From the Grove Into the World: Alumni Share Advice for New Graduates

The five Rebels featured below have built careers across business, public service, community engagement and more. Their experiences show how a University of Mississippi education equips a new graduate to seize opportunities and build a lasting legacy.

Read on for the advice these alumni are sharing with the Class of 2026:

Hartwell Furr (BS 23) is an entrepreneur from Jackson. She built her first business, Nanny Network, while still in college at Ole Miss. Shortly after graduation, she moved to New York City, where she worked for a "Today Show" host while continuing to grow her ventures.

Based in Manhattan's West Village, she runs two businesses: Nanny Network, a seasonal child care company, and Hartwell, a career-focused community for ambitious young women.

"Congrats on this special time! This is just the beginning, not the end, and Ole Miss will always feel like home. Being thoughtful with people will open more doors than trying to be impressive ever will. Trust yourself and go for it. Most things work out faster when you do.

"There is something really special about an Ole Miss grad. You can step into any room, in any field, and connect in a way that actually matters. Use your gifts, take the risk anyway, even when it feels a little uncertain, and trust that you will figure it out as you go. Cheers to new beginnings!"

As director of income and assets at the Chicago Community Trust, Caleb Herod (BA 12) has awarded $40 million dollars in grants to advance educational persistence, attainment and economic mobility across the Chicago region.

Herod's career, which began as a Teach for America math teacher, is built on years of experience in community engagement, strategic partnerships and program management across rural and urban America. Besides his degree in public policy leadership from Ole Miss, he holds a master's in public policy from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy.

"Now that Ole Miss is winning so much, do y'all still say `We might lose a game, but we've never lost a party'? I always took that to mean: regardless of the outcome, enjoy the ride.

"After you graduate, some things will go your way, some things won't. Cherish and celebrate the moment. There are enough people who only know how to find joy in winning. Finding and cultivating your joy when things go wrong is what separates the good from the great."

Cole Piotrowski (BBA 25) is an entrepreneur building two ventures. McCarren Capital helps real estate investors secure residential investment loans, and Godors is an athletic-gear spray designed to eliminate odors in shoes, boots and sports equipment.

As an Ole Miss track and field student-athlete, he competed in the 800- and 1,500-meter events as well as team relay races. He also was awarded $10,000 for winning the SEC Network's Startup Competition by pitching the early-stage Godors concept.

"While I was at Ole Miss, I was shaped most by the people around me within Ole Miss athletics, from other athletes, coaches, trainers, academic support staff and the broader community. Those relationships taught me competitiveness, discipline, organization and how to handle both highs and lows.

"My advice: Invest in relationships, stay consistent in your efforts and don't be afraid to take risks early."

Nicole Tisdale (BA 06, JD 09) is a national security attorney and policy strategist and the founder and principal of Advocacy Blueprints LLC. She has worked at the highest levels of U.S. government, including the White House National Security Council and the House Committee on Homeland Security, shaping major cybersecurity and national security policy.

Tisdale's work focuses on making public policy more accessible and equitable. She is also the author of "Right to Petition" (Advocacy Blueprints Press, 2019), reflecting her commitment to empowering others to engage with their government.

"The world you're entering is more connected – and more complex – than ever before, so say yes to the opportunities that stretch you, even when they feel bigger than your experience. Some of the most meaningful paths will take you across disciplines, borders and perspectives. My own journey has spanned 17 years, 28 countries and started right where you are.

"Stay curious, lead with purpose and be bold enough to step into rooms you haven't imagined yet. You don't have to have it all figured out, but you do have to be willing to step forward and help shape what comes next."

Charles R. White (BBA 82) is managing director in the capital markets division of Stifel Financial in Birmingham, Alabama. White has spent 44 years in banking, investment banking and capital markets. He is a director at BankPlus, a director of Abra Trust Co., and president of the Ole Miss Alumni Association.

"You have a gift – everyone does – which is some special talent that God has given you to make both your life better, and that of those around you. Your job is to find it, and the way you find it is to start down life's path. God will open doors for you to use that gift, and when you have found it, you will know it.

"When someone says to you, 'I don't know how you do that,' and you think, 'It's fun, interesting or not that hard,' you have found it! You can find it in your 20s, 30s or even later, but one of the most rewarding things in life is finding that gift. God is into the journey, not the destination, so let's get started!"

Top: UM alumna Hartwell Furr relaxes in her New York apartment, where she operates two businesses. She advises this year's Ole Miss graduates to be thoughtful, stay confident and be prepared to take risks. Submitted photo