Kirk Purdom
OXFORD, Miss. – Kirk Purdom, vice president for advancement at Transylvania University and a University of Mississippi alumnus, has been named UM executive director of alumni affairs, effective March 14.
Tim Walsh, who held the post since 2008, retired in March 2015. Sheila Dossett, senior associate director of alumni affairs, has served as interim executive director since that time.
“We are delighted that Kirk and his family are coming home to Ole Miss,” Chancellor Jeff Vitter said. “He has established a solid record of success while serving universities in Tennessee and Kentucky, and we are excited to have him rejoin our team. The Ole Miss Alumni Association has been blessed with dedicated leadership for many years, and we look forward to its continued growth and prosperity for years to come.”
Purdom has served in his current role at Transylvania University since 2011. He came to Transylvania University from Kentucky Wesleyan College, where he was vice president for advancement.
“I am extremely honored to be returning to Ole Miss and grateful for the opportunity to lead our Alumni Association,” Purdom said. “Ole Miss is a great institution with wonderful alumni, and the Alumni Association is blessed to have such a dedicated staff. With all the growth and excitement surrounding Ole Miss, I look forward to joining the team and to working with our board of directors as well as Chancellor Vitter and all our great volunteers.”
A 1993 UM graduate, Purdom played baseball for the Rebels and worked for several departments on campus from 1994 to 2001, including two years with the Alumni Association. His wife, Keilly, also played golf for the Rebels and served as head women’s golf coach from 1991 to 2001.
The Purdoms’ oldest daughter, Kie, is following in her parents’ footsteps as a freshman on the Ole Miss golf team. The Purdoms have two other daughters: Kara Beth, 12, and Kate, 16.
It is important for the new executive director to have a strong Ole Miss connection, Alumni Association President Eddie Maloney said.
“After an almost yearlong nationwide search, we are happy to have Kirk as our new executive director,” Maloney said. “Our executive director reports directly to Chancellor Vitter, and I felt a strong Ole Miss background was necessary to keep our university moving in a positive direction with all of us working together. From the interview process, I believe Kirk can follow in the footsteps of his esteemed predecessors.”
Purdom becomes only the sixth director to lead the association. Before 1947, the highest position, alumni secretary, was elected annually.
Formed in 1852 by the university’s first graduating class, the Alumni Association publishes the quarterly Ole Miss Alumni Review magazine, organizes reunions, sponsors the Alumni Hall of Fame, coordinates local club meetings nationally, operates The Inn at Ole Miss and is involved in many other programs and activities to strengthen the university and to help maintain a strong relationship between the Ole Miss alumni community and the university.
For more information about the Ole Miss Alumni Association, visit http://www.olemissalumni.com.