join our membership! We welcome your participation and support.

V I S I O N S • s p r i n g 2 0 1 114

C L A S S N O T E S

Classnotes1950sElizabeth Rice Bryant ’55 of Louisville,

Tenn., has retired.

1960sMarie Akers Middlebrooks ’61 and her

husband, Eugene celebrated their 50th

wedding anniversary on July 15, 2010.

Mary McCoy Helms ’65, head of the

Local History and Genealogy Department

of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County

Bicentennial Library, was recently named

as a recipient of the John H. Thweatt

Archival Advancement Award.

EllenHardeeWilliamson’69 was induct-

ed as secretary into the International Order

of the King’s Daughters and Sons.

1970sSarah Morgan Howell ’76 will serve as

the 2010-2012 president of the Mississippi

Organization for Associate Degree Nursing.

As president, she will represent associ-

ate degree nursing at various meetings

throughout the state and preside at all

board meetings and conventions of the

organization. She has served as president-

elect for 2009-2010 and as a board member

at the state level and is currently serving as

a member of the Awards and Scholarships

Committee of the National Organization

for Associate Degree Nursing. She has

worked at MUW for 32 years.”

Amelia Kennedy ’78 was honored in

October as Alumna of the Year at East

Central Community College.

1980sRhondaMcRae ’83 has authored a book

titled “What My Golden Retriever Taught

Me About God.”

Paul Hampton ’86 of Columbus High

School in Columbus, Ga., was inducted into

the Georgia Thespian Hall of Fame at the

Georgia Thespians Conference in February.

Georgia Thespians annually recognize an

individual who has dedicated himself or

herself to the cause of theatre education

with 20 years of service. Hampton teaches

math at Columbus High School and is also

head of the Drama Department.

1990sAlicia Grant ’90 was named assistant

administrator for quality, medical staff

review and risk management by Baptist

Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle.

DeanaOdomHoneycutt’98 recently joined

Galloway-Chandler-McKinney Insurance as

a member of the commercial lines customer

service representative professional team.

2000sLauraJaneGlascoff’00 received a masters

in public administration in state and local

government from East Carolina University

in May 2009.

Missoula Children’s Theatre, the largest touring children’s theatre of its kind, has a new staff member, Alex Jenkins, a spring 2010 graduate of Mississippi University for Women’s theatre department

Jenkins’ role in the children’s theatre is tour staff which consists of resi-dencies throughout the continent and beyond. MCT tour staff members serve as ambassadors for the arts--especially theatre. They have the joy of directing and performing as well as the adventure of travel.

After some extensive training, Jenkins will be assigned a partner and the two will begin their tour around the world.

“What’s most appealing to me about this program is that it combines three of my favorite things: education, travel and musical theatre,” he said, noting his audition for MCT at the Fall Southeastern Theatre Conference held in Atlanta. “Of all my callbacks, I wanted MCT most. In fact, when they called and offered me a contract, my initial response was are you serious?”

The mission statement of the Missoula Children’s Theatre is the development of life skills in children through participation in the performing arts.

Jenkins Touring with Missoula Children’s TheatreBy Janie Shields

Alex Jenkins

15w w w . m u w . e d u

Claudia Scarborough ’01 of Booneville

was nominated for the Outcomes

Improvement Excellence Award.

KristieLynnMetcalfe ’04 has joined the

staff of the Mississippi Supreme Court.

JessicaAlford’06 was promoted to qual-

ity manager at Trace Regional.

Laurie Fowler ’07 recently joined North

Mississippi Medical Center’s Advanced

Wound Center.

JessiePowers’07 is teaching English in a

small village in northern Kazakhstan as a

member of the Peace Corps.

SuzanneCox ’08, a nurse practitioner at

South Mississippi State Hospital, has been

named Employee of the Quarter for the

second quarter.

Tell Us Your News or News About a Friend!

Have you been promoted? Earned another degree?Have you married or had an addition to the family?Send us your news, comments and suggestions toAlumni Relations, Mississippi University for Women,

1100 College St., MUW-10, Columbus, MS 39701-5800.

Please circle the line that tells us what has changed - such as yourname, address, etc. Use an additional sheet to tell us your news.

Name OccupationClass Year CollegeSocial Security No.AddressCity State ZipPhone (H) (W)E-mail Address

C L A S S N O T E S

Honoring Mrs. Hight

MUW Winston County alumni honored Juanita McCown Hight ’34 at Lake Tiak o’Khata. More than 50 alumni and friends attended the birthday celebration, where Hight turned 97 in August. Kay Burrage Ward ’72, Hight and MUW Interim President Allegra Brigham ’69, following a pre-sentation of birthday resolutions from the governor and Mississippi Legislature delivered by Ward, wife of Mississippi Senator Giles Ward. Hight blows out candles on her birthday cake.

V I S I O N S • s p r i n g 2 0 1 116

Carrie PenningtonMastley ’08 graduated

in October from The International Sivananda

Yoga Vendanta Centre in Grass Valley, Calif.,

and is now a certified yoga practitioner.

Jennifer Mach Sojourner ’10 recently

joined Dr. James W. Ervin and his staff of

Family Medical Clinic in Crystal Springs.

Weddings1990sLeshaMarquetaAgnew ’96 of Guntown

and Raymond Fitzgerald Hampton of

Olive Branch were married July 17, 2010.

2000sLauraJaneGlascoff’00 of North Carolina

and Charlie LaCavera were married June

27, 2001.

JenniferLeeStrickland’00 of Fulton and

Douglas Jenkins of Tupelo were married

June 19, 2010.

MaryKathrynKirkpatrick’05 of Becker

and Tyler McKinley Williamson were mar-

ried Nov. 6, 2010.

Andrew Marshall Matthews ’05 of

Columbus and Ashley Brooke Bowler were

married Nov. 27, 2010.

JeremiahBlackston’06 of Caledonia and

Whitney Jennings were married Nov. 13,

2010.

KristieMarieBlair ’07 of Hamilton and

Bradley Buchanan Permenter were married

Nov. 13, 2010.

Anna Kathleen Federick ’07 of Mound,

La., and Herston Blake Wade of Pearl were

married Sept. 25, 2010.

KristenChipley’08 of Carthage and Wes

Schrickel of Columbus, Ohio, were mar-

ried May 23, 2010.

C L A S S N O T E S

Back to the Future...It’s Time to Rock MUW!

MUW Foundation1100 College Street MUW-1618

Columbus, MS 39701662-329-7146

1-877-462-8439, ext. 7146www.muw.edu/giving

Back Fu

ture

to the

It’s Timeto

MUW students are counting on YOU!

Make your gift TODAY...

MUW SCHOLARSHIP FUND

17w w w . m u w . e d u

C L A S S N O T E S

Katherine Miles ’08 of Aberdeen and

Joseph Clark of Amory were married Aug.

28, 2010.

Brittany Marie Nolen ’08 and Michael

Allen Mitchell, both of Hamilton, were

married Oct. 2, 2010.

CarriePennington ’08 of Caledonia and

Casey Mastley were married July 31, 2010.

DanaDerrick’09of Vicksburg and Daniel May

of Hattiesburg were married Oct. 17, 2009.

SarahNicole James ’09 of Carthage and

Williams Cody Pearson were married Oct.

9, 2010.

AshleyAnneMartin’09 of Madison and

Seth Thomas Lirette of Waynesboro were

married July 24, 2010.

LeahMichellePate’10 of Columbus and

John Pounders of Starkville were married

Aug. 7, 2010.

MandySuzanneStewart’10 of Louisville

and Charles Alan Brown were married

Nov. 6, 2010.

BirthsMr. and Mrs. Jonathan Logan (Alika

Reed’03) announce the birth of their son,

Ashton Reed Logan, July 30, 2010.

Deaths1920sMattieBighamCooper’27 of Sunnyvale,

Calif., Aug. 13, 2010.

Lucy Mell Platt ’27 of Shreveport, La.,

Oct. 15, 2010.

Doris Smith Puryear ’27 of Kosciusko,

Aug. 19, 2010.

Alumni Evening Out

Visiting in Jackson

The MUW Alumni Association hosted an evening in Birmingham, Ala., which was filled with many activities including samples of gourmet foods, visits to local shops, live music, wine tast-ing and candle making. The sign in Old Town Helena welcomed alumni.

MUW Interim President Allegra Brigham ’69 visits with Katherine Lipscomb Worrell ’36 dur-ing the alumni event at the University Club in Jackson.

V I S I O N S • s p r i n g 2 0 1 118

C L A S S N O T E S

Mississippi University for Women alumna Shelia Humphrey ’09 has joined Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding in Pascagoula as special events coordinator.

Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding (NGSB) was a very famil-iar name to Humphrey, a native of Ocean Springs, growing up. So, the decision to intern at the company the summer before her junior year at MUW was a no brainer.

Humphrey’s work day consists of calling vendors about upcoming events, looking at and deciding on caterers, florists and linens. She also is responsible for providing logistical support for NGSB executives at ship commissionings at their homeports around the United States, coordinating various aspects of employee dinners or awards banquets and family days at the shipyard. In addition to writing for the company blog, she has taken on the temporary responsibility of writing for the company’s monthly magazine, The Shipbuilder.

“I work a lot with event planning software where I design an

event from the ground up and database management of invita-tion lists,” she said. “I am responsible for planning and execut-ing christenings of ships (where the sponsor, usually a female, breaks a bottle of champagne on the bow of the ship).”

In July, NGSB made history at the christening of the Coast Guard ship named Stratton (WMSL 752). It is the third ship in the National Security Cutter class that was built at Northrop Grumman. The ship is named after Dorothy Stratton, the first female captain of the Coast Guard, who headed up SPARS, the Coast Guard’s women’s reserve group during World War II. The christening would have been like any other with excep-tion of the sponsor of the Stratton--first lady Michelle Obama.

Humphrey, who majored in communication and minored in general business while at MUW, believes that everything she did at MUW led her to her current job.

“At times I felt like I majored in student life and social events. That, combined with my formal education in communications, has helped me with my job,” she said, adding that the most valuable lessons she learned were outside the classroom, which involved working with different types of people on group proj-ects and meeting deadlines.

“I am a master of multi-tasking, and I think that comes from being over involved in college and still doing well in classes while being involved in clubs and organizations. I’m also the office social media go-to girl. I credit nights of procrastination, playing on Facebook with friends in Callaway Hall for that skill.”

Her advice to current students is to put a lot of thought into where they choose to do their internships.

“I think it’s easy to just pick a place that’s close by or where it’s easiest to get in, but quality interns are invaluable to big corporations and it’s an awesome way to get experience and get a foot in the door,” she said. “When my job came avail-able, which just so happened to be the same week I graduated from MUW, Northrop Grumman was able to hire me directly without having to apply or interview because an internship is basically like a summer-long job interview. And, two summer internships spoke volumes to my hiring manager. So I was able to walk into my job already knowing my boss and coworkers and go right to work.”

Humphreys is currently enrolled in the MBA program at William Carey University. Her short term goal is to finish her MBA by May of 2012 and eventually be the communication director for a school system or museum or “staying with my current company and one day having my boss’ job.”

‘Shipbuilder Shelia’ a Master of Multi-taskingBy Janie Shields

Shelia Humphrey

19w w w . m u w . e d u

C L A S S N O T E S

1930sHellon Newson Loflin ’33 of Austin,

Texas, Oct. 2007.

Joye Woodall Bailey ’36 of Hillsboro,

Ala., Oct. 27, 2010.

Lillian Saul Hudson ’36 of Memphis,

Tenn., June 24, 2010.

Kathryn Savage Lamae ’39 of Lambert,

July 8, 2010.

Elizabeth McWillie Browne Pyle ’39 of

Jackson, June 6, 2010.

1940sEllenEasonGoldman’41 of Marks, Sept.

13, 2010.

Eleanor Cole Jaggers ’41 of Okolona,

Sept. 11, 2010.

ElizabethHardenAydelott’42 of Eugene,

Ore., Oct. 11, 2010.

JoyStennisVanDevender’42 of Brandon,

Sept. 7, 2010.

SueWorleyTremaine’43 of Fishersville,

Va., July 25, 2010.

MildredPatridgeWood’43 of Moorhead,

Aug. 16, 2010.

Mary Virginia Hardy Williams ’45 of

Yazoo City, Oct. 14, 2010.

Maggie Wingo Brooks ’46 of Cleveland,

Oct. 26, 2010.

WillieMaeCutrer ’47 of McComb, July

16, 2010.

Ruth Leech Lockhart ’47 of Starkville,

June 18, 2010.

Dorothy McElroy Loffer ’47 of Naples,

Texas., Oct. 1, 2010.

AdeleRawlsCrisler’48 of Jackson, Aug.

26, 2010.

MableYoungGaston’48 of Calhoun City,

Oct. 13, 2010.

Iris Clark Price ’49 of Louisville, Sept.

18, 2010.

Valdee Balling Stewart ’49 of

Albuquerque, N.M., Aug. 29, 2010.

1950sFrances Hamilton ’50 of Greenwood,

Oct. 13, 2010.

Jo Ann Scott Gould ’52 of Los Angeles,

Calif., Dec. 15, 2009.

Winifred Davis ’53 of New York, N.Y.,

Sept. 15, 2010.

AnneArchieWhyte’53 of Corinth, Oct.

20, 2010.

OliveFryerClark’55 of Hattiesburg, Oct.

17, 2010.

JuneRowzeeAddy ’56 of Decatur, April

19, 2010.

NancyBuckleyAshley’56 of Columbus,

Sept. 4, 2010.

LindaMillsSteed’59 of Denham Springs,

La., July 24, 2010.

1960sAnne Spencer Edwards ’63 of Bruce,

Sept. 2, 2010.

ShelbyTateSeals ’63 of Tupelo, Nov. 1,

2010.

Lester Flurry Frerichs ’65 of Clinton,

July 29, 2010.

Dixie Hawkins Petrie ’65 of Cleveland,

Oct. 13, 2010.

JacqualineYearwoodHollingsworth ’68

of Alpharetta, Ga., Oct. 3, 2010.

CarolBurchWilliamson’68of Columbus,

Sept. 7, 2010.

SandraKayAdamsSmith’69 of Southern

Pines, N.C., June 16, 2010.

1970sDorisCoxJackson’70 of Ridgeland, Aug.

10, 2010.

Barbara Ellen Jennings Black ’71 of

Kosciusko, June 6, 2010.

Penny Carpenter Henderson ’73 of

Humbolt, Tenn., Sept. 24, 2010.

KarenPriceHollis’79 of Macon, July 4, 2010.

1980sBarbaraLawrenceDuhonChurch’84 of

Columbus, Sept. 4, 2010.

Ernie Bane ’88 of Starkville, Oct. 11,

2010.

LatrishaM.TaylorTaggart ’88 of Guin,

Ala., Oct. 23, 2010.

1990sDr. Sara Wood Smelcer ’90 of Amory,

July 26, 2010.

MaryBattonSwoope’93 of Verona, Aug.

22, 2010.

PaulaWindham’94 of Pontotoc, Oct. 22, 2010.

Join theMUW

AlumniAssociation!

Please visit www.muwaa.org

for additional information

including membership forms

V I S I O N S • s p r i n g 2 0 1 120

The Mission of the Center for Academic Excellence (CAE) is to provide

students with the necessary tools for academic success at MUW and

beyond. The CAE fosters learning and academic excellence by working

with students, instructors, advisors, faculty and staff to create an

academically enriching environment for all students. Moreover, the CAE

is a place where all students can come to receive advice, feedback and

strategies in various academic areas. The vision of the CAE is to “assist

every student at MUW with achieving ACADEMIC SUCCESS!” More

importantly, the services offered are free to all MUW students.

The Center for Academic Excellence brings together under one umbrella a

variety of services that work to ensure the SUCCESS of all MUW students.

We offer students: (a) academic advising, (b) tutoring services, (c) disability

services, (d) student success advice, (e) academic success workshops, (f)

individualized guidance and (g) Summer Developmental Program.

Where Academic Success Begins

ThE CEnTEr forACADEMIC ExCEllEnCE

Center for Academic Excellence102 reneau hall1100 College St. MUW-1633Columbus, MS 39701-5800P: 662-329-7138 • fax: 662-241-6035Email: cae@acadsupp.muw.eduwww.muw.edu/caeJoin us on facebook!

Quiteya D. Walker, Ph.D. Director of the Center for Academic Excellence

KarenPartain

rhonda Jones

JackieBordon

Mississippi University for WoMen

office of pUblic AffAirs

1100 college st., MUW 1623colUMbUs, Ms 39701-5800

Nonprofit OrganizationU.S. Postage

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Mississippi University for Women

A Tradition of Excellence for Women and Men