Career-Life Connector

An initiative designed to help potential and current faculty and staff navigate the university system and learn about policies, practices, and resources available to assist with work-life integration.

Supporting Work-Life Integration at Ole Miss

The Career-Life Connector Initiative is part of the University of Mississippi’s ongoing commitment to helping faculty and staff achieve a healthy balance between work and life. Created by the Office of the Provost, this program complements existing Human Resources services by connecting employees with information, policies, and resources that make navigating university life easier and more fulfilling.

The initiative aims to foster a supportive and inclusive campus environment by improving faculty and staff well-being, promoting equity in work-life practices, expanding caregiving and family support, and upholding the University Creed’s core values of respect, fairness, and integrity.

Career-Life Consultants

One of the roles of the Career-Life Consultant for job candidates is to facilitate recruitment of faculty, staff, and academic administrators by providing information about work-life balance during the search process. 

This includes discussing life in Oxford and the overall UM culture aimed at helping faculty and staff succeed personally and professionally.

Candidates may feel reluctant to share personal information or ask questions about work-life balance with the search committee or future employer. A Career-Life Consultant can provide candidates with a confidential opportunity to discuss various work-life issues, including partner employment opportunities, childcare issues, and medical resources.

If the search committee chooses to use the Career-Life Consultant, each candidate who interviews through that search will meet with a consultant. The search committee chair will work with the consultant to arrange a 15-to-30 minute meeting with each candidate.

To utilize a Career-Life Consultant in your search process, the search committee chair should email careerlifesearch@olemiss.edu to request assistance, and include the position, the number of candidates, and the likely time frame for the interviews. A consultant will then contact the search committee chair to schedule time to meet with the candidates.

Another role of the Career-Life Consultant is to support faculty and staff as they navigate the university system and learn about policies and practices available to meet work-life balance and individual and family needs. The consultant may be a resource for faculty and staff as they explore family caregiving options, workload and flexibility, and tenure-clock extensions.

Faculty and staff members may email careerlife@olemiss.edu or a consultant directly with specific questions. In addition, consultants will be available to accompany faculty and staff during meetings with chairs and supervisors to provide information and examples of how to assist with career-life integration issues.

Meet the Career-Life Consultants

Our consultants are available to accompany to provide information and examples of how to assist with career-life integration issues.
Peter Tulchinsky

Peter Tulchinsky

  • Director of Campus Recreation
Katherine Centellas

Katherine Centellas

  • Croft Associate Professor of Anthropology
Earl Presley

Earl Presley

  • Adjunct Instructor in Higher Education
Jason Solinger

Jason Solinger

  • Director of Graduate Studies and Associate Professor of English

Professional Development Resoruces

We recognize the importance of continuing education and are committed to encouraging faculty and staff to engage in opportunities for personal and professional growth. There are opportunities for benefit-eligible faculty and staff to take university courses for credit and pursue degree programs on campus, as well as participate in training and development programs offered by Human Resources and other units on campus.

Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning

The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning promotes exemplary teaching and meaningful learning at the University of Mississippi. We serve the UM teaching community by supporting the awareness and adoption of inclusive, evidence-based teaching practices and acting as a hub for the study and dissemination of research on teaching.

Department of Human Resources

The Human Resources Department is dedicated to supporting every employee at the University. We assist with a range of employment-related needs, including benefits, pay, leave, insurance, tuition waivers, performance management and more. Our mission is to positively contribute to the well-being of others with each interaction, ensuring that everyone feels valued and supported throughout their employment journey.

Office of Information Technology

IT provides the tools and support you need for teaching, learning, research, and discovery so you can succeed at Ole Miss.

Grisham-McLean Institute for Public Service and Community Engagement

The Grisham-McLean Institute for Public Service and Community Engagement empowers campus and community partners to fight poverty through education, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

University Ombuds

The University Ombuds provides the University of Mississippi Community with a confidential, neutral, independent, and informal place to voluntarily seek assistance with bringing forth and resolving campus-related concerns, problems, or disputes.

Wellness Resources

Workplace wellness drives and reinforces healthy behaviors that benefit the University of Mississippi, our work family, and the greater community.