College of Liberal Arts — View From Ventress

Jackson Couple Honors Khayat with Gift to Chancellor’s Trust

May 15, 2012 By tbarger Leave a Comment

Chancellor Dan Jones, from left, Judith and Jay Travis, and Chancellor Emeritus Robert Khayat

Judith and Jay Travis III of Jackson found each other, grew intellectually, became leaders and nurtured many friendships during their student days at the University of Mississippi. Now the couple is continuing a tradition of giving back to strengthen their alma mater.
The Travises have joined the Chancellor’s Trust with a $25,000 gift to honor their longtime friend UM Chancellor Emeritus Robert Khayat. The Chancellor’s Trust provides unrestricted funds to address the greatest needs as identified by the chancellor and provost.
“We enjoyed our experiences at Ole Miss as students and through the years as alumni,” said Jay Travis. “We both were taught by our parents to give to other people. We have been blessed and want to help others with these funds.”
Travis and Khayat had similar paths as students, as they were active in campus activities, members of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and law students. The former chancellor applauded the couple for their longtime involvement in the life of the university.
“Jay and Judith Travis are a wonderful Ole Miss couple who have consistently supported the university for many years. We have been friends for more than 50 years, and I have loved watching their personal and professional successes. They have an extraordinary family, including a daughter who is a physician at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
“Jay was universally respected and admired by his fellow lawyers as well as his many clients, while Judith is loved by all who know her. It is so typical for them to quietly make a significant gift to the university that will benefit many bright, deserving students,” Khayat said.
The couple’s gift to the Chancellor’s Trust is the latest in their longtime support, and among other gifts are those to UM’s School of Law, College of Liberal Arts, Alumni House renovation, Paris-Yates Chapel and more.
“We wanted to do something more to help the university; we wanted to give back,” said Jay Travis, who recently retired as a partner in Butler Snow, a respected law firm with offices in five states. “We believe through the Chancellor’s Trust our resources can be directed in a manner that will help students.”
Judith Travis ? who transferred to the university from Agnes Scott College holds an undergraduate degree in social studies from the College of Liberal Arts and was involved in Associated Student Body, Mortar Board and the Chi Omega sorority. “Ole Miss is such a special place – it is always about family. Ole Miss has also made so much progress since we were here as students. Robert Khayat’s influence has been spectacular, and we wanted to do something to honor his contributions and also help the university,” she said.
UM Chancellor Dan Jones commended the Travises’ support. “Judith and Jay Travis are outstanding alumni who have chosen to be actively involved with their alma mater for many years. We thank them for expressing their deep affection for Ole Miss through this unrestricted gift. Because of this generosity, many students’ lives will be changed through enriching educational opportunities.”
Ole Miss has been a part of the couple’s lives for decades. “I decided in high school that I wanted to go to law school,” said Jay Travis, whose areas of practice focused on estate planning and administration, and fiduciary litigation. “Family and friends told me if I wanted to practice law in Mississippi, I needed to go to Ole Miss. I have enjoyed a long career interacting with several generations of families as clients.”
The attorney graduated magna cum laude from Ole Miss with an undergraduate degree in banking and finance from the School of Business Administration and graduated magna cum laude from the School of Law. He was active with many campus groups, including the ASB, and served as editor-in-chief of the Mississippi Law Journal.
He is a member of Mississippi Bar, where he served as president of the Young Lawyers Section and the Fellows of the Young Lawyers Division, as well as chair of the Estate and Trusts Section. He is a member of the Hinds County Bar, where he has served as president, and the American Bar, where he chaired the Committee on State Tax Problems of Donative Transfers and was a member of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Section. In addition, he has provided leadership as president of the Estate Planning Council of Mississippi and as chair of the Mississippi Law Institute.
Travis is a fellow and former state chair of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and a member of the Board of Regents. He is a past president of the UM Law Alumni Association and has served on the UM Foundation Board of Directors and the Momentum Campaign Planned Giving Committee.
The Travises are the parents of three grown children: Dr. Kathy Gregg of Jackson, a graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Medicine; and John Travis of Phoenix, Ariz., and William Travis of Jackson, both graduates of Ole Miss. The couple also enjoys four grandchildren.
For more information on becoming a member of the Chancellor’s Trust, contact Debbie Vaughn, senior executive director of development, at 662-915-1687 or dvaughn@olemiss.edu; or visit www.umfoundation.com/makeagift.
Tina Hahn

Filed Under: Alumni News, College of Liberal Arts, Featured Content

Liberal Arts Offers Summer School Courses Online (LASSO)

May 11, 2012 By tbarger Leave a Comment

The College of Liberal Arts is pleased to announce new online classes for the summer of 2012. Students can choose from classes in almost all general education categories. Classes will be offered during the full summer term (May 30 – July 25) and will be taught completely online by university faculty members. The Liberal Arts Summer School Online (LASSO) will be ideal for students who need flexible summer schedules, especially those who may be away from Oxford but who still wish to take a summer class. This is the perfect opportunity to catch up on your required coursework or to move even closer to on-time graduation. A brief description for each class, including credit hours and registration information, can be found on the LASSO page (PDF).

AH 102: Introduction to Non-Western Art

A chronological and comparative survey of indigenous arts in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Oceania. Will not count toward art major.

CHEM 106: General Chemistry II

Atomic and molecular structure, stoichiometry, solutions, physical properties of gases, liquids and solids, chemical bonding, kinetics, thermodynamics and equilibrium, acid-base chemistry and the descriptive chemistry of the elements. (Continuation of CHEM 105 with a minimum grade C).

CHEM 201: Environmental Chemistry I

Agricultural chemicals, water pollution, essential foods, processed foods, food additives, drugs. May not be used for major or minor credit.

CLC 106: Classical Mythology

Introduction to the myths of the Greeks and Romans through ancient literature in translation and art.

ENGL 222: Survey of World Literature since 1650

Prose, poetry, and drama.

ENGL 250: Applied Writing

A practical course for students who desire additional instruction and experience in writing. Special emphasis on developing techniques of effective written communication.

MATH 121: College Algebra

PHIL 101: Introduction to Philosophy

Survey of major philosophers and traditional philosophical problems concerning knowledge, values, and the nature of reality.

REL 323: Islam

An introduction to the sacred literature, basic beliefs, history, and culture of Islam.

POL 101: Introduction to American Politics

Constitutional principles of U.S. governmental framework. Political participation, electoral processes, political institutions.

THEA 201: Appreciation of the Theatre

Appreciation of the theatre as a performance art; developing perceptive audience standards through demonstrations of the unique characteristics of theatre. (For nonmajors only).

WRIT 101: First Year Writing I

Prepares students to write in college by focusing on writing as process for a variety of contexts and audiences. Develops information literacy, awareness of conventions, skills of inquiry, exploration, and agrumentation. Includes mulitmodal writing presented in ePortfolios.

WRIT 102 (Business Theme): First Year Writing II

Writing processes, skills on inquiry, exploration, and argumentation, with special emphasis on research, information literacy,

and writing for a variety of contexts and audiences. Includes multimodal writing presented in ePortfolios.

AVAILABLE SEATS

Check MyOleMiss online course schedule for available seats. Consult the Academic Calendar for registration periods and important dates.

Filed Under: College of Liberal Arts, Latest News

Oxford AmeriCorps VISTA Worker Honored with Governor’s Award for Volunteer Excellence

May 11, 2012 By tbarger Leave a Comment

Rosie Nelson of Oxford, an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer at the University of Mississippi, has been honored with the inaugural award for Outstanding Service by a National Service Participant by the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service.

The award is part of the 2012 Governor’s Initiative for Volunteer Excellence Awards, which celebrate ordinary Mississippians doing extraordinary things to improve lives and communities across the state. Nelson was recognized at the recent GIVE Awards luncheon at the Mississippi Museum of Art. “Rosie serves with compassion and intelligence,” said Stephen Monroe, UM assistant dean of liberal arts and director of the North Mississippi VISTA Project. “VISTAs are dynamic and highly motivated people, and Rosie is a wonderful example. We’re proud of her service and of this accomplishment.”

Nelson is among 11 AmeriCorps VISTA members fighting poverty through education with the North Mississippi VISTA Project at the university.

Serving in the School of Engineering, Nelson helps to develop service-related initiatives and provides support to faculty developing service-learning coursework. She has served more than 800 hours as a VISTA member, working with faculty, staff and students to develop a service-leadership organization for engineering students, as well as a small grant program that provides students with startup funds of up to $500 to create science and technology-related service projects within the local community. Her work in this capacity has unlimited potential for positively affecting Lafayette County, Oxford, and the Ole Miss communities.

Nelson has revived the university’s chapter of Alpha Phi Omega, a national co-ed service fraternity, and serves as its chapter adviser. She assists other chapters throughout Mississippi and nearby states in developing their service programming. Besides VISTA and Alpha Phi Omega, Nelson volunteers with the Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts and Lafayette County 4-H.

Nelson has served as an AmeriCorps NCCC member, where she participated in several projects along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. In honor of her work as an NCCC member, she was awarded the Gold Level President’s Volunteer Service Award, as well as the Congressional Award Bronze Medal. She was a volunteer in multiple groups as an undergraduate at the University of California at Berkeley and as an employee of the Walt Disney Co.

She is committed to sharing her passion for service with others and encourages her peers to volunteer for causes that are personally meaningful.

“I am a relatively new resident, but I have embraced Mississippi as my home, and I am honored to give back to the communities here,” Nelson said.

VISTA volunteers are sought for 2012-2013. Applicants must be at least 18, a U.S. citizen and have a bachelor’s degree or minimum three years’ work experience. Each of these full-time, one-year placements is supported by AmeriCorps with a modest living allowance, health benefits and an education grant, which can be used for graduate education or to repay qualified student loans. Those interested in serving should submit a brief letter of interest and resume to Stephen Monroe by 5 p.m. June 11. Successful candidates will begin their one-year terms in August.

“Like Rosie, our VISTAs make real and lasting contributions to the people of Mississippi,” Monroe said.

Filed Under: College of Liberal Arts, Featured Content

New Campus Organization Combats Student Hunger

May 9, 2012 By tbarger Leave a Comment

A group of faculty, staff and students at the University of Mississippi recently led efforts to establish the Ole Miss Food Bank, an organization that serves to feed hungry students on campus. “I think this can be one of the most important projects that we have ever undertaken at Ole Miss,” said Camp Best, graduate assistant. “I believe this because the Ole Miss Food Bank will not only be serving a tremendous need, but also because it can be such an insightful and teachable experience for so many in the Ole Miss community who before may not have realized that there are actually hungry students on our own campus.”

The mission of the organization is to provide nourishment to end student hunger and to foster a healthy community. Their motto is “Ending hunger. Building community.”

“I was personally not aware of the need of a food bank until I heard stories of faculty and staff coming across students who are struggling with hunger,” said Abby Olivier, a senior public policy major from Hattiesburg. “We need this food bank for a number of reasons. First, since our campus is growing, it is difficult to keep track if students are hungry or not. Second, we have a good percentage of students on need-based financial aid, and mixed with the relative poor economy, many students are living from paycheck to paycheck or depending on their parents who may be living from paycheck to paycheck.

“Overall, the need is evident, so the Ole Miss Food Bank will be the basis of that effort to provide our students with food when they are going through rough times.”

Though still in its planning stages, the organization’s structure is simple. Students who need to utilize the food bank will walk in, show their university ID card, select food items and leave. There is no application process, and all student users’ names will be kept confidential. Various committees of the Ole Miss Food Bank are working on staffing, food drives, sponsorships and marketing.

Olivier encourages students to take part and help the Food Bank make a difference in the lives of hungry students.

“What I like to remind students is that we really do not know if our peers are struggling with hunger,” she said. “We recognize people walking from class to class, and we even spend time with friends who we may not know are hungry. Becoming involved with this organization will be a way for students to help their fellow students. It is also important for students and community members to donate. I remind people that there is a community food bank in Oxford, but it is rare for students to become eligible to utilize it. I hope that people can realize that and can understand the true need for food on the Ole Miss campus.”

For donation information or general information about the Ole Miss Food Bank, contact Jessica Broukaert at jgbrouck@olemiss.edu.

Filed Under: College of Liberal Arts, Featured Content, Public Policy Leadership, Student News

NEMS360.com: A cosmic perspective: Oxford Science Cafe explores the universe

November 28, 2011 By Zing

The universe made a scheduled stop at a pastry cafe last week. About 50 people filled up on general relativity, black holes and coffee cake. Our Earth was compared to a basketball, a pinhead and a piece of candy. Read the story

Filed Under: College of Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Local News, physics, Science Cafe, Syndicated News From Zing

Music Department Faculty Recital to Feature Piano Duo, Theatre Collaboration

October 28, 2011 By Erin Parsons

OXFORD, Miss. – Two unique chamber works will be featured at the next concert in the Music Department Faculty Recital Series. “This is a chance to hear two dynamic works that are not often performed, all presented by first-rate performers, both faculty and students,” said Michael Rowlett, assistant professor of music. The concert is set [...]

Filed Under: College of Liberal Arts, Department of Music, Faculty/Staff News, Liberal Arts, Music, News Releases, Syndicated News From Zing

Poet Beth Ann Fennelly Named UM Humanities Teacher of the Year

October 19, 2011 By Rebecca Lauck Cleary

… Honoree sets reading, lecture for Oct. 27

Beth Ann Fennelly

OXFORD, Miss. – Passion for poetry and teaching have earned one of the University of Mississippi’s most beloved professors another honor. Beth Ann Fennelly, associate professor of English and director of the MFA program in creative writing, has been named the 2011 Humanities Teacher of the Year and is set to present a free, public lecture at 7 p.m. Oct. 27 in Bondurant Hall. In “A Life with Lines: Reflections on Writing, Teaching and Loving Poetry,” Fennelly plans to offer both a poetry reading and humorous commentary. Besides reading some of her poems and talking about how poetry has shaped her life, Fennelly plans to share why she loves teaching and what studying literature can do for students. “I was surprised and honored to hear I had won the award,” said Fennelly, who teaches poetry as literature and also teaches the writing of both poetry and creative nonfiction. “Some of the pleasures of teaching are the daily feedback, seeing the students’ faces, the arch of an eyebrow when someone has a question or seeing the nod of a head or an ‘ah-ha’ moment. I like to be with the students and see their faces, and that’s my favorite part of teaching.” The award is designed to recognize outstanding teachers in humanities fields and/or teachers in other fields who use the interests and methods of the humanities to set a context for their own areas of study. It is co-sponsored by the Mississippi Humanities Council and the UM College of Liberal Arts. “Each institution of higher learning in the state is invited to designate a member of its faculty for this award each year, to honor outstanding work and recognize significant contributions to teaching,” said Barbara Carpenter, executive director of the Mississippi Humanities Council. “Recipients give a presentation or lecture about their research, special interests or writing to a public audience, and the institution provides a reception or other occasion for the honoree to answer questions and talk with the audience about their work.” Thirty awards, which include $500 checks, are given statewide. Carpenter said she enjoys Fennelly’s work and is looking forward to the lecture. “I am delighted that the University of Mississippi has selected Beth Ann Fennelly to receive this award,” Carpenter said. “She is an excellent representative of the university and its outstanding faculty and of the kinds of accomplishments the Mississippi Humanities Council likes to recognize.” Good poetry uses language to truly speak to people, and it inspires, motivates and challenges, said Fennelly, who won a Fulbright Award in 2009. She is also winner of a Pushcart Prize and was included in “The Best American Poetry” series three times. Receiving the award has caused Fennelly to reflect on her life as a teacher and has forced her to grow. “We live in a culture that values money, so when you do something that appears valueless, you are forced to reflect on its less obvious rewards. Poetry is powerful medicine, and studying and teaching literature has enriched me in many ways,” said Fennelly, who has taught at UM since 1998. “Another reason I am honored by this award is because it’s a tangible reminder of my support here from students as well as the administration. The humanities matter here, as they do in all healthy communities and it’s great to know that people are reading, listening and responding.” Fennelly is married to Tom Franklin, UM assistant professor of fiction, who was named the 2011 Crime Writer’s Association Gold Dagger winner for his latest novel, “Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter” (Macmillan, 2010). She is the author of “Unmentionables,” (W.W. Norton, 2008), “Great with Child: Letters to a Young Mother” (W.W. Norton, 2006), “Tender Hooks,” (W.W. Norton, 2004) and “Open House” (Zoo Press, 2002), which won The Kenyon Review Prize and the GLCA New Writers Award. For more information on the creative writing program at UM, visit http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/english/mfa/index_large.htm.

Filed Under: College of Liberal Arts, Creative Writing, English, Faculty/Staff News, Liberal Arts, MFA, News Releases, residential college, Syndicated News From Zing