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Awards & Honors

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
    • Awards in the College of Liberal Arts
    • Awards in the School of Applied Sciences
    • Awards in the School of Business
    • Awards in the School of Education
    • Awards in the School of Engineering
    • Awards in the School of Pharmacy
  • 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 FreshmenCatarina Passidomo, Sociology & Anthropology/Southern Studies
Howell Family Outstanding Teacher of the YearVivian Ibrahim, History/Croft
Liberal Arts Outstanding Instructor of the YearGuy 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 AwardsDr. 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 AwardMadison Duncan

School of Business

Junior ResearcherCong Feng, Marketing
Senior ResearcherClay Dibrell, Management
Outstanding PaperWalter Davis/Clay Dibrell/Tony Ammeter, Management and MIS
Outstanding TeacherSam Cousley, Marketing
Outstanding TeacherArup Ganguly, Finance

School of Education

School of Education Outstanding ScholarDr. Joel Amidon
School of Education Outstanding TeacherDr. Diane Lowry
School of Education Exemplary ServiceDr. 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 SciencesPh.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 LawEd.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 ARTSJacqueline Knirnschild
EDUCATIONClass Marshall – Mary Ashton Graham
Banner Bearer – Kayleigh Elizabeth Keyes
BUSINESSClass Marshall – Cameron Earl Koch
Standard Bearer – Chanel Dagmar Thomas
JOURNALISMPeyton Coale
Ellie Greenberger
PHARMACYBSPS – Taylor Gannon
PharmD – Taylor Brooke Long
ENGINEERINGJennifer Ashley Lauriello
APPLIED SCIENCESClass Marshall – Davenport Williams
Banner Bearer – Julia Phillips
LAWLaKeith Martrez Faulkner
ACCOUNTANCYKatherine Thomas Oglesby
GENERAL STUDIESMary Helen Lee
GRADUATE SCHOOLWilliam Michael Cox
Prabhdeep Sandha

School of Engineering

Senior Faculty Teaching AwardJohn O’Haver, Chemical Engineering
Junior Faculty Teaching AwardGrace Rushing, Civil Engineering
Junior Faculty Teaching AwardTaiho Yeom, Mechanical Engineering
Junior Faculty Research AwardBrian Platt, Geology and Geological Engineering
Junior Faculty Research AwardHakan Yasarer, Civil Engineering
Faculty Service AwardNikki Reinemann, Biomedical Engineering
Outstanding Engineering Faculty AwardAdam Smith, Chemical Engineering

School of Pharmacy

Distinguished Teaching ScholarsDavid Colby
Meagen Rosenthal
Gary Theilman
Friend of the Student AwardsSarah Campbell
Laurie Fleming
P4 APPE Preceptor of the YearPhil Ayers
P3 Teacher of the YearKatie Barber
P3 IPPE Preceptor of the YearJamie Wagner
P2 Teacher of the YearNoa Valcarcel
P2 Teaching Team of the YearPHCY 502: Integrated Systems-Cardiovascular (Jay Pitcock, Sally Earl, Jamie Stewart, Noa Valcarcel, Vitor Pomin, Yi Yang and Seongbong Jo)
P1 Teacher of the YearJamie Stewart
P1 Teaching Team of the YearPHCY 401: Foundations of BioMolecular Sciences I (Hoang Le, Jason Paris, Sudeshna Roy, John Bentley, Sally Earl, Chalet Tan and Mohammed Khan)

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