TO:                 Deans, Chairs, and Directors

FROM:          D. Jay Grimes, Ph.D.

                        Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

DATE:            October 10, 2005

RE:                 New Marketing and Public Relations Director

After a nationwide search involving administration, staff, faculty, and alumni, I am pleased to announce that Margie Jepson, a Southern Miss graduate (BFA ’79 and MBA ’81), has been selected as Southern Miss’ new Director of Marketing and Public Relations.

Her professional credentials are outstanding. She has demonstrable, results-oriented experience with national, regional and local marketing, advertising, public relations and customer relationship management programs. Her career path and experiences cover a range of industry sectors including small business development, healthcare, business consulting, insurance, and association and nonprofits. From the Gulf Coast, to Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Denver, she’s developed and led multi-faceted marketing communication programs to advance organizational objectives.

We are especially pleased to have Margie join us because her experiences as a student, graduate student and recruitment counselor, combined with active alumni association participation provide her with keen insight and understanding of our University. She has served as president and board member of the Alumni Association chapters both in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, and led the establishment of the chapter in Denver. She’s demonstrated her commitment and love for Southern Miss over the years. We are delighted that she and her family have elected to move back to Hattiesburg from Denver.

Her transition to campus begins today, Monday, October 10th. Please join me in welcoming her home to Southern Miss and provide her with any and all assistance as she assumes this new role.