Council on Community Engagement
Dr. Nylander chartered the University’s first ever Council on Community Engagement (COCE) in October of 2012. COCE was founded to institutionalize community engagement at the University of Mississippi. Dr. Nylander’s hiring as the University’s first ever director of Community Engagement formalized the creation of COCE.
Dr. Nylander chaired COCE from October 2012 to August 2018. It has broad responsibility for advancing community-engaged research, learning, and service and engaged scholarship for the University of Mississippi (UM) on all its campuses and the University of Mississippi Medical Center. COCE, now under the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, continues to fulfill its purpose by recommending improvements in systems, structures, and support for community engagement and engaged scholarship. Members of COCE represent different Colleges and Schools, departments, and other institutions on campus. UM’s mission is to transform lives, communities, and the world by providing opportunities for the people of Mississippi and beyond through excellence in learning, discovery, healthcare, and engagement.
Council Representatives for 2017-2018 (Dr. Nylander’s last year serving at its chair):
Dr. Albert Nylander (Chair)
Director, McLean Institute
Professor of Sociology
Dr. Laura Antonow
Director of Office of College Programs
antonow@olemiss.edu
Dr. Melissa Bass
Associate Professor of Public Policy Leadership
Derek Cowherd
Senior Associate Athletics Director for Academic Support
Dr. Clay Dibrell
Professor of Management
William W. Gresham, Jr. Entrepreneurial Lecturer
Executive Director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Dr. Phillis George
Assistant Professor of Leadership and Counselor Education
plgeorge@olemiss.edu
Dr. John Green
Professor of Sociology
Director of the Center for Population Studies
Dr. David H. Holben
Professor of Nutrition and Hospitality Management
Dr. Erin Holmes
Associate Professor of Pharmacy Administration
Forrest A. Jenkins
Research Counsel, University of Mississippi Low-Income Housing Clinic
Jean Robinson
Interim Director, Office of International Programs
Dr. Sarah Moses
Assistant Professor of Religion
Dr. Jo Ann O’Quin
Professor Emerita of Social Work
Dr. Patrick Perry
Director, Luckyday Residential College
Jennifer Saxon
Assistant Athletics Director for Student Development
jnsaxon@olemiss.edu
Hal Sullivan
Office of Leadership and Advocacy
Dr. Ellen Shelton
Executive Director, Office of Pre-College Programs
Dr. Alice Steimle
Associate Director, Center for Math and Science Education
Instructional Assistant Professor of Curriculum and Instruction
Jocelyn Tipton
Assistant Dean for Public Services and Associate Professor
Dr. Kristine Willett
Chair of BioMolecular Sciences
Professor of Pharmacology & Environmental Toxicology
kwillett@olemiss.edu
Dr. Debra Young
Associate Dean of the Honors College
dbyoung@olemiss.edu
Brady Ruffin
Undergraduate – Student Activities
tbruffi1@go.olemiss.edu
Chelsea Loper
Graduate – ASB Senator
cwright3@go.olemiss.edu
McLean Staff
Laura Martin
Assistant Director
lemartin@olemiss.edu
Dr. JR Love
Project Manager
jrlove@olemiss.edu
Janae Owens
Program Coordinator
ljowens@olemiss.edu
Shannon Curtis
VISTA Leader
Edy Dingus
VISTA Leader
Virginia Dorris
Horizons VISTA
lvdorris@olemiss.edu
Arlanda Washington
Administrative Assistant
Robert Patterson
Masters Student in Health Promotion
CEED Innovation Fellow
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