Give
Search

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.

View Past Reports
  1. Home
  2. Departmental Directory
  3. Office of the Chancellor
  4. Commission on the Status of Women
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
MarieBarnard, ChairAssociate Professor of Pharmacy Administration and Research Associate Professor in the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences2026
AnnetteKluck, Past ChairDean of the Graduate School and Professor of Leadership and Counselor Education2025
LynnWilkins, Vice ChairWork-Life Resources Program Manager2025
ComfortAgyin-BirikorangHuman Resources Generalist II2027
JuliaBussadeInstructional Assistant Professor of Modern Languages and Director of Elementary Spanish and Portuguese Programs2027
VeronicaCrawfordResearch Administrator II2026
SandraCox-McCartyAssociate Dean for Administration2026
Simone P.DelermeAssociate Professor of Anthropology and McMullan Associate Professor of Southern Studies2025
JulieGlascoAssistant to the Provost for Strategic Initiatives2027
LolitaGregoryAssistant Dean Undergraduate Recruitment and Retention2025
AnnaHutchesonOperations Manager2025
LaurenJonesAssistant Vice Chancellor, Access and Opportunity2025
MelissaKingProgram Manager2026
ElizabethMasonAssistant to the Vice Chancellor - Administrative Support2026
StephanieMillerAssociate Professor of Psychology and Provost Faculty Research Scholar for Institutional Transformation2026
ChristineNielsonAssistant Professor of Accountancy2025
ShelliPooleDirector, Office of Confidential Advocacy, Support and Education2025
NikkiReinemannAssociate Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Affiliate Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering2027
JenniferSimmonsAssistant Provost2026
Theresa AnnStarkeyInstructional Associate Professor in Gender Studies and Associate Director of the Isom Center2025
JessTurucDirector of FSL2027
AshleenWilliamsInstructional Assistant Professor2026
CandiesWinfun-CookClinical Assistant Professor of Teacher Education2027
KayleAmosASB Representative2025
AmandaRiosGrad. School Council Rep2025
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

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

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
Theresa Starkey

Theresa Starkey

  • Instructional Professor in Gender Studies and Associate Director of the Isom Center
Candies Winfun-Cook

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 all 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.

The High-Quality Support for Children and Families Working Group is responsible for reviewing and evaluating the state of child and family care in our campus community and proposing recommendations for continual improvements. Our considerations and recommendations focus on University of Mississippi students, faculty, staff, and their families. More specifically, our goal is to discern ideal changes and recommend practical improvements related to childhood education and well-being, as well as the care of elderly and special needs family members. This includes but is not limited to health considerations, schooling, after-school care, day care, and summer and holiday care.

The Pay Fairness Working Group serves in a collaborative and advisory capacity to review compensation, benefits, and advancement practices across campus in order to increase clarity and help support compliance with federal anti-discrimination laws such as Title VII and the Equal Pay Act.  The working group’s scope includes reviewing data and trends, facilitating dialogue to surface concerns and share perspectives, identifying barriers, and working with stakeholders to propose solutions.

The Campus Safety Working Group assesses the campus climate regarding interpersonal violence, sexual harassment and assault, and other acts of violence against members of the university community. The group works with campus partners to gather data; the recommendations of the group are grounded in this data and seek to improve campus safety for all.

The Leadership Development Working Group is responsible for assessing the climate for leadership at the University with the goal of ensuring that university policies and practices do not favor one sex over the other. This group may evaluate issues such as access, compensation, and advancement of faculty and staff. It will recommend potential pathways to create opportunities for fairness in advancement, and to support women who earn leadership roles. Its goal is to ensure that, in terms of leadership development and opportunities, women are treated fairly and according to the law – and, in doing so, improve conditions for all employees.

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.