OXFORD,
Miss. – When Rose Flenorl became president of the University of
Mississippi Alumni Association last fall, she knew certain challenges
awaited her in the quest to support her beloved alma mater.
“As
a student, I could never have imagined that I would one day have the
opportunity to serve the university I love so much,” said Flenorl, the
first black and the fourth woman to lead the organization. “I am truly
enjoying working with alumni in Mississippi and around the world to
strengthen our university.”
Flenorl recently reflected on her
first six months as president, noting that her top goal is to continue
helping the university find funds for student scholarships.
“In these turbulent economic times, more scholarships must be made
available if we’re to recruit and retain the country’s brightest
students,” Flenorl said.
While fundraising has risen on her list of priorities, Flenorl said she
remains committed to engaging alumni in a range of the university’s
programs and events.
“Tim Walsh (executive director of the Alumni Association), his staff,
the alumni board of directors and I are working together to increase
our alumni membership,” Flenorl said. “We will also develop different
types of alumni reunions and programs to engage alumni and friends, and
continue our renovation of The Inn at Ole Miss.”
The Clarksdale native officially became alumni association president
during annual homecoming festivities in October. “Tim said every other
Ole Miss Alumni Association president had an installation, but I had to
have a coronation,” she said with a laugh.
Flenorl, who earned her bachelor of arts in education in 1979, is manager of social responsibility and ethnic outreach for FedEx Corp. in Memphis. Those who have worked with Flenorl expressed confidence in her ability and commitment.
“I am certain that our Alumni Association will be taken to new heights under her leadership,” said immediate past president David McCormick. “Rose has a true love for our university and has already served Ole Miss in multiple leadership roles prior to her current undertaking as president.”
Besides her service as president, Flenorl serves on the Ole Miss Journalism Advisory Board and is a charter member of the Ole Miss Women’s Council. While a student, she was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and was the first black female to be named to the student Hall of Fame.
Jon Turner of Jackson, another past alumni association president, is also among her supporters.
“I chaired the nominating committee that selected Rose,” Turner said. “Being our first African-American president was really not a significant part of the discussion. She had been ‘just Rose’ to the entire committee for a very long time.”
Flenorl and her husband, Richard, live in Cordova, Tenn. They have one daughter, Lillie, who followed in her mother’s footsteps as an Ole Miss graduate and member of the student Hall of Fame.
“Anyone who comes to and stays with Ole Miss for an extended period of time somehow instinctively knows that this place is where they are meant to serve,” Flenorl said. “I consider myself to be an example of someone who was meant to come to the university and remain closely connected to it.”
For more information visit the UM Alumni Association .