The University of Mississippi School of Business Administration kicked off its centennial celebration Sept. 8 with a reception for faculty, staff and alumni at Holman Hall.
In honor of the centennial, the UM Foundation has created the 1917 Order, a fund-raising effort to recruit faculty, provide scholarships and increase class offerings, among other initiatives. Membership begins with a gift of $25,000 or greater, with pledges scheduled over five years.
Two additional events will continue the centennial celebration throughout the fall. On Oct. 17, Chancellor Jeffrey and Sharon Vitter will host the business school students at Carrier House. On Nov. 10, a book signing will take place for Ole Miss Business: The First 100 Years, a 160-page illustrated history of the school forthcoming from Nautilus Press. A number of alumni featured in the book will be at Off Square Books to sign their individual pages, and the school’s communication officers, Stella Connell and Chad Hathcock, will screen a video commemorating 100 Years of Ole Miss Business.
At the opening reception last week, Chancellor Vitter recalled that in 1917, the year the business school was established, the university had an incoming class of 150 students. This fall, the School of Business Administration has more than 3,800 students and 63 faculty members, making it the largest business school in Mississippi. It offers 11 majors, a top 10 insurance program and a new Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.