Resources & Scholarships
We are committed to student success by providing a variety of support and resources to achieve your goals.
The Tools for Success
Find out about the generous scholarship opportunities for political science students and student success resources available at the department, college, and university levels.
Undergraduate Scholarships
Eligibility:
- Full-time student
- Sophomore
- Major in political science
- Demonstrated classroom achievement during freshman year
Application process:
About Howard Stone:
Howard Stone (1984-2004), a sophomore political science major from Martinsville, VA was one of three students killed in an early morning fire at a fraternity house on the UM campus in August 2004.
Members of Pi Sigma Alpha, student academic honorary in political science, created the Howard Stone Academic Achievement Scholarship to recognize Stone’s academic excellence and to inspire others to follow his lead.
Eligibility:
- Full-time student
- Major in Political Science
- Sophomore or higher
- Academic achievement
Application process:
About Gloria Kellum:
Gloria Kellum earned her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in the area of speech language pathology from Louisiana State University. Kellum's commitment to the university was exemplified throughout her 42-year career at the University of Mississippi while serving as a professor, administrator, and fundraiser.
Kellum received the Elsie M. Hood Outstanding Teaching Award, grew the speech pathology program into a nationally accredited program, chaired UM’s sesquicentennial celebration, and directed two major capital campaigns that helped to establish scholarships, partnerships with other institutions, establish the William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation, and other projects.
The advisory board to the UM Department of Political Science honored Gloria Kellum by establishing a scholarship endowment in her name in recognition of her outstanding service to the university.
Eligibility:
- Full-time student
- Junior or senior
- Major in political science
- Active in student government and/or other student organizations at UM
- First preference to attendees of Boys State, Girls State, or APEX while in high school.
Application process:
About Steve Guyton:
Steve Guyton grew up in Kosciusko, MS in the 1960’s and even in 10th grade, serving as a page in the Mississippi legislature, he was interested in politics, taking an active part in a gubernatorial campaign that same summer.
He graduated from UM in 1970 with degrees in political science and journalism and went on to work with countless public officials and on numerous political campaigns in the state. He also served for years mentoring and assisting high school students with their admissions process to the United States military academies.
Eligibility:
- Full-time student
- Freshman or sophomore
- Major in political science
- First preference given to students from Oxford, Mississippi
Application process:
- Complete department application
- Selection made by department scholarship committee
About Dorothy Wilson:
Dorothy Irby Wilson (1924–1988) served 23 years as editorial assistant for the Department of Political Science at UM from 1963-1986. This scholarship is given in loving memory by her daughter Kathy Hynes (BS ’83), a fashion designer in Washington, D.C.
Eligibility:
- Full-time student
- Major in political science
- Sophomore
- Participation in an internship in Jackson during the legislative session
- Outstanding academic record
Application process:
About Brad Dye:
A native of Charleston, MS, Brad Dye (1933-2018) graduated from UM with a BBA. in 1957 and a law degree in 1959. He had a long and successful career in public service, including serving as State Treasurer (1971-1976) and was the 35th Lt. Governor of the State of Mississippi (1980-1992), the only person in the history of Mississippi to hold that office for twelve consecutive years.
Eligibility:
- Full-time student
- Political Science major
- Sophomore
- Outstanding academic record
- Strong interest in public service
- First preference for Mississippi legislative interns
Application process:
About Tim Ford:
Tim Ford (1951- 2015) grew up in Baldwyn, Mississippi. He received his B.A. degree (1973) and his law degree (1977) from UM. In 1980, the eighteenth district of MS elected the young lawyer to the MS House of Representatives, where he remained for the next twenty-four years.
In 1988, his peers elected him Speaker of the House, a post he retained until his retirement from public service in 2004. The J.D. Williams Library at UM holds the Tim Ford Collection of correspondence while he served as Speaker of the House (1987-1996).
Eligibility:
Application process:
- Available to support departmental activities and can potentially support students.
- Use of this fund is overseen by the Chair of the Department.
About A. J. Holloway:
A Biloxi native, A. J. Holloway (1939-2018) graduated from UM in 1963 with a B.A. in education. He excelled as both a student and athlete while enrolled at the University of Mississippi. He was elected mayor of Biloxi in 1993, serving until 2015.
During his tenure as mayor, Holloway oversaw some of the most productive and turbulent times in the city’s history — including the advent and growth of the casino gaming industry and Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Eligibility:
- Full-time student
- Major in Political Science
- Academic achievement
- Interest in graduate or law school
- First preference for students in the accelerated master’s program (4+1) or accelerated law program (3+3)
Application process:
About Huey B. Howerton & Charles Nolan Fortenberry
Dr. Robert N. Leavell (1924-2004) provided funds for the Howerton-Fortenberry Award in the Study of Government. The scholarship recognizes the influence on Leavell of two legendary political science professors at UM – Huey B. Howerton & Charles Nolan Fortenberry. Dr. Huey Blair Howerton (1895-1977) a native of Mississippi and veteran of WWI, received his B.S. degree from Mississippi State College (now Mississippi State), master’s degree from UM, and doctoral degree from the University of Texas.
He joined the UM faculty in 1930 where he served until his retirement in 1962. He was the first chair of political science in 1943 and held that position for 15 years. Dr. Charles Nolan Fortenberry (1908-1998) was raised in a small community in south Mississippi, pursued his educational degrees during the Depression and worked his way through college to earn undergraduate and graduate degrees from UM.
He then went to the University of Illinois and completed his Ph.D. in 1937. After serving in WWII, he joined the UM faculty, becoming chair of political science at UM in 1958, a post which he held for a decade.
Eligibility:
- to support the development of faculty excellence, and may also be used to support students occasionally, especially in ways related to Mock Trial.
Application process:
- Use of this fund is overseen by the Chair of the Department.
About John W. Winkle
John W. Winkle III, (1947-2022) a native of Georgia, upon receiving a history degree from Mercer University in 1969, took a job on Capitol Hill and ‘fell in love with politics and law’.
He went on to receive his Ph.D. in political science from Duke University and joined the political science department at UM in 1974, retiring after a 39 year career. He was instrumental in the creation of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and the honors program at UM, the Lott Leadership Institute, and the Mock Trial program on campus.
His teaching style garnered numerous awards while at the university and when asked about his teaching he shared “I challenge my students to think critically. I tell my students that the answer to any question they ask should always prompt another question, for the essence of true learning, I believe, lies in the ability to ask the better question.” From a former student ‘He didn’t want to be an inspiring teacher, he wanted to be a good teacher, and that is what made him inspiring.”
Graduate Student Scholarships
Eligibility:
- Full-time graduate student
- Political Science [PhD or MA?]
Application process:
- Application to the graduate program
About James W. Garner
James W. Garner (1871- 1938) a native of Pike County, Mississippi, worked his way through Miss. State College (now Miss. St. Univ.) in1892, and went on to receive his Ph.D. in 1902 (Columbia University). He taught at the Univ. of Illinois, Champaign for more than 30 years, creating the Political Science department there and was author of numerous books including the textbook ‘Introduction to Political Science.’
He was recognized as one of the world’s foremost authorities on international law, lectured in the world’s most famous universities and in 1910 was decorated by the French Order of the Legion of Honor. In 1939, upon the wishes of Dr. Garner, his widow gave his prized private library to UM.
Eligibility:
- Full-time student
- Major in Political Science
- Academic achievement
- Interest in graduate or law school
- First preference for students in the accelerated master’s program (4+1) or accelerated law program (3+3)
Application process:
About Huey B. Howerton & Charles Nolan Fortenberry
Dr. Robert N. Leavell (1924-2004) provided funds for the Howerton-Fortenberry Award in the Study of Government. The scholarship recognizes the influence on Leavell of two legendary political science professors at UM – Huey B. Howerton & Charles Nolan Fortenberry. Dr. Huey Blair Howerton (1895-1977) a native of Mississippi and veteran of WWI, received his B.S. degree from Mississippi State College (now Mississippi State), master’s degree from UM, and doctoral degree from the University of Texas.
He joined the UM faculty in 1930 where he served until his retirement in 1962. He was the first chair of political science in 1943 and held that position for 15 years. Dr. Charles Nolan Fortenberry (1908-1998) was raised in a small community in south Mississippi, pursued his educational degrees during the Depression and worked his way through college to earn undergraduate and graduate degrees from UM.
He then went to the University of Illinois and completed his Ph.D. in 1937. After serving in WWII, he joined the UM faculty, becoming chair of political science at UM in 1958, a post which he held for a decade.
About Dwight Tays:
Dwight L. Tays, a native Alabamian, earned a doctorate in political science from Ole Miss in 1982, then began 40-plus years as professor and chair of the Department of History, Politics and Philosophy, at Lipscomb University (Nashville, TN). As he states ‘The Department of Political Science at Ole Miss not only provided me with a sound education but also inspired me to make societal contributions beyond the classroom’.
- Full time award
- Takes 5 students or first year graduate students
About Lanny Griffith
Lanny Griffith earned his BBA and JD from the University of Mississippi and has had a successful political career. In the 1980s Griffith worked for the Republican National Committee, served as the Southern political director for Vice President Bush’s presidential campaign, and served as President H.W. Bush’s liaison to governors.
In the next decade Griffith served as the assistant secretary of education under Secretary Lamar Alexander and then went on to serve as the national chairman of the Bush-Cheney 2000 Entertainment Task Force as well as a member of the Bush 2004 National Finance Committee.
This scholarship honors Griffith and provides income to support deserving students enrolled in the Master’s program of the Political Science Department at the University of Mississippi.
Student Success Resources
Department of Political Science
- Political Science Peer Mentoring program
- Events to promote internships
- Career mentoring activities such as luncheons with alumni
- Preview sessions with UM School of Law
College of Liberal Arts
The Department of Political Science is one of many outstanding departments in the College of Liberal Arts at UM. Therefore, students receive support from the CLA Office of Student Services, located nearby in George Hall.
University-Wide Resources
Our university supports students and encourages them to be involved on campus and beyond.
- Arts and culture experiences
- Get involved on campus and grow your leadership
- Opportunities to learn beyond the classroom
- Health and wellness resources
- Registration and Financial Aid assistance
- Student advocacy and support
- Technology and learning resources