Grove Scholars Endowment Honors Development Officer

McRight and Pittman, both members of the UM Foundation board of directors, each made a significant gift to the university to create the Nikki Neely Davis Grove Scholars Endowment. Several other donors have since contributed to the endowment.

"What began as a professional relationship with Nikki has grown into something both personal and deeply meaningful," Pittman said. "Her dedication to Grove Scholars – and to me – has never wavered.

"Nikki's enthusiasm, energy, intelligence and empathy have been invaluable. It's in recognition of her extraordinary service that I wanted to join Johnny in establishing this endowment, ensuring that her impact on the Grove Scholars program will continue in perpetuity."

Grove Scholars empowers first-generation and low-income students to thrive, graduate from Ole Miss and make a lasting impact on their communities and the state.

Eligible applicants must be incoming Mississippi native freshmen pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields; health sciences; or accountancy and meet the requirements for the Ole Miss Opportunity Scholarship.

"Nikki's ability to inspire alums to support Ole Miss has been so successful that we feel she should be recognized," said McRight, who is also Davis' uncle. "What better way to pass that message on, than to honor Nikki's legacy of influence, by supporting future Ole Miss students with scholarships that come from such loyalty."

Davis, who resigned recently as assistant vice chancellor for development to start a consulting firm, was surprised during her going-away party with a certificate listing her named endowment.

"I want to thank Renvy and the McRights not only for honoring me in this thoughtful way but also for putting their trust and belief in me," Davis said. "I don't take that responsibility lightly and will forever be grateful to them and many others who believed in me."

Davis, who holds a bachelor's degree in art and a master's degrees in journalism from Ole Miss, joined the development office in 2011 and earned promotions based on her performance and vision. She previously worked as associate director of foundation and corporate relations at Emory University.

During her 15-year tenure, Davis secured $67.8 million to strengthen the university with multiple transformational gifts. She was named the inaugural assistant vice chancellor in 2023, having served as an executive director since 2017.

"It's been my great pleasure to work with Nikki since she started with our development team," said Wendell Weakley, president and CEO of the UM Foundation. "Her success is a direct result of the devotion she feels and exemplifies for Ole Miss and our students. 

"Her belief in who we are and what we can be has inspired countless donors to step forward and commit their time and treasure to our university."

The Nikki Neely Davis Grove Scholars Endowment is open to receive gifts from individuals and organizations. To contribute, send a check with the fund noted to the University of Mississippi Foundation, 406 University Avenue, Oxford, MS 38655, or click here. For more information, contact Charlotte Parks at cpparks@olemiss.edu or 662-915-3120.

Top: Nikki Neely Davis (left) reacts as an endowment in her name is revealed by Anna Langley, vice president of the UM Foundation, and Wendell Weakley, the foundation's CEO. Davis recently completed 15 years of service to the foundation, where she helped raise nearly $68 million for scholarships and other programs. Photo by Mary Stanton Knight/UM Development