University of Mississippi Faculty Laureates showcase excellence in academic inquiry, creative endeavor, and communication. This new program, developed and managed by the Mississippi Lab, leverages award stipends, travel stipends, course releases, and project development funds to empower the creativity of faculty from all disciplines who work on the Oxford campus of the University of Mississippi. Their dynamic work makes possible new alliances, projects, and knowledge. Laureates amplify the impact of higher education in Mississippi and beyond. Laureate terms begin August 15, 2024.

Underwritten by the Dr. Daniel W. Jones Endowment for Faculty Support.

Logo by students in Tyler Barnes’s graphic design class at the University of Mississippi.

Faculty Laureates Announced

Read more about the new faculty laureates.

Stephen Fafulus, associate professor of Spanish and linguistics

Dr. Fafulus plans to help bilingual and minority language-speaking Mississippians as well as Ole Miss students.

Amanda Winburn, associate professor of leadership and counselor education

Dr. Winburn plans to instruct teachers and counselors across the state about play therapy and its long-term benefits.

Goals

  • Introduce Mississippi to UM faculty

  • Showcase the impact of higher education in Mississippi

  • Retain and grow creative faculty

  • Encourage and enable creative work

  • Build new alliances, projects, and knowledge

Eligibility

  • Faculty with 5 years minimum experience at UM at time of application

  • ALL fields and disciplines are eligible

  • Lecturer, Instructional Associate Professor, Associate Professor, or higher  

  • 2-3 Laureates selected every 2 years

  • Actual number based on strength of field

  • 2-year terms

Compensation

  • 50 percent course release (2 class release per semester if class load is 3-3)

  • $ to departments to cover classes, arrangements made via department chairs and Provost

  • $7.5k yearly Laureate stipend

  • $10k yearly Laureate travel budget, rollover possible

  • $5k initial Laureate project funds

  • At 6 months, Laureates propose full projects and apply for additional project funds

Selection

  • 7 jurors

  • 3 meetings per year

  • Narrows field to finalists (edited)

  • Each finalist gets one interview with jury (edited)

 Jurors

  • Thomas Andre, Exercise Science

  • Nancy Maria Balach, Institute for the Arts

  • Shawnboda Mead, Vice Chancellor Diversity and Community Engagement

  • John T Edge, Mississippi Lab

  • Vanessa Gregory, Journalism and New Media

  • Cecille Labuda, Physics and Astronomy

  • Andre Liebenberg, Business and Insurance