JTC 25: The Warmth of a Teacher’s Light

There is an angel among us, and she is from Marion, Arkansas.

A recipient of the Mississippi Excellence in Teaching Program scholarship, a Taylor medalist, Phi Kappa Phi inductee and a member of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, Meredith Whited is leaving a legacy of servant leadership, empathetic teaching and a deep belief in doing good at the University of Mississippi.

Whited’s path to the university began with visiting her sister Morgan, a Stamps Scholar and 2023 Honors College graduate. She worked diligently and earned every accolade possible at Marion High School, where she graduated as valedictorian and served as student body president.

Whited had her heart set on Ole Miss.

“Thank goodness I got the call from Dr. Susan McClelland,” she said, recalling the moment the METP director and former chair of teacher education reached out. “I was on the bus coming home from Hot Springs after cheering on the MHS basketball team, and it was an awesome feeling because in that moment, I knew I could attend Ole Miss.”

While Whited was growing up, her mom told her that teaching is the “noblest” profession. Her maternal grandmother taught the majority of her career in the West Memphis Public School system. Though Whited never met her, she remains inspired by her.

“To teach in the same school district for that long is so admirable,” she said. “I hope I get the same chance.

"Loving where you work and doing what you love is one of the most important things because a job is such a big part of your life, and (my grandmother) obviously loved hers so well.”

This fall, Whited will use her secondary English education degree to teach eighth graders at Lafayette County Middle School. Her students are in for a delightful experience, McClelland said.

“Meredith brings a contagious zest for life and an innate curiosity that energizes every space she enters,” she said. “Her radiant personality, coupled with her genuine compassion for others, has made her not only a beloved member of METP and the Ole Miss family at large, but also a role model for her peers.

“She graduates not just with a degree, but with the heart and mindset of someone destined to make a meaningful and lasting impact.”

Rosemary Oliphant-Ingham, UM professor of teacher education, agrees.

“In these four years Meredith and I have interacted in numerous classes, traveled to Great Britian and attended the National Council of Teachers of English together in Boston,” she said. “Always fun to be around, she is also very knowledgeable about different areas of the world.

“Well-read with various experiences to draw on, Meredith can hold a conversation with anyone. She happily entered both the Miss University and Most Beautiful competitions just to meet others. She is willing to try most anything for the learning experience.”

Whited calls Oliphant-Ingham “part of the family” because they have traveled together and Oliphant-Ingham has shown up for her several times, from cheering at pageants to supporting her participation in the Honors Art Showcase.

When Whited recalls the peers, professors, staff and community members she has met over the years, she names an endless list of people who inspire and sustain her, such as former Associated Student Body president, fellow METP scholar and Honors College member Hannah Watts.

“We’ve been roommates on every single METP trip,” Whited said. “When we traveled to Europe, Hannah taught me about Turkish food because she lived in Turkey during her upper elementary and middle school years. She introduced me to lahmacun — so delicious!

“Learning about cultures in England, Scotland and Ireland … was eye-opening, wild and I loved it.”

Whited’s friends see her as light and joy personified.

“Everyone should have a Meredith in their lives,” Watts said. “It has been a joy to watch how she serves the LOU community as an Ole Miss Big Event co-director and welcomes prospective honors students as an executive honors ambassador.

“Meredith is going to make a shining difference in the lives of her future students just as she has made in mine.”

Honors senior Sarah Basha and Whited met in the laundry room of Pittman Hall.

“Meredith is intentional and kind,” Basha said. “One day in class, she told the professor that it was my birthday, and the entire class sang to me. Another time I remember walking through the Grove, and Meredith stopped me to see if I wanted to throw a Frisbee with her.

“Any interaction with Meredith leaves you feeling happy and welcomed.”

Whited’s resume stands out for her obvious dedication to volunteering, leading and excelling. Every bullet point represents a sustained commitment to intentionality and doing good.

Fun is part of Whited’s philosophical equation, too. As a member of Ole Miss Handband, she recently impressed her Oxford High School students by signing the first part of the national anthem, and as co-athletic event coordinator, she helped organize American Sign Language performances at SEC football games.

The love she has for her parents, Holley and Charles Whited, a pharmacist and a train engineer, is palpable. They visited Whited nearly every week for four years. She and her sister share a strong bond built on mutual admiration.

“Just when I thought the University of Mississippi couldn’t possibly be any better, my sister Meredith matriculated,” Morgan Whited said. “The ever-spontaneous and engaging conversationalist struck up discussions with people of all ages.

"I recall a lively conversation she had with Paul Finebaum in the Grove over their shared love of running.”

Being loved and feeling loved is important to Whited. Something she plans to carry with her in her teaching career.

“I don’t have any ambition other to be in the classroom,” she said. “I love kids so much. I think everybody deserves to feel loved, and my mom always told me that I should be the one telling the kids that they’re the most brilliant, that they’re the smartest.

“The teacher chooses the school. And when things get hard, you look students in the eyes and remember why you’re there.”

Top: Meredith Whited is a devoted future educator whose passion and positivity have left a lasting mark on the Ole Miss community. Photo by Srijita Chattopadhyay/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services

See more photos from Meredith Whited's Journey to Commencement