Association of Office Professionals
Grow Your Career with AOP
Association of Office Professionals
Mission
The USM Association of Office Professionals is dedicated to providing opportunities for communication and relationship-building among staff members of the university.
AOP is proud to support to all USM support staff. Associate membership is open to the supervisors of USM support staff, faculty, and administrators. The membership year runs from July 1 to June 30. Our members participate in campus initiatives, community service and raise funds to support staff scholarships and awards. USM AOP is affiliated with the Mississippi Association of Education Office Professionals (MAEOP) and the National Association of Educational Office Professionals (NAEOP).
Congratulations to Russ Willis, AOP Educational Administrator of the Year, and
Cory Williams, AOP Educational Office Professional of the Year, on receiving
these prestigious awards. Their dedication to USM staff professional
development in bringing Coursera through the Professional Standards Program
approval process, including recognition from Human Resources as part of
Educational Enhancement benefit for staff, are deeply appreciated.
Congratulations to Cory Williams, who was recently recognized at the USM Coursera Awards.
Congratulations to Dr. Joyce Powell, who was recently recognized at the USM Faculty and Staff Awards.
Congratulations to Cindy Walker, who was recently inducted as President of Mississippi
Association of Educational Office Professionals.
Join us at an AOP meeting! Meetings are held monthly on 2nd Thursdays from 11:30-12:30 in International Center 319 / Teams; Our meeting schedule is listed on Events tab. For more info, please contact Mary%20Beth%20Simmons.
AOP General Meeting Sept 10,2026 11:30-12:30 pm IC 319
Unlock Your Potential: The USM Career Academy in Coursera!
Ready to transform your professional journey with world-class credentials that employers recognize and reward? Our curated Staff Development landing page showcases certificate programs and courses that are especially relevant for our USM staff. For active members of AOP, Coursera counts toward your Professional Standards Program hours with the National Association of Educational Office Professionals!
The Professional Standards Program allows staff members to enhance their professional competencies through academic programs, conferences, and institutes. As a member of The National Association of Educational Office Professionals (NAEOP), individuals can participate in the Professional Standards Program to obtain nationally recognized certificates. In addition, these certificates are accepted for The University of Southern Mississippi’s education enhancement policy per section 5.9 of the employee handbook.
Learn more about the AOP Scholarship program here. The application period for the AOP Scholarship closes February 15.
