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2021 BUSINESS FIRST U N I V E R S I T Y O F M I S S I S S I P P I
greetings
KEVIN BAIN
W
e hope you enjoy the magazine that show-
cases many of the great things going on in
the Ole Miss School of Business. It has been
a difficult year and a half as we experienced
the challenges of COVID-19 that disrupted
all of our lives. However, in the tradition of the Ole Miss spirit,
we have pressed forward as faculty, staff, students and alumni
to create excellent educational opportunities and great success
stories that we share with you in this issue.
In this issue of BusinessFirst, you can read about our students’
organizing club sports, winning contests and giving back to the
community. We have stories about the generosity of our alumni
in gifts to our school and programs, and we share with you the
impressive achievements of our faculty. Much of the success of
the business school is the daily work of our staff to keep us all
moving forward together.
I hope you enjoy these stories. We look forward to being with
you again soon.
Sincerely,
Ken Cyree
Dean
3
UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI
INSIDE
PUBLISHER
Ken Cyree, Dean
School of Business Administration
EDITOR
Stella Connell
Manager of Marketing
and Communications
School of Business Administration
ART DIRECTOR
Stefanie Goodwiller
Manager of Design Services
University Marketing & Communications
Del Hawley COPY EDITOR
Retires, Leaving Benita Whitehorn
6 a Legacy of
Assistant Director
University Marketing & Communications
C OV E R S T O RY
Innovation CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
in Learning JB Clark
Stella Connell
Bill Dabney
Mary Stanton Knight
4
Preston Moore
Management Professor Selected for Early Career Award • • • • Rabria Moore
Edwin Smith
Ali Mae Walsh
Gift to Bridge Generation Gap • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 10 Avery Willis
Haley Young
Southeastern Conference
Transfer Student Brings Passion for Service to Ole Miss • • • 12 CONTRIBUTING
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Stella Connell
Scoring a Net Profit • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 16 Bill Dabney
Jodi Dunbar
Lin Ge
Shirley Crawford Remembered • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 24 Sydney Gibson
Joelan Howes Photography
Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services:
Kevin Bain
Community-Engaged Work Recognized • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 36 Thomas Graning
Robert Jordan
Logan Kirkland
Kathy Shoalmire
Ali Mae Walsh
John Riley Wilbanks
Ole Miss
BUSINESS.OLEMISS.EDU
Wins SEC
Published October 2021
MBA Case
Competition 253 Holman Hall
22
P.O. Box 1848
University, MS 38677
662-915-5820
Follow us on social media:
University of Mississippi –
School of Business Administration
STELLA CONNELL
The School of Business Ole Miss MBA
Administration
(Ole Miss Business) @OleMissBusiness
at the University
@OleMissBusinessSchool
of Mississippi is
@OleMissMBA
accredited by the
Association to @olemissbusiness
Advance Collegiate @olemissmba
Schools of Business. @olemiss_cie
FACULTY
PROFI L E
SUBMITTED
Early Career
Award
K
ristin Cullen-Lester, assistant
professor of management at the
University of Mississippi School
of Business Administration, has
been selected to receive the 2021
Distinguished Early Career Contributions Kristin Cullen-Lester
Award – Practice from the Society for Industrial
and Organizational Psychology.
Cullen-Lester was invited to present at the for two years and leading the Center for Cre-
2021 annual conference, April 14-17, in New ative Leadership’s research and development
Orleans. She presented, with winners of several work incorporating networks into leadership
other awards, in a “Best Practice and Applica- development for six years.
tion” session. She earned her Ph.D. in industrial and or-
“Throughout my career, I have worked to ad- ganizational psychology in 2011 from Auburn
vance scientific thinking regarding leadership University. Her research focuses on improving
development practices through my research leadership effectiveness by helping leaders de-
and by working with leaders to improve them- velop their networks, improve complex collab-
selves and their organizations,” Cullen-Lester oration and enact strategic, large-scale change.
said. “I am excited and honored to receive this “We are pleased that Dr. Cullen-Lester is
recognition.” receiving this recognition of her accomplish-
The winner of this award is selected based on ments,” said Ken Cyree, dean of the Ole Miss
the breadth and depth of the nominee’s contri- business school. “We are fortunate to have ded-
butions to advancing the science and, partic- icated scholars such as Kristin who have been
ularly, the practice of the psychology of work. so impactful in publishing and industry.
Award recipients demonstrate not only a record “Dr. Cullen-Lester’s work is an important
of publications and presentations, but also have bridge between academic scholarship and in-
advanced the adoption of evidence-based prac- dustry practice, and we are excited for her future
tices and produced transformational change impact on our students and the business school.
within organizations. We are fortunate to have her join our faculty, and
“When Dr. Cullen-Lester came to us in the fall I appreciate her dedication to the profession.”
of 2020, we knew that we were hiring a talent- Cullen-Lester is advancing this work through
ed researcher and excellent teacher,” said Paul a research grant supported by the National Sci-
Johnson, associate professor and chair of the ence Foundation. She also serves on the edito-
management department. “Her selection by SIOP rial boards of The Leadership Quarterly, Journal
as someone who is impacting how businesses of Organizational Behavior and Journal of Business
operate early in her career only confirms that. and Psychology.
“Kristin is already working with companies The Society for Industrial and Organizational
and organizations locally and globally to help Psychology is the premier professional associ-
them be successful, while also influencing ation for the science and practice of industrial
management practice through her research and and organizational psychology. While an inde-
teaching. She is a respected and valued mem- pendent organization with its own governance,
ber of the University of Mississippi, and we’re
BUSINESS FIRST | 2021
SIOP also represents Division 14 of the Ameri-
fortunate to have her here working with us.” can Psychological Association and is an organi-
Cullen-Lester joined the School of Business zational affiliate of the Association for Psycho-
Administration in 2020 after serving as an as- logical Science.
sistant professor of management in the Bauer
College of Business at the University of Houston BY STELLA CONNELL
4
5
UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI
Online MBA in Nation’s Top 10
The University of Mississippi’s online Master of Business Administration
program has been named as one of the best in the nation by U.S. News &
World Report. The rankings, released Jan. 26, place Ole Miss in a five-way
tie for No. 7 among public universities and No. 10 overall.
2021-22 MBA Officers and Graduate Student Council Senators
UM is tied with the universi-
ties of Arizona, Maryland and
Washington and the Universi-
ty of Wisconsin MBA Consor-
tium for the No. 7 spot. The
University of Florida, at No.
3 among public universities,
and Auburn University, at No.
15, were the only other South-
eastern Conference schools
STELLA CONNELL
included in the top 25 of the
2021 rankings.
This is the third consecutive
year the Ole Miss program has
ranked in the top 10.
Front row, from left: Tressa Presley McLeod, Graduate Student
“We are pleased that our Council senator, Mobile, Alabama; Elizabeth Tettleton Mason,
efforts to provide an outstand- president, Oxford; Anna Gregory, vice president of finance, Tupelo;
ing educational experience for Rebecca Eyiaro, vice president of community service, Lagos, Nigeria
our students is recognized ex-
ternally,” said Ken Cyree, dean Back row, from left: Cole Barnhill, vice president of communications/
of the UM School of Business PR, Union, Kentucky; Maia Dooley, vice president of recruitment,
Biloxi; Will Gentry, vice president of social events, Memphis,
Administration.
Tennessee; Claire McClure, Graduate Student Council senator, Jackson
“This year has been chal-
lenging with COVID-19, but
our experience in the on- “Our program emphasizes survey and from data collect-
line MBA program for more excellent instruction and in- ed in a separate peer-reputa-
than a decade has allowed us novative learning opportuni- tion survey.
to successfully meet these ties,” said Walter Davis, faculty “We feel that it’s important
challenges. Our students are adviser to the program. “Our to ask incoming students why
highly qualified and engaged, ranking reflects not only the they chose to pursue their
and their efforts in partner- exceptional faculty but also a MBA at Ole Miss,” said Ashley
ship with our faculty, staff and diverse and highly qualified McGee, the program’s director.
alumni have paid dividends, group of students.” “They recognize the flexibility
as this ranking reflects.” For the 2021 edition, U.S. of our online program, the con-
MBA programs have a News ranked online MBA pro- tent of the curriculum, the na-
greater enrollment than any grams using five categories: tional ranking and reputation,
other type of graduate busi- student engagement, expert and the competitive tuition.
ness degree program in the opinion, faculty credentials “With every class, we are
country, the U.S. News release and training, student excel- energized and inspired. From
noted. Prospective students lence, and student services biochemistry to business
often narrow their research and technologies. backgrounds, to students
exclusively to programs that The publication selects fac- across the country from New
award MBAs. tors, called ranking indica- York to California, the resumes
To aid their efforts, the tors, to assess each program of our online MBAs are impres-
publication compiles annual in the five categories. A pro- sive. It is a true pleasure to see
rankings of distance edu- gram’s score for each ranking our university continue to at-
cation MBA programs. This indicator is calculated using tract high-caliber students.”
year’s rankings include 329 data that the program report-
schools nationally. ed to U.S. News in a statistical BY STELLA CONNELL
INNOVA
COVER
STORY
Del Hawley Retires after
35 Years of Leadership
When Del Hawley arrived at the University of Mississippi, Ronald Reagan
was president, gasoline cost 86 cents a gallon, and the Dow Jones
Industrial Average was 1,793. No one could have imagined – least of all,
Hawley – what the next 35 years would bring.
I
SUBMITTED
‘‘
n August 1986, he left
East Lansing, Michigan,
to start the fall semes-
ter at Ole Miss. He had
planned to return to
I have always admired
Michigan over the Labor Day
weekend to move his wife,
and respected the
Rita, and 9-month-old daugh- fairness he demonstrates
ter to Oxford. Meanwhile, he in decision making
was staying at the Alumni and the support he
House because their new has provided me even
house was not finished. if we disagree on a
At the end of his first week matter. He is leaving
on campus, feeling lonely and
this place better than
missing his wife and daughter,
he found it, and that is
Hawley decided to walk to a
gas station to get a six-pack of always a testament to
Hawley in his office in the new
beer, where he discovered he Holman Hall, 2000. Hawley had been someone’s resiliency
couldn’t buy cold beer in Ox- associate dean for seven years. and hard work.”
ford. He had accepted a job in — KEN CYREE
a “dry” county in Mississippi.
“What kind of place is this,
and what have I gotten myself All who have worked with and is able to get things done
into?” he thought. him have seen his abilities that no one else can, because
Despite a disorienting start, throughout many different he knows who to call when
Hawley would lead teaching challenges over the past three something needs to be done.
and technological innova- decades. He is a very selfless person
tions, and serve at the helm “Del is an institution at the and truly wants what is best
of the construction of Holman business school,” said Dean for the school and all the peo-
Hall, the business school’s Ken Cyree, who has worked ple who work here.
BUSINESS FIRST | 2021
home for nearly three de- with Hawley for 14 years as “I have always admired
cades. He ends his tenure at dean and 17 years as a finance and respected the fairness
the school as senior associate faculty member. “While no fan he demonstrates in decision
dean and associate professor of bureaucracy, he has amaz- making and the support he
of finance. ing institutional knowledge has provided me even if we
6
VATION
7
UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI
SUBMITTED
Conner 210 in 1993. Hawley (in the foreground)
and Ed Wood listen as Dean Randy Boxx speaks
at the dedication of the first interactive computer
classroom at the University of Mississippi.
disagree on a matter. He is Associates Grant program, globally. Cornell University had
leaving this place better than Malone, a finance professor, a system in place, but it was
he found it, and that is always and Hawley bought comput- very unusual for an academic
a testament to someone’s re- ers and printers and built a unit, such as the UM School of
siliency and hard work.” lab for shared equipment in Business Administration, to
Conner Hall. Soon thereafter, have its own email server.
Innovation Begins the business school built and Then, in fall 1994, Bart Gar-
Hawley began leaving his housed its first computer work ner came from California and
mark at the business school lab for faculty, which started was hired to serve as the first
right away. He was spotted in the regular use of technology network administrator for a
1987, wheeling a Zenith per- in teaching. separate unit on the Ole Miss
sonal computer, connected to In August 1991, the school campus.
a huge Sony video projector, to welcomed another young pro-
display financial spreadsheets. fessor, Brian Reithel, from the Holman Hall
It was nothing exceptional by University of South Florida, to Beginning in 1961, Conner
today’s standards, but it was the management information Hall was home to the business
considered cutting edge and systems division. Shortly after school. As the school grew,
revolutionary at that time. that, Hawley, Malone and Rei- alongside the accountancy
In the late 1980s, a group thel installed network wiring program, it couldn’t house
of young professors, includ- and systems to connect the all the faculty and students
ing Hawley, Phil Malone, Joe faculty offices in Conner Hall. enrolled, so construction of a
Paolillo and Keith Womer, led In 1993, soon after Haw- new building, Holman Hall,
the school into a new decade ley was appointed associate started in 1996.
under the leadership of Dean dean, the school launched the Holman was completed
Rex Cottle. first PC-based email system in 1997, and renovations
Taking advantage of a on campus. This was a break- to Conner were completed
program called the UM through in higher learning in 1998. The result was a
state-of-the-art learning cen- “He and Brian had been to at his graduation in 2006,
ter with more than 100 miles other institutions and were when Hawley was reading the
of cable and 2,000 network very aware of the new tech- names of the graduates.
connections throughout the nologies. The new building “He actually pronounced my
complex, two 45-seat com- and renovation of Conner Hall name correctly,” said Ham-
puter classrooms, and a dis- gave us a chance to be on the moud with a laugh. “After I
tance-learning center with cutting edge of classroom and received my diploma, I slipped
two interactive video confer- networking technology.” him my card.”
ence classrooms and a control After a short time in the
center. A Mentor and a F riend private sector, Hammoud de-
Garner and Hawley helped In 2000, Sam Hammoud, a cided he wanted to return to
establish technology for the young man from Lebanon, the university to work in in-
new building. Garner was for- left his home city of Beirut to formation technology. A for-
ward-thinking in instruction- travel more than 6,200 miles mer instructor suggested he
al technology to support the to join his brother at Ole Miss. go see Hawley, so he headed
faculty and give them the tools He first encountered Hawley to the business school, re-
to do their best work. sume in hand, and
“Del and others cold-called Hawley
‘‘
had a vision of new by knocking on his
technology for the door unannounced.
school,” Garner said.
It took me almost 20 years to become a U.S. citizen. Del stayed with me through
the process and never gave up regardless of how tedious or bureaucratic
things got. I will always be grateful for his support during that time.”
— SAM HAMMOUD
SUBMITTED
BUSINESS FIRST | 2021
Randy Box (left), dean; Ann Canty, assistant dean; Brian Reithel, co-chair of the UM Sesquicentennial;
Sue Hodge, director of advising; and Del Hawley, associate dean, with the School of Business
Administration’s new sesquicentennial banner on Dec. 3, 1999. The university (via the business school)
was hosting the finale of William F. Buckley Jr.’s ‘Firing Line’ debate television show that evening. The
debate resolution was ‘The Federal Government Should Not Impose a Tax on Electronic Commerce.’
8
9
UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI
‘‘
Helping the business school get better
and stronger year after year has been
my greatest joy and honor. But it’s
always important to remember that the
business school is not the building or
the furniture or the technology. It’s the
people. It’s all of the people who give
their time and effort to work with all of
the other team members to make our
business school the best that it can be.”
— DEL HAWLEY
Hawley looked over the
resume and said, “I’ve been
looking for a person with your
skills.”
KEVIN BAIN
Hammoud has worked with
Hawley for over a decade.
“Del is the ultimate profes-
sional in the office,” he said. Hawley has worked for the Ole
“He inspires me to work as Miss business school for 35 years.
hard as I do because he values He began in August 1986 and will
that in people. He has been a formally retire in December 2021.
friend, a mentor, and I trust
him with all that I have profes-
sionally and personally. school administrator,” Reithel year after year has been
“It took me almost 20 years said. “He is trusted, respect- my greatest joy and honor,”
to become a U.S. citizen,” ed, thoughtful, seasoned and Hawley said. “But it’s always
said Hammoud, who received extraordinarily effective. His important to remember that
his citizenship in 2019. “Del service as senior associate the business school is not the
stayed with me through the dean has helped the Ole Miss building or the furniture or the
process and never gave up School of Business become a technology. It’s the people. It’s
regardless of how tedious or nationally recognized leader all of the people who give their
bureaucratic things got. I will in undergraduate, master’s time and effort to work with all
always be grateful for his sup- and doctoral education.” of the other team members to
port during that time.” As Hawley steps into retire- make our business school the
ment after three-and-a-half best that it can be.
L eaving a L egacy decades of service, there is no “Our tremendous faculty
denying much has changed and staff members are the
One of the hallmarks of Haw-
for the better since his arriv- reason our business school
ley’s legacy will be his fairness
al. He has served under five is unique and exceptional,”
and respect of everyone who
chancellors and six deans. Hawley said. “I am proud to
has had the opportunity to
Through it all, he has worked have been able to serve on a
work with him. He empowers
quietly, behind the scenes, to team with so many wonderful
the faculty and staff to be their
make extraordinary transfor- people for so many years.”
best by giving them the tools
mations possible.
to succeed.
“Helping the business BY STELLA CONNELL
“Del has become the ul-
school get better and stronger
timate collegiate business
ALUMNI
DONOR
Gift to Bridge
Generation Gap
University of Mississippi alumnus Matthew Murphy, of Nashville, Tennessee,
hopes a recent gift to his alma mater will encourage more students to study
banking and ultimately bridge a generational gap he has noticed in the
mortgage industry.
T
he 2015 gradu- I realized very quickly that and is still to this day one of
ate’s $100,000 I could climb the executive my all-time favorite speak-
gift will establish business ladder, while by- ers,” Murphy said. “I was
the Matthew C. passing the typical corporate lucky enough to take both his
Murphy Scholar- ranking structure and timeline Finance 537 and 538 bank
ship Fund and the Matthew C. required to obtain such status, management classes, which
Murphy Fund for Excellence and all the while by doing so at are two of the best courses I
in the School of Business an extremely early age.” have ever taken.
Administration. At 29, he is qualified to sit for “I still have the hard copy of
“Being able to give back to the Certified Mortgage Banker the ‘Bank Management’ book
my alma mater so early after designation, the highest of- sitting by my desk in my office.”
graduation and really estab- fered by the Mortgage Bank- Cyree, dean of the business
lishing a firm relationship ers Association of America, school, remembers Murphy
with the university was al- and has already obtained the from the classroom and is
ways at the top of my list,” said Accredited Mortgage Profes- grateful that he is contributing
Murphy, who serves as COO sional, Certified Residential to his alma mater.
at the Commonwealth Group, Underwriter and Certified “We are thrilled to have
based in Memphis. Mortgage Compliance Profes- such a wonderful commit-
“When I was analyzing the sional designations. ment to our faculty and stu-
mortgage finance industr y Murphy credits Ole Miss dents from such a young
roughly six years ago and plot- business school faculty for alumnus,” Cyree said. “It is
ting a massive career change, helping him find his place in very satisfying to me to see
I noticed an enormous age dif- the marketplace, leading him one of the students I taught
ferential between upper-level to found Murphy Capital Man- giving back.
and executive management agement, of which he is also “I think it speaks volumes to
versus the rest of the mortgage president and CEO. Matthew’s dedication and ap-
banking industry. “Dr. Ken Cyree was, without preciation for the education he
“This sparked my jump into a doubt, my favorite professor received at the Ole Miss busi-
mortgage banking, ness school.”
where the average Growing up in an
‘‘
age of a mortgage Ole Miss household
banker is roughly kept the university
58 to 60 years old. close to Murphy’s
BUSINESS FIRST | 2021
It is very satisfying to me to see one of the students I taught giving back.
I think it speaks volumes to Matthew’s dedication and appreciation
for the education he received at the Ole Miss business school.”
— KEN CYREE
1011
UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI
KEVIN BAIN
‘‘
I will always hold the professors who
taught me, the students who helped me
and the university staff who assisted
me through my years at Ole Miss close
to my heart, and I will continue to give
back as much as I possibly can.”
— MATTHEW MURPHY
heart. Both his father, Dr. “I cannot stress this enough:
SUBMITTED
Garnett Murphy of Memphis, the cost of a great education –
and brother, Dr. Drew Murphy which Ole Miss gave me – is
of Germantown, Tennessee, priceless.”
completed undergraduate de- Gifts such as Murphy’s some help. Being a student at
grees at the university. create opportunities for stu- such an extraordinary univer-
When it came time to se- dents and open doors to their sity allows you to receive this
lect his college home, Murphy future careers, said Sally needed help and assistance
said the memories of football Rychlak, development offi- and find your niche and specif-
games with his family, along cer for the School of Business ic interests that will ultimately
with the strong reputation of Administration. pave your way for future suc-
the finance and accounting “This incredible gift not only cess upon graduation.”
programs in the business will support student success To make a gift to the Matthew
school and Patterson School of in the business school but C. Murphy Scholarship Fund or
Accountancy, made his deci- also will display the commit- the Matthew C. Murphy Fund
sion to attend UM easy. ment to excellence among our for Excellence, send a check,
“I will always hold the pro- young alumni base,” Rychlak with the fund name written in
fessors who taught me, the said. “We are so grateful for the memo line, to the Univer-
students who helped me and Matthew’s generosity and ded- sity of Mississippi Foundation,
the university staff who assist- ication to the business school.” 406 University Ave., Oxford,
ed me through my years at Ole Murphy describes his phi- MS 38655; or online at https://
Miss close to my heart, and I losophy of giving with an anal- give.olemiss.edu.
will continue to give back as ogy: “You’ll never see a turtle
much as I possibly can,” Mur- sitting on a fence post that got
phy said. there by itself. He had to have BY MARY STANTON KNIGHT
For more information about supporting the School of Business Administration, contact Sally
Rychlak, development officer, at sallyr@olemiss.edu or 662-915-3084.STUDENT
PROFI L E
bui lding community th rough giving
Transfer Student Brings
Passion for Service
to Ole Miss
MATT EDDY
W
JOHN RILEY WILBANKS
hen Matt Eddy completed close interactions the students had with their
his first two years of col- professors.
lege at Coastal Alabama “Additionally, Oxford has a lot to offer – simi-
Community College in lar to my hometown of Fairhope, Alabama.”
Bay Minette, Alabama, he Community involvement and service have
already had a list of service accomplishments been a passion for Eddy for as long as he can
and honors to take with him on his journey. remember. He was a volunteer firefighter in
Eddy was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa high school, as well as the president of the In-
Honor Society, an organization that recogniz- teract Club, the high school version of Rotary
es high achievement at the community college International, and served as a board member of
level, where he served as vice president of ser- Project Outreach, a program that worked with
vice. In this role, he organized events, such as special-needs children.
local blood and book drives that gave back to So, it’s no surprise that the past two years
the campus and the surrounding community. have been busy for Eddy.
He worked with a local Marine Corps unit to or- “Since arriving at the university, I have made
ganize a Toys for Tots program to supply toys it my goal to become active on campus,” he
for families in need. said. “When I got to Ole Miss, I noticed there
By the time graduation rolled around, Eddy was not a Rotaract Club (the college version of
was named the Business Administration Stu- Rotary International).”
dent of the Year and graduated magna cum Around this time, he met marketing profes-
laude. He had received a full scholarship to sor Laurie Babin, who was also new to campus.
CACC and had made his mark. But, what was Babin had helped establish a Rotaract Club at
next? Where would he finish? the University of Louisiana at Monroe, where
BUSINESS FIRST | 2021
“I selected the University of Mississippi she worked before coming to Ole Miss.
because of the great educational opportuni- Eddy and Babin got together to re-establish a
ties and, specifically, the top-rated business Rotaract at Ole Miss.
school,” he said. “I also decided on Ole Miss “We created the club and built an execu-
because I enjoyed the friendly atmosphere and tive board,” he said. “In October 2019, we got
1213
UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI
TOP: Eddy splitting wood at
Camp Hopewell at the UM
Big Event in March 2021
BOTTOM: Eddy as a volunteer
firefighter in Fairhope,
Alabama, in April 2017
approval from the Student Union as an RSO
(registered student organization) and from Ro-
JOHN RILEY WILBANKS
tary International.
“We were just beginning to rapidly grow our
club and start service projects when the pan-
demic hit.”
The group met via Zoom and YouTube to
stream their monthly meetings, and partici-
pated in online service projects in which they
wrote letters to children in hospitals. They also
held a week of service where members could
conduct a range of socially distanced activities
in their respective communities, such as clean-
ing up trash in Oxford neighborhoods and on
campus, donating food to the local food pantry,
and taking food to fire stations and the Missis-
sippi State Veterans Home.
“Matt’s initiative to reinstate Ole Miss Rot-
aract demonstrates not only his passion but
also his leadership abilities,” Babin said. “He
didn’t just start something that would fall apart
after he graduates, but rather he built an exec-
utive team and created a sustainable organi-
zation impacting our community that is led by
students.”
Besides his work with Rotaract, Eddy has
served the university and the business school
as a chief emissary officer. These students
represent the school’s student body and help
recruit high school and transfer students. He
also has been involved with the Student Mar-
keting Association and the Transfer Leadership
Organization.
Eddy’s journey has been filled with great op-
portunities to meet people and to serve.
“My advice to any incoming student is to
make the most of your time in college,” he said.
“Go to things; get involved. College will be over
JODI DUNBAR
before you know it.”
BY STELLA CONNELLT eac h i n g w i t h c u t t i n g - e d g e t e c h n o l o gy
Companies Donate
Real Estate Software
Real estate students at the University of Mississippi have access to
information available only to industry professionals, thanks to a gift from
the CoStar Group, a leading provider of commercial real estate information,
analytics and online marketplaces.
H
eadqua r tered Administration to extend ac- estate professionals and pos-
in Washington, cess to a special version of sibly even future CoStar Group
D.C., the tech- our nearly limitless data plat- employees.”
nology compa- form, which can help students The platform will add value
ny has donat- further their education,” said to the nationally recognized
ed 50 licenses to the School Michael Lese, sales associate business school by enhancing
of Business Administration, with CoStar/LoopNet. experiential learning for stu-
giving students access to in- “Access to these helpful dents, said Sergio Gárate, as-
depth analytical information tools will give Ole Miss real sistant professor of real estate.
on commercial real estate estate students an edge with “CoStar Group is a data
BUSINESS FIRST | 2021
properties – even many near the experience of using and provider largely used in the
UM campuses. analyzing CoStar Group industry for investment anal-
“CoStar Group is hon- data, which goes hand-in- ysis,” he said. “Any real estate
ored to partner with the Ole hand with the development professional will encounter
Miss School of Business of the next generation of real this data set at some point
1415
UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI
BILL DABNEY/UM FOUNDATION
Sergio Gárate, UM assistant
professor of real estate,
teaches students in
the School of Business
Administration to use ARGUS
Enterprise analytic software.
evaluate, analyze and gauge
the risk of an investment as
well as facilitate the transac-
tion of properties. Investors
then use the information pro-
vided by the Argus analysis
to keep track of their budgets
and benchmark performance
of multiple assets simply and
visibly.
in their career to aid in their In late 2019, the business Students who learn to use
market research. school also received a technol- the ARGUS technology will
“Having CoStar helps our ogy gift from the ARGUS/Altus enter the industry with a com-
students understand how the Group of Houston, Texas. petitive edge, Gárate said.
commercial real estate market The gift, valued at more “Working on a case study
evolves, while gaining access than $330,000, is intended to using this tool helps students
to information about market train UM real estate students polish their analytical skills
supply and demand.” to use the same data and an- and apply the theoretical con-
UM senior Alex Gross, of alytic software used daily cepts learned in the classroom
Houston, Texas, a double ma- by commercial real estate in a practical manner,” he said.
jor in real estate and finance, professionals. “We are really excited and
enjoys using the platform. “We want to ensure that grateful to the Altus Group for
“The ability to use and learn students are prepared with giving our students this oppor-
CoStar while conducting mar- the knowledge they need to tunity, and we believe it will
ket research for commercial enter the industry with the help them land gainful em-
development was incredible,” understanding of our software ployment once they graduate.”
he said. “Being able to learn and how it’s used in different To learn more about sup-
how the program works be- roles,” said Kari Mayfield, ed- porting the real estate pro-
fore entering the workplace is ucation coordinator for Altus gram in the Ole Miss School
definitely beneficial and is an Group. “Learning it while still of Business Administration,
opportunity very few schools in school creates a relation- contact Angela Brown, se-
can provide to their students. ship with the students early nior director of development,
“I’m thankful for the expe- on that sticks with them when at browna@olemiss.edu or
rience and hope CoStar will they become the decision 662-915-3181.
continue to support a relation- makers of tomorrow.”
ship with the university and ARGUS Enterprise allows BY MARY STANTON KNIGHT
its real estate students.” developers and investors to AND BILL DABNEYALUMNI
Scoring a
PROFI L E
Business school helps alumnus realize ‘hoops’ dream
U
niversity of organized and fast-paced been very instrumental in
Mississippi basketball sessions for peo- helping develop my plans fur-
alumnus Jordan ple to play with no long-term ther,” said Wyton, who gradu-
Wyton grew up commitment. For a fee, par- ated from UM with a bachelor’s
playing basket- ticipants sign up online to degree in multidisciplinary
ball and became a walk-on play and then have access to a studies in May 2021. “They’ve
for the Ole Miss Rebels. These gym, referee, jersey and other taken a lot of my ideas and
days, he has turned his love for players. helped me create actionable
the game into a business that Wyton has expanded the steps to improve my business
helps others enjoy it as well. business to include HoopChar- and take it to the next level.”
Wyton began HoopAtlan- lotte and HoopNashville and While in college, Wyton suc-
ta in 2020 to provide fun, has plans to start HoopTexas cessfully pitched to the Reb-
and HoopColorado. el Venture Capital Fund, an
“The game has giv- alumni-established nonprofit
en a lot to me, and I that supports student startup
want to make sure businesses with seed money
that I’m able to give grants. He was also a winner
back to the game and of the Landshark Tank Pitch
help grow that pas- Competition, which provides
sion for basketball for funding to individuals with
other people,” he said. successful pitches.
Wyton’s passion for Wyton also received the Ste-
basketball inspired phen E. Rowell Entrepreneur
him to start the Award, which grants a $5,000
business, but it was prize annually to selected stu-
funding from the UM dents in the CIE’s Gillespie
School of Business Business Plan Competition.
Administration and Rowell attributes Wyton’s
its Center for Inno- success to his ability to ex-
vation and Entrepre- plore the “red zone” and said
neurship that helped his interaction with Wyton
him expand it. reminded him of an article,
“The (business “Quit Getting Comfortable,” by
school and CIE) have organizational psychologist
SUBMITTED
BUSINESS FIRST | 2021
Jordan Wyton, a UM alumnus from Grayson, Georgia, is the inaugural recipient
of the Stephen E. Rowell Entrepreneur Award for his business, HoopAtlanta,
which hosts organized pickup basketball games in the Atlanta area. The
organization has grown and moved into new markets in the Southeast.
1617
UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI
Net Profit
JOELAN HOWES PHOTOGRAPHY
Players Jamel Alston (left), Keshawn Gibbs and Dre Anthony
in Atlanta, May 2021
and CEO adviser Lee Colan, basketball and turning it into
who wrote “It’s pretty safe in a viable startup with exponen-
the comfort zone. There is lit- tial market growth through-
tle or no risk; a misstep here out the Southeast,” said Clay
or there is not very costly. But Dibrell, co-director of the CIE
‘‘
like the football team that’s and professor of management.
trapped between the 20-yard “He took advantage of the
lines, we cannot win in the opportunities presented to
comfort zone. him at Ole Miss and has made
“Because the risk is small, entrepreneurial magic. We
so is the reward. Learning and can’t wait to see what is next Jordan has done an
growth occur when we are for Jordan and his HoopAtlan- amazing job taking his
uncomfortable. Think of the ta venture.” passion for basketball
defining moments of learning As far as next steps, Wyton and turning it into a viable
and growth in your life. Were does not only want to continue startup with exponential
you hanging out in your com- expanding, but he also wants
market growth throughout
fort zone? No, you were hang- to do so in a way that will build
ing over the edge.” a respectable brand.
the Southeast. He
“After my conversation with “I want to help grow the bas- took advantage of
Jordan about his business, ketball community in a posi- the opportunities
it’s safe to say he is definitely tive and inclusive way, where presented to him at
hanging over the edge!” Row- everyone can be involved, Ole Miss and has made
ell said. not just the elite,” he said. “I entrepreneurial magic.”
The CIE and business school want to be able to give anyone — CLAY DIBRELL
hope to help more people like who loves the game an outlet
Wyton by giving them re- to participate and fall in love
sources they need to expand with it again.”
their businesses.
“Jordan has done an amaz-
ing job taking his passion for BY RABRIA MOOREMarketing Master
MENTORING
Besides financial support, the Lyttleton T. Harris IV Endowed Scholarship
at the University of Mississippi is providing mentoring from a
marketing expert for its recipient.
I
n February, Lyt Harris, she will be very successful in beginning to witness Pratt’s
of Houston, Texas, added her chosen profession.” achievements.
$100,000 to the schol- On the Zoom call, Harris “Anna is eager to apply her-
arship endowment he told Pratt he admired her work self and gain experience in her
established in 2016. In ethic, shared some of his own career field of interest prior to
addition to this and previous experiences and offered ca- graduation,” she said.
gifts to his endowment, Har- reer-path advice. During the virtual call that
ris made an estimated $2.5 “Mr. Harris motivated me Brown arranged between
million planned gift in 2019 to to set larger goals,” said Pratt, Harris and his scholar, Pratt
support the scholarship after who hopes to work in market- expressed interest in securing
his lifetime. ing for a company focused on a summer internship using
“I am very grateful to be the consumer behavior or adver- her marketing and communi-
recipient of this scholarship,” tising. “His words have also in- cation skills and talents.
said Anna Pratt, of St. Louis, creased my confidence in what “Following our conversa-
a junior sales and marketing my future is capable of being.” tion, I introduced Anna to
major with a minor in man- Much like Harris’ own career. the business school’s career
agement information systems. Years ago, after spotting the preparation team, the devel-
“Not only have I been given the potential for great success in opment office internship co-
financial opportunity to focus a small-town popcorn grower, ordinator and the marketing
solely on my schoolwork, it Harris’ own marketing efforts department chair, Dr. Barry
also gave me the opportunity helped make Orville Reden- Babin, who all connected her
to connect and get advice from bacher a national sensation. with available opportunities,”
Mr. Harris.” Recognizing the same po- Brown said. “I have enjoyed
When Harris established tential in business students, being a point of contact and
the scholarship, the 1962 Harris has established endow- resource for her. She is part of
graduate of the UM School ments at Ole Miss and three our Ole Miss family.”
of Business Administration other universities that he trusts After completing graduate
said he hoped to meet his re- will help prepare scholarship school at Louisiana State Uni-
cipients. With Pratt, his wish recipients achieve success. versity in 1963, Harris rose
came true … sort of. Because Angela Brown, senior di- through the ranks of Scott Pa-
of the threat of COVID-19, the rector of development for the per Co., where he became proj-
meeting was virtual. School of Business Admin- ect manager for the first dis-
“I greatly enjoyed getting istration, said she is already posable diapers, which he took
to know Anna,” Harris said. from test market to national
“I could see a lot of myself in distribution. Later, he joined a
‘‘
her, especially in the way she’s large division of Hunt Wesson
driven to succeed, and I believe Foods as director of marketing.
BUSINESS FIRST | 2021
If we get together, we can do some great things and probably
make you the Colonel Sanders of the popcorn business.”
— LYT HARRIS
1819
UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI
SUBMITTED
LYT HARRIS ANNA PRATT
On a business trip to Chica- would have never happened,” Big Sisters and St. Luke’s Unit-
go, Harris and his colleagues Harris said. “He wasn’t a mar- ed Methodist Church. During
visited Marshall Fields depart- keting person at all. He was his business career, he was
ment store, where they spotted just having fun with it and listed in Who’s Who in Ameri-
a Mason jar of popcorn labeled didn’t realize its potential.” ca, Who’s Who in Finance and
“with a picture of a funny little After Hunt Wesson, Harris Industry, and Who’s Who in the
man with a bowtie,” he said, worked several years as a se- South and Southwest.
adding that a manager told nior executive in the banking He has served as a mentor
them the product was a best- and finance industry before for MBA students at the Ole
seller in the store. moving to Houston in 1982 to Miss business school and was
Intrigued, Harris conduct- become president and, even- named an Otho Smith fellow
ed laboratory tests at Hunt tually, CEO of Southwest Man- in 2008. He is also a mentor
Wesson and found the prod- agement and Marketing Co. for middle and high school
uct to be all that Redenbacher There, he met his wife in 1984 students in the Spring Branch
claimed and more. at an art exhibition; both were Independent School District in
“So we went and contacted avid collectors. Houston.
Orville in person and said, Harris sold his company “Lyt’s generous gifts encom-
‘You’ve come up with this and retired in 2004. He serves pass the scope of work we do
strain of corn that everybody as managing partner of the here by meeting the financial
likes, and we’re marketing ex- Harris Investment Partner- needs of students who want to
perts,’” Harris recalled. “‘If we ship, specializing in venture pursue an education in busi-
get together, we can do some capital investments, including ness,” said Ken Cyree, dean of
great things and probably specialty foods, residential the business school. “We are
make you the Colonel Sand- real estate, and drug and alco- very grateful for his time and
ers of the popcorn business.’ hol rehabilitation centers. long-term commitment and
That’s exactly what we ended Always active in civic and for our many loyal donors like
up doing.” charitable activities, Harris has him who offer crucial private
Orville Redenbacher’s pop- served on the boards of a num- support to the university and
corn has grown into the na- ber of nonprofit organizations, specifically the School of Busi-
tion’s No. 1-selling brand. including the Kidney Founda- ness Administration.”
“If he’d never met us and tion, Junior Achievement, Boy
we’d never met him, it probably Scouts of America, Big Brothers BY BILL DABNEY
The Lyttleton T. Harris IV Endowed Scholarship is open to gifts from individuals and organizations.
To contribute, send checks, with the endowment name noted in the memo line, to the University of
Mississippi Foundation, 406 University Ave., University, MS 38655; visit https://give.olemiss.edu or
contact Angela Brown, senior director of development, at browna@olemiss.edu or 662-915-3181.Financiers Club
up to TVA Challenge
LIN GE
UM Financiers Club members present their investment thesis virtually for the Tennessee Valley Authority’s
Investment Challenge. They are recent UM graduate Lauren Winstead (left), of Collierville, Tennessee; Jon
Taylor, a senior managerial finance and economics major, of Wiggins; recent UM graduate Diane Lim, of Suwanee,
Georgia; and Kendal Outwater, a senior managerial finance and banking major from Houston, Texas.
E
leven sectors of students from the “The sheer size and the club members’ diver-
Financiers Club at the University of sity helped bring new ideas and insights, often
Mississippi School of Business Ad- the key ingredients to generating a portfolio re-
ministration brought new ideas and turn above the return of the market,” said Lin
insights to the Tennessee Valley Au- Ge, a faculty adviser to the Financiers Club.
thority’s Investment Challenge, making history With two female sector leaders in place, more
in the rankings. female analysts are being recruited to the club.
The Financiers Club placed second out of 24 “Dr. Ge has advocated for underrepresented
schools for the first time since the inception females in finance, and it is inspiring to see
of this competition. Sector leaders planned to her mentor future women in their education
represent the university by presenting their and personal futures,” said Kendal Outwater, a
investment theses in front of TVA executives senior from Houston, Texas, who is double ma-
in late March, but that event was cancelled be- joring in banking and finance and managerial
cause of the COVID-19 pandemic. finance. “I encourage my fellow peers to con-
“The TVA challenge is an excellent experien- sider membership and am eternally grateful to
tial learning opportunity for investment-minded the Tennessee Valley Authority for facilitating a
students,” said Ken Cyree, dean of the School of means to professional development.”
Business Administration. “It is using real funds The club’s planning process for the TVA com-
in a competitive environment, similar to what petition was not severely affected by the pan-
these students will face when they graduate. demic because the Financiers Club was able to
“It is a great way for students to understand conduct weekly meetings via Zoom since the
the nuts and bolts of financial analysis and how pandemic began.
to invest. It is wonderful that the faculty are “We were most proud of our students,” said
dedicated to providing these educational op- Arup Ganguly, another faculty adviser to the
portunities to our students.” club. “It is always very gratifying to see stu-
Ole Miss has been a part of the TVA’s invest- dents successfully apply the tools that they
ment program/challenge for universities since have learned in our courses to manage real
it was created in 1998. As one of the nation’s money. We were thrilled to see their hard work
largest student-managed investment plans, the and passion for finance being rewarded.”
program has expanded to 24 universities and Financiers Club students generated a portfo-
more than $10 million in funds. lio return that was 5.5% above the return of the
Students in the Ole Miss Financiers Club man- market, beating teams from Vanderbilt Univer-
age a $500,000 investment fund for TVA while sity, University of Kentucky, Mississippi State
BUSINESS FIRST | 2021
inviting executives from the finance commu- University and the University of Memphis.
nity to speak and network with club members. For this performance, the TVA has awarded the
The club includes 80 student members, many university $7,449 for student scholarship funds.
of whom are sophomores and juniors, who have
opportunities to learn from older members. BY HALEY YOUNG
2021
ALUMNI
UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI
SUCCESS
A L E X B O W E N S
B. B. A ., M anag em ent
A change of heart, and major,
leads to a dream career.
Often the unexpected path forward is the best path forward.
MEMPHIS RECOVERY CENTER, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE
LOGAN KIRKLAND/OLE MISS DIGITAL IMAGING SERVICES
Alex Bowens grew up in an Ole Miss family. The Memphis,
Tennessee, native always wanted to go to the university and
walk in the footsteps of her mother, aunts, uncles and plenty
of cousins. She even knew (or thought she knew) her major
would be in pharmacy or a related area of science.
Halfway through her junior year, she realized she wasn’t
in the right major. Her grades were suffering. She wasn’t
interested. She still loved being at Ole Miss but was unfulfilled
with her major at that time.
Bowens took the winter break to consider her options. She
spoke with her family members and consulted with her
adviser in the School of Business. Ultimately, she decided
to change her major to management. That decision paid off
almost immediately.
“I realized how much I loved my new major,” she said.
“I was selected for an internship and joined numerous
organizations on campus.”
The change of major allowed Bowens to find her passion.
Now, she’s making her own legacy as a human resources
associate for a substance abuse treatment facility in her
hometown. She loves waking up each day to help others find
their own path.
“I want to inspire everyone to never let fear stop anyone
from finding his or her dream.”Ole Miss Wins SEC
MBA Case Competition
The University of Mississip-
pi won first place in the eighth
Southeastern Conference MBA
Case Competition, conducted
virtually for the first time in
SEC history and facilitated by
the Raymond J. Harbert Col-
lege of Business at Auburn
University.
The winning team is Lau-
ren Cherep, of Chicago; Drew
Johnson, of Monroe, Lou-
STELLA CONNELL
isiana; Andrew Raspo, of
Modesto, California; and Haley
Young, of Charlotte, North Car-
olina. Walter Davis, professor
of management and faculty
The Ole Miss MBA Case team took first
director of the university’s place at the Southeastern Conference
MBA program, advises the Ole MBA Case Competition, which was
Miss team, which captured conducted virtually this year. The team is
its first-ever SEC competition (from left) Andrew Raspo, Haley Young,
championship. Lauren Cherep and Drew Johnson.
“I almost didn’t believe my eyes when I saw
our names on the first-place slide because the
moment was so surreal,” Young said. “Gaining “My favorite part of the competition was the
recognition for an event like this is special, and Q&A following our presentations,” Raspo said.
knowing all of our hard work paid off is a feel- “It was really cool to answer questions and talk
ing like no other.” to the high-level executives from Aflac.”
The competition spanned three days, April Although team advisers were not able to com-
15-17, and began with the four-person teams municate with their students after the case was
being randomly drawn into four divisions on presented, they observed the presentations and
Thursday evening. On Friday morning, a rep- were able to offer support and suggestions for
resentative from Aflac, the case company, pre- improvement after the competition concluded.
sented a real-world challenge to the students, “I was elated to hear our team won, and this
who then had about 24 hours to outline an ap- is a great honor for the Ole Miss MBA program,”
proach to the challenge while also organizing a Davis said. “The team devoted a lot of time and
related presentation. energy to preparing for the competition, and I
“The competition was like procrastinating on was excited to work with them.
level 1,000,” Cherep said. “You had to work un- “This is a great experience for our students, as
der pressure with little to no breaks. it gives them an opportunity to develop and ex-
“Although it was stressful, I enjoyed the fact ercise the creative and analytical skills that will
that I was able to work under the pressure. Hon- be so important to their professional careers.”
estly, I did not realize my own ability to get such Last year’s winner, the University of Ala-
a well-done presentation finished in less than bama, finished second this year, followed by
24 hours.” the universities of Kentucky and Tennessee.
Senior executives from Aflac, including Fred- The SEC MBA Case Competition began in 2013
erick J. Crawford, president and COO, made up and provides a high-level experiential learning
the judging panels. opportunity for SEC business schools to show-
The judges considered each presentation,
BUSINESS FIRST | 2021
case their students’ skills at solving simulated
and the top four teams advanced to the finals or real-world problems. The 2022 competition
on Saturday afternoon. The panel was truly im- is scheduled for the University of Kentucky.
pressed by all the teams, said Michael DeVore,
vice president for corporate development at
Aflac and a leading coordinator with Auburn. BY THE SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE
2223
UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI
Landshark Tank Competition
N
estor Delgado, a The competition often pitch competition, where any
third-year stu- serves as a precursor platform Ole Miss student can pitch
dent at the Uni- for more advanced competi- their business idea in one
versity of Mis- tions such as the Mid-South minute,” said Tong Meng, CIE
sissippi School Business Model Competition director of programs. “This
of Law, took first place in the and the Gillespie Business year the LST pitch took a vir-
sixth annual Landshark Tank Plan Competition, the center’s tual format, and we asked
Pitch Competition, which was, marquee competition in April. students to enter with their
for the first time, held virtual- “This year, an alumnus one-minute video pitches.
ly, on Oct. 30, 2020. suggested that we take advan- “We posted the top five
The competition is spon- tage of the adversity with the pitches on social media and
sored by the Center for Inno- pandemic to make it a truly received almost 1,000 votes in
vation and Entrepreneurship open event,” said Rich Gentry, just two days.”
at Ole Miss. co-director of the CIE and as- Other final participants in
Delgado, a Pascagoula na- sociate professor of manage- the competition were Anne
tive, is a licensed drone pilot ment. “We advertised for en- Kendall Outland, a senior
who hopes to specialize in tries from across campus and from Birmingham, Alabama,
air and space law upon grad- made a very easy competition majoring in elementary edu-
uation. His company, ROTR for students to develop their cation; Brea Givens, a senior
Drone Solutions, aids busi- presentation skills.” from Austin, Texas, majoring
nesses that wish to integrate Since August 2014, the CIE in managerial finance; Jordan
existing drone technology into has assisted roughly 60 stu- Wyton, a senior from Grayson,
their day-to-day operations. dent-led startup businesses, Georgia, majoring in multi-
“During my time at the Uni- and four of the past five win- disciplinary studies; and Ju-
versity of Mississippi School ners of the Gillespie Business lia Zidek, a senior from Avon,
of Law, I have been exposed Plan Competition are still Ohio, majoring in business
to the world of unmanned air- thriving. management.
craft technology through my “The Landshark Tank Pitch
studies with the Center for Air Competition is an elevator BY STELLA CONNELL
and Space Law,” Delgado said.
“As a result of my legal stud-
ies, ROTR Drone Solutions
was created as a solution to an
existing gap that I identified in
the drone industry.
“I am extremely grateful to
the Ole Miss CIE for providing
platforms for me to share the
idea of ROTR with others. Both
the Landshark Tank Compe-
tition and the Business Model
Competition were run in such
a professional manner, and
they were incredibly reward-
ing experiences.”
Nestor Delgado, a third-year Ole Miss law student from Pascagoula,
won the sixth annual Landshark Tank Pitch Competition hosted
by the university’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
SUBMITTED
with his concept for ROTR Drone Solutions. Delgado is
specializing in air and space law at the UM School of Law.You can also read
