OXFORD, Miss. – Ten University of Mississippi faculty members are taking part in the SEC Faculty Travel Program this academic year, joining more than 100 fellow faculty members from other Southeastern Conference institutions.
Established in 2012 by the SEC provosts, the program provides financial assistance from the SEC office that bolters intra-SEC collaboration. Participants travel to other SEC universities to exchange ideas, develop grant proposals, conduct research and deliver lectures or performances. Areas of interest for this year’s Ole Miss class include music, engineering, anthropology and African American studies.
Travel of the UM faculty is made possible partly through a $10,000 award from the SEC.
“Being a member of the SEC means more than being in an athletic conference,” UM Provost Noel Wilkin said. “This faculty travel program brings together faculty from across the SEC to explore collaborative projects that might otherwise be difficult to initiate or fund.
“We value our SEC partners and our collaborations with other SEC universities.”
Participants from UM for the 2018-19 academic year are:
- Graham Bodie, professor of integrated marketing communication, visiting Auburn University
- Elizabeth Ervin, associate professor of civil engineering, visiting the University of Arkansas
- Micah Everett, associate professor of music, visiting the University of South Carolina
- Selim Giray, assistant professor of music and orchestra director, visiting the University of Tennessee
- Samuel Lisi, assistant professor of mathematics, visiting the University of Arkansas
- Maureen Meyers, assistant professor of anthropology, visiting the University of Tennessee
- Adrienne Park, instructor in music, visiting the University of Tennessee
- Charles Ross, director of African American studies and professor of history, visiting the University of Alabama
- Michael Rowlett, associate professor of music, visiting the University of Tennessee
- Hakan Yasarer, assistant professor of civil engineering, visiting Auburn University
The SEC Faculty Travel Program is one of several academic endeavors designed to support the teaching, research, service and economic development focus of the SEC’s 14 member universities. Past program participants have been invited to present their research at conferences, been awarded competitive grants and secured publications in leading journals.
“The SEC Faculty Travel Program provides faculty at all SEC universities the opportunity to broaden their network of scholars and professionals,” UM Associate Provost Donna Strum said. “This opportunity often leads to collaboration on intercollegiate teaching and research projects, which advance our mission. We appreciate the SECs support and look forward to the 2018-19 program.”
Several additional Ole Miss faculty members also completed trips to SEC institutions earlier this year:
- Shennette Monique Garrett-Scott, assistant professor of history and African American studies, visited the University of Tennessee
- Robert Cummings, executive director of academic innovation and associate professor of writing and rhetoric, visited the University of Georgia
- Dinorah Sapp, lecturer in intensive English, visited the University of Kentucky.