OXFORD, Miss. – Faculty and staff at the University of
Mississippi not only serve in classrooms, offices and
buildings throughout the campus, but they also have
contributed more than $1.4 million of their own resources
toward the university’s MomentUM campaign.
More than 700 current faculty and staff have given or
pledged $1.46 million since Jan. 1, 2005, according to UM
Foundation figures released this week.
“It’s extraordinary that our employees, who give so much of
their time and effort to Ole Miss, also give back in this
way,” said Gloria Kellum, vice chancellor for university
relations. “These gifts illustrate the deep dedication of
our faculty and staff and their commitment to our students
and their success. It is heartwarming.”
The gifts are part of the MomentUM campaign, a four-year
initiative to raise $200 million. The campaign, which ends
in December, already has raised more than $170 million for
scholarships, graduate fellowships, faculty support, a
basketball practice facility, residential colleges and a
new law school on the Oxford campus. Also in the plan is a
cancer center at the Medical Center in Jackson.
While the campaign is geared toward specific initiatives,
faculty and staff have given to a number of other areas of
need on the Oxford campus.
John O’Haver, associate professor of chemical engineering,
said he gives regularly to the School of Engineering for
several reasons:
“First, I believe in what we are doing here, and want to do
what I can to help this university be better and better.
Second, I want to be able to challenge my students upon
graduation to give back. I think it is more effective if I
can say, ‘Yes, I give too.’ Third, most of our students
came here on significant scholarships and I would like to
help make that possible for future generations.”
Others are also giving through their estates. For example,
Charles Noyes, professor emeritus of English, has indicated
that he will bequeath a portion of his estate to UM, and
pharmacy Dean Barbara Wells and her husband, Richard M.
Wells, have named the university as beneficiary of a life
insurance policy to create the first endowed pharmacy
professorship.
To help other UM employees understand how they might make
similar gifts, a series of planned-giving seminars are to
be offered through the UM Office of Human Resources this
spring. Seminar dates will be publicized as they become
available.
For more information about giving to UM, visit
http://www.umfoundation.com. For more information about
the MomentUM Campaign, visit