The Robert Gene Wiggins Scholarship Endowment

 The Robert Gene Wiggins Endowment was established by the School of Mass Communication and Journalism to support deserving Southern Miss Mass Communication and Journalism students through scholarship.

The Robert Gene Wiggins Endowment was established to honor the work of Gene Wiggins, professor emeritus in the School of Mass Communication and Journalism. Dr. Wiggins began teaching at Southern Miss in 1973. He served as director of the School of Communication from 1981 to 2001, and he served as the graduate program coordinator for the School of Mass Communication and Journalism from 2001 to 2007. He is held in high regard by thousands of mass communication and journalism alumni; many cite Dr. Wiggins’ dedication and compassion when they describe the reasons for their success at Southern Miss.

Dr. Wiggins earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees from Southern Miss. After completing his Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University, he joined the USM faculty, teaching courses in journalism, media law and public relations. Prior to completing his doctorate, Dr. Wiggins worked for the Jackson Daily News and the Hattiesburg American.  He also served as a public information officer in the U.S. Air Force.  He authored numerous publications, including books, book chapters and journal articles in the area of mass communication law.

The Wiggins Endowment supports scholarships for deserving graduate students in the School of Mass Communication and Journalism.

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Donations can be made through the USM Foundation's Online Giving Web site. For more information about this fund or how to contribute, contact Mandy%20Nace in the School of Mass Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern Mississippi at 601.266.4196.