Red and Blue Celebration Honors Staff Graduates

This week, the university honored 20 staff members at the ninth annual Red and Blue Celebration of Achievement. The ceremony recognizes staff members who graduated in December 2025 or will graduate in May or August.

"Each day across our university, we witness how the life-changing opportunities we offer empower success and build leaders," Chancellor Glenn Boyce said. "Earning a degree while balancing work and personal obligations requires hard work, focus and discipline. What these graduates have accomplished is extraordinary."

Including this year's class, the event has recognized more than 200 staff members as Red and Blue Graduates.

"I have seen time and time again how staff are the ones recognized by students as having provided the support that kept them going," Noel Wilkin, provost and executive vice chancellor, told the graduates during the ceremony. "That empathy comes from lots of places, and it also comes from your pursuit of these degrees."

The 2026 honorees featured five bachelors', eight master's and three doctoral degrees. The employees came from departments including the schools of Business Administration and Law, student housing, financial aid and admissions.

Victoria Hughes, executive assistant to the provost, is among this year's cohort of graduates. She said while she was already part of the Ole Miss family, now she's an alumna as well.

"I've wanted to do this for many years and I'm extremely grateful to the university for allowing me the opportunity to make this happen," Hughes said.

And while it is a lot to work full time and pursue a degree, Hughes advises others not to hesitate.

"If you wait for the right time, you may be waiting forever," she said. "You are capable of so much more than you think, and you will be successful if you are determined and persistent."

The Ole Miss staff members eligible to participate in 2026 Commencement are:

• Kristina Austin – Division of Outreach and Continuing Education, Booneville and Tupelo regional campuses, MBA
• Micah Bowen – ID Center, bachelor's in multidisciplinary studies
• Marian Burnside – Office of Admissions, master's in higher education/student personnel
• Daniel Christian – Outreach at UM-DeSoto, doctorate in higher education
• Jared Ferguson – Office of Pre-College Programs, master's in higher education
• Ravyn Hampton – Department of Athletics Academic Support Center, master's in higher education/student personnel
• Reham Helal – Office of Regional Campuses, Division of Outreach and Continuing Education, doctorate in higher education
• Cortney Hemphill – Office of Confidential Advocacy, Support and Education – master's in higher education
• Addison House – School of Business Administration, master's in integrated marketing communications
• Victoria Hughes – Office of the Provost, bachelor's in multidisciplinary studies
• Brett King – Department of Philosophy and Religion, The Center for Practical Ethics and Declaration of Independence Center for the Study of American Freedom, bachelor's in psychology
• Nisha Mishra – School of Pharmacy, National Center for Natural Products Research, master's in dietary supplements and medical cannabis
• LaTonya Pittman – University of Mississippi at Grenada, doctorate in higher education
• Fritzi Rickles – School of Business Administration, MBA
• Madelyn Robbins – Department of Student Housing, master's in higher education
• Janet Rogers – Department of Financial Aid, master's in higher education
• Debbie Shelby – School of Engineering, bachelor's in multidisciplinary studies
• Whitney Vinson – Department of Art and Art History, master's in early childhood education
• Zachary Wallace – School of Law, bachelor's in business administration
• Arlissa Whisenant – Magnolia Federal Work-Study Program, master's in higher education.

Top: Provost Noel Wilkin (left) congratulates Victoria Hughes, executive assistant to the provost, on completing her bachelor's degree at the 2026 Red and Blue Celebration of Achievement. The ceremony honored 20 Ole Miss staff members who have earned degrees this year. Photo by Hunt Mercier/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services