OXFORD, Miss.—The University of Mississippi School of Education recently inducted 20 new members into its 1903 Society, a pooled endowment designed to be the first $1 million endowment at the school.

The endowment currently needs 35 new members to reach its goal. The 1903 Society honors those who make a donation of $10,000 or more to the school’s Academic Enhancement Fund. Once inducted, an etched metal portrait inscribed with the donor’s information is hung on a recognition board in the lobby of Guyton Hall.

“We are excited to add 20 new distinguished members of the 1903 Society,” said David Rock, UM education dean. “Our 1903 inductees show a tremendous passion and commitment to education. We are proud to have these new members permanently displayed in Guyton Hall.”

The 1903 Society, named after the school’s founding year, was reconstituted in 2015 from a dormant program called the Education Order. Forty-four members of the Education Order were inducted into the 1903 Society when it was established. In the last two years, 22 members were added. The school hopes to recruit 34 new members by the end of this year to accomplish the first $1 million endowment.

“Most schools on campus have multiple, million-dollar endowments. It would be very significant for us to achieve our first,” said Billy Crews, UM School of Education development officer. “We are doing so by a pooled endowment made up of gifts from multiple donors as opposed to an individual endowment. I can’t overestimate the value and significance and the momentum for us to achieve our first million dollar endowment. We are excited to complete that in the next nine months.”

A $1 million endowment will earn approximately $40,000 to $50,000 a year in interest, which will be used as an annual gift to fund the most strategic needs of the school.

“My wife and I wanted to donate to help the School of Education continue the good work they have been doing,” said Thomas Meredith, a 1903 Society member, former Mississippi commissioner of higher education and UM vice chancellor. “The school’s work continues year after year. This program is perfect because the donation isn’t used just one time. The school needs support continually, especially from all of us that have benefited from it.”  

Donations can be paid in two increments of $5,000 over two years. The school will establish special events and extend invitations to Society members.

“My husband and I were interested in donating to the School of Education since we both went to Ole Miss and I am a graduate of the school,” said Beth Cleveland, a 1903 Society member. “When we heard of the 1903 Society, we thought it was the perfect opportunity to give back. We grew up in Mississippi so we know how impactful a donation for education can be in the state.”

The newest inductees are listed below.

• Jack Adams | BSHPE 1960, MCS 1964 | Oxford, Miss.
• Jahnae Barnett | M.B.Ed. 1967, Ph.D. 1972 | Sante Fe, N.M. | President, William Woods University
• Barbara Bibighaus | M.A. 1993 | French teacher
• Tom Burnham | Oxford, Miss. | former Dean of School of Education, former State of Mississippi Superintendent of Education, Mississippi Principal Corps leader
• Ginger Clark | B.A.Ed. 1973 | Birmingham, Ala.
• Beth Cleveland | B.A.Ed. 1987 | Kingwood, Texas
• Collett Cross | M.Ed. 1978, Ph.D. 1998 | New Albany, Miss.
• Leslie Farr | B.A.Ed. 1969 | Collierville, Tenn.
• Jan Farrington | B.A.Ed. 1965 | Ridgeland, Miss.
• Beverly Irby | M.Ed. 1977, Ed.D. 1983 | Huntsville, Texas | Professor and Chair, Educational Administration, Texas A&M University
• Gail Jones | M.Ed. 1975 | Stone Mountain, Ga.
• Thomas Meredith | Ed.D. 1971 | Oxford, Miss. | former Vice Chancellor, University of Mississippi
• Rosemary Oliphant- Ingham | M.Ed. 1970 | Oxford, Miss. | Professor of Curriculum and Instruction, University of Mississippi
• Mallie Fabris Prejean | B.A.Ed. 2011 | Katy, Texas
• Cathy Tallant Rankin | B.A.Ed. 1972, M.Ed. 1975 | Tupelo, Miss. | Elementary school teacher
• Renesant Bank
• Susan Shaw | B.Accy. 1982, M.A. 1998 | Oxford, Miss. | Former teacher, Oxford Middle School and member of UM School of Education Advisory Board
• Bill Street | B.A.Ed. 1977 | Alabaster, Ala. | Senior Vice President, ServisFirst Bank
• Cecil Weeks | Tupelo, Miss. | Co-Director, North Mississippi Education Consortium, former school principal and Lee County Superintendent of Education

With nearly 1,500 students, the UM School of Education is a state leader in teacher and education leader preparation. Accredited by the Council for Accreditation for Educator Preparation, the school offers undergraduate, master’s and doctoral programs in fields ranging from early childhood education to higher education and more. The school is ranked among the nation’s top 10% institutions for online graduate degree programs in education by U.S. News & World Report.

By Kathleen Murphy and Kelly Smith