Sebastopol native to become pharmacy student body president

In addition to pharmacy and her fellow students, Lacey Gilmore loves to sing and play piano.

acey Gilmore admires her fellow students and says just being around them is her favorite part of attending pharmacy school at Ole Miss.

"The School of Pharmacy attracts some of the most successful, professional and intelligent students I have ever met," she said. "It is a privilege to learn and collaborate with them. We call ourselves 'phamily.'"

Gilmore's fondness for her fellow students must be mutual since she was elected student body president-elect last fall, an accomplishment she views as her proudest collegiate achievement. She will be president in 2013-14.

"It is such an honor to be elected by the entire student body to represent them," she said.

A Sebastopol native and Newton County High School graduate, Gilmore completed the first two years of her pre-pharmacy curriculum at East Central Community College "because of the many opportunities I was given there," she said.

"For example, I was offered many scholarships and was fortunate to be involved in [the] Student Body Association, concert choir, the Wall O' Sound Band and Collegians," she said.

She then chose to complete the third year of her pre-pharmacy curriculum at Ole Miss.

"I wanted to get acquainted with the campus and get involved early with the pharmacy school's student organizations," she said.

Gilmore said she chose to enroll in UM's professional pharmacy program because of its history and reputation.

"I knew before I applied that the program's graduates are well prepared to pursue their careers or practices," she said. "Ole Miss is also close to home, and that was definitely a plus."

Now enrolled in the second year of the professional curriculum, Gilmore has come to love the entire pharmacy faculty but admits to having a favorite: Tracey A. Brooks, who recently joined the pharmacology faculty.

"Dr. Brooks is an excellent educator and researcher with loads of personality," she said. "Her research is interesting and important, and she always keeps us engaged in class. She is very passionate about what she does, and I am very lucky to have had her as a professor."

While at East Central, Gilmore worked at the Wheeler Drug Store, an experience that solidified her decision to become a pharmacist.

"I love independent retail pharmacy, but I am open to learn about and possibly pursue other career options as I proceed through the experiential curriculum," she said.

Until then, she is concentrating on her classes and her responsibilities to her fellow students as their president-elect and soon-to-be president.

"The main thing I would like to achieve is maximum student involvement," she said. "In past years, it was mainly professional students that got involved with the student body. My goal this year was to work closely with the early-entry officers and the pre-pharmacy liaison to involve more early-entry and pre-pharmacy students in student body activities."

She is proud of what she and the other student body officers have accomplished, including what she calls "amazing" events for the entire student body.

"Our most successful events include Student Body Week, Back-to-School Bash, Pharmacy Semiformal and Pharmacy Olympics," she said. "We also had our very first swap with the law school this year."

While president next year, she would like to increase communication and continuity among pharmacy students on UM's Oxford and Jackson campuses.

When it comes to relaxing outside her classrooms and labs, Gilmore resorts to her eclectic taste in music.

"I love to sing and to play piano occasionally," she said. "The only time I sing in public is mainly at church. I have a close friend in pharmacy school that plays guitar, and sometimes we just do short pickup sessions on the fly at my house when we aren't studying. We just think of a good song, look up the chords and go with it!"

When it comes to listening to music, some her favorite artists are Iron & Wine, Adele, The Black Keys, Ellie Goulding, SBTRKT, Matisyahu, First Aid Kit and Passion Pit. When it comes to singing, though, the artists change dramatically.

"Songs that I like to sing are ... by artists such as Kari Jobe, JJ Heller, A Fine Frenzy, Coldplay and Regina Spektor," she said. "I'm not the best at it, but it really has gotten me through some tough times and has always been my escape."

Even more important to her than her music are her parents.

"They encouraged me from a young age to get a good education and to do what I love," she said. "They have supported me in immeasurable ways, and they inspire me to be my best and to fulfill my dreams."