Meet our Elite Scholars!

By: Margaret Savoie and Sandra Spiroff

In the fall of 2020, the Graduate School, in partnership with the Provost’s Office, launched the Elite Scholars Program. This program aims to recruit highly competitive graduate students, several of whom are featured in this article, who are positioned to advance the research mission of the University of Mississippi (UM). The initiative is one of several tools the University employs to further elevate its excellent academic programs through enrolling the next generation of leading researchers and professionals in pursuit of terminal degrees.

According to Dr. Robert Doerksen, Associate Dean of the Graduate School, “The Elite Scholars program has helped the University of Mississippi to recruit some truly excellent doctoral students who otherwise might have pursued other educational or career paths.”

Abby Sides, Accountancy

Abby Sides, of Sheffield, Alabama and a Ph.D. student in Accountancy in the Patterson School of Accountancy said, “Coming into the Elite Scholar Program meant that new faculty and staff, which I had not worked closely with yet, believed in me and believed that I have what it takes to continue to be a top performer.”

Before coming to the University of Mississippi, Sides studied at the University of North Alabama receiving her bachelors in business administration with a concentration in accounting and a master’s of Accountancy.

It is expected that Elite Scholars will be students who bring a record of excellence in research and innovation, and this is reflected in the increased value of the stipend associated with a qualifying assistantship. To be considered for this program, admitted students must be nominated by their department chair or graduate program coordinator.

Madelyn Church, Psychology

Madelyn Church, of North Carolina, is pursuing a Ph.D. in Psychology with emphasis in Experimental Psychology. Church described her first year as an Elite Scholar as a steady start and being surrounded by supportive faculty, staff, and peers.

She said, “[This program] gave me a sense of pride and reassurance in my standing in my career and schooling. When imposter syndrome started to kick in, this is a reminder that I was not enrolled on a whim and that my efforts have been noted.”

After nomination, individuals are chosen by a selection committee composed of representatives of each school/college offering a terminal degree that falls within the scope of the Graduate School. Every committee member independently reviews and ranks each nomination prior to meeting. In selecting individuals for the Elite Scholars Program, the committee primarily considers the nominee’s potential to advance the research mission of the University. To that end, past achievements are weighted heavily in evaluating the prospective contributions of the students, but nominees are also judged on their statement of purpose, or comparable written material. Other factors include grade point averages from any previous instruction and the recommendation letter from departmental leaders.

Sydney Wicks, Psychology

Sydney Wicks, who is also pursuing a Ph.D. in Psychology with emphasis in Experimental Psychology, hails from Clinton, Mississippi. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with minors in sociology and marketing from Mississippi State University. With interests in social connection, relationships, and media use, he says, ‘[The University of Mississippi] allows me to conduct research relating to each of these interests” and “the financial support offered by the program allowed me to dedicate more time to research.” During his first year, he has already presented his research to various audiences, adding that “UM offers ample room for growth and professional development.”

Gage Regier, Psychology

Gage Regier is another Ph.D. student in Experimental Psychology. Originally from Rogers, Arkansas, he began his academic career path at the University of Arkansas, falling in love with Psychology and joining an on campus lab. At UM, he is focusing his research on prospective memory and factors that can affect it.

He said, “Graduate school can be very tough but my department was amazing when it came to transitioning to graduate school from undergrad, providing as much support as I needed. There are first rate researchers here ready to share their knowledge and expertise [and] my first year has been filled with great first-time experiences and a lot of learning.” He added that the Elite Scholars program is “a great program that can help alleviate some of the financial stresses that come with graduate school and help you focus on your research.”

Amberly Sheffield, History

Amberly Sheffield, pursuing her Ph.D. in History, said, “There are really great professors in the Department of History who are always willing to share their experiences and knowledge.” She added, “There is a large community of graduate students here, with both domestic and international students, filling the community with a lot of cultural knowledge to share and learn.”

Originally from Grove Hill, Alabama, Sheffield expressed that being an Elite Scholar helped her to feel recognized for her research and hard work. She said, “It was surprising–I didn’t know my department had nominated me until I received the email informing me I was chosen. It was nice to be recognized for my research.” Before joining the University of Mississippi, Sheffield received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history from Auburn University.

The Graduate School appreciates its current slate of Elite Scholars and would like to congratulate the incoming 2023 Scholars on their work. According to Doerksen, “The especially-accomplished recruits can help to make a whole graduate program better.” We wish them all well in their academic endeavors at the University and look forward to sharing more about our students and their accomplishments in the future.

2023 Spring Newsletter

2022 Winter Newsletter

Link to Winter Newsletter 2022