New Graduate Profile: Chelsey Trayal

By anyone's definition, recent graduate Chelsey Trayal was a very busy student in her years at the W. Chelsey graduated with a double major in Paralegal Studies and English with an emphasis in Creative Writing, and a double minor in Women's Studies and Religious Studies (for which she received an award for outstanding performance in that subject). In addition, Chelsey was involved in the Jester Honorary Social Club (Jester #2 and Vice President).

When asked why she chose the W for college, Chelsey responds, "I would say that fate brought me to the W. I remember in high school I always knew I would go to college, but I had no idea where I wanted to go. In your senior year of high school, colleges bombard you with letters and information, and thankfully the W was one of those colleges. I had never thought about the W before, but one day, while sitting in class, I realized I had stuffed a W pamphlet into one of my notebooks, and I pulled it out and started reading about the school."

"What initially caught my attention was the student-to-teacher ratio that the W boasts," she continues. "It seemed to be a college that was very intimate and small, but offered a university education. As I continued reading, I realized that they offered the Paralegal program, and from that moment I was sold. When I applied, I told my parents if I didn't get in to the W that I wasn't going to go to college. The rest is history!"

Now that she has graduated, Chelsey intends to continue her education in graduate school. "I was recently accepted into the M.A. of English program at MS State, so this fall I will be hitting the books again," she says. "I do plan on trying to work my way through graduate school; I just haven't found the right job yet that will offer a flexible schedule and decent pay for a recent college graduate."

Chelsey feels that MUW has provided her with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed on the graduate level. "The W has helped me realize the importance of a good education and how crucial that is in doing anything these days," she says. Chelsey credits the W faculty with providing valuable guidance as she moved toward graduation. "My teachers have also had a major role in preparing me for the 'real world,' so to speak. I would have never applied to the graduate program at State if not for Dr. [Kendall] Dunkelberg. He really set the ball in motion and with his push, I found the confidence to apply to graduate school. My teachers have been so supportive and have helped me tremendously, whether they were writing recommendation letters or just lending an ear when I needed advice. It's that kind of support that I don't think I would have gotten else where and because my teachers care about me as a student, I care more about my education and how far I can go with continuing my education."

As Chelsey explains, the supportive relationships with her W professors have put her on the path to a worthwhile career. "They have inspired me to want to teach," she says, adding, "I think in order to be prepared for the next step, you have to have an understanding of what you are getting in to, and you have to want to take the next step. The W made me want to keep going, and I'll always be grateful for that."

"I will miss a lot of things about the W," she continues. "The beautiful campus, the memories I made and shared at the W, and, as nerdy as it sounds, I'll miss my teachers. It's hard to narrow it down to one specific thing because I'll miss it all. I love the W!"

When asked whether she had a favorite professor or class while at the W, Chelsey cannot choose just one: she enjoyed all of her classes with the English faculty. "As far as classes go, I would say that my favorite class was probably either Women in Religion or World Religion with Dr. [Kim] Whitehead," she says. "Religion is always an interesting and controversial topic and I just love learning new things about what other people believe or what they don't believe. If for some reason the whole English career doesn't pan out for me, I would love to delve further into studying religion and how to teach it."

Chelsey's love for the W includes a strong desire to do her part in ensuring the school's continued success. "I personally don't support a name change because I'm a stickler for tradition and the historical importance of the name," she explains. "And while I also don't feel a name change or merger will solve the college's financial problems, I feel that those problems stem from people who, for whatever reason, have chosen not to give money to the school. I love the W, and even though I don't support the name change, if the name is ever changed, I'll still give money back to my Alma Mater because money and support are the only things that will keep the school alive. I think some people get up in arms and forget how important money is to the future of the W."

Congratulations, Chelsey, and best of luck as you continue your education!

Letter from Lilliwren

Dear W Alums,

Thank you for entrusting the leadership of the Long Blue Line to me for the coming year. It is a humbling experience, and my pledge to you is to do the very best I can as your President.  As we move into our 2010-11 year, we will continue to embrace and welcome more alums into Mississippi’s First Alumnae Association, to support and encourage the students, faculty and staff, to make new friends for our alma mater, and to support and defend her. I want to challenge each of you to . . .

• Think about what the W has meant to you, and make it possible for the next generation of young women and men to have that same advantage. 
• Give back to your alma mater . . . your time, your talent, your money . . . every gift, regardless of size, is important. 
• Continue to tell the good news about the W at every opportunity.
• Seek out those outstanding students who will thrive and grow at the W, and do whatever you can to get them here.
• Express your gratitude to everyone who helps make the W the jewel that it is . . . the faculty, the students, the staff, and the legislators.  
• Encourage inactive alums to join our association, and sponsor a membership if possible. 

I’m sure you are all aware of the difficult economic situation facing the W and the State of Mississippi. We can choose to see difficulties as problems that cannot be overcome, or, we can choose to see them as opportunities . . . opportunities for us as a dynamic alumnae association to excel in support of our beloved alma mater. I choose to seek opportunities and to see the glass half full. Join me as we seek new opportunities to serve, and never, ever, step out of the Long Blue Line!


I believe the W is poised and ready to soar to new heights of greatness. We can choose to help her with this flight, or we can choose to stay on the ground. Remember, you have the distinction of being alums of the first publicly supported institution of higher learning for women in the nation! Wear this distinction with pride!

I look forward to keeping you informed about the news from the campus and from Mississippi’s First Alumnae Association - the historic alumnae association that has served the W continuously since 1889.

W love to each of you,
Lillian Wade
MFAeA President
Never, ever, step out of the Long Blue Line!

Welcome Home, Allegra Brigham

The IHL Board named alumna Allegra Brigham as Interim President to replace retiring President Claudia Limbert. Also discussed at the meeting was the upcoming search for a permanent President for MUW.

Alums who were present at the announcement were happy that IHL named an interim for the W.  "We hope Allegra will seek support from the faculty and staff, the community, the IHL Board and the local delegation, and all alums during this interim. We are looking forward to participating in the national search process for a new President and believe the university can attract an experienced leader to successfully lead us to a positive future" stated Lillian Wade, president of Mississippi's First Alumnae Association.

Allegra Brigham, MUW Class of 1969, (Masters 1973) , is currently CEO of 4 County Electric Power Association, a position she has held since 2003. She was faculty member at MUW in the 1980's, including a stint as acting head of the journalism and broadcasting department, and she served as MUW Director of Public Relations for fourteen years.

Mississippi's First Alumnae Association welcomes Ms. Brigham home and looks forward to working with her to further our university.

Congratulations, Carrie Pate!

Photo courtesy of Trisha Pate

Carrie Pate ('07) graduated from MUW with degrees in psychology and English (with an emphasis in creative writing). While on campus, Carrie served as a mentor for the Ina E. Gordy Honors College (2005-2007) and participated in a vast array of activities on campus, including Mortar Board, Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Tau Delta, Psi Chi, Alpha Psi Omega, Psychology Club, Mission Improv-able, MUW theater, Columbus Community theater, Midnight Writers, Bukwyrms (where she served as co-founder/president), Hearin Council, the Southern Women's Institute, Wesley, Spanish Club, and her own radio show on WMUW.

After taking a year to work for her mentor as an assistant at an outpatient counseling center, Carrie enrolled in the MSW (Master's in Social Work) program at the University of Georgia. And earlier this month, after two years of hard work, Carrie received her Master's degree!

Now that she has completed school (at least for the time being), Carrie will be living on the Coast and working at Gulf Coast Family Counseling Agency as a therapist and resident forensic social worker. As she explains, "Basically, this means that I am a therapist working with adults, teens, children, families, couples, and individuals (i.e. anyone for anything) on an outpatient basis. Also, I will take any clients with legal charges, and I'm slowly working into the realm of forensic social work (expert witnessing, collaborative divorce, alternative sentences, and mitigation) as I progress in experience."

Carrie begins working in June. In the meantime, she says, "I'm in the preliminary stages of house shopping here on the Coast. I'm also currently training my Boston Terrier puppy and future therapy dog, [The Grand] Sophy. I also plan to be writing, blogging, and enjoying having free time now that I'm taking a break from grad school." Carrie eventually plans to return to the rigors of postgraduate work. "I want to go back and get my doctorate in psychology (probably cognitive or social), but I plan to work and get my independent license at least before I do even more school." She is also interested in pursuing another Master's degree, circumstances permitting: "If MUW ever gets its MFA in Creative Writing program, I'm there (hint, hint, powers that be)!" 

When asked how the W prepared her for life after college, Carrie professes that she doesn't quite know where to start. "What surprised me was that EVERYTHING I did at the W prepared me, including Hearin ice breaker games (who knew?).  Improv was a huge help: thank you, Peppy [MUW theater Professor William Biddy]." She adds, "More than anything, though, was my ability to think and speak for myself. My double major prepared me to make an argument, do research, put it together, and be thorough in ways that really made my program easier. It made me outspoken and not afraid to talk to professors or participate in class. Working with different people in the various areas of MUW for numerous different activities really helped me be flexible, versatile, and kept me from being overwhelmed. Also, I had no fear of advocating or getting answers from major administrators and direct superiors, which any social work intern at a state agency will tell you is really important." Carrie concludes, "I could go on forever. Every day, I found something from the W that got me through my program. My undergraduate education more than prepared me for my work before grad school, my program, and my internships"

Upon enrolling in graduate school, Carrie noticed many striking differences between MUW and the much larger UGA. "The biggest thing was probably the professors," she explains. "The relationship with MUW professors is unbelievable, and I knew that before I left, but I didn't realize how much until I went to a bigger program. That much availability, and the level of teaching itself, is unsurpassed. I had a few really awesome professors at UGA, but I found myself saying that they were great and could be W professors. MUW is my gold standard."

In addition to the difference in faculty relationships, Carrie notes that the size of the two schools played a large part in how students interact with one another. "UGA is obviously huge, while MUW isn't. Huge suits some people, and small suits others. They are completely different, culturally speaking, and it's more than just the stereotype of being 'impersonal.' What's more, particularly on the graduate level, there is much less mingling between the majors. Unless you just happen to know someone, you mostly interact with people in your own department. I did spend some time with people in a few different majors and from that discovered that each department very, very much has its own personality. At MUW, I had friends in literally every major, because it was so easy to participate in various activities with a myriad of people from different majors. The community it created was very different from UGA."

As for now, Carrie says she is glad to finally be home on the Coast: "I'm excited to be back down here and working at a job I love!"

Congratulations, Carrie, and best of luck as you begin your new career!

Photo of the Week

In the spirit of yesterday's Kappa Pi entry, today we feature one of the loveliest (and newest!) buildings on campus.

The Art and Design Building on the W campus reopened last year after a long-delayed renovation (the original building was severely damaged in the 2002 tornado that ripped through campus). The new building includes increased studio space and a beautiful art gallery on the first floor, named in honor of alumna and longtime W art professor Eugenia Summer ('45).

Make sure your next visit to campus includes a stop inside!

And make sure to check out the Eugenia Summer Gallery page on Facebook for up-to-date information on current exhibitions.

MUW Art Department Hosts Exhibition

Mississippi's First Alumnae Association would like to congratulate the winners of the High School Art Exhibition sponsored by MUW's Rho Chapter of Kappa Pi International Art Fraternity.  The winners are:  

Best in Show: Shelley Clair Dornan for Serendipity #1 and #2 (Columbus High School)

1st Place: Anto Omar for In My Mind (New Hope High School)

2nd Place: Zach Thomas for an untitled drawing (Columbus High School)

3rd Place: Sarah Eads for Of All the Colors... (New Hope High School)

Honorable Mention: Rachel Stanback for Home (Columbus High School)

Honorable Mention: Robert Gavin for an untitled painting (Columbus High School)

The Rho Chapter of Kappa Pi was the first chapter in Mississippi and was founded in the 1930's.  Over the years it has sponsored art auctions to raise money for many worthy causes involving art, including raising money for Hancock County Art Foundation to help replace art supplies lost in Hurricane Katrina by Hancock County artists and supporting the Lowndes County Juvenile Detention Center's art program.  

Lately, the Rho Chapter of Kappa Pi  decided to focus on fostering and promoting art education in the local   region--the students wanted to give back to the teachers who first helped them to develop their creative abilities.  Since high school art programs are never funded enough, Kappa Pi wanted to give them some big-ticket items that they'd been wanting. Through Kappa Pi's major fundraiser, an auction called the "Art in Autumn Auction," they were able to purchase a digital camera and a suite of Adobe computer art programs for New Hope High School.  This was the start of the "Drawing Out Success Program," in which Kappa Pi holds  an auction in the fall; brings high school art students to the W's art department for a day of art workshops and demonstrations in the spring; and starting this year, conducts a summer high school art exhibition.  The summer exhibition serves as a natural extension of the fall and spring efforts and came about as a way to get parents into the building to see Mississippi University for Women's facilities in the art department.  According to Dr. Beverly Joyce, "We learned from a survey we gave to the Columbus High School students who visited that most of them had never been on campus before and knew nothing about the department prior to their Drawing Out Success visit.  Recruitment requires that we educate not only the students but also their parents about what we have to offer." 

Besides New Hope, Kappa Pi has also partnered with West Lowndes High School and Columbus High School.  For West Lowndes, it funded the renovation of a hall into an art gallery at the school.  Members even spent a Saturday helping with the construction.  This past year, they have raised money primarily to purchase a ventilation system for the ceramic studio at Columbus High School.  They are still working with Columbus High School to get this installed.

Kappa Pi welcomes alumnae/i involvement in its efforts to promote art in the local schools.  The Art in Autumn Auction includes a live auction portion featuring works from non-current students (interesting way of saying alums).  They always need art, according to Dr. Joyce.  Of course they also invite those who are able to bid to handle that side of the auction process.

A Third Degree for Rebecca Leah Rogers

While many MUW graduates consider their out-of-class experiences to be as big a part of their education as the classes, Rebecca Leah Rogers received her last two degrees from a very different type of school, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Said Rebecca "Students in the Medical Technology Programs do not get to choose their classes. They have 2 years of Monday-Friday 8 to 5 scheduled for them - and you don't get any abscenses. UT believes that their programs are like work. Hospitals can't close just because they feel like it, and hospital employees cannot miss work, like many college students choose to skip class. So there is a zero tolerance for missing classes. Plus there are not many extra-curricular activities. And there really is NO time for extracurricular activities. I was a class officer and we held weekly meetings. We tried to be as involved as possible, but that really boiled down to getting together as a group (of 12) to celebrate each other's birthdays and trying to do community service projects. I really missed the tradition and the ties I had at the W. I actually spent several of my weekends back in Columbus throughout MT school. Participating in the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS) is the closest thing I have found that I can get as involved in as I want -- it reminds me a lot of the relationships I made at the W through social clubs and extracurriculars."

After Rebecca received her B.S. in Microbiology from MUW in 2000, she stayed at the W an extra year before heading to the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, where she received a B.S. in Medical Technology in 2004. Her most recent degree, conferred in December, 2009, was a M.S. in Clinical Laboratory Science, with an emphasis in Laboratory Management, also from UTHSC.

While at Mississippi University for Women, Rebecca was a member of the Highlander Social Club (President), BlackList Honorary Social Club, Meh Lady Yearbook Staff, New Horizons II, and Imagine. She served as Interclub Parliamentarian, was a Hottentot, a member of the Honors College and Mortar Board She was Senior Class Secretary / Treasurer 1999-2000 and Lambda Tau Secretary. As an alumnae she has been President and Treasurer of the Highlander Alumnae Association, and was a representative to the BlackList Alumnae Association Steering Committee.

When asked how her MUW education prepared her for her current endeavors, Rebecca told us "I held many leadership positions at the W: participating in social clubs - holding offices - scheduling pledging programs and all the activities we participated in throughout the year. All of these things have translated into skills that have proven to be invaluable to me in my pusuit of higher education, as well as my ventures in the professional world to climb the carreer ladder within the field of medical laboratory science."

Rebecca is now reaching the 4 year mark as a Medical Technologist at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN, with a part time job at St. Francis Hospital - Memphis where she has worked since July of 2004. In October of 2009 she received her Laboratory Supervisor's License for the state of TN, and she is gaining opportunities for leadership development and hopes to move into laboratory management one day. For now she works on the evening shift, and is currently the Secretary of ASCLS-Tennessee and the President-Elect of the Memphis Society for Clinical Laboratory Science.

Rebecca, you and your achievements are a credit to your Alma Mater and we know you'll go far.

Congratulations, Megan Stoner Morgan

Some folks like college life so much that they don't quit after one graduation; they go back for more. Megan Stoner Morgan, Mississippi University for Women class of 2008, an English major with a creative writing emphasis, is one of those. While at The W, she was involved academically with Mortar Board (Chair of Faculty/Alumni Relations), Sigma Tau Delta (President, '07-'08), Student Honors Council (President, '05-'08), and the Southern Women's Institute, where she interned from '06-'08. She also edited The Dilettanti literary magazine (along with co-editors Nicole Aranda and Teri Peters) from '07-'08. She was a charter member of the now-defunct BukWyrms reading club and participated in the MUW chapter of NOW (National Organization of Women), College Democrats, and French Club. During her semester studying abroad in London in spring of '06, she interned with the Safer London Foundation as an assistant for their charity project manager. In her spare time at MUW, she was an English and writing tutor for Academic Support Services, a student administrative assistant for the College of Arts and Sciences, and a figure model for the Art Department.

On May 8, 2010, Megan added a Master's Degree in English Literature from the University of Georgia to her list of accomplishments.  When asked how her years at MUW prepared her for further study, Megan stated, "Because the English department at the W was pretty small, I was able to take almost every English course they offered during my time at the W, giving me a wide-ranging background in my subject that was of immense help once I started graduate work. Also, because of the small size and the discussion-based format of nearly all W classes, I was already used to doing graduate-level work by the time I graduated; my W professors simply expected that you came to class having done the reading and full of ideas to share, so that wasn't a learning curve for me. An additional benefit was my experience with the Ina E. Gordy Honors College. I had to write an honors thesis in addition to my senior capstone paper, the research and writing of which took place over an entire year. In the fall of '07 I took a research trip to the UK (paid for by a mini-grant from the Honors College) to work in library and museum archives with primary sources for the thesis, and so by the time I had to write my MA thesis, I already knew exactly what to do. I've met graduating senior English majors from UGA, and they're lucky if they've ever had to write a 15-page paper, so I know the preparation I got at the W is something special."

When asked to compare MUW and UGA, Megan told us, "UGA is so big that the graduate students and undergraduates don't typically mix except in teaching scenarios. However, for the past year and a half, I've worked as a teaching assistant/grader for professors in various senior-level seminars, so I've gotten to see the work of a wide range of undergraduate English majors here and I'm friends with a few of them. While it's possible to develop close working relationships with faculty here, the department is so large (we have over 800 undergraduate English majors) that it requires a lot more tenacity on the student's part not to get lost in the shuffle. UGA has over 26,000 undergraduate students, so obviously campus life is a lot different from the W - you have to take buses to get from one part of campus to the other! In my opinion, the W provides a much more personal education experience and a more nurturing environment in which to grow and thrive. You can definitely graduate from UGA with a solid education and well-prepared for a career or grad school, but it
will take a lot more struggle, and I don't sense the same sort of intensely close-knit community amongst UGA students and alumni as I've found at the W. The W will always be home to me."

Megan plans to stay in Athens for at least the next five years pursuing yet another degree, her Ph.D.  "I start teaching my own classes in the fall, and I'm hoping to start work on my dissertation - on the impact of the railway and other Victorian technologies on British identity - in a year or so. My husband (a W guy in spirit if not in actuality) is applying to the MFA (creative writing) program here at UGA - I like to think my English major has rubbed off on him. In my extremely rare free time I make jewelry and I've begun a steampunk adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma."

Mississippi's First Alumnae Association wishes Megan and all other MUW alums getting advanced degrees all the best.

Mississippi's First Alumnae Association Recognizes Four Outstanding Alums

Mississippi's First Alumnae Association's 2010 Alumnae Achievement Award recipients, from left to right, Jane Dearing Dennis, Class of 1980, Little Rock, AR; Hazel Martin Howell, Class of 1940, Canton; Dr. Bridget Smith Pieschel, Class of 1979, Columbus; and Kym Golden Gore, Class of 1997, Tampa, FL. Awards were presented by MFAeA during recent Homecoming festivities in Columbus.

COLUMBUS - Mississippi's First Alumnae Association, the historic alumnae association that has served Mississippi University for Women since it was founded by the first graduating class in 1889, held its annual business meeting during the April Homecoming in Columbus.

The 29th annual Alumnae Achievement Award presentations were made during the 2010 Homecoming festivities. Four alumnae were recognized for their contributions in time, effort, and loyalty to their alma mater, Mississippi University for Women, to their country, and to their communities. The winners were Hazel Martin Howell, Canton; Jane Dearing Dennis, Little Rock, AR; and Dr. Bridget Smith Pieschel, Columbus. Kym Golden Gore, Tampa, FL, received the Young Alum Award.

Hazel Martin Howell, Class of 1945, was one of the three signers of the application for the state charter creating the university's Foundation along with Dr. Charles Hogarth and Miss Emma Ody Pohl. She signed this during her term as President of the MSCW Alumnae Association, 1964-1966.

A resident of Canton, Howell was named Canton Mother of the Year and Mississippi Mother of the Year in 1974. She received the JC Penney Central Mississippi Golden Rule Award for Service to Youth, Youth Leader of the Year by the VFW, Lifetime Award for Service to Youth by the Canton Chamber of Commerce, and the highest Girl Scout Award for 52 years of service. The Canton Separate School District honored her by naming a new elementary school annex the Hazel Howell Annex in recognition of volunteer service. She was named District Beautiful Activist by Garden Clubs of Mississippi for her work with youth and was honored with Lifetime Membership by the Chimneyville Weavers and Spinners Guild for her weaving mastery and volunteer service to the Guild.

Ms. Howell had the joy of touring MSCW alumnae groups with Miss Pohl giving the presentation, "Flower Arrangements While Reflecting on My Years at the W with Appropriate and Inappropriate Remarks."

Jane Dearing Dennis, Class of 1980, was the founding member and charter president of the Arkansas Alumnae Chapter for MUW in 1988. This chapter continues to be one of the strongest and most active chapters today. She has served on the Board of Directors for MUW Alumnae Association from 1985-1986, 1998-1999 and for Mississippi's First Alumnae Association from 2008-2010. She currently serves as chair of the Chapter Development Committee.

While a student a MUW, Dennis was an editor for the Spectator, Zouave participant, Meh Lady staff member, member of Hottentots, historian for Mortar Board, elected to the Student Government Association, Lancer Social Club president and received the Spectator Inky Award. Professionally, she has served two local newspapers and was Editor of the Arkansas United Methodist for 21 years and is now a freelance writer and communications specialist. She has had articles and photographs appear in Response, Interpreter, Mature Years, New World Outlook, United Methodist Reporter, Arkansas Times and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Jane is a past-president of the Little Rock Civitan Club, member of St. James United Methodist Church, serves on the Board of Directors for Arkansas Rice Depot and is a volunteer for Mount St. Mary Academy of Little Rock. She is also an antique dealer and has been married for 20 years to Robert E. Dennis. They are the parents of two daughters, Lindsey age 17 and Sidney age 14.

As a student at MUW, Bridget Smith Pieschel, Class of 1979, was in the Chapel Choir, Sigma Tau Delta English honorary, Mortar Board, Hottentots, and Who's Who in American Colleges and University.

Dr. Pieschel earned her Ph.D. in English from the University of Alabama and has taught at MUW in the English Department since 1981. Dr. Pieschel currently serves as the Director of Women's Studies and Resident Scholar and Director of the Center for Women's Research and Public Policy as well as Full Professor of English.

She has served as the Director of the Honors Program, Head of the Division of Humanities, Director of the Eudora Welty Writers' Symposium, Academic Master Plan Steering Committee, Co-Chair of Planning Committee for the 125th Anniversary of MUW, Director of the Pre-College Enrichment Program as well as many other committees and responsibilities at MUW. In 1990 she was MUW's Faculty Member of the Year and she received the Medal of Excellence in 2005.

In the community she is a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Columbus Historic Foundation, Columbus Girl Choir Board, Columbus Tennessee Williams Tribute Scholars' Panel Director and many other activities.

Dr. Pieschel is best known to W alums for two books on MUW, Loyal Daughters: A Centennial History of Mississippi University for Women, co-authored with her husband Steven Pieschel and Golden Days: Reminiscences of Twenty Alumnae from Mississippi State College for Women. She is married to Steve Pieschel and they are the parents of five children and two grandchildren.

Kym Golden Gore, Class of 1997, received the Young Alum Award. Kym graduated cum laude with a BA in English.

While a student she was active in Student Government Association serving as Attorney General, Vice-President and President of the Student Body. She was a member of Sigma Tau Delta, the Hall of Fame and served as an Orientation Leader. She was also a member of the Silhouette and Black List Social Clubs.

Gore graduated magna cum laude in 2001 from Mississippi College School of Law with her Juris Doctorate and was admitted to the bar in 2001. At Mississippi College she was Executive Editor of the Mississippi College Law Review and a member of the Moot Court Board. She has been an associate in the firm of Brunini, Grantham, Grower and Hewes, the firm of Phelps Dunbar, served as a clerk for United States Magistrate Judge Mary S. Scriven and as an appellate law clerk for Judge Leslie D. King of the Mississippi Court of Appeals. Ms. Gore currently works as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Florida.

She is the Immediate Past President of Mississippi's First Alumnae Association. She is married to Ray Gore, and in her spare time she is a novice triathlete.

Nominations for future Alumnae Achievement Awards can be made by contacting: Mississippi's First Alumnae Association, P.O. Box 1274, Columbus, MS 39703.

Photo of the Week

The staff of the Meh Lady yearbook, hard at work in 1908.

Though the yearbook has not been published since 2002 (going the way of many college yearbooks these days), old issues of Meh Lady can always be found floating around campus. If you are interested in perusing these old editions, a large selection of yearbooks is archived in Fant Library, and Dr. Bridget Smith Pieschel has amassed quite a collection as well in the Center for Women's Research and Public Policy (located in the Orr Chapel annex).

Investing in women in Mississippi

From the Clarion-Ledger, May 17, 2010:

"It's a radical idea, but one whose time has come. Invest in women! With a few strategic investments, women's incomes would increase and poverty rates in the state fall. Violence against women would drop and more women would move into leadership roles ...  

Reports studying the status of women in the U.S. consistently rank Mississippi near the bottom. The wage gap here is at about the national average, but we fair poorly in other areas. Mississippi ranks 47th in the percentage of women elected to the state legislature. As Hillary Clinton so infamously noted, only Mississippi and Iowa have never elected a woman to the U.S. Congress or to the governorship of the state. Violence against women is widespread: Mississippi has ranked at or near the top of the list in terms of the number of women killed by men for many years. The percentage of businesses owned by women is very low. A quarter of women and girls live in poverty, and the list goes on." 

--Marianne Hill, Ph.D., chair of the Mississippi Commission on the Status of Women

New Graduate Profile: Danielle Grimes

Danielle Grimes graduated from MUW with a degree in English (concentration: creative writing) and a minor in women's studies. While at the W, she actively participated on campus as a member of the Jester two-year social club. In the fall, Danielle will be attending McNeese State University in Lake Charles, LA, to pursue an MFA in creative writing. 

Danielle's reasons for attending the W were based on excellent first impressions and the scholarship opportunities with which she was presented. "I chose the W because I thought the campus was beautiful and they offered me the most money," she says.  "Everyone I met at McDevitt Day was so warm and welcoming, and I knew some people who had had great experiences at the W."  

MUW's creative writing concentration has steadily grown in the past several years, and Danielle credits the program with developing her skills and preparing her for graduate school. "I feel that the W's creative writing program has really improved the quality of my writing and helped me to become a more disciplined writer and scholar," she explains.

When asked whether she has a favorite W professor, Danielle cannot bring herself to choose just one. "I can honestly say I've learned something in and enjoyed every class I've taken," she says. "My professors have been immensely helpful in graduate school application process, especially Dr. Kendall Dunkelberg [director of the creative writing program]."  

Though her time at MUW has now passed, Danielle will remember her undergraduate days fondly: "The thing I'll miss the most about the W is being part of a community of like-minded people who value knowledge and tradition as much as I do." 

Speaking of tradition, Danielle believes that last year's proposed name change will do little to raise enrollment or allay the university's financial straits. "I think the key is to market the school as what it is: an affordable, historical, and intimate liberal arts college with a women's mission," she states.

"I think it's a mistake to try and turn the W into another State or Ole Miss, because students who want to go those places will just go there," she adds. "The W doesn't have everything those schools have, but those schools can't touch MUW either." 

Congratulations, Danielle, and best of luck as you continue your academic journey! 

New Graduate Profile: Juna'uh Allgood

Today we start a new series of Alumnae profiles--those being profiled are new graduates.  Some just graduated from The W; others are MUW graduates who just graduated from other universities.

Our first guest is the 2009-2010 Spectator editor, Juna'uh (pronounced "juh nay uh") Allgood of Meridian, MS.  A member of the Honors College, SAA, Mortar Board, Psi Chi, NOW, Torch, Aristos, the Psychology Club and a #12 Reveler, Allgood was a double major in psychology and communication and minored in women's studies.

She is currently looking for a job, either in the psychology field or in public relations/event promotions. Eventually she plans to continue onto Graduate school.  She believes Mississippi University for Women has prepared her for this step because "My time at the W has broadened my knowledge of local, national and international issues and prepared me for dealing with challenges with poise and intelligence."


Juna'uh will miss the W's phenomenal learning environment and campus unity.  She'll also miss her favorite professor, Margaret Mary Henry, who first got her onto the Spectator and taught her about much more than newspapers. When asked about her favorite class, she said "I didn't have a favorite class as I genuinely enjoyed almost every class I took."

Juna'uh picked the W because out of all of the southern schools she considered, it seemed to be the most student-oriented. Further, she knew many alums and their passion for MUW made her want to attend a university that could impact someones life so much. Once she got there, The W surpassed all of her expectations.  It  truly became her home and  "I will forever have a part of my heart sectioned off for the W." She recommends the school to friends in the area, those from her hometown and to those she meets in her travels.  She believes students who are driven to excel, are intelligent and have a passion for life are the type who best fit at The W.

Photo of the Week

Photo courtesy of Erin Gioia ('07)

The owl sitting atop Orr Chapel on the MUW campus has been a promise of good luck for many a W student over the years. Representative of Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, the bird keeps a close watch over the campus.

Campus legend dictates that hitting the owl with a penny on the day of a big exam will bring success for any lucky student whose aim is true.

The Orr Chapel owl inspired the creation of one of MUW's latter-day "mascots," Ody Owl.

Stay at Home Mom and Homeschool Teacher: Leah O'Gwynn Kackley

Aren't those kids beautiful?  They are the main job project for Leah O’Gwynn Kackley, MUW Class of 1993, who received a  B.A. in Math, with honors, Magna Cum Laude.  She is now a stay at home, homeschooling mom to a six year old girl, four year old boy and an eight month old girl.

Following her W years when she was a member of the Lockheart Social Club, Miss Jozia’s ballet “company”, the Modeling Squad, Mortarboard, Hottentots, Interclub, a Student Director of Orientation, Class Cheerleader, a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Lantern, Torch, and participated in Co-Op work at the ERC at MSU, Leah worked at Watkins-O’Gwynn Electrical Engineers, P.A.

While most of the SAHM's we've met this week kind of fell into that line of work by a combination of circumstances, Leah has always seen herself as a full-time parent.  However, she says "what  I did not see coming was the decision to homeschool.  I never, never, never planned on doing that.  But, WOW, what an extraordinary journey it has already been!  Homeschooling really makes being a full-time parent a completely different sort of “job”.  While I’m still responsible for the majority of the care for the children (which takes a lot while they’re so little), I’m also now responsible for their education.  At the same moments during the day.  It makes for a challenging day, to be sure.  I stay confounded a lot - ha!

There is a saying, that is attributed to a number of people, that goes something like this:
'Educate a man and you educate an individual.  Educate a woman and you educate a nation'.  Sometimes you see 'Educate a woman and you educate a family'.  Either way, I have always felt that there is a role or responsibility that a mom fills that is unique; it truly can not be duplicated.  Women are designed with special strengths and talents.  Moms, specifically, are responsible for so much with regard to the health and productivity of a family.  I felt a responsibility to take my experiences and convictions and use them to benefit my family.  For me, it meant letting the family become my primary focus.  That’s where my particular talents seemed to focus.  I have great respect for moms who work outside the home, because their lives require an intricate balancing act, for sure!  But, for me, I knew that I needed to be a full-time parent in order to fulfill the responsibility of creating good citizens and good Christians through the parenting our children."

Her husband Jason is a partner with the CGM Group, a mechanical engineering firm in Ridgeland, MS, and Leah says he is a wonderful dad.

At this point in her life, Leah states that the greatest benefit of being a SAHM was being able to come to the decision to homeschool without having to quit a job in order to do it.  But all the other “typical” benefits are still applicable also!

When asked what the greatest challenge was in being a SAHM, Leah replied "Well, I’m going to tell you the truth.  And I’m not all that proud of this truth.  But for me, the greatest challenge is dealing with the self-sacrifice or self-denial that comes with this life/lifestyle.  Mom’s emotional needs usually have to take a backseat.  It’s necessary in order to keep all the balls in the air.  In addition, full-time parenting is work for which one doesn’t get a whole lot of recognition.  It’s work for which you rarely actually get accolades.  Shoot, you rarely even get a thumbs-up.  So it’s a lot of emotional and physical effort, without the benefit of regular encouragement.  By that, I mean the type of encouragement that one might get from another person who has a vested interest in your work, like an employer might give you at a regular job.  Children give you such wonderful love and trust, but they aren’t going to say “You Can Do It Mommy”!  Sometimes, self-motivation is the hardest thing to grab and hold on to.  And a full-time parent needs oodles of it!"

Besides taking care of her children, Leah has been an Independent Consultant with Mary Kay since 1996.  "I have a wonderful customer base and some wonderful team members!" she exclaimed.  " I work this job a very little bit now, enjoying it mostly as a part-time job.  But even with giving it that little bit of time, it still brings in a bit of extra cash that is so helpful.  My years of experience make it easier for me to take care of current and new customers without upsetting the flow of the family.  And I truly enjoy having a “thing” that keeps me involved in the girly fun of life!"  If you'd like to order from Leah, here is her website.

Leah truly sees saying home as a long-term decision. "Well, now that we have entered the world of home education, I will be at home for the duration of the time that we continue to homeschool!  We take the decision to home educate year by year, but for now, it works so well for our children and our lifestyle.  So I’m here to stay for awhile."  Regarding her plans down the road, she replied "It just depends on how long we homeschool. If I see my youngest through her high school years, it’s at least another 18 years before I could make any changes!  At that point, who knows what the Lord will have prepared for me.  But, wow, I’m a little bit excited to find out!  Ballet, golf, and travel come to mind."

While her family is her priority, Leah is an active member of Grace Primitive Baptist Church. She is also on the Board of Directors of the Rankin County Junior Miss Association, and is the Production Chairperson for the program as well.  The family is active in their homeschool support group, CHEC (Christian Home Educators Connection), which takes up a good bit of time.  Other than home life, church life, and a very small handful of other activities, Leah says "I have to 'just say no' to a lot of other worthwhile endeavors, which is not the way I was pre-children.  But, in order to preserve sanity in our life as a family, it’s what works best!  Especially while the children are little."

When asked how her MUW education helped her  in your chosen life, Leah explained "I think that, for me, the uniqueness of my education paved part of the pathway that I’m traveling right now.  I wasn’t encouraged to only focus on my major subject classes.  I needed to know how to write.  How to think.  How to make decisions.  How to relate to groups.  How to present ideas.  How to speak publicly.  How to solve problems.  My very basic classes my freshman year were taught by professors holding Ph.D. degrees.  And my classes were small.  These Ph.D.-holding professors knew me, knew my name, and by george, they expected a lot from me and everyone else in my class.  And this was my freshman year!  One doesn’t leave a college experience like that one without having learned more completely than my counterparts could have at the larger colleges.  This type of “thorough learning” is crucial to me as a home educator.  I don’t have to know everything about everything to be my children’s teacher.  But I DO have to know how to find and then process the information I do need.  That’s what my MUW education has helped me to know how to do."

If being a stay at home parent is what you truly want to do, Leah would be the first to encourage today's MUW students to do just that.   "There is a value to a full-time parent that is intangible, but is also vital to the stability of our busy-busy-busy world.  And specifically to the young women thinking about it:  Since women don’t have to be full-time moms to accommodate societal norms anymore, there aren’t nearly as many of us who feel compelled to take this journey.  So, be sure you want to do it for the right reasons, because you aren’t going to be surrounded by people doing what you do.  Know that this choice is a self-sacrificing one.  But, you are building a family AND a nation when you do this.  I’d also like to encourage you, whether you are a young lady or a young man, to follow a career path until the time comes to say good-bye to the regular 9 to 5.  I didn’t have my first child until I was 32 years old.  If I had merely worked odd jobs to just pass the time from the time I graduated at 21 until I got married and had children, I would have missed out on necessary experiences to round out the world view I would pass on to my children.  Don’t assume you know what life holds for you.  Educate yourself to achieve great things that suit your personality.  And then, follow the path that leads to those great things!  Then, when children come, you will step away from the traditional working world with confidence!" she advises.

Thanks Leah, and give those kids a hug for us!

Fur Baby Friday

This month we are meeting the Fur Babies of Ashley and Derrick Young.  Ashley is a 2007 graduate of Mississippi University for Women, and Derrick attended from 2004 to 2007.

These beauties are Oliver Matthew and Carter Guido

She certainly looks comfortable.  Her name is Mrs. Chloe Isabella.

Life must not be all bad for this fur baby!  Onyx Kemper is his name.

We'd like to feature you and your fur baby sometime soon!  Please send me photos of the fur baby(ies) and  you at mfaeablog@gmail.com  Fur Baby Friday will be the first Friday of every month, unless we get enough photos to run it more often.

Sunshine Bradshaw Burgess: Stay at Home Mom

Sunshine Bradshaw Burgess, who graduated from Mississippi University for Women in 1998 with an Accounting degree, is now a stay at home mom to Dalton, recently turned 7 and Peyton, 3.  She chose to stay home with her children because she and her husband had just moved to Germany (he is an Air Force air traffic controller) when she learned she was expecting Dalton and she found that "jobs that were easy to get were low paying and childcare costs were outrageous and the waiting list was long".  When they returned to the US, she put Dalton in pre-school and found a job at William Carey College on the Coast.  This was right before Hurricane Katrina.  After Katrina, that job function was moved to Hattiesburg, and, shortly thereafter, she found she was expecting Peyton.  She decided that it was God's will and that "maybe what I was supposed to do was not necessarily what I had planned." 

As a SAHM,  Sunshine loves the fact that she is  ALWAYS there for her kids.  When they are sick, although her plans for the day may change, she don't have to account to anyone for her whereabouts.  She gets to be involved in all aspects of their life and has more than enough time to take care of all the household responsibilities, volunteer work and even some hobbies.

One disadvantage of her job is that she has to work very hard at getting a vacation from her job.  Luckily, her husband doesn't take for granted what she does, so he allots her nights out with girlfriends and weekends away, like coming to Homecoming.  Also, she feels like she has  to dispell the idea that all she does is stay at home.  There is such a misconception that raising kids is not a real job.  She admits that she  probably used to be one of those people until she tried walking in these shoes.

Before she had children, Sunshine worked as an Accounts Payable Clerk for King's Daughters Hospital in Greenville, MS,  Assistant  Director of Alumni Relations at the W, and Accounts Receivable Clerk for Connected Office Products in Columbus, MS.  While she doesn't currently have any income-producing job, she has some great ideas about what she will try once both boys are in school full-time.  Working from home would be ideal, but it would also be easier with the kids out of the house during the day.

When asked how long she planned to stay home, Sunshine replied " I haven't quite nailed that down yet.  I suppose I put some abstract number out there sometimes, but the truth is that only time will tell.  Probably when the benefits of working full-time outweigh the benefits of staying home.  If my family needs me to work, I will.  As a military spouse, we move around so much that it adds extra complications over raising kids.  Also, like this year, my husband deploys and then I lose that other person that I can depend on to pick up the kids and share in the parenting.  It isn't his fault, but the circumstance remains."  At that point she thinks she'd like to go back to school.   " Most people change direction midlife and decide that what they initially wanted to "grow up to be" is no longer appealling to them.  I am contemplating pursuing a second degree in History/Secondary Education.  Never would have remotely considered that before I had children." she continued.  

As a SAHM, Sunshine has the opportunity to volunteer at her son's school "I am a constant fixture at my son's school.  I am the class mom and I also do some hours helping with the art class and in the library."

At the W, Sunshine was a Resident Assistant (5th floor Jones soph and junior years); Head Resident Grossnickle Hall (senior year); a memer of Lantern, Torch and Morterboard; Hottentots; Union Advisory Cabinet; and the Accounting Honorary; Phi Beta Lamda.  She credits her accounting degree with helping her with budgeting, savings and investments, and states " Fortunately for me, the W educates the entire person and not just in your selected field.  I am so thankful for all those required classes we complained about and even the ettiquette lessons we were taught.  In the Air Force, I have to accompany my husband to many formal events; I know that not using the wrong fork keeps him from being embarrassed.  It doesn't hurt that my liberal arts education taught me plenty about a variety of subjects so I can keep up with most conversations."  

I asked her what advice she would you give to current MUW students who think they'd like to stay home with their kids and Sunshine said "Remember that it is a choice you make.  There is nothing easy about this job.  I am a planner, an organizer, a chef, a landscaper, a taxi driver, a nurse, a teacher, etc....It is the one job that you have to do for a lifetime.  The pay is lousy; the hours are long and there isn't much of a retirement plan.  However, you get to spend real time with your children.  You are the person who molds them most in life.  If you aren't enjoying whatever you are doing and are miserable 24/7, it will affect them.  Whether you choose to stay home or work outside the home, remember that it is your choice and you can change your mind and there is no shame in that.

  

Whatever choice a person makes, it is neither right nor wrong.  I simply believe that when you make that choice you should make it wholeheartedly and give 100% to it.  I have alot of respect for women who work outside the home and still manage to do it all really well.  Being a "single" parent this year has added to my respect of women who have to do it alone. "


Thanks Sunshine for visiting with us today.  Your guys are very handsome--all three of them!

Photo(s) of the Week

W commencement is this weekend 
(May 8th)!

Class of 1976: Gerry Harlan Lundgren, Tori Strange Pumphrey, and Cathy Irby

Mississippi's First Alumnae Association congratulates all of the newest graduates of Mississippi University for Women who will carry the chain of magnolias on Shattuck Lawn and walk across the stage of Whitfield Hall on Saturday. Welcome to the Long Blue Line!

 Class of 2009: Jesters Rebecca Riley, Catlyn Johnson, Sheila Humphrey, Ashton Dillard, 

Chelsey Herron White, Jean Manning Goley, and Lindsey Shelnut

Graduation day at the W begins early in the morning with the Magnolia Chain ceremony, a tradition dating back to 1916 (although from 1894 through 1915, graduates actually carried a daisy chain!).

Class of 1973 at Mag Chain (photo courtesy of Donna Bridges, pictured)

Many a W girl (and the occasional W guy) has shuffled along with their classmates, hefting the chain and singing the "Mag Chain Song" over and over (and over) again until the ring of blossoms has been placed on the ground.

 Class of 1982: "Suities" Cheryl Jackson Cooper, Kathy Powell Scarborough,

Lisa Harpole Kropp, and Pam Mossack Doughty

As the Hall of Fame members are recognized, the school spirit awards are granted, and school songs are sung, every graduate is also mentally scoping out the best spot on the chain from which they can pluck one of those valuable magnolias.

 Class of 2009: Maskers Elizabeth Jackson, Haley Harris, Rachel Clair Franklin, 

Rachel McElhenney, Amanda Patterson, and Anne Franklin Lamar

And when the ceremony is over, and the black-robed seniors have stood arm-in-arm, singing "Friends" and waving goodbye to their classmates from across the circle, shrieks and laughter ring out as everyone dives for a lucky blossom.

 Class of 1970: Lenore Shields Griffin with her parents

But Mag Chain is only the beginning of the day, as students prepare to walk across the Whitfield stage and collect their long-awaited diplomas.

 

Class of 1967: Roommates Conchita Barnes Hansford and Diana Moore Daughtridge,

and roommates Katie Brown Strals and Nita Byrd Lumpkin 

The graduation ceremony marks the end of students' time at the W, but just the beginning of their walk with the distinguished Long Blue Line.

Class of 2007: Lauren Dodd, Brandie Ashe, and Heather Dunn Schmitt

Congratulations, class of 2010!

Just a reminder, grads: don't forget to activate your free first year of MFAeA membership!

Neely Woods Hunter, Stay at Home Mom

Neely Woods Hunter, Mississippi University for Women, Class of 1995, became a Stay at Home Mom when her oldest child was born.  While at the W, Neely, an English and Social Science major, was involved with the Reveler Social Club, Masker Honorary Social Club, Union Activities Council, Hottentots, Mortar Board, Leadership MUW, and the Choral.  She was an MSMS RA, MUW Head RA, Student Activities Office student worker, and Mag Pool lifeguard.  In her spare time, she was a member of the Honors Program.

Following graduation, she worked in the accounting department for a large engineering firm in Atlanta, GA.  As she was unhappy in her job, she decided to go to Massage Therapy school at night.  She thought that field would allow her family the flexibility to relocate if her husband's job required it (he was looking) and to begin a family when they were ready.  

Neeley said she’d always considered staying home, but never committed to the idea until she was pregnant with their first child,  working 50-60 hours/week at a job she hated, and  attending school 4 nights per week.  Said Neely, "I knew about half way through my pregnancy that I really didn’t want to continue at that pace once our baby was born and also knew that I’d give up my job before I’d quit MT school."  She and her husband knew they wanted one of them to be a stay at home parent, and decided that  whoever was earning the highest salary when the baby was born would continue working and the other would stay home.  Her husband John got a raise about 2 months before their daughter was born, so he kept working and Neely quit her job after maternity leave.  John is currently the Director of Historic Resources for the Jekyll Island Authority.  He oversees the historic district, sites of archeological significance, and the museum on Jekyll Island.  Looking back, remarked Neely, "We know that it was probably best that he got that raise and didn’t stay home as he was already working in-field and building a career path whereas I was in nothing more than a job that I really disliked."

When Neely first decided to stay home, she didn’t really consider herself to be a traditional stay-at-home-parent since she was still attending massage therapy classes four evening per week and clinicals on the weekends.  However, she stated "You quickly realize that parenting is always a full-time job regardless of any other income-earning activities you do, so I always felt like a full-time parent with extracurricular activities, much like being a full-time university student and still being in clubs, groups, activities and work study."  Her initial plan after graduating from massage therapy school was to set up a private massage therapy office in her home.  While she did set up the office, she soon learned I was pregnant with their second child and found she spent much more time parenting thier two children than building that practice.

Regarding the decision to stay home, Neely said "Strictly from a parenting point of view, we decided to make parenting our children – with a parent home with them as much as possible – a priority because we believe it creates a great foundation for them.  Unless one chooses to home school (which is something neither my husband nor I felt we wanted to do), you only have 5 years with them before they go off to school.  I cherished those 5 years with each of my children – every accomplishment, every boo-boo, every little facial expression or new word was precious and I got to witness most of them.  And even though my husband didn’t have that same opportunity, by me being home, he did have the benefit of an immediate call to report something wonderful (first steps!) and the opportunity to share in my excitement.  Also, because we always co-parented (he watched our daughter while I went to school at night, he watched both children any time I wasn’t home), he got to experience just as many of those fleeting moments.  I believe those 5 years helped our children really connect and trust us in a way that I couldn’t imagine trying to build while being gone all day during those growing years."

While she touts the  nurturing between parent and child as the greatest benefit of staying home, Neely has to admit that the finances can be a challenge.  " Living in metro Atlanta was expensive and we were still on our “starter” jobs.  Moving to Brunswick lowered our cost of living expenses, but we bought a house and had a second baby, and ultimately we sacrificed a lot of material things we’d have otherwise purchased ,and even our future debt load, so that we could provide for our family the way we felt best – and that meant a parent with them as much as possible."

Much as she planned when she went to Massage Therapy School, Neely has slowly built a massage therapy practice one year at a time. " I had a handful of clients during those two years between my pregnancy with our son and his first birthday.  I began to do contract work for a local hotel and spa at times when my husband could be home with our children."  As her children's school hours increased, so did Neely's work hours.  In the last two years she has moved her primary office away from home but is still able to pick her children up from school, and come home to do homework and chores and family things.  One to two afternoons or evenings per week she still sees clients at home.

When asked how long she planned to say home, Neely mused "It’s funny – even though I’m considered “self-employed” on all sorts of forms that ask you the employment question and even though the bulk of my working hours are now spent away from my home and my children, I still in many ways consider myself a stay-at-home-mom.  I pick up from school, help with homework, taxi to dance and karate and ball games.  We rarely use sitters or after-school care.  I do have the advantage of having parents (my mom and my husband’s parents) who moved here 5 years ago, so they are available to help me with the children.  That is not something I had when my children were babies.  I don’t know how long I plan to “stay home” – it’s a work in progress. Some days I envision what my MT practice will be like when I’m not the primary toter and caretaker for my children.  I think about the flexibility to work whatever hours are most convenient for me personally or for my clients rather than my children.  The honest truth is though that I have no idea what my physical stamina will be for this job in 5 years when my daughter is driving and giving me attitude about hauling her little brother around, so for now, I’m just building a good client base and putting my family first and praying that philosophy will carry me well into the next phase whatever that may be."

You'd think that having two pre-teens (Brenna is 10 and Jess is 9) and a massage therapy practice would be enough to keep Neely busy, but it isn't.  She is a semi-active member of the St. Francis Xavier Council of Catholic Women, she volunteers 20-30 hours per year at her children’s school, she is a partner in a cooperative of massage/fitness/wellness professionals and handles a great deal of their promotional work, and she's  been heavily active with Mississippi’s First Alumnae Association since mid 2007.  She was recently elected President-elect, and was instrumental in starting this blog (she twisted the arms of the bloggers).  

Neely has found her MUW education to be invaluable. "Beyond an exemplary academic education, I received invaluable skills in time management and community participation.  Whether I was juggling 18 hour course loads or pledging a social club or assisting new Freshmen through Orientation, I was always learning how to set goals and achieve them as well as how to build personal boundaries and honor them."

While staying at home with kids is not the career choice to which most students aspire, Neely urges them to consider it:  "I think the greatest fallacy perpetuated about being a stay-at-home parent is that the family cannot afford it.  I believe that anyone who thinks they want to be a stay-at-home-parent can make it happen if they work with their partner or extended family to make that goal a priority for everyone involved.  I also think that the only way we’ll ever bust the stigma surrounding SAHMs (or dads) and especially as it relates to “career sabotage” is for those who want both to actually do both in whatever way that works for them.  More and more parents these days are finding ways to be at-home parents while still being gainfully employed in their preferred fields – consultants, contract employees, part-time employment, flex jobs and hours, job-sharing, being self-employed – whatever the solution, there are ways to provide for your family both with your personal hands-on time and financially.  I think the best advice is simply to not be afraid of the possibilities and to treat your parenting job just like you would any other job – make it a priority and then work to make it a reality."  

Calling All Graduates

If you are graduating from The W, or if you are a W alum receiving another degree, we'd like to interview you for our "Graduates" series of profiles.  If you are willing to be interviewed (in writing via email) please send an email to MFAeAblog@gmail.com and we'll send you the interview questions.  We'd love to meet the new members of the Long Blue Line as well as to congratulate those who have reached another milestone.

Sometimes folks are too shy to volunteer, but respond when asked.  If you know someone we should ask, send his/her name and email address, along with your name to MFAeAblog@gmail.com and we'll send your friend an invitation to participate.  We'd love to fill two or three weeks with graduate profiles.

SAHM Profile: Michelle Wescovich ('07)

After spending years as a paralegal in south Mississippi, Michelle Wescovich graduated from MUW in 2007 with a BS in paralegal studies. While at the W, Michelle was a part of the Ina E. Gordy Honors College, and she participated in other activities such as D'Belles, Bench and Gavel, Spanish Club, and Phi Theta Kappa. Though her original goal was to go on to law school, Michelle decided to return to the paralegal profession after graduation. But due to a debilitating accident two years ago, Michelle was forced to leave the workplace, and she became a stay-at-home mom to son Jarod, 16, currently a sophomore in high school. Now she is pursuing a new goal: obtaining her Master's degree. Michelle is currently enrolled at San Jose State University in the online Master's of Library and Information Science program.

Being a SAHM was never a part of her plans, but it has turned out to be a blessing for Michelle and her son. "Being at home allows me to watch my son grow in school and his social life," she says. "Jarod participates in JROTC, and I am able to volunteer my time to chaperone field trips and attend all of his meets and events." In fact, Michelle has become something of a "second mom" to many of the JROTC students at Jarod's school, and her house is always filled with the raucous sounds of boisterous teenagers.

When asked what she enjoys the most about being a SAHM, Michelle replies, "I like having the time to take care of my family and make sure that they're comfortable. I've always enjoyed doing that, but now I'm not half as stressed as I used to be in trying to keep up with everything." Still, her graduate studies and volunteering at Jarod's school keep her constantly busy. "Some days I still don't have enough time to do everything I want to do!"

Michelle, a longtime single mother, recently became engaged to Charles ("Charlie") Daugherty, a team leader at Chevron. The two, who have known each other since high school, reconnected last summer. Their wedding will take place at the Grand Magnolia Bed and Breakfast in Pascagoula in February 2011, where Jarod will walk his mother down the aisle and serve as a groomsman.

Michelle, Charlie, and Jarod have also recently welcomed a couple of rambunctious new additions to their family: two Chihuahua puppies, Spike and Gracie.

To W students who may consider forgoing the workplace in favor of home life, Michelle says, "If that is your choice, I wholeheartedly encourage you to do it! It's very rewarding to be able to watch your child go through all of the milestones and to see their progress firsthand. I never realized how much I missed when I worked full-time." She credits her time at MUW for providing her with the opportunity to pursue her dreams while staying at home with Jarod. "I always thought I would go to law school, but being at the W showed me there were so many different paths my future could take. I can be at home with my son and still succeed in my graduate classes. I don't have to choose one or the other--I can have both!"

In the meantime, Michelle encourages her son, who is beginning his college search, to consider the W for all it has to offer. "Jarod, who stayed with my mother during my two years at the W so he wouldn't have to leave his friends or his school, came to visit me on campus often, and he really enjoyed spending time there. I think the W can offer him many of the same benefits it offered me: the chance to build leadership skills, a safe educational environment, and a personalized relationship with the faculty. It's on his list of schools, so perhaps one day we'll have a Wescovich legacy at the W!"