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Clifton Taulbert to Deliver Lecture Tuesday

February 5, 2016 by

OXFORD, Miss. – International lecturer, entrepreneur and Pulitzer-nominated author Clifton Taulbert will speak Tuesday (Feb. 9) on his new book “The Invitation” at the University of Mississippi.

The lecture, hosted by the McLean Institute for Public Service and Community Engagement and the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, is set for 5 p.m. in Weems Auditorium at the Robert C. Khayat Law Center.

Taulbert was born in the Mississippi Delta during the period of legal segregation. After overcoming many obstacles and racial barriers, Taulbert earned success and is president and CEO of Freemount Corp., a human capital development company. He is also president and CEO of Roots Java Coffee, an African-American owned national brand that imports coffee from Africa.

“The Invitation” tells his story of triumph and tribulation as he is expected to cross those racial barriers.

“We are pleased and honored to have Mr. Taulbert speak,” said J.R. Love, project manager for the Catalyzing Entrepreneurship and Economic Development program at the McLean Institute. “We also appreciate his generosity in taking the time to meet and visit with some of our students while he’s on campus. We invite everyone in the UM community to join us in welcoming this inspirational and thought-provoking speaker.”

Taulbert has written four other books: “The Last Train North,” “Eight Habits of the Heart,” “Eight Habits of the Heart for Educators” and “Once Upon a Time When We Were Colored.” The latter was made into a 1995 movie.

Filed Under: Campus Briefs

UM Chapter of Society of Automotive Engineers Off to a Great Start

Group has leadership team, goals in place to compete on national level

December 1, 2016 by
UM chapter of the Society of Automotive Engineers members display their flag on campus. (Submitted photo)

Members of the UM chapter of the Society of Automotive Engineers display their flag on campus. Submitted photo

Chartered in the fall of 2015, the Society of Automotive Engineers is a new student organization within the University of Mississippi School of Engineering that is looking to provide students with opportunities to gain skills and further their interests in the automotive industry.

The organization boasts more than 127,000 members and has student chapters across the country, according to its website. The society’s design competitions have hosted more than 4,500 students from 500 universities. Scholarships are also offered through the SAE Foundation to assist students pursuing degrees in engineering.

The Ole Miss chapter of SAE was the idea of J.D. Heffington, senior research and development engineer at the university’s National Center for Physical Acoustics. Heffington also serves as the organization’s faculty adviser and organized the initial meeting that garnered enough student interest to launch the group. The chapter quickly formed and elected officers in the spring 2016 semester.

The organization was created to continue enhancing the professional development of engineering students interested in the automotive world and to give them experience that is difficult to get solely in the classroom, said SAE President Kevin Ozbirn, an unclassified mechanical engineering major from Reinzi.

“We wanted to give students at Ole Miss an avenue to get hands-on experience with production processes and design techniques,” he said. “The student design competition is a production proposal, much like students would see on the job.”

Students who join can learn budgeting and logistics, gain confidence in their use of engineering concepts and learn what it’s like being part of a team, he said.

The SAE Baja collegiate design competition is a primary focus for students involved in SAE, said Turner Wharton, a senior mechanical engineering major from Clifton, Virginia, who serves as vice president.

A young visitor to campus tests a SAE project on display. (Submitted photo)

A young visitor to campus tests a SAE project on display. Submitted photo

“In this competition, teams of engineering students from all over the world are tasked with designing and building an off-road race buggy from the ground up, all while maintaining strict parameters set by SAE International,” he said. “The final product is evaluated for design merits and ultimately tested against other teams in a four-hour endurance race.”

Brandon Boyd, another senior mechanical engineering major from McComb who serves as the chapter secretary, said the group is working diligently toward the goal of participating the SAE Baja challenge.

“Because we were just formed as an organization last year, we were not able to compete in the year-end student design competition,” he said. “We are continuing to recruit new members, and our end goal is to compete in the Baja car competition in Pittsburg, Kansas, in May.”

As secretary, Boyd works to support the organization in areas including team registration, material invoices and promotion for the organization.

The student leaders of SAE are confident that the organization will provide invaluable experience that cannot be obtained from engineering coursework alone.

Both Wharton and Ozbirn hope to see the organization grow and gain the support and experience to compete in the SAE Formula competition, an event where student groups compete in a high-level race series with scaled-down Formula One cars powered by 600cc motorcycle engines. They hope to garner support from industry partners and other groups to help reach their goals.

Filed Under: 2016/12-Engineering News December 2016, Engineering News Archive, School of Engineering

UM Sets Black History Month Observances

Social activist Alicia Garza to deliver keynote address Feb. 29 in Fulton Chapel

January 25, 2016 by
Alicia Garza

Alicia Garza

OXFORD, Miss. – Continuing the dialogue on racial reconciliation, social activist Alicia Garza is the keynote speaker for Black History Month observances at the University of Mississippi.

Garza’s address is scheduled for 6 p.m. Feb. 29 in Fulton Chapel. Admission is free, but tickets must be obtained from the UM Box Office in the Ole Miss Student Union beginning Feb. 1.

“Over the years, notable African-Americans such as Cornel West, Marian Wright Edelman, Michael Eric Dyson and Myrlie Evers-Williams have been invited to provide the Black History Month keynote address,” said Shawnboda Mead, director of UM’s Center for Inclusion and Cross Cultural Engagement. “We believe Ms. Garza will be equally as dynamic and that she will provide a very memorable experience for everyone in attendance.”

The keynote is the final event of Black History Month 2016, and Mead said she hopes everyone will take advantage of this opportunity to hear from Garza.

“It’s essential to recognize that the Black Lives Matter movement has never asserted that other lives don’t matter,” Mead said. “In fact, the primary intent is to build connections between black people and allies, to fight anti-black racism, to encourage dialogue, social action and engagement.

“As our university strives to be a leader in racial reconciliation and inclusivity, this year’s keynote address is a continuation of our educational efforts. Therefore, we look forward to engaging with Ms. Garza and learning more about the founding, as well as the guiding principles, of Black Lives Matter.”

Other scheduled activities:

  • Feb. 1 – Kick-Off Celebration: 4 p.m. in Fulton Chapel. Featuring the UM Gospel Choir, a welcome from Chancellor Jeffery Vitter, a keynote address by Grisham Writer-in-Residence Kiese Laymon and the presentation of the annual “Lift Every Voice” Awards.
  • Feb. 2 – Good or Bad Hair: 7 p.m. in Bishop Hall, Room 209. Panel discussion and viewing of clips from the films “Good Hair” and “School Daze.”
  • Feb. 4 & 7: Film Series: “Selma”: 7 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively, in Turner Center, Room 205.
  • Feb. 9: Lecture by Clifton Taulbert: 5 p.m. in a location to be announced. The Pulitizer-nominated author will discuss his new memoir, “The Invitation.”
  • Feb. 9: Tupac Monologue: 12:15 p.m. in Ole Miss Student Union, Room 405. Join a discussion about the role of hip-hop culture and its effect on political and cultural change in America.
  • Feb. 12: Black History Month Gala: 6 p.m. in the Inn at Ole Miss’ Gertrude Ford Ballroom. Admission free to UM students, faculty and staff. Tickets available at Ole Miss Student Union Box Office beginning Jan. 25.
  • Feb. 15: Film Series: “Straight Outta Compton”: 5 p.m. in Turner Center, Room 205.
  • Feb. 16: Soul Food Luncheon: 11:30 a.m. in Luckyday Residential College dining hall. Use meal plans or purchase meal at regular rates.
  • Feb. 16: “I Know Black People” Trivia Game: 7 p.m. in Residential College South Cafeteria.
  • Feb. 18: “Are You Ready?” Dialogue Series: Appropriation vs. Appreciation: Noon in Ole Miss Student Union ballroom.
  • Feb. 19: Panel Discussion: “The Image of Black Love”: 5 p.m. in Barnard Observatory.
  • Feb. 19: Film Series: “Fundi: The Story of Ella Baker”: 1:45 p.m. in Powerhouse Community Arts Center. Tickets are $10. Hosted by the Oxford Film Festival.
  • Feb. 20: Independent Black Film Collective Panel Discussion: 1 p.m. at Malco Oxford Commons. Admission free, but limited seating available. Hosted by the Oxford Film Festival.
  • Feb. 20: Film Series: “Dixie”: 4:45 p.m. at the Oxford Conference Center. Tickets are $10. Hosted by the Oxford Film Festival.
  • Feb. 22-23: Sankofa African-American Museum on Wheels: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and 9 a.m.-1 p.m., respectively, in Ole Miss Student Union Ballroom.
  • Feb. 23: Black History Month Concert: 7:30 p.m. in Nutt Auditorium.
  • Feb. 24: “Ain’t I a Woman?”: 7 p.m. in Nutt Auditorium. Celebration of lives of Zora Neale Hurston, Sojourner Truth, Clementine Hunter and Fannie Lou Hamer.
  • Feb. 25: Throwback Thursday: Celebration of Black Entertainment: 12:15 p.m. in Ole Miss Student Union Ballroom.
  • Feb. 26: Sister2Sister Leadership Retreat: 3 p.m. in Ole Miss Student Union Ballroom.
  • March 1: Women’s Empowerment Awards & Reception: 6 p.m. in Fulton Chapel.

Sponsors for the university’s BHM observances include the Center for Inclusion and Cross Cultural Engagement, the University Lecture Series, the Office of the Provost/Multicultural Affairs, University and Public Events, the Student Activities Association, ESTEEM, the Men of Excellence, the McLean Institute, the Black Student Union, the Department of Student Housing, Ole Miss Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, the Black Graduate and Professional Students Association, the School of Education, the Ole Miss Student Union, the Sarah Isom Center for Women’s and Gender Studies, the William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation, and the departments of History, Music, Sociology and Anthropology, and African-American Studies.

For a full list of sponsors and Black History Month calendar of events, visit http://inclusion.olemiss.edu.

Outraged by the 2013 acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, Garza took to social media to express her anguish and love for the black community. Ending her message with “Our Lives Matter/We Matter/Black Lives Matter,” she, along with Opal Tometi and Patrisse Cullor, turned those powerful last words into a Twitter hashtag. Immediately prompting activism nationwide, #BlackLivesMatter has evolved into the banner under which this generation’s civil rights movement marches.

An established social activist committed to challenging society to recognize and celebrate the contributions of all individuals, Garza’s activism is rooted in organizational strategies to connect individuals and emerging social movements. She is also a prominent advocate for the preservation of an open Internet to provide a space for these movements to emerge. Garza’s work has earned her various honors, including two Harvey Milk Democratic Club Community Activist Awards.

In 2015, Garza and the Black Lives Matter co-founders were honored with inclusion on The Root’s Top 100 List for the movement’s social and political impact.

The special projects director for the National Domestic Workers Alliance, Garza previously served as executive director of People Organized to Win Employment Rights, where she led the charge on significant initiatives, including organizing against the chronic police violence in black neighborhoods.

Filed Under: In Progress

Student-Created Policy Addresses Emerging Field of Pharmacogenomics

Proposal for APhA-ASP House of Delegates one of top five in the nation

April 8, 2014 by
Cody Clifton

Cody Clifton

OXFORD, Miss. – A University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy student has created an innovative policy proposal for a national organization that addresses the emerging field of pharmacogenomics.

Cody Clifton, a second-year professional student, created the proposal for the American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists. He serves as policy vice president for the organization’s local chapter.

“Pharmacogenomics testing is the use of genetic information to predict an individual’s response to a drug,” said Clifton, a Walnut native. “All drugs are not created equal, and patients who take these drugs aren’t either. Through effective application of pharmacogenomic data, we can specifically tailor drug therapy for patients.”

This is the first time in recent years that the university’s chapter of APhA-ASP has submitted a policy. As policy vice president, one of Clifton’s duties is to gather members’ interests and develop a proposal.

“It is important that our students are aware of (pharmacogenomics) in its infancy, recognizing that many medications have a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to their use, and many patients with a variety of disease states would benefit from individualized medicines for treatment,” said pharmacy administration doctoral student Joseph A. Dikun, the APhA-ASP chapter’s co-adviser. “Based on the development of this policy, our students clearly are beginning to see their role as the medication expert in a variety of clinical and research settings.”

The proposed policy states: “APhA-ASP supports pharmacogenomics testing as a clinical service provided by pharmacists and the interpretation of the results to the providers and the patients by pharmacists, in order to provide individualized treatment plans to patients.”

Clifton said he used the book of APhA-ASP adopted resolutions to determine what topic the policy should cover.

“Pharmacogenomics and pharmacy was the subject that was missing from the handbook, so I took it as a great opportunity to pursue,” he said. “Also, having a medicinal chemistry class in pharmacogenomics opened my eyes to how important it is for medications to be individualized for certain patients.”

After working with Dikun and pharmacy administration graduate student Ashley Crumby to tweak the language, Clifton presented the policy at the APhA Midyear Regional Meeting, also known as MRM. He served as chapter delegate at this meeting.

“The process is very similar to bills going through the different motions to get passed at a state/national level,” Clifton said. “On the last day of MRM, at the closing business meeting, chapter delegates in region three voted to pass the resolution, along with many other resolutions. This was very exciting for us.”

After the policy passed at MRM, it went to the Resolutions Policy Committee and was voted on by eight regional delegates from across the U.S. It was passed, thus making the proposal one of the top five in the nation.

Clifton is thrilled that this proposal gives student pharmacists the “potential to become integral players in personalized health care.”

“The overall purpose of this policy is to promote the use of our clinical expertise within the field of pharmacy,” he said. “We can do this by encouraging and directing the development of technology solutions that support pharmacists’ role in pharmacogenomics.”

The policy will be voted on at APhA’s March 28-31 Annual Meeting and Exposition, during the APhA-ASP House of Delegates. If passed, the policy will be added to the organization’s adopted resolutions. Additionally, the APhA-ASP Policy Standing Committee will meet to determine the most appropriate actions to be taken on the adopted resolution, such as developing a plan to contact regulatory agencies and other national organizations.

“As pharmacists, we are the medication experts, and we do what is best for our patients,” Clifton said. “Therefore, we need to encourage and embrace this inevitable change. This topic may seem futuristic, but we need to stay ahead of the game by approaching the issue now.”

Filed Under: News Releases, School of Pharmacy

UM Participates in Pharmacist Day at the Capitol

More than 60 students help raise awareness of the profession

March 6, 2014 by

OXFORD, Miss. – Students at the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy recently visited the Mississippi State Capitol to raise awareness of their chosen profession.

“Pharmacist Day at the Capitol is a chance to meet with legislators and speak about pharmacy, serve the community through health screenings and to see our beautiful capitol building,” said Katie McClendon, the pharmacy school’s interim assistant dean of student services. “It’s also an opportunity to bring together several pharmacy organizations, as well as a chance to catch up with pharmacists from around the state.”

At the Jan. 30 event, faculty and students provided blood pressure and glucose screenings, body fat analysis and flu shots to legislators and guests on the first floor of the capitol building. Covenant Pharmacy in Ridgeland donated the influenza vaccines.

More than 60 students participated, a record for the event.

“I think we had great attendance with more interest from students than ever before,” McClendon said. “We also had students from all four years of the program participate, which was the first time that’s happened.”

In addition to the School of Pharmacy, the Mississippi Pharmacists Association, Mississippi Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Mississippi Independent Pharmacies Association and the Mississippi Board of Pharmacy set up informational booths. Courtney Peacock, a fourth-year professional student from Madison, said participation in Capitol Day helped her learn about the “hard work that many of our state pharmacy organizations put into our relationships with legislators and senators.”

Cody Clifton, a second-year professional pharmacy student from Walnut, worked with faculty to organize the attendance of 30 students from the Oxford campus.

“Capitol Day is a way that we, as student pharmacists, can actively express our concern for the future of our profession,” Clifton said. “I believe it is very important to become an advocate early on in one’s career. As students we may not realize it, but just making our presence known on Capitol Day is a great way to advocate for pharmacy.”

Emily Higdon, a fourth-year professional student from Madison, worked at the table that offered health screenings. She said she appreciated the opportunity to discuss participants’ goals related to blood pressure, blood sugar levels and body mass index.

“If pharmacists and the state work together, we can continue to promote pharmacy progress in Mississippi, ultimately allowing for better patient care,” Higdon said.

McClendon said the event was special in a number of ways.

“Not only did we have the opportunity to talk with legislators and others in the Capitol, we also were able to reach out to people touring the Capitol,” she said. “It’s also a wonderful occasion to see so many pharmacy organizations working together for a common cause. We were recognized in the House, which was also an exciting moment.”

Filed Under: School of Pharmacy

UM Alumnus Named Tennessee Professor of the Year

Belmont University professor Mike Pinter honored for teaching excellence

January 10, 2013 by

OXFORD, Miss. — A University of Mississippi alumnus has been recognized by the state of Tennessee for his leadership and continued excellence in teaching.

Mike Pinter (M.Ed. 83), professor of mathematics at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., was named 2012 Tennessee Professor of the Year, awarded annually by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.

“I was a bit stunned,” said Pinter. “I never thought I’d win the award because I assumed there would be many highly qualified nominees.”

Pinter, a native of Morrilton, Ark., received his undergraduate degree from Hendrix College. In addition to his degree from UM, he holds an M.S. and Ph.D. in mathematics from Vanderbilt University. His wife, Robbie Clifton Pinter, an Ole Miss English graduate school alumna (MA 83), is also a faculty member at Belmont University.  Their son, Nicholas, is a recent graduate of Benton Hall Academy in Franklin, Tenn.

Pinter has been at Belmont since 1989. He has served as associate dean of the School of Sciences and worked as a faculty member in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science. Pinter has also served as director of the Teaching Center and will resume that post in January.

“The many kind notes of congratulations I’m receiving from current students, former students and faculty colleagues are actually more meaningful than the award itself,” said Pinter. “The relationships I’ve been able to build with colleagues, students, staff and administrators are what shine the brightest for me in receiving the award.”

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Alumni News, News Releases, School of Education

Computer Science Students Enjoy Toying Around in Classroom with Unique Robots

April 27, 2009 by
Clifton Gunn, a computer science major from Corinth, discusses his Forklift MyBot during a recent robotics seminar at the University of Mississippi. UM photo by Kevin Bain.

Clifton Gunn, a computer science major from Corinth, discusses his Forklift MyBot during a recent robotics seminar at the University of Mississippi. UM photo by Kevin Bain.

OXFORD, Miss. – One child’s toy is a college student’s final project.

That’s what some University of Mississippi computer science majors found as they completed a robotics class this week.

During
the semester, the students developed software for the Lego Mindstorms
NXT robots. Each student created a Hallway Explorer Robot before spring
break. At their last seminar this week, they displayed 10 more
event-responsive computer programs using the building blocks toys.

“We’re
teaching a new kind of computing that listens for events to happen,”
said Yixin Chen, assistant professor of computer science. “We’re
teaching students to write programs to respond to their environment.
These toys allow us to demonstrate to students a one-to-one
relationship between their abstractions and the concrete, where they
can observe the effects of their programming and develop solutions to
socially relevant problems.”

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Filed Under: News Archives

Four Outstanding Freshmen Awarded Lott Leadership Scholarships

November 13, 2008 by
Click image to enlarge2008-lottschoars.jpg

The Trent Lott Leadership Institute at the University of Mississippi has awarded Lott Leadership Scholarships to freshmen (from left) Caleb Herod of Abbeville, Mary Allen Langford of Atlanta, Nathan Dye of Jackson and Kaylen Addison of Purvis. UM photo by Kevin Bain.

OXFORD,
Miss. – Four University of Mississippi freshmen have been awarded the
fall 2008 Lott Leadership Scholarships by the Trent Lott Leadership
Institute. The students were chosen for the awards based on their
leadership ability, academic performance and record of community
service.

The prestigious scholarships provide $10,000 per year
for four years and are awarded to entering freshmen who will pursue a
bachelor’s degree in public policy leadership at the Lott Institute.

“This
is our fourth year offering the scholarships, and it’s very difficult
to make these decisions since we have a strong application file,” said
William Gottshall, executive director of the institute. “We are proud
of these four young adults and look forward to watching them grow
academically on campus.”

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Filed Under: News Archives

Pharmacy Students Begin Professional Phase of Program with White Coat Ceremony

September 6, 2007 by
pharmacy?students?begin?professional.jpg

Dean Barbara Wells helps James Jelks of Centreville with his white coat. UM photo by Kevin Bain.

OXFORD, Miss. – The School of Pharmacy welcomed its Doctor
of Pharmacy class of 2011 recently with its annual white
coat ceremony at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts.

The white coat is the universal symbol of professionalism
in the health care professions, and the ceremony is a way
of formally recognizing and fostering students’ commitment
to professionalism, said Barbara G. Wells, dean of the
pharmacy school.

“The white coat ceremony is a celebration that is filled
with symbolism, which serves to remind students of their
responsibilities to patients and to their profession,”
Wells said. “It presents the quest for professionalism as a
lifelong journey that begins now but is never completed.
The ceremony illuminates their responsibility to work to
enhance the length and quality of life of patients, and it
also underscores our commitment to prepare students to
become competent practitioners, leaders and change agents.”

 



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Filed Under: News Archives