Each spring, the University of Mississippi is pleased to recognize some of the most distinguished and accomplished members of our community with a number of esteemed awards and honors. Due the ongoing challenges with the COVID-19 pandemic, the in-person ceremonies for these awards are not able to be held this spring, but it does not diminish their accomplishments or our desire to recognize and celebrate them.
Distinguished Research and Creative Achievement Award
Created in 2008, the annual Distinguished Research and Creative Achievement Award recognizes a faculty member who has shown outstanding accomplishment in research, scholarship and creative activity. Applicants are nominated by their peers and reviewed by a committee of past recipients. Congratulations to this year’s honoree: Michael Repka, chair and Distinguished Professor of pharmaceutics and drug delivery and director of the Pii Center for Pharmaceutical Technology. Link to story.
Distinguished Professors
The Distinguished Professor appointment is an honorific title started by the university in 2018 that recognizes the best faculty with sustained excellence at Ole Miss. The award was created in response to the university’s strategic initiative to develop a post-professorial recognition. Congratulations to this year’s Distinguished Professors: Arunachalam Rajendran, chair and professor of mechanical engineering and Ron Rychlak, professor of law and Jamie L. Whitten Chair of Law and Government. Link to story.
Thomas Frist Student Service Awards
Following glowing letters of recommendation from students, parents and colleagues, three University of Mississippi employees have been chosen to receive prestigious honors for their exceptional service. The Thomas Frist Student Service Awards are presented annually to one faculty member and one staff member for going the extra mile in dedication and service to students. Examples of exemplary service include student guidance and mentorship above and beyond those expected of faculty and staff as part of their job responsibilities. Congratulations to this year’s Frist Award winners: Carmen Riggan, Sovent Taylor and Stefan Schulenberg. Link to story.
UM’s SEC Faculty Achievement Award
Selected by a committee of SEC provosts, the Faculty Achievement Awards are part of SECU. This academic initiative of the Southeastern Conference sponsors, supports and promotes collaborative higher education programs and activities involving administrators, faculty and students at its 14 member universities. To be eligible for the SEC Faculty Achievement Award, an individual must hold the rank of full professor at an SEC university. They must also have an extraordinary teaching record and be a nationally or internationally-recognized scholar in their field. Congratulations to this year’s honoree: Dr. Alan Jones, University of Mississippi Medical Center. Link to story.
Other Awards & Accolades
- College and School Faculty Awards
- College and School Academic Awards
- 2020 Elsie M. Hood Outstanding Teacher Award
- Marcus Elvis Taylor Memorial Medal Designees for 2020
- Red and Blue Staff Recognition
- 2019-20 Hall of Fame Inductees
- 2020 Class Marshals
College of Liberal Arts
| Cora Lee Graham Award for Outstanding Teaching of Freshmen | Catarina Passidomo, Sociology & Anthropology/Southern Studies |
| Howell Family Outstanding Teacher of the Year | Vivian Ibrahim, History/Croft |
| Liberal Arts Outstanding Instructor of the Year | Guy Krueger, Writing & Rhetoric |
| University of Mississippi Humanities Teacher of the Year (2019-2020) | Patrick Alexander, History/African American Studies |
| College of Liberal Arts Research, Creative Achievement and Scholarship Awards | Dr. Mike L. Edmonds New Scholar Research Award: Dr. Jonah Jurss, Chemistry/Biochemistry Dr. Mike L. Edmonds New Scholar Research Award: Dr. Jessica Wilkerson, History/Southern Studies Dr. Mike L. Edmonds New Scholar Research Award: Dr. Anne Cafer, Sociology & Anthropology Melinda and Ben Yarbrough, M.D. Senior Professor Research Award for the Natural Sciences and Mathematics: Dr. Amal Dass |
School of Applied Sciences
| Nutrition and Hospitality Management Faculty Award | Madison Duncan |
School of Business
| Junior Researcher | Cong Feng, Marketing |
| Senior Researcher | Clay Dibrell, Management |
| Outstanding Paper | Walter Davis/Clay Dibrell/Tony Ammeter, Management and MIS |
| Outstanding Teacher | Sam Cousley, Marketing |
| Outstanding Teacher | Arup Ganguly, Finance |
School of Education
| School of Education Outstanding Scholar | Dr. Joel Amidon |
| School of Education Outstanding Teacher | Dr. Diane Lowry |
| School of Education Exemplary Service | Dr. Sara Platt |
Red and Blue Staff Recognition
The Red and Blue Celebration of Achievement for University of Mississippi staff members is an opportunity for the university community to honor staff members who have navigated the college experience successfully while working simultaneously as an employee at the university.
UM staff members are employed primarily in non-teaching activities in support of the educational, research, and service programs of the university. They may be full-time or part-time administrative, professional, and other staff employees and located on any campus of the University of Mississippi who are eligible for fringe benefits, such as personal and sick leave, retirement benefits, and healthcare.
| Callie Anglin, Outreach and Continuing Education | Master’s, Higher Education/Student Personnel |
| Pam Barefield, Student Affairs | Master’s, Higher Education/Student Personnel |
| Megan Black, School of Education | Master’s, Higher Education |
| Christy Bray-Jones, International Programs | Bachelor’s, History |
| Ann Margaret Compton, College of Liberal Arts | Master’s, Higher Education/Student Personnel |
| Jeremy Cook, University Police and Campus Safety | Master’s, Criminal Justice |
| Terrell Elliston, Student Academic Services — Athletics | Master’s, Higher Education/Student Personnel |
| E. Gray Flora IV, FASTrack Program | Ph.D., Higher Education |
| Marti Funke, University Development | Master’s, Business Administration |
| Joshua Glasz, Emergency Management | Master’s, Criminal Justice |
| Kimberley Gray, Outreach — Booneville | Master’s, Higher Education/Student Personnel |
| Angie Gurner, School of Education | Bachelor’s, University Studies |
| Michael Hobbs, Institute of Child Nutrition | Bachelor’s, Civil Engineering |
| Geriandi Jackson, School of Law | Master’s, Higher Education/Student Personnel |
| Kelley Jenkins, School of Applied Sciences | Ph.D., Higher Education |
| Rose Maten, School of Law | Master’s, Higher Education/Student Personnel |
| Lionel Maten, Student Affairs | Ed.D., Higher Education |
| Suzette Matthews, University Development — School of Law | Ed.D., Higher Education |
| Cliff McCain, Student Academic Services — Athletics | Ed.D., Higher Education |
| Jennifer McClure, Patterson School of Accountancy | Ph.D., Higher Education |
| Justin Mills, Center for Mathematics and Science Education | Master’s, Higher Education/Student Affairs |
| Julie Owen, Athletics | Ph.D., Higher Education |
| RoShandra Riddle, Admissions | Bachelor’s, Law Studies |
| James Thomas, Center for the Study of Southern Culture | Master of Fine Arts, Southern Studies |
| April Thompson, Outreach and Continuing Education | Ph.D., Higher Education |
| Ronica Turner, Center for Manufacturing Excellence | Bachelor’s, Business Administration |
| David Winters, Information Technology | Master’s, Business Administration |
2020 Class Marshals
| LIBERAL ARTS | Jacqueline Knirnschild |
| EDUCATION | Class Marshall – Mary Ashton Graham Banner Bearer – Kayleigh Elizabeth Keyes |
| BUSINESS | Class Marshall – Cameron Earl Koch Standard Bearer – Chanel Dagmar Thomas |
| JOURNALISM | Peyton Coale Ellie Greenberger |
| PHARMACY | BSPS – Taylor Gannon PharmD – Taylor Brooke Long |
| ENGINEERING | Jennifer Ashley Lauriello |
| APPLIED SCIENCES | Class Marshall – Davenport Williams Banner Bearer – Julia Phillips |
| LAW | LaKeith Martrez Faulkner |
| ACCOUNTANCY | Katherine Thomas Oglesby |
| GENERAL STUDIES | Mary Helen Lee |
| GRADUATE SCHOOL | William Michael Cox Prabhdeep Sandha |
School of Engineering
| Senior Faculty Teaching Award | John O’Haver, Chemical Engineering |
| Junior Faculty Teaching Award | Grace Rushing, Civil Engineering |
| Junior Faculty Teaching Award | Taiho Yeom, Mechanical Engineering |
| Junior Faculty Research Award | Brian Platt, Geology and Geological Engineering |
| Junior Faculty Research Award | Hakan Yasarer, Civil Engineering |
| Faculty Service Award | Nikki Reinemann, Biomedical Engineering |
| Outstanding Engineering Faculty Award | Adam Smith, Chemical Engineering |
School of Pharmacy
| Distinguished Teaching Scholars | David Colby Meagen Rosenthal Gary Theilman |
| Friend of the Student Awards | Sarah Campbell Laurie Fleming |
| P4 APPE Preceptor of the Year | Phil Ayers |
| P3 Teacher of the Year | Katie Barber |
| P3 IPPE Preceptor of the Year | Jamie Wagner |
| P2 Teacher of the Year | Noa Valcarcel |
| P2 Teaching Team of the Year | PHCY 502: Integrated Systems-Cardiovascular (Jay Pitcock, Sally Earl, Jamie Stewart, Noa Valcarcel, Vitor Pomin, Yi Yang and Seongbong Jo) |
| P1 Teacher of the Year | Jamie Stewart |
| P1 Teaching Team of the Year | PHCY 401: Foundations of BioMolecular Sciences I (Hoang Le, Jason Paris, Sudeshna Roy, John Bentley, Sally Earl, Chalet Tan and Mohammed Khan) |