The Coast
From saving Mississippi’s oyster reefs that once fueled a world-class seafood industry, to inspiring high school students serving Gulf Coast communities through leadership, Ole Miss research and outreach are shaping a resilient future for the Coast.
Making an Impact
Call to Save Coast’s Oyster Reefs
Biloxi was once known as the oyster and seafood capital of the world, with a thriving economy of fishermen often visiting the Gulf Coast's oyster reefs daily.
Inspiring Future Coastal Leaders
High school juniors and seniors from across the South rolled up their sleeves and helped distribute food to Gulfport residents in need of assistance this weekend as part of the fifth anniversary of the Trent Lott Leadership Institute's Pathways to Leadership program.
Coastal Student Excellence
Accolades for Azurrea
Azurrea Curry, of Gulfport, graduated summa cum laude in 2024 as a Taylor medalist, one of the 10 students chosen for the 2023-24 UM student Hall of Fame, a Stamps scholar, Mississippi Excellence in Teaching Program fellow and member of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College.
Inspired to Help Others
When he was growing up in Lucedale, Jesse Gordon participated in Rebel baseball camps each summer at Swayze Field. At Ole Miss, he began exploring opportunities at Ole Miss to learn more about a career in dentistry. Through the multidisciplinary program, Gordon minored in biology, chemistry and math to help prepare him to enroll in dental school.
Finding Purpose in Every Connection
While earning a major in integrated marketing communications and a minor in general business at Ole Miss, Jakota White became deeply woven into the fabric of campus life during his undergraduate career. He served as an orientation coordinator during his second year in the Orientation Leaders program, became a member of the Columns Society and was crowned Mr. Ole Miss – experiences he describes as the highlights of his four years at the university.
New Programs to Boost Our Coastal Communities
A new partnership between the University of Mississippi and the U.S. Navy aims to prepare students for highly sought roles in oceanography, maritime science and meteorology.
The Gulf Scholars Program is a five-year project led by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. It aims to bolster Gulf-region universities and their ability to train the next generation to address challenges in and around the Gulf.As one of the newest campuses in the Gulf Scholars Program, the University of Mississippi is working to prepare students to address some of the Gulf South's most pressing environmental and social issues.
