OXFORD, Miss. – Seven young University of Mississippi alumni will return to their
alma mater Friday (Oct. 16) to share with students the secrets of their
successful careers.
Held during Homecoming Weekend, the panel discussion, “Been There, Done
That: A Conversation with Young Alumni,” is being co-sponsored by
the UM Black Student Union and the Career Center. The free, public event
begins at 11:30 a.m. in the Ole Miss Student Union
Ballroom.
“All
of the panelists graduated in 2002 or later, representing many different
academic programs offered by the university,” said Toni Avant,
Career Center director and co-organizer of the event. “While
enrolled at the university, they held leadership roles in a variety of
organizations,”
Alex
McClarty, a senior mechanical engineering major from Byhalia and BSU
publicity chairman, said that the idea of organizing such a panel arose
as he began reflecting on his past three years at Ole Miss and his
future.
“I
thought back to the numerous occurrences where I would have older and
more experienced people give me advice for a number of different life
topics,” McClarty said. “This panel came together as a means to
providing a more comfortable, casual way of networking with alumni and
unique way to prepare undergraduates for life beyond college.”
Lillie
Flenorl (BA 2008) of Jackson, associate manager of public relations and
advertising for the Mississippi Development Authority, is the panel
moderator. Panelists are Tamara Crawford (BE 2002) of Arlington, Texas,
senior aeronautical engineer at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co.; Thomas
Eckers (BBA 2007) of Horn Lake, financial service specialist at Regions
Bank; Shaquinta Morgan (BE 2003) of Huntsville, Ala., project development
engineer at Johnson Controls; Lawrence Muruako (BS 2007) of Oxford, owner
of Rebel Body Fitness; Courtney Pierce (BA 2005, MA 2007) of Memphis,
assistant director of Employer Relations and Internships at the
University of Memphis; and Michael Williamson (BA 2007) of Horn Lake,
financial representative at Strategic Financial Partners.
“We
hope that our current students will be inspired by the advice given by
our distinguished panel members, and that they will use this opportunity
to network and learn what it takes to be successful while in college and
after graduation,” Avant said.
For more
information or to request assistance related to a disability, contact
Alex McClarty at 662-544-3041 or Toni Avant at 662-915-7174.