| First | Last | Position | Term End |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marie | Barnard, Chair | Associate Professor of Pharmacy Administration and Research Associate Professor in the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences | 2026 |
| Annette | Kluck, Past Chair | Dean of the Graduate School and Professor of Leadership and Counselor Education | 2025 |
| Lynn | Wilkins, Vice Chair | Work-Life Resources Program Manager | 2025 |
| Comfort | Agyin-Birikorang | Human Resources Generalist II | 2027 |
| Julia | Bussade | Instructional Assistant Professor of Modern Languages and Director of Elementary Spanish and Portuguese Programs | 2027 |
| Veronica | Crawford | Research Administrator II | 2026 |
| Sandra | Cox-McCarty | Associate Dean for Administration | 2026 |
| Simone P. | Delerme | Associate Professor of Anthropology and McMullan Associate Professor of Southern Studies | 2025 |
| Julie | Glasco | Assistant to the Provost for Strategic Initiatives | 2027 |
| Lolita | Gregory | Assistant Dean Undergraduate Recruitment and Retention | 2025 |
| Anna | Hutcheson | Operations Manager | 2025 |
| Lauren | Jones | Assistant Vice Chancellor, Access and Opportunity | 2025 |
| Melissa | King | Program Manager | 2026 |
| Elizabeth | Mason | Assistant to the Vice Chancellor - Administrative Support | 2026 |
| Stephanie | Miller | Associate Professor of Psychology and Provost Faculty Research Scholar for Institutional Transformation | 2026 |
| Christine | Nielson | Assistant Professor of Accountancy | 2025 |
| Shelli | Poole | Director, Office of Confidential Advocacy, Support and Education | 2025 |
| Nikki | Reinemann | Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Affiliate Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering | 2027 |
| Jennifer | Simmons | Assistant Provost | 2026 |
| Theresa Ann | Starkey | Instructional Associate Professor in Gender Studies and Associate Director of the Isom Center | 2025 |
| Jess | Turuc | Director of FSL | 2027 |
| Ashleen | Williams | Instructional Assistant Professor | 2026 |
| Candies | Winfun-Cook | Clinical Assistant Professor of Teacher Education | 2027 |
| Kayle | Amos | ASB Representative | 2025 |
| Amanda | Rios | Grad. School Council Rep | 2025 |
| Katherine | Thornton | Assistant to Vice Chancellor | Admin. Asssistant |
Chancellor's Commission on the Status of Women
The Commission on the Status of Women consists of approximately 20 faculty, staff, and student members appointed by the Chancellor and charged with the duty of studying the status of women faculty, staff, and students. The Commission keeps the Chancellor apprised and makes recommendations.
A Brief History
In 1978 Chancellor Porter L. Fortune appointed a committee of faculty, staff, and students to determine what should be done to better the situation for women at The University of Mississippi. The committee recommended two courses of action. One was to provide credit courses, research opportunities, programs, and services for women through the Sarah Isom Center, and the other was to establish the Commission on the Status of Women to focus on such affirmative action issues as sex-based salary inequities, staff classifications, childcare facilities, and the appointment of women to upper-level administrative positions.
Commission on the Status of Women Membership
| 2024-2025 | Marie Barnard |
| 2023-2024 | Annette Kluck |
| 2022-2023 | Phillis George |
| 2021-2022 | Kelly Houston |
| 2020-2021 | Kate Kellum |
| 2019-2020 | Laura Sheppardson |
| 2018-2019 | Susan Duncan and Laura Sheppardson |
| 2015 - 2018 | Laura Antonow |
| 2010-2015 | Amy Wells Dolan |
| 2008-2010 | RoSusan Bartee |
| 2006-2008 | Nancy Bercaw |
| 2004-2006 | Traci Mitchell |
| 2003-2004 | Bettie Puckett |
| 2000-2003 | Charlotte Fant |
| 1996-1999 | Christy Wyandt |
| 1991-1995 | Judith Cole |
| 1986-1989 | Iola McClurkin |
| 1984-1985 | Diane Pearson and Gloria Kellumf |
Colleges & Universities
Arizona State University: ASU Commission on the Status of Women
Clemson: President’s Commission on the Status of Women at Clemson
Columbia University: Senate Commission on the Status of Women
NC State University: Council on the Status of Women
Illinois University: Presidential Commission on the Status of Women
University of Arizona: Commission on the Status of Women
University of Tennessee: UT Commission for Women
State Commissions
Mississippi: Mississippi Commission on the Status of Women
California: State of California Commission on the Status of Women
Florida: Florida Commission on the Status of Women
Georgia: Georgia Commission on Women
Hawaii: Hawai’i State Commission on the Status of Women
Indiana: Indiana Commission for Women
Iowa: Iowa Commission on the Status of Women
Kentucky: Kentucky Commission on Women
Maryland: Maryland Commission for Women
Massachusetts: Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women
Michigan: Michigan Women’s Commission
Minnesota: Office on the Economic Status of Women
New Jersey: NJ Commissions for Women
Oklahoma: Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women
Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Commission for Women
Texas: The Governor’s Commission for Women
Vermont: Vermont Commission on Women
Wisconsin: Wisconsin Women’s Council
Current Members
Meet the current members of the commission.
Katherine Thornton
- Assistant to the VC Intercollegiate Athletics
Annette Kluck
- Dean of the Graduate School and Professor of Leadership and Counselor Education
Marquita Smith
- Associate Dean for Graduate Programs and Associate Professor of Media and Communication
Ashleen Williams
- Instructional Associate Professor
Shelli Poole
- Director Office of Confidential Advocacy, Support and Education
Elizabeth Mason
- Assistant to the Vice Chancellor - Administrative Support
Julia Bussade
- Instructional Assistant Professor of Modern Languages and Director of Elementary Spanish and Portuguese Programs
Veronica Crawford
- Research Administrator II
Sandra Cox-McCarty
- Associate Dean for Administration
Simone Delerme
- Associate Professor of Anthropology and McMullan Associate Professor of Southern Studies
Julie Glasco
- Assistant to the Provost for Strategic Initiatives
Lolita Gregory
- Assistant Dean Undergraduate Recruitment and Retention
Anna Hutcheson
- Operations Manager
Lauren Jones
- Assistant Vice Chancellor, Access and Opportunity
Melissa Rodriguez King
- Program Manager
Stephanie Miller
- Professor of Psychology and Provost Faculty Research Scholar for Institutional Transformation
Christine Nielson
- Assistant Professor of Accountancy
Nikki Reinemann
- Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Affiliate Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering
Jennifer Simmons
- Assistant Provost
Theresa Starkey
- Instructional Professor in Gender Studies and Associate Director of the Isom Center
Candies Winfun-Cook
- Clinical Assistant Professor of Teacher Education
Working Groups
We address equity, care, leadership, workplace climate, and safety to improve the campus community.
The Work-Life Alignment Working Group is responsible for assessing the workplace climate and determining ways to enhance work-life balance for employees at the University. These enhancements may include new or improved policies, training and education for supervisors and employees, and structural improvements (both physical and organizational) that increase workplace satisfaction, fairness, and equity.
The Child and Family Care Working Group is responsible for hearing concerns, assessing the climate, and proposing solutions to ongoing challenges of family care for University of Mississippi student, faculty, and staff and their families. This group is has considered issues concerning day care, pre-school, after-school care, summer care, and holiday childcare solutions. This working group will also take up issues concerning care for elders and for special needs family members.
The Pay Fairness Working Group is responsible for monitoring compensation, benefits, and advancement across campus and assessing whether those are being provided equitably. In 2007 and 2017 the Commission compiled Pay Fairness and Advancement Reports. Following the 2017 report, the University engaged an outside firm to conduct a study of its compensation model. A response to that study is currently underway. This group will also study the VIEW2022 results once those are released.
The Violence Against Women Working Group is responsible for assessing the climate among students, faculty, and staff regarding sexual harassment and assault, domestic violence, and other acts of violence against women in our University community. Importantly, this group supports the work of the Title IX Office, the Office of Violence Prevention, and student organizations, such as UMSAFE that combat such violence through education, awareness, and action.
The Women in Leadership Working Group is responsible for assessing the climate for current women leaders, as well as aspiring leaders, at the University. This group will evaluate issues of access, compensation, and overall structure for advancement of faculty and staff, and ways in which the University can support women in leadership roles.
University Resources
Department of Human Resources
The Human Resources Department is dedicated to supporting every employee at the University. We assist with a range of employment-related needs, including benefits, pay, leave, insurance, tuition waivers, performance management and more. Our mission is to positively contribute to the well-being of others with each interaction, ensuring that everyone feels valued and supported throughout their employment journey.
Equal Opportunity/Regulatory Compliance
The University of Mississippi’s Office of Equal Opportunity & Regulatory Compliance (EORC) is responsible for compliance with federal laws and regulations pertaining to the fair treatment of faculty, staff, and students, which includes the application of Title IX and Title VII, and upholds equal employment opportunity to ensure equal access to the University.
Office of Confidential Advocacy, Support and Education
CASE supports the UM community impacted by interpersonal violence, including physical, sexual, verbal, and emotional abuse, as well as stalking and technology-facilitated abuse. We serve as a liaison between the University and local resource groups. Our certified campus advocates provide confidential, non-judgmental support and options to empower students to create an individualized plan for healing. Staff and peer educators also promote awareness through programming and provide education for students, faculty and staff concerning these topics.
University Counseling Center
At the University Counseling Center (UCC), you will find a team of dedicated professionals who strive to offer the best care possible in an atmosphere of acceptance and respect.