University of Mississippi - Ole Miss Yearbook (Oxford, MS)

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The Universily of Mississippi has been gro ing and impro ing in the lasl decade. The ne ( step is to better develop graduate education. ' QUOTE JOHN Z KISS Our universily has been improving itself for the past decade not just in campus renova- tion but on the education quality. The university ' s graduate school is no exception to striving for the best. The University of Mississippi has been growing and improving in the last decade, says Dean John Z. Kiss, dean of the gradu- ate school. The next step in this process is to better develop graduate education at the university. Dr. Kiss is a newcomer to the university from his position as a distinguished prolessor and chair of botany at Miami University in Ohio. Dr. Kiss is internationally known for his research in botany and space technology. His research has received as much as five million in funding from organizations such as NASA. Dr. Kiss sought on his promise to cultivate a strident learning environment at the Ole Miss graduate school, As new dean of the graduate school, he states, I plan to work with my faculty and administrative colleagues to help improve and expand oraduale education at the University of Mis- sissippi. Since September. Dr. Kiss has ensured that the graduate programs— masters and doctoral— will cr eate the next generation of leaders. The graduate school ' s level of education allows the students to create innovative solu- tions to issues such as climate change, heahh care and education quality. The school provides additional advanced training that is necessary to deal with many complexities ol modern life post-graduation. The craduate school improves not just the graduate students but the undergraduates, too. The graduate students contribute to the university ' s learning environment as teaching assistants, tutors and mentors to the undergrads. This is evidenced in natural sciences courses when the graduate and undergraduates work side-byside in research teams. The graduate students also contribute to the educational quality with funded research projects that draw and welcome interest to the university. Matt Nelms is one such students whose academics elicited national attention. This October, Nelms and his classmate. Graham Jacobs, wrote an award-winning entry in a national paper competition. The paper was initially a class assignment in their graduate engineering program; now it is a second- place entry in the American National Standards Institutes ' inaugural student competition, Hailing from Colorado Springs, Colo., Nelms is pursuing two master ' s degrees: one in mechanical engineering and the other in curriculum and instruction in education. In addition to his workload, he hel])s the Center of Mathematics and Science Education support high school engineering challenges. Ole Miss offers unique research opportu- nities and has a great faculty. says Nelms when explaining on how he chose the Ole Miss graduate school. After reading about the materials science research being done here and the connection with major national labs, the opportunity was too good to pass up. Graduate students like Maria Marion take on a lot of responsibilities. Marion is a native of Memphis. Tcnn. and she is a graduate stu- dent in the Higher Education-Student Per sonncl Program. Marion has been involved in numerous programs on-cam])us and held leader positions in organizations. She has served as the social and philan- thropic director ot the Graduate Student Council. Co-Chair of the Multicultural Working Group, an instructor in the l.Dl IE 105 program, and much more. She has recently been elected to the Board of Directors for National Association of Graduate-Professional Students. Tlie pro- gram serves as the encompassing organiza- tion for all graduate students. Its mission is to provide resources, support, and advocacy to graduate students looking to enter the career world. Marion will begin serving in January 201 J,. Marion has given so much to the university yet she feels that tiie graduate school gave her more. I have truly cnjoyetl my experi- ence. she says, My program specifically !ias opened doors to so many opportunities for professional development through practicum and graduate assistant positions. She adds, Faculty, staff and administra- tion are eager to assist in creating a holistic experience. Nelms agrees. He initially started just pursuing the master ' s in mechanical: now Ik- is looking to improve the mathematics and science education in the high schools. These amazing and unexpected opportuni- ties came aliout, Nelms explains, due to that community and interaction within the graduate school and laculty. STORY CALLIE DANIELS 251

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PHOTOS PHILLIP WALLER 24 J

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m The Patterson School of Accountacy at Ole Miss has been ranked for seven consecutive years in the top 30 in the nation and in the top 20 for the past four years by the Public Accounting Report. Last year it was ranked as number 10, PHOTOS TYLER JACKSON 26