Chancellor's Commission on the Status of Women

The Commission on the Status of Women is charged with advising the Chancellor on conditions affecting women students, faculty, and staff, and with making recommendations to improve campus and ensure all are treated fairly. The Commission consists of approximately 20 faculty, staff, and students appointed by the Chancellor and is open to both men and women applicants.

commission on the status of women pose for a group photo

A Brief History

In 1978, Chancellor Porter L. Fortune appointed a committee of faculty, staff, and students to determine ways to improve 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 issues as pay fairness, staff classifications, childcare facilities, and opportunities for leadership development. These are issues that affect both men and women; from its founding until today, the work of the Chancellor’s Commission on the Status of Women benefits all members of the university community.

Commission on the Status of Women Membership

FirstLastPositionTerm End
LynnWilkins, ChairParent and Caregiver Program Manager2027
MarieBarnard, Past ChairAssociate Professor of Pharmacy Administration and Research Associate Professor in the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences2026
NikkiReinemann, Vice ChairAssociate Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Affiliate Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering2027
LindsayBanksFlight Department Coordinator2028
ElizabethBatteOutreach and Strategic Initiatives Librarian and Assistant Professor2028
JuliaBussadeInstructional Assistant Professor of Modern Languages and Director of Elementary Spanish and Portuguese Programs2027
VeronicaCrawfordResearch Administrator II & Instructional Assistant Professor of Higher Education2026
SandraCox-McCartyAssociate Dean for Administration2026
JulieGlascoAssistant to the Provost and Interim Registrar2027
LolitaGregoryAssistant Dean, Undergraduate Recruitment and Retention2026
ChristinaKepnerEmbedded Counselor
MelissaKingProgram Manager2026
ElizabethMasonEvents & Special Projects Manager2026
TongMengInstructor and Director of Programs in the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship2028
StephanieMillerAssociate Professor of Psychology and Provost Faculty Research Scholar for Institutional Transformation2026
ChristineNielsonAssistant Professor of Accountancy2026
ShelliPooleDirector, Office of Confidential Advocacy, Support and Education2026
JenniferSimmonsAssistant Provost2026
PollySchmidtSpace Management Analyst2028
Theresa AnnStarkeyInstructional Associate Professor in Gender Studies and Associate Director of the Isom Center2026
JessTurucDirector of FSL2027
SusanWehringInstructional Associate Professor of Athletic Training and Program Director of Athletic Training2028
AshleenWilliamsInstructional Assistant Professor2026
CandiesWinfun-CookClinical Assistant Professor of Teacher Education2027
MadisonWaldropASB Representative2026
RosieJohnsonGrad. School Council Rep2026
KatherineThorntonAssistant to Vice ChancellorAdmin. Assistant

2024-2025Marie Barnard
2023-2024Annette Kluck
2022-2023Phillis George
2021-2022Kelly Houston
2020-2021Kate Kellum
2019-2020Laura Sheppardson
2018-2019Susan Duncan and Laura Sheppardson
2015 - 2018Laura Antonow
2010-2015Amy Wells Dolan
2008-2010RoSusan Bartee
2006-2008Nancy Bercaw
2004-2006Traci Mitchell
2003-2004Bettie Puckett
2000-2003Charlotte Fant
1996-1999Christy Wyandt
1991-1995Judith Cole
1986-1989Iola McClurkin
1984-1985Diane Pearson and Gloria Kellumf
Lynn Wilkins

Meet the Commission Chair

Lynn Wilkins

Parent and Caregiver Program Manager

Current Members

Meet the current members of the commission.
Katherine Thornton

Katherine Thornton

  • Assistant to the VC Intercollegiate Athletics
Annette Kluck

Annette Kluck

  • Dean of the Graduate School and Professor of Leadership and Counselor Education
Marquita Smith

Marquita Smith

  • Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Associate Professor of Media and Communication
Ashleen Williams

Ashleen Williams

  • Instructional Associate Professor
Shelli Poole

Shelli Poole

  • Director Office of Confidential Advocacy, Support and Education
Elizabeth Mason

Elizabeth Mason

  • Events & Special Projects Manager
Julia Bussade

Julia Bussade

  • Instructional Assistant Professor of Modern Languages and Director of Elementary Spanish and Portuguese Programs
Veronica Crawford

Veronica Crawford

  • Research Administrator II and Instructional Assistant Professor of Higher Education
Sandra Cox-McCarty

Sandra Cox-McCarty

  • Associate Dean for Administration
Simone Delerme

Simone Delerme

  • Associate Professor of Anthropology and McMullan Associate Professor of Southern Studies
Julie Glasco

Julie Glasco

  • Assistant to the Provost and Interim Registrar
Lolita Gregory

Lolita Gregory

  • Assistant Dean Undergraduate Recruitment and Retention
Anna Hutcheson

Anna Hutcheson

  • Operations Manager
Lauren Jones

Lauren Jones

  • Assistant Vice Chancellor, Access and Opportunity
Melissa Rodriguez King

Melissa Rodriguez King

  • Program Manager
Stephanie Miller

Stephanie Miller

  • Professor of Psychology and Provost Faculty Research Scholar for Institutional Transformation
Christine Nielson

Christine Nielson

  • Assistant Professor of Accountancy
Nikki Reinemann

Nikki Reinemann

  • Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Affiliate Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering
Jennifer Simmons

Jennifer Simmons

  • Assistant Provost