Open Doors event aims to bolster student-leadership relations
University of Mississippi students are invited to the Lyceum January 28 for an opportunity to meet and greet with members of the university’s senior leadership team.
The event, called Open Doors, will encourage students to connect with decision-makers at the university’s highest levels in a laid-back setting.
“Open Doors is a casual, and hopefully nonintimidating, way for students to visit the Lyceum and get to know their senior administrators,” said Shawnboda Mead, assistant vice chancellor for diversity. “This event builds upon the Longest Table event hosted in the fall semester by encouraging ongoing conversations between students and administrators.”
Open Doors began as an idea from Joshua Mannery, Associated Student Body director of campus outreach, who worked with the Columns Society, Division of Student Affairs, and Division of Diversity and Community Engagement to bring it to life. Open Doors is a part of All In at UM, a yearlong effort to expand cultural awareness, challenge bias, and increase campus-wide support for diversity, equity, and inclusion.
“At the foundation of Open Doors is the desire to create more opportunities for students to engage with members of the senior leadership team and to build community with fellow students,” Mead said. “We hope this is the start of a new tradition for the UM or campus community that provides an opportunity to develop genuine connections between students and senior leadership.”
Senior representatives from the following offices and departments are committed to attending and engaging with students:
- Office of the Chancellor
- Office of the Provost
- Office of the VC for Diversity and Community Engagement
- Office of the VC for Student Affairs
- Office of the VC for Research and Sponsored Programs
- Office of the VC for Administration and Finance
- Office of the General Counsel
- Department of Intercollegiate Athletics
- University Development
- Ole Miss Alumni Association
- Department of Marketing and Communications
The come-and-go event is free for students. Dinner, dessert, and beverage stations will be positioned throughout the Lyceum from 5:30 to 7 pm.
Attendees will be eligible for giveaways, including a free T-shirt to the first 100 students.
Students are encouraged to register at https://tinyurl.com/opendoorsUM2020 by January 24. For more information or disability accommodations, contact diversity@olemiss.edu or 662-915-2933.
By JB Clark
