Chair, Department of Biology

Founded in 1848, The University of Mississippi, affectionately known to alumni, students and friends as Ole Miss, is Mississippi's flagship university. Included in the elite group of R-1: Doctoral Universities - Highest Research Activity by the Carnegie Classification, it has a long history of producing leaders in public service, academics and business. With more than 24,000 students, Ole Miss is the state's largest university and is ranked among the nation's fastest-growing institutions. Its 15 academic divisions include a major medical school, nationally recognized schools of accountancy, law and pharmacy, and the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, renowned for a blend of academic rigor, experiential learning and opportunities for community action. The University of Mississippi embraces diversity and inclusion as core values and seeks to empower all members of the University community.

The university’s path to becoming the flagship university it is today has been marked by two decades of accelerated growth and prosperity. Student enrollment at UM has increased over 40 percent over the past seven years — illustrating the growing reputation and national draw of the university. We were the 10th-fastest growing university among public doctoral institutions over the period of 2005–2015. Over the past few years, the university has instituted dynamic new academic programs and greatly expanded its campuses with the completion of multiple major construction projects.  The 2018 U.S. News & World Report annual rankings of Best (Undergraduate) Colleges and Universities ranked the University of Mississippi No. 73 in the Top Public National Universities category.  The rankings reflect 15 indicators of academic excellence, including faculty resources, financial resources, and undergraduate academic reputation.  In 2016, indicating a major milestone, the university was elevated to the Carnegie R1 Highest Research Activity classification — placing it in the top 2.5 percent of colleges and universities nationwide. 

For ten consecutive years, The University of Mississippi has been voted by our staff as one of the great colleges to work for in the Chronicle of Higher Education’s survey, and has been widely recognized as one of the most beautiful campuses in America by Newsweek, the Princeton Review and USA Today. Sometimes called the “Cultural Mecca of the South,” Oxford has been the home of William Faulkner, John Grisham, Willie Morris, Barry Hannah and many more outstanding writers. In recent years, it has become known for its award-winning chefs and restaurateurs. Oxford is often recommended by many publications as a bucket list place to visit.

We build leaders, serve our community and our neighbors, and compete to win. We are a literary mecca, a research center, a launchpad for careers across the professions, a home away from home, and so much more. We are Ole Miss.

Committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse and talented workforce, the university offers competitive salaries and benefits, an extensive support network, and above all, an enriching and highly collaborative community that is deeply passionate about our vision for higher education and public service.

The University of Mississippi offers exciting opportunities for career development and continuous learning. Every day is different, with new ideas, challenges, and benefits just around the corner—no matter which department you’re a part of. It’s an exciting place to build a meaningful career at any level.

Our University, like all institutions, is only as strong as our people. Our faculty, staff, and students represent an exceptional group of people with a rich diversity of talents and backgrounds. There’s no better place to start a great career than in Oxford, Mississippi.