JTC 25: Standing on Wellness

From an early age, Stuart “Stu” Fullwood dreamed of a career in the corporate world and planned to major in a business field. The Madison native ultimately chose to major in finance at the University of Mississippi, where he is set to graduate in May.

Although Ole Miss was Fullwood’s first choice college, his journey to Commencement actually began at Mississippi State University. His older brother was enrolled there and their father wanted Fullwood to follow him there for guidance and support. 

He quickly transferred to Ole Miss because he believed the School of Business Administration provided more opportunities for finance majors.

“As someone who was trying to get to a big finance company and make a name for myself, I just felt that Ole Miss was the best way to get where I wanted to go,” he said. “(The university) has career fairs specifically for finance majors and ‘Meet the Firms,’ which is a big networking event for finance majors."

“I wouldn’t have landed my internship with — and job offer from — J.P. Morgan if I hadn’t transferred to Ole Miss.”

Fullwood quickly realized why the Ole Miss business school is known for being academically rigorous. Admittedly, he had so much fun his first year here that he had to “lock in” to keep up with schoolwork and the demands of the business program.

For him, that meant saying "no" to friends and social engagements and cutting out distractions. Fullwood was lucky to have hard-working roommates who all pushed each other to prioritize schoolwork and practice good time management.

His focus and discipline have paid off with a 3.8 GPA, multiple appearances on the Chancellor’s List, and induction into Phi Kappa Phi honor society. Recognizing the importance of leadership development, he is also a member of the Finance Club, a Business Career Center ambassador and a business school ambassador.

While the university has helped Fullwood move closer to achieving his own goals, he has worked to help his peers achieve and maintain personal wellness. He works with the William Magee Center for AOD and Wellness Education, where he participates in the WellRebs program. WellRebs are NASPA-certified peer educators who help fellow students manage the stressors and challenges of college life.

“I have always wanted to give back to the student body, to share my experience and help guide fellow students in any way I can as we navigate this strenuous college journey together,” he said. “Being able to open up to another student who can relate to you is often easier than talking to an older person, and I want to be someone my peers feel comfortable talking to.”

The William Magee Center addresses nine dimensions of wellness, including financial wellness.

"What makes Stu an exceptional asset to our WellRebs program is his genuine desire to help his fellow students navigate the college journey," said Alysia Lajune, William Magee Center program manager. "He’s used his finance background to create student-centered content for our financial wellness presentations, drawing both from his academic knowledge and personal success with investing and budget management.

“With nearly 20 years’ experience in higher education, I’ve met some truly amazing students. Stu has been a tremendous joy to work with and learn from—he just has that ‘it factor’ that ranks him among those I’ll never forget.”

Fullwood has also given educational presentations on alcohol and drugs harm reduction, sexual wellness and healthy relationships, and mental and emotional wellness.

“I remember giving a mental wellness presentation to first-year students and seeing their eyes light up and heads nod as I spoke about my experiences and shared my advice,” he said. “I want to be able to have that same impact in the professional world to support and advocate for the people I work with.”

As a result of his performance as a WellReb, Fullwood was promoted to the CPE Leadership Team and selected to facilitate “Well Chats,” peer-led conversations with students seeking support and assistance related to personal wellness.

“Participation in WellRebs has helped me grow as a student leader because it enables me to work with students from different walks of life who have different lived experiences, and that has not only given me new perspectives, but it’s also allowed me to realize that we all have unique experiences and we should value each of them and learn how to navigate this life together,” he said.

After graduation, Fullwood hopes to use his knowledge of finance management to educate disadvantaged people about fiscal responsibility, budgeting and financial planning, credit management, and investing.

“After graduation, I’m moving to Dallas, Texas, to begin my career at J.P. Morgan as a (corporate analyst),” he said. “I look forward to having the opportunity to give back to the Dallas community, educating people on financial literacy and doing good deeds through community service.”

Top: Stuart Fullwood, a finance major from Madison, turned academic discipline and campus involvement into a job offer from J.P. Morgan, while also making a lasting impact at Ole Miss through student wellness education and peer mentorship. Photo by Srijita Chattopadhyay/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services