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A Year in Review: Celebrating the Best of Southern Miss in 2025

Mon, 12/15/2025 - 08:39am | By: Jennifer Rigney

The University of ÍøÆسԹÏ’s story in 2025 was one of ambition, innovation and impact—a year in which the university advanced its mission of inspired teaching, collaborative research, creative activity, service to society and producing graduates who are Ready for Life. Across our campuses and communities, students, faculty, staff and supporters shaped a year defined by excellence—from national recognition and groundbreaking research to inspiring student accomplishments and transformative partnerships. The highlights that follow capture just a portion of a remarkable year, offering a glimpse of Southern Miss moving boldly forward and creating lasting impact.

Stories of Student Achievement
In a year defined by national recognition, real-world experience and creative triumphs, Southern Miss students embodied what it means to be Ready for Life.

• Students Gained Real-World Experience at Super Bowl LIX: Business students worked behind the scenes during Super Bowl LIX through a partnership with Allied Universal, a national leader in event security, which provided hands-on experience in everything from event setup to gameday operations in the Superdome.
• Graduate Student Selected for Prestigious Ochsner Fellowship: Clancy Slay, a graduate student dually enrolled in the MBA and MPH programs, was selected as one of only two Finance and Administration Fellows with Ochsner Health, offering an immersive experience in hospital financial and administrative operations.
• Esteemed Goldwater Scholarship Awarded: Joseph Serio, a biological sciences major, earned a coveted Goldwater Scholarship—one of the oldest and most prestigious honors in natural sciences, engineering and mathematics—furthering the university’s lead in the state.
• First Beckman Scholars in Mississippi Named: Ashe Davis, a polymer science and engineering major, and Noah Williamson, double majoring in biological sciences and geography, were selected as the university’s—and the state’s—first Beckman Scholars, joining one of the most prestigious undergraduate research programs in the STEM disciplines.
• Ocean Engineering Student’s Dream Became Reality: Glenn Anglada became the first graduate of the university’s Ocean Engineering Entrepreneurship Pathway program—the only one of its kind in the state—and launched his own 3D-printing business.
• Theatre Student Captured L.A. Spotlight: Theatre major Shrijal Thapa’s short film Sonder earned multiple awards and was selected by three major Los Angeles film festivals, including a Gold Award for Best Original Score.

Moments of Faculty and Staff Distinction
Our faculty and staff continued to advance knowledge, elevate the institution, and earn national and global recognition for their research, leadership and service.

• Xiaodan Gu Earned National Early Career Honor: Dr. Gu, an associate professor in the School of Polymer Science and Engineering, was named one of 400 scientists and engineers nationwide to earn the prestigious Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the highest U.S. government honor for early-career researchers.
• Polymer Scientist and Elite Athlete Represented Team USA: Dr. Tristan Clemons, assistant professor in the School of Polymer Science and Engineering, represented the U.S. Men’s National Field Hockey Team during the preliminary 2025 International Hockey Federation’s Hockey Nations Cup 2 in Muscat, Oman, while continuing to excel in his work within the university’s polymer science laboratories.
• National Leadership Honors Earned by Dr. Kelly Lester: Lester, associate provost for faculty success, received both a Fulbright IEA Award and earned a coveted spot in the 2025 Becoming a Provost Academy, solidifying her growing national profile in academic leadership.
• Global Recognition Garnered for Dr. Douglas Masterson: Dr. Masterson, senior associate provost for institutional success and professor of chemistry, earned global and national recognition for his leadership and contributions to STEM research. He received a Fulbright IEA Award and was selected to represent the Chemistry Division for the Council on Undergraduate Research.
• Vijay Rangachari Experienced Landmark Year: Dr. Rangachari, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, was one of five worldwide awarded a $500,000 grant for his neurodegenerative disease research, was awarded the College of Arts and Sciences’ prestigious T.W. Bennett Jr. Endowed Professorship in the Sciences for 2025-27 and was named the 2025 Chemist of the Year by the Mississippi Local Section of the American Chemical Society.

Milestones of University Impact
In 2025, Southern Miss strengthened its influence through major academic innovations, regional partnerships and initiatives that expanded opportunities across Mississippi and beyond.

• Prestigious Beckman Scholars Program Grant Awarded: Southern Miss became the first university in Mississippi to earn a coveted Beckman Scholars Program grant—one of the most prestigious honors for STEM academic disciplines—providing 15 months of mentored research for exceptional undergraduates and reinforcing the university’s national prominence in undergraduate research excellence.
• 3+3 Accelerated Law Degree Pathway Launched: Southern Miss launched a new 3+3 law degree program with Mississippi College School of Law and the University of Mississippi School of Law, giving qualified students the opportunity to earn both a bachelor’s degree and a Juris Doctor in just six years. The formalized partnership agreement shortens the traditional timeline for students pursuing legal careers by a full year.
• Coastal Pathways Scholarship Introduced: Southern Miss unveiled the Coastal Pathways Scholarship, offering $5,000 annually to qualified transfer students from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and Pearl River Community College, reflecting the institutions’ shared commitment to student success and workforce development across the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
• Executive Leadership Academy Launched: In partnership with the Gulf Coast Business Council, Southern Miss launched the Executive Leadership Academy to strengthen professional development and leadership capacity for the region’s current and future business leaders.
• Center for Teacher Apprenticeships and Residency Established: Southern Miss established Mississippi’s first Center for Teacher Apprenticeships and Residency, centralizing support for new and evolving pathways into the teaching profession and continuing the institution’s longstanding commitment to developing strong, effective educators.
• New Oyster Hatchery Construction Began: Construction began on a new oyster hatchery at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory’s Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center Cedar Point campus, aimed at helping alleviate the decline in oyster harvests along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The facility will be capable of producing up to one billion eyed larvae annually to support restoration and research, with completion expected in late summer or early fall 2026.
• Recognized Nationwide for Transfer and Military Support: For the eighth consecutive year, Southern Miss was selected as one of the nation’s most transfer-friendly universities and again earned designation as a 2025-26 Military Friendly® School.

Highlights of Transformative Giving
Philanthropy continued to shape the university’s future, expanding opportunities, strengthening programs and enhancing the student experience.

• State-of-the-Art Therapy Playground Opened: The Children’s Center for Communication and Development celebrated the opening of its new therapy playground, funded by a generous grant from the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation.
• Philanthropy Strengthened Key University Initiatives: The 2025 fiscal year included significant support for key initiatives and capital projects, including the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection $1 million match; Kelly Gene Cook Sr. Hall facility; Joe Paul Leadership Scholarship program; Payne Foundation; and the Oseola McCarty Scholarship Endowment $1 million milestone. Private giving to the ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï Athletic Foundation also fueled scholarships, facilities and programs that enhanced the student-athlete experience.

As we reflect on 2025, we celebrate not only the achievements listed here but also the enduring spirit of a university dedicated to preparing students for meaningful lives and successful careers. Every accomplishment—whether in the classroom, laboratory, performance space, community partnership or through philanthropic support—paints a picture of a university reaching new heights while laying the foundation for even greater successes in the years ahead.

Southern Miss to the Top!