Included in the 15 projects selected for allocations are:

  • $80,000 for Protocall, which provides 24/7 crisis support for students needing assistance from the University Counseling Center.
  • $70,000 to enable Student and Employee Health Services to update X-ray equipment for quicker, more accurate diagnoses.
  • $51,400 for renovations to Lester Hall, enabling the University Counseling Center to occupy the whole building, add new offices and equipment and expand services.
  • $28,500 for Career Center Services software that helps students connect with potential employers, research career opportunities and practice interview skills.
  • $10,500 for software to support Grove Grocery, the campus food pantry that this year provided 21,312 free meals to financially challenged students.

The FLC was formed in 2014 and 11 years later the group has now given more than $1.8 million to the Division of Student Affairs. Each year, UM’s Student Affairs departments present funding requests for special projects, and the Council members determine which ones to support with their membership dues.

“When we launched the Family Leadership Council, we had 19 families from a handful of states. That year, we were able to allocate $45,500 to the Division of Student Affairs. This year, our 86 families representing 26 different states stepped up with record-breaking generosity,” said Brett Barefoot, executive director for central development.

 

Pat and Ralph Doering, from left, of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and Shelley and Scott Ririe of Town and Country, Missouri, visit during the recent Ole Miss Family Leadership Council meeting on the Oxford campus. The Doerings are the parents of Henry, a junior real estate major, and the Riries have two sons, James and Mike, who have graduated from the Ole Miss School of Business Administration.

Get to know the Family Leadership Council

“Ole Miss is fortunate to have remarkable parents who clearly want to be involved and use their resources to enhance the Ole Miss experience for all students. We are deeply grateful to have such enthusiastic, engaged parents.”

Four-year FLC member John Edge of Olmito, Texas, said he and his wife, Felicia, have been impressed that the funding goes directly to Student Affairs projects. Their son, Lucas, is a journalism major.

“As the model for higher education has shifted to students having more free time, I believe it’s very important to equally prioritize students’ development — socially, physically and mentally — outside of academics. The projects and programs in place with Student Affairs support this reality, as balance, confidence and resilience are undefeated,” Edge said.

Among the aspects of the FLC that have meant the most to the Edges are:

  • The geographic and personal diversity of the membership body. “It has been fun getting to see everyone at least once a year. FLC really becomes a resource for parents as well as students,” John Edge said.
  • Great guest speakers. “Keith Carter (vice chancellor for intercollegiate athletics), Jeff McManus (former director of landscape and solid waste services) and Robyn Tannehill (Oxford, Mississippi, mayor) come to mind,” he added.
  • Donations’ impact beyond the library and general fund

Michelle Slusher of Washington, D.C., and her husband, Scott, are active Council members. Their son, Charlie, is an English major.

“We are thrilled to be part of the Family Leadership Council and were pleased the FLC was able to close the gap on a number of important initiatives,” Slusher said. “I was particularly excited to speak with Dr. Natasha Jeter and learn what she and her staff are doing to further student well-being and success. Her passion for her work is infectious.”

The Slushers’ participation in the FLC strengthens their relationship with the university and helps connect them with other families.

“We love learning about what’s going on at Ole Miss. At the meeting, for example, it was exciting to learn that Ole Miss is leading the way among universities and research institutes in the area of Artificial Intelligence technology,” Slusher said.

The FLC meets once per semester, hearing from campus leaders and touring new facilities. Additionally, its members gather in the Grove before two football games each fall.

To become council members, parents of Ole Miss students donate a minimum of $5,000 annually. To learn more about the Family Leadership Council, contact Brett Barefoot at bmbarefo@olemiss.edu or 662-915-2711.