USM School of Leadership Hosts Advisory Council with Area Business Leaders
Tue, 12/12/2023 - 02:53pm | By: Dena Temple
Southern Miss School of Leadership faculty and staff welcome business leaders from Gulf Coast industries to the Advisory Council.
Members of the business community throughout the Gulf Coast area are helping the Southern Miss School of Leadership change and expand its curriculum to prepare students for careers available in the region.
The Advisory Council is comprised of business leaders from across the Coast representing industries such as banking, shipbuilding, manufacturing, military, space, education, government, transportation, and tourism. They volunteer their time, providing their experience and insight to help the School of Leadership determine the relevancy of its curricula, whether new programs are needed, and the current personal and professional development needs of its students.
The group held its first meeting at the University’s Gulf Park campus in November.
The group was first welcomed by School of Leadership alumna Dr. Val Williams, who now serves as director of career and technical education for the Mississippi Community College Board. Dr. Shannon Campbell, Senior Associate Vice President at USM, and Dr. Jacob Breland, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Coastal Operations, followed with a few comments on behalf of the University.
One of several breakout groups designed to brainstorm ways the curricula can help meet the future needs of Coastal industries.
Ka’Lon Duncanson, an undergraduate marketing student, also addressed the council, sharing his life-changing experience with the School of Leadership at Southern Miss.
Dr. Heather Annulis, director of the School of Leadership, spoke to the group about the role of the Advisory Council and its importance to the future educational experience at Southern Miss.
“The feedback received from the Advisory Council confirmed the alignment between local business leaders’ concerns and the eminent need for talent development that can help organizations thrive in our uncertain economic environments,” said Dr. Annulis. “At USM in the School of Leadership, we are committed to meeting these needs through developing top-quality graduates from our programs. We are excited about the partnerships we have with organizations throughout the region. We are better together.”
Once introductions were complete, the council was divided into focus groups according to the School of Leadership’s four program areas: Applied Technology, Human Capital Development, Industrial Engineering Technology, and Organizational Leadership. The moderator for each focus group led discussions on the participants’ future needs and solicited suggestions on how they can best be met by the curricula within the school. Each focus group then presented their findings and developed a list of action items.
At the close of the meeting, the Dean of the College of Business and Economic Development, Dr. Bret Becton, spoke about the value of the school’s relationships with the business community and how important their participation was in the formation of the focus of the school’s curricula.
Dr. Annulis stated that plans are to hold the event annually.
The School of Leadership is housed within the College of Business and Economic Development at The University of Southern Mississippi and operates on the Coastal USM campus in Long Beach, Mississippi. Its undergraduate degree programs include Accounting, Applied Technology, Business Administration, Industrial Engineering Technology, Industrial Engineering Technology (Logistics), Management, and Marketing. Graduate programs include Human Capital Development, Human Capital Development (Instructional Technology and Design), Instructional Technology and Design, and Logistics, Trade and Transportation.
Learn more about these degree programs or email the School of Leadership.