JTC 26: Advocate, Scholar and Storyteller

Yasmine Ware came to the University of Mississippi knowing one thing: she wanted to lift the voices of others. The interdisciplinary studies major graduates in May as a Stamps Scholar, a Truman Scholar and the force behind a documentary project preserving the history of Mound Bayou. 

“Storytelling, peace, the weight of history and what we do with it,” said Ware, a Madison native. “That was my why.” 

As a child, Ware always found a way to express herself, whether through music, theater, show choir or dance. When she was 15, she won the state championship as member of her speech and debate team and was a national semifinalist in dramatic interpretation and original spoken word poetry.  

At first, this was simply something she enjoyed. But when she lost a classmate to suicide, it became a way for Ware to advocate for others and promote mental health awareness. This led to her being involved with National Alliance on Mental Illness Mississippi.  

These experiences, along with her parents’ story of resilience growing up in the Mississippi Delta, inspired her to launch her podcast, “Yasmine’s Warehouse.” What began as a simple idea to talk through challenges and life with others grew into a medium dedicated to preserving oral history and witness testimony, particularly from those whose stories are overlooked or ignored. 

That commitment deepened when political science professor Timothy Nordstrom invited Ware to join his nuclear disarmament study abroad course in Geneva and Vienna.  

“I went, and I came back a different person,” Ware said. “Standing in the U.S. Mission to Geneva, a diplomat told our group that the most important thing a person, a state or a nation can have is their story.” 

An interdisciplinary studies major with concentrations in international studies, Chinese, and global security, Ware uses her passion for storytelling to bring together not just communities in Mississippi, but across the world.  

Ware has used her opportunities “to explore who she is and what she hopes to contribute to the world,” said Castel Sweet, director of community engagement and assistant professor of practice in community engagement. 

“What has stood out most is the way she thoughtfully considers how to use her access, opportunities and experiences not just for her own benefit, but in service of those around he,” Sweet said. “Her thoughtfulness as a leader and the way she engages with peers, community partners, faculty and staff with genuine care and integrity is truly admirable.  

“The breadth and depth of her involvement and accomplishments are impressive, and getting to know her has been inspiring in so many ways.”  

During her sophomore year in 2023, Ware began the Mound Bayou Memoirs project, a documentary initiative to preserve the history of the town founded by formerly enslaved people and their descendants. Each interview she conducted made a lasting impact on how she views cultural heritage and the importance of valuing individual voices.  

Her work on the project led to her selection as a James Meredith Community Transformation Award winner. Ware said that Meredith’s words to her, “Stick with Ole Miss; they will take care of you,” still ring through her mind as she works to make the university, Mississippi and the world a better place.  

Her passion for lifting stories and creating systemic change in Mississippi led her apply for and become a 2024 Delta Scholar. In that capacity, she worked on a research project that would serve as a springboard for legislation protecting cultural legacies and preserving the history of underrepresented communities.  

In 2025, that continued work in public service was recognized when she was selected as a Truman Scholar.  

“I remember the moment Chancellor Boyce took my hand and told me I was Mississippi’s 2025 Truman Scholar,” Ware said. “I looked over and saw my parents and my brother, Jacob. I completely lost it.  

“They have been behind every single thing I have ever done, and seeing them in that room made it real in a way nothing else could.” 

As a Stamps Scholar, member of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and  member of the Columns Society, Ware has built a record at Ole Miss that reflects the breadth of her ambition.  

Ware may have come to campus with no solid plan, but with her dreams and her passion for connecting with others and telling their stories, she made an impact that will last for future Ole Miss generations.  

Zenebe Beyene, associate professor in the School of Journalism and New Media, said Ware has a “remarkable ability to blend brilliance and talent with compassion.”  

“I’m particularly excited about the meaningful change I know she’ll make at the local, regional, national and global levels” Beyene said. “I truly believe she possesses the personal qualities, desire and dedication to make the world a better place for all.” 

For Ware, the path forward is rooted in everything Ole Miss gave her. 

“The university gave me my why,” she said. “My family gave me my foundation. And Mr. Meredith was right about all of it.” 

Top: Yasmine Ware, an interdisciplinary studies graduate from Madison, completes her degree in May as a Stamps Scholar and Mississippi’s 2025 Truman Scholar. Her work includes the Mound Bayou Memoirs documentary project and her podcast, ‘Yasmine's Warehouse,’ dedicated to preserving the stories of underrepresented communities. Photo by Hunt Mercier/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services