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Strategic Plan

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Subcommittees

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The charge for each Subcommittee includes:

  1. Developing broad questions to inform data gathering, with a focus on the macro (the wide-ranging university level) rather than the micro (the individual, granular unit level), and organizing and synthesizing stakeholder input;
  2. Developing potential strategic goals for the Subcommittee’s area of focus, with established cross-cutting themes in mind: inclusion and belonging; multiple sites and modalities; student-centeredness; fiscal stewardship; community engagement; and technology; and
  3. Recommending compelling institutional goals, strategies, and measures of success to the Steering Committee for collective consideration. The Steering Committee will then recommend collective goals, strategies, and measures to University leadership for consideration.

The identified areas of focus for each Subcommittee are not intended to pre-determine specific strategic priorities, but rather to ensure all University stakeholder groups are represented in the process.

Members

Academic Enterprise Subcommittee

  • Chair – Dr. Joshua Bernstein, Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, English; Faculty Senate President-Elect; Hattiesburg; Faculty
  • Dr. LaWanda Baskin, Assistant Professor and Director, School of Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice; Hattiesburg; Faculty
  • Dr. Joby Bass, Associate Professor, School of Coastal Resilience; Gulf Park; Faculty
  • Dr. Kemal Cambazoglu, Assistant Professor, School of Ocean Science and Engineering; Stennis; Faculty
  • Dr. Mike Davis, Professor and Assistant Director, School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences; Hattiesburg; Faculty
  • Dr. Jamye Foster, Professor and Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Education, College of Business and Economic Development; Hattiesburg; Faculty
  • Dr. Jay Howell, Associate Professor, Program Coordinator and Interim Associate Director, School of Education; Hattiesburg; Faculty
  • Dr. Melanie Leuty, Professor, School of Psychology; Director, Center for Faculty Development; Hattiesburg; Faculty
  • Ms. Kathryn Lowery, Director, Institutional Effectiveness; Hattiesburg; Staff

Research Enterprise Subcommittee

  • Chair – Ms. Jill Hendon, Director, Center for Fisheries Research and Development; GCRL; Staff
  • Prof. Meg Brooker, Professor and Director, School of Performing and Visual Arts; Hattiesburg; Faculty
  • Dr. Brian Cuevas, Director of Innovation Management; Hattiesburg and Coast; Staff
  • Dr. Holly Huye; Associate Professor, School of Kinesiology and Nutrition; Co-Director, MCCTR Community Engagement and Outreach Core; Hattiesburg; Faculty
  • Dr. Derek Patton, Professor and Director, School of Polymer Science and Engineering; Hattiesburg; Faculty
  • Dr. Christopher Smith, Assistant Professor, School of Finance; Hattiesburg; Faculty
  • Prof. Tisha Zelner, Associate Professor and Head of Public Services, University Libraries; Hattiesburg; Faculty
  • Dr. Xiaodong Zhang, Professor, School of Ocean Science and Engineering; Stennis; Faculty

Student Recruitment and Enrollment Subcommittee

  • Chair – Dr. Brandon Allen, Associate Teaching Professor and Director of Sport Management; Hattiesburg; Faculty
  • Ms. Tracy Barnhill, Director of Graduate School Operations; Hattiesburg; Staff
  • Ms. Mary Beard, Director of Nationally Competitive Programs and Awards, Honors College; Hattiesburg; Staff
  • Ms. Amanda Cascio, Director of Marketing and Enrollment, Office of Online Learning; Hattiesburg; Staff
  • Dr. Erin Dornan, Director of Communications and Operations, Enrollment Management; Hattiesburg; Staff
  • Ms. Cynthia Habeeb, Marketing Strategist for Academic Programs, Gulf Park; Gulf Park; Staff
  • Ms. Petra Marlin, Director of International Recruitment and Admissions; Hattiesburg; Staff
  • Prof. Lorraine Stuart, Professor, Head of Special Collections and Curator of Historical Manuscripts and Archives, University Libraries; Hattiesburg; Faculty
  • Dr. Wei Wang, Associate Professor and Undergraduate Coordinator, School of Marketing; Hattiesburg; Faculty

Student Engagement and Success Subcommittee

  • Chair – Dr. Delores McNair, Assistant Dean of Students; Hattiesburg; Staff
  • Dr. Mary Funk, Associate Teaching Professor, School of Leadership; Gulf Park; Faculty
  • Col. Brian Hawkins, Veteran's Outreach Coordinator, Center for Military Veterans, Service Members and Families; Hattiesburg; Staff
  • Ms. Robin Johnson, Director of Student Services and Assistant Registrar, Student Services One Stop; Gulf Park; Staff
  • Dr. Masha Krsmanovic, Assistant Professor, School of Education; Hattiesburg; Faculty
  • Ms. Laura Laughlin, Executive Director of Student Connections, Division of Student Affairs; Hattiesburg; Staff
  • Dr. Michelle McLeese, Assistant Teaching Professor and Program Coordinator, School of Social Science and Global Studies; Hattiesburg; Faculty
  • Ms. Heidi Nelson, Director, Student Counseling Services; Hattiesburg; Staff
  • Dr. Lindsay Wright; Associate Professor, School of Child and Family Sciences; Hattiesburg; Faculty

Philanthropy, Alumni, and Community Subcommittee

  • Chair – Dr. Colin McKenzie, Associate Professor and Director, School of Music; Hattiesburg; Faculty
  • Mr. Daniel Barton, Senior Planned Gift Officer, USM Foundation; Hattiesburg; Staff
  • Ms. Amy Batiste, Major Gift Officer, College of Arts and Sciences; Hattiesburg; Staff
  • Dr. Laura Blackmon, Associate Director, Marine Education Center; GCRL; Staff
  • Dr. David Davies, Professor, School of Media and Communication; Director, British Studies Program; Hattiesburg; Faculty
  • Ms. Stephanie McLendon; Director, Executive Education Center; Gulf Park; Staff
  • Ms. Nicole Ruhnke; Interim Chief Communication Officer; representing the Alumni Association; Hattiesburg; Staff
  • Dr. Candice Salyers; Assistant Professor, School of Performing and Visual Arts; Faculty Senate Secretary; Hattiesburg; Faculty
  • Prof. Russ Willis, Assistant Teaching Professor, School of Management; Hattiesburg; Faculty

Administrative and Auxiliary Operations Subcommittee

  • Chair – Ms. Kelly James Penot, Human Resources Manager; Hattiesburg; Staff
  • Prof. Amber Hatten, Professor of Practice and MPA Director; Hattiesburg; Faculty
  • Dr. Kelly Darnell; Associate Research Professor and Director, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory; GCRL; Faculty
  • Ms. Gina McCarty; Assistant to the Dean for Finance and Administration, College of Education and Human Sciences; Hattiesburg; Staff
  • Mr. Lynn Smith; Director of Fiscal Planning and Analysis; Hattiesburg; Staff
  • Mr. Jeff Taylor, Union Director; Hattiesburg; Staff
  • Dr. T.J. Tesh, Associate Professor and Associate Director for Student Services and Operations, School of Music; Hattiesburg; Faculty
  • Mr. Nick Williams, Director of Technology Support Services, iTech; Hattiesburg; Staff
  • Ms. Cara Wilson, Administrative Specialist, School of Social Science and Global Studies; Hattiesburg; Staff