Celebrating the Doctoral Class of 2023

By: Margaret Savoie and Sandra Spiroff

In May, the Graduate School celebrated the accomplishments of more than 120 doctoral students during the 2023 Doctoral Hooding Ceremony.

Dr. Annette Kluck, Dean of the Graduate School, expressed the significance of the ceremony, highlighting the importance of recognizing the hard work of everyone involved in this new class of academics.

“Recognizing new doctoral graduates is particularly meaningful, not only for the graduates that studied for years to reach this point, but also for the mentors and individuals who worked with these graduates one-on-one and watched them develop into independent scholars,” said Kluck.

The event was attended by Dr. Glenn Boyce, Chancellor of the University and a University of Mississippi doctoral graduate (Ed.D. Education, 1986).  The Chancellor expressed gratitude to the family, friends, faculty, staff, and others for their support and sacrifices.  He acknowledged the graduates’ contributions to the very fabric of the University and encouraged them to continue to build upon their own personal canvases.

“Our people leave a legacy for future generations that will call this campus home. For our graduates here tonight, I know you are not done building your legacy,” said Boyce.

The 2023 Doctoral Class Marshals, who played a prominent role at the ceremony, were Dr. Cellas Hayes and Dr. Md Imdadul H Khan.

Khan received his Ph. D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences with emphasis in Medicinal Chemistry.  He remarked on the University’s inclusion of people from different backgrounds and countries, with different beliefs and ethnicities, which enhances diversity, equity, and opportunity. Dr. Khan also spoke about the challenges international students faced during the pandemic, including being separated from loved ones.

“As international students, we had a very tough time during this Covid situation, staying a thousand miles apart from our friends, family, and relatives. Some of us could not go for a single home visit. Our visa status also adds some vulnerabilities which are worth mentioning. But we made it,” he said.

Hayes, who received his Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences with emphasis in Pharmacology, challenged the doctoral class to think beyond themselves and use their degrees to make a difference in the world.

He said, “True change comes when we invest beyond ourselves, so I ask all of you with me. Now that we have our fancy degrees, illustrious titles, and the world at our fingertips, how are we going to change it?”

The ceremony also included awards to recognize outstanding achievements. Kimberly Kotel, a doctoral student in English, received the 2023 Graduate Teaching Assistant Award, and Bianca Lewis, a doctoral student in Clinical Psychology, received the 2023 Johnny W. Lott Instructor Award.  The awards were presented by Dr. Emily Donahoe, Associate Director for Instructional Support within the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.

The 2023 Donald R. Cole Excellence in Promoting Inclusiveness in Graduate Education Award was awarded to Dr. Patrick E. Alexander, Associate Professor of English and African American Studies and co-founder and co-director of the University of Mississippi Prison-to-College Pipeline Program. Alexander is also a resident member of the Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society.

Alexander was chosen because of his work with the Pipeline Program and the inclusion of graduate students in this work. This inclusion provides his students with an amazing opportunity to develop as professionals with the competence to provide education access to incarcerated individuals.

“Dr. Alexander embodies many of the characteristics that Dr. Donald Cole exemplified as both a mentor himself and as an educator equipping tomorrow’s mentors to ground their higher education work in inclusive excellence,” said Dr. Murrell Godfrey, Assistant Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion of the Graduate School.

Dr. Jaime Harker, Professor of English and Director of the Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies, received the 2023 Excellence in Graduate Teaching and Mentoring Award for her work as a mentor to graduate students.

Harker is currently advising eight doctoral students and numerous master’s students. Five of her past advisees, who earned their doctoral degrees under her direct supervision, hold tenure-track or tenured positions in their field.  Moreover, her current and former students are well-published. These factors are strong indications of her effectiveness as an advisor. Furthermore, she continues to mentor her graduates after they leave Oxford with their degrees in hand. Her students and past graduates describe Harker as a mentor who creates community.

“Prof. Jaime Harker’s accomplishments and dedication to excellence in graduate teaching and mentoring are outstanding and inspirational! She has been able to help her graduate students with their content apprehension, as well as their personal and professional preparation, helping set the stage for their creative and scholarly accomplishments and career development,” said Dr. Robert Doerksen, Associate Dean of the Graduate School.

The Graduate School is proud of our graduates for their accomplishments, thankful to the community of supporting faculty and staff for their efforts on behalf of all of our students, and appreciative of the family and friends who have gone on this incredible journey with our students. We are excited to see what the future holds for our graduates and hope to see them back for grad alumni events.

 

2023 Spring Newsletter

1. Welcome
2. Celebrating the Doctoral Class of 2023
3. Meet our Elite Scholars!
4. Portrait of a Business Woman and Lifelong Learner
5. On Current Research Related to Race and Ethnicity
6. The Velvet Ditch, or Gateway of Opportunity?

 

2022 Winter Newsletter

Link to Winter Newsletter 2022