ECONOMIC OUTLOOK FORUM 2022
The 2022 Economic Outlook Forum will be held in person on Thursday, March 3, 2022, from 10:00am-1:00pm in the Thad Cochran Center on the Hattiesburg campus. The Economic Outlook Forum is an annual event where experts in areas of banking, finance, and academia discuss economic trends and forecasts for the year. This event is sponsored by The First, A National Banking Association and hosted by the College of Business and Economic Development at The University of Southern Mississippi.
Human Resources management program reestablished in fall 2022
After a four-year hiatus, the Human Resources Management (HRM) program has been reestablished within the School of Management at Southern Miss. In Fall 2021, it was established as an emphasis area within the management degree program, and beginning in Fall 2022, it will be a stand-alone major. As a stand-alone major, there will be even more focus and resources dedicated to it. The HRM program will build upon the great foundation Southern Miss Business already has of producing quality HR professionals since the early 1980s.
Human Resources Faculty
The coordinator for the HRM program is Mr. Russ Willis. Mr. Willis is an assistant teaching professor in the School of Management and has been teaching in the College of Business and Economic Development for 10 years. Prior to his teaching, Mr. Willis was the long-time HR director for The University of Southern Mississippi. The School of Management is currently recruiting for a new tenure track faculty position for the HRM program. This faculty member will be responsible for teaching HRM related classes as well as conducting meaningful research in the HR area.
Human Resources internships
As part of the curriculum, HR internships will be an area of focus. The first two HR internships for spring of 2022 are Heidi Kirsch, who will be interning with the Southern Miss department of HR, and Jessica Wilson, who will be interning with the Hood Industries department of HR.
Society for Human Resource Management
Lastly, the HRM program recently obtained academic alignment from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). SHRM is the largest professional association of HR professionals in the world. Having the Southern Miss program receive academic alignment from SHRM is an important mark of the quality of the program and will help our graduates compete successfully in the job market upon graduation.
Welcoming new faculty to Southern miss business
new visiting professor of economic development
Dr. Christopher Smith joins us as a Visiting Assistant Professor for Economic Development. Smith teaches and researches in the areas of real estate development and land-use planning, technology, entrepreneurship, regional innovation systems, and regional economic development strategy and planning.
Prior to arriving at USM, Smith was the Bureau Manager for Research and Data Analytics at the Mississippi Development Authority, where he led a team of research analysts in producing data and research products in support of business recruitment and expansion projects. Previously, Smith served at the National Defense Industrial Association as the Regulatory Policy Associate, specializing in research and analyzing federal policies affecting the health and readiness of the U.S. defense industrial base.
Smith has also held policy research roles with organizations including the National Governors Association and the Mississippi Energy Institute. He is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Ph.D., S.B.) , the University of Maryland at College Park (M.P.S.), and Cornell University (M.R.P.). He is originally from Alexandria, Virginia.
new professor of Industrial Engineering Technology and Logistics, Trade, and Transportation
Dr. Yuanyuan Zhang joins us as an Assistant Professor of Industrial Engineering Technology and Logistics, Trade, and Transportation. She received her Ph.D. from Tongji University in Shanghai and was funded as an Exchange Ph.D. Student at University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) for two years. After graduating, she worked in UC Berkeley as a Post-Doctoral Researcher. In 2016, she joined The University of Southern Mississippi as a research professor and later was offered an assistant professor position.
Dr. Zhang has extensive research experience in various areas of transportation engineering, planning, and management. Her research interests include transportation safety, system resiliency, transportation-related economic development, and machine learning application in planning and design. Her current research project on automatically collecting pedestrian facility data using deep learning was funded by the Federal Highway Administration through the National Academy of Sciences. This project marks the first time this grant has been awarded in the state of Mississippi in its 20 year history.
Sport management students partner with Biloxi shuckers and pelicans
Dr. Chris Croft was recently interviewed by WLOX sharing exciting news about the USM Sport Management program and its partnerships with regional and national sport associations, such as the Biloxi Shuckers and the New Orleans Pelicans. The Sport management students will have the opportunity to have a "real-world" experience by working hand-to-hand with Hunter Reed, the general manager of the Biloxi Shuckers, and his staff. This experience will simulate possible scenarios in the sports' world.
The Hatchery INSPIRATION LAB
The Inspiration Lab, home to The Hatchery, represents the long-awaited manifestation of a collective vision on the Southern Miss campus. In the average business school, the Inspiration Lab might appear out of place. Perhaps it's the industrial workbenches, the sewing machine, or the mix of non-business regulars. Upon entering the lab's double doors, however, one is immediately pulled into a sense of anticipation and collaborative innovation. The first impression is unmistakable—significant moments will trace their origins back to this place.
Inspiration Lab
Part lounge and part laboratory, the Inspiration Lab was designed by and for students, faculty, and staff at Southern Miss to help transform ideas into testable solutions.
The atmosphere is abuzz with kinetic energy, enriched with an abundance of natural light, verdant greenery, and the nuances of an espresso café. Several well-appointed brainstorm zones, including the lab's popular tufted leather sofa and golden velvet armchairs, invite curious passersby to pause for a moment and connect with others on an entrepreneurial journey.
“Curiosity and imagination,” according to James Wilcox, Professor of Practice and Director of The Hatchery, “are too often thought lost in the course of one’s academic journey. But they are stirred and applied in The Hatchery’s lab through a constructive collision of disciplines, resources, and personalities.”
Inspiration lab open house
Southern Miss Business hosted an open house for The Hatchery's Inspiration Lab in January, welcoming students, faculty, staff, and community members to visit the space. Many stopped by to explore the endless possibilities offered by the unique lab.
Over the next several months, the Inspiration Lab will be hosting workshops for those interested in learning how to utilize the space and equipment.
Southern Miss Business Ranked No. 1 in the State for Online Business Bachelor’s Program
Online programs at The University of Southern Mississippi continue to receive impressive national recognition from U.S. News and World Report in its 2022 online program rankings. Southern Miss Business was ranked best in the state and No. 51 nationally for the Best Online Bachelor's in Business Programs.
“We are honored that our online Bachelor’s in Business was recognized as one of the best in the country and the best in our state for the second year in a row," said Dr. Bret Becton, Dean of the College of Business and Economic Development. "Our faculty and staff work incredibly hard to provide the best business education for our students, and this accolade is proof their efforts are effective.”
By evaluating factors that involve interactivity, flexibility, and support, the U.S. News rankings give students a better idea of what to expect out of online programs. To see the full report, visit the 2022 edition of the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs. Future students looking to work toward a bachelor’s degree can visit USM’s online programs page to get more information and help getting started.
National Collegiate sports sales championship
Southern Miss Business students Chipper Baudry, Enzo Ferreira, Jerica Galloway, and Sam Stiglmair will be representing Southern Miss Business next week at the National Collegiate Sports Sales Championship in Atlanta, Georgia! These sport management students have been working hard to prepare for the Championship Round after participating in the first virtual round in November. During this first virtual round, Galloway, Stiglmair, and Baudry were named top 100 sports sales candidates. Additionally, Galloway and Stiglmair have also been named qualifiers in the role-playing championship bracket.
During the championship round, these students will have an opportunity to participate in the speed selling competition, job interview sessions, and professional sales sessions. In addition, students will network with professional sports organizations and attend an Atlanta Hawks game.
Jerica Galloway is from Vancleave, Mississippi and is currently finishing her sport management degree here at USM. After graduating, she plans to work with the Memphis Grizzlies as an inside sales representative.
"I used to be an athlete throughout middle school and high school, and I realized that all of the male athletes in my school had the opportunity to make a career out of playing sports. In contrast, opportunities for women were more limited. So, I decided that instead of fighting that issue on the court or field, I would fight it in the board rooms and on the sales floor. After researching, I learned that I could accomplish that with a degree in sport management."
Enzo Fedato Ferreira is a native of Blumenau, in the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil. He is in the last year of his sport management program and he is student manager for the USM softball team. After graduating, he plan to enter graduate school and pursue a master's degree in sport management before moving on to pursue his PhD.
"Sports have been part of my life ever since I was young. So, when it was time to go to college, I wanted to do something related to it. During the application process, I noticed that the sport management degree at Southern Miss was among one of the best in the country, and when I got here I could see why. The sport management faculty work hard to make sure the students succeed not only inside the classroom, but also in their future endeavors!"
Sam Stiglmair is from Karlshuld, Germany, and is a senior in the sport management program. After completion of her undergraduate degree, she plans to pursue her MBA here at Southern Miss. She is part of the USM Women's Soccer Team and is currently completing an internship with Southern Miss Athletics.
Stiglmair has qualified in the role-playing championship bracket among a select few other students from across the country.
Sports are my biggest passion, and after finishing my playing career I want to stay in the field of professional sports and work for a soccer club, agency, or a federation."
Chipp Baudry is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana. This is his last semester in the sport management program and is a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, Southern Style, and SAA. After graduation, he plans to either pursue a career in professional sports or go to Graduate School.
I have played sports all my life and had never considered the possibility of working in sports in the future. After learning all the interesting career paths available, I decided to switch majors and join the program! Sport management also offers me a way to be social in my career and work with people more often."
Business Alumni, What's New With You?
Southern Miss Business Alumni, we want to hear from you! Do you have good news to share? Maybe you got a new job, earned a promotion, or won an award! Share your good news with us so we can help celebrate you. We encourage you to share these things with us so we can include this in future newsletters. Click the link below to fill out the form.