UM, JSU Women’s Groups Work Toward a Common Purpose

Representatives from the women’s councils at Jackson State University and the University of Mississippi recently gathered in Oxford to continue building on their relationship. Ole Miss first lady Sharon Vitter was also on hand as the council members shared ideas and goals to strengthen student scholarships and experiences at both universities. Photo by Bill Dabney

Through a nine-year collaboration, the women’s councils of two Mississippi universities have developed a bond that is proving beneficial for both organizations.

In 2007, the Ole Miss Women’s Council for Philanthropy helped develop a similar council at Jackson State University. Ever since, the groups have strengthened each other, building on their relationship for the benefit of students. Recently, representatives gathered together on the University of Mississippi’s Oxford campus.

“Growth occurs from the interaction between the two councils; friendships are developed and ideas are shared,” said Meredith Creekmore of Jackson, a founding member of the OMWC. “This recent collaboration gave both the Jackson State and the Ole Miss women’s councils the opportunity to develop a rapport that will be ongoing.”

At the recent meeting, council members from both universities shared best and promising practices, gained insight on the structure and implementation of their respective programs and discussed the coordination of student scholarships.

“The meeting provided the opportunity to emphasize the importance of women working together in higher education in the state of Mississippi to benefit our students and universities,” said Gwendolyn Spencer Prater, chair of the Women’s Council for Philanthropy, an organization of the Jackson State University Development Foundation.

“The meeting, with energetic and committed women from both councils, demonstrated that we have similar goals to support young people in developing a philanthropic lens during their tenure at our sister universities that will guide them throughout their life’s work.”

OMWC Chair Mary Haskell shares similar sentiments: “This was an exciting opportunity to come together as sister organizations to share our programming ideas and discuss our current and long-term goals for creating the most effective ways of supporting the outstanding students we are privileged to have as our scholars.”

While each of the councils is unique, they share a common organizational structure and mission. Helmed by an accomplished cadre of female leaders and philanthropists, the councils provide students with scholarships for tuition and books as well as guidance and training in leadership skills, career development and personal growth.

The scholars, who are mentored throughout college by members of the councils, participate in leadership training, community service projects, cultural enrichment activities and alumni networking.

By working together, the UM and JSU women’s councils focus on philanthropic giving opportunities for their respective institutions and students. The collaboration provides insight on how each council operates within its by-laws, how members participate on various committees to promote philanthropy, and how to enhance each council with new ideas and strategies for promoting philanthropic giving and activities.

Haskell said she and the other OMWC members enjoyed the opportunity to share ideas and become acquainted with the JSU women’s council members.

“It’s our mutual hope that we will be able to plan a gathering next year that will include all the various women’s councils that have been developed and are serving young students in our state,” Haskell said.

“It was a very informative, transparent and useful meeting,” Prater said. “The Jackson State cohort found our hostesses at Ole Miss very welcoming, personable, dedicated and supportive. We greatly appreciate the Ole Miss council’s graciousness and hospitality.”

On Feb. 14, 2000, the OMWC began with a group of philanthropic-minded women committed to providing endowed scholarships for its council scholars and guiding them into their careers as well as helping with the development of life skills through the leadership-mentorship program.

Seven years later, the Jackson State University Development Foundation Women’s Council for Philanthropy was officially established. Evangeline Robinson, now assistant professor of integrated marketing at Ole Miss, was instrumental in starting the JSU program when she worked there as the executive director of institutional advancement.

Not long after a conversation with then-JSU President Ronald Mason about increasing the number of JSU’s female donors, Robinson attended a conference during which then-UM development officer Ellen Rolfes discussed the OMWC.

“I immediately thought it was exactly what we needed at Jackson State to get more women involved. I introduced myself to Ellen and that started the conversation,” Robinson recalled, adding that Rolfes, who helped start the OMWC, Creekmore and Gloria Kellum, then-vice chancellor for university relations at Ole Miss, became faithful resources as she began to plan the JSU organization.

“When I told Meredith (Creekmore) that we were starting a women’s council, she immediately offered to help and committed to being a member,” Robinson said. “She was there from the beginning and always so encouraging. She later established our first endowed women’s council scholarship.”

“Our councils share an important bond, in that Meredith was inspired to share the mission of our council with this group of remarkable women, and so then served as a founding member of the JSUWC in 2007,” Haskell said.

With expectations that the two groups will meet annually going forward, Creekmore said, “I think it’s a great collaboration for Ole Miss and Jackson State.”

For more information on the Ole Miss Women’s Council, visit http://omwc.olemiss.edu/. For information on the Jackson State University Development Foundation Women’s Council for Philanthropy, visithttp://www.jsums.edu/wcphilanthropy/.

By Bill Dabney and the Ole Miss News Desk

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