Lafayette County Students Named to Prestigious Honor Society at UM

More than 344 students were inducted into the UM chapter of Phi Kappa Phi, a prestigious honor society, in a Nov. 3 ceremony at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts. Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest, largest and most selective honor society for all academic disciplines.

Membership in Phi Kappa Phi is based on a student’s sound character and academic standing. Juniors must have completed 72 credit hours and rank in the top 7.5 percent of their class, while seniors and graduate students must rank in the top 10 percent of their class.

Local students include:

University of Mississippi graduate student Shukria Akbar of Oxford; junior Susanna Leigh Cassisa of Oxford; Ph.D. student Duncan M. Gray of Oxford; junior Ezra J. Holben; graduate student Adole Muruako of Oxford; Ph.D. student Obaida Shammama of Oxford; graduate student Sima Bhowmik of Oxford; junior Patrick Scott Brown II of Oxford; senior Elizabeth Michelle Bullard Manning of Oxford; senior Shelby Duke Goza of Oxford; graduate student Melissa L. Jones of Oxford; and graduate student Jennifer Jewel Sanford of Oxford.

Akbar is a Ph.D. student in Pharmaceutical Sciences, who is on track to graduate in May 2021. After graduation, Akbar wants to advance her career in research of Pharmaceutical Sciences. She wishes to continue her research journey with a postdoctoral experience after her Ph.D. program. Akbar earned Rho chi membership, volunteered in many events organized by Biomolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy and also served as skills workshop chair in Biomolecular Sciences advocacy (BSA) committee. Akbar is the daughter of Muhammad Akbar and Asia Nasreen from Lahore, Pakistan.

Cassisa is an International Studies and German major, who is on track to graduate in May 2021. After graduation, Cassisa plans to pursue a law degree and eventually practice law in the South. Cassisa was named a Croft Scholar by the Croft Institute for International Studies, was named the 2019 recipient of the Hans-Jürgen Gaycken German Studies Excellence Award and has been twice awarded the Outstanding German student at the 300-level award. Cassisa is the daughter of Paul and Jane Cassisa of Oxford.

Gray is an Educational Leadership major, who is on track to graduate in May 2020. After graduation, Gray plans to continue to work in the field of education and help communities strengthen their school systems. He has a deep interest in leadership development and systems evaluation. Gray enjoys working with teachers in schools to create reflective practitioners who can create organizational change. Gray entered the teaching profession through the Mississippi Teacher Corps, a competitive alternate route teaching program that places teachers in critical needs areas. While teaching in Holly Springs, he earned his master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Mississippi. Gray is the son of Duncan and Kathy Gray of Oxford. He is married to Amber Gray.

Holben is a Managerial Finance major, who is on track to graduate in May 2021. After graduation, Holben hopes to move to the Midwest and begin his career in corporate finance. Holben has volunteered at Oxford High School through MoneyThink, interned with Marriott Vacations Worldwide and has been on the Chancellor’s Honor Roll every semester. Holben is the son of David and Lisa Holben of Oxford Mississippi.

Muruako is a Clinical Mental Health Counseling major, who is on track to graduate in May 2020. After graduation, Muruako wishes to combine chronic disease self-management education with therapeutic methods to assist people with chronic illnesses with her therapy practice. She also plans to work with health providers to better help integrate behavioral health into the primary care setting. Muruako was inducted into Chi Sigma Iota, Gamma Beta Phi Honors Society and worked with Campus Recreation and Wellness Education in 2018-19 to educate students on several wellness education dimensions. Muruako is the daughter of Dr. Dovi and Theresa Alipoe of Vicksburg. She is married to Lawrence Muruako.

Shammama is a political science major, who is on track to graduate in Dec. 2020.

Bhowmik is a Journalism major, who is on track to graduate in May 2020. After graduation, Bhowmik wishes to pursue a Ph.D. after completion of her masters degree. During her time at UM, Bhowmik won the 48-hour film festival in 2018; her first paper (“Examining the Role of Clickbait Headlines to Engage Readers with Reliable Health-related Information”) was accepted in the AAAI 2019 fall symposium, and she has done volunteer work for several campus organizations. She is married to Saiful Huda.

Brown II is a Mechanical Engineering major, who is on track to graduate in May 2021. Brown II is the son of Patrick Scott Brown & Ginger Hill Brown of Lafayette County.

Manning is a Psychology major, who is on track to graduate in May 2020. After graduation, Manning wishes to advance her education by getting a masters degree in Marriage and Family counseling. Manning knows that she wants to work with children and family. Manning wants to have a private practice one day in the future. Manning was on the Chancellor’s List, volunteered with her other honor society Phi Theta Kappa, and was invited to the National Leadership Society at Ole Miss. Manning is the daughter of Richard Manning of Taylor and Wendy Bullard of Oxford (divorced).

Goza is a Chemistry major, who is on track to graduate in May 2021. After graduation, Goza wishes to advance his education by attending medical school. Goza is the son of June and Duke Goza of Lafayette County.

Jones is a Ed.D. in Higher Education major, who is on track to graduate in May 2021. Jones received her M.B.A. with a specialization in Human Resources from the New York Institute of Technology in 2009. In 2013, she received her J.D. from the University of Mississippi School of Law and is admitted to the Mississippi Bar. Leaving full-time law practice, Jones joined the University of Mississippi in 2017 and is the Assistant Director of the Trent Lott Leadership Institute. She also teaches legal studies classes and provides pro bono legal services for local Chancery clinics. After completing her Doctorate in Higher Education, Jones plans to continue to teach, mentor and develop student scholars at the University of Mississippi. Jones has served as a judge and industry professional/coach for the Speaker’s Edge Competition since 2015, working with MBA, Masters of Accountancy and law students. She also serves the Warren Debate Union in various capacities including instructing the team with matter loading, traveling with the team to international competition and serving as a guest facilitator. Jones was also a guest speaker at Junior Leadership Lafayette. Jones is the daughter of James D. and Kathleen Groover of Savannah, Georgia. She is married to Donald Drummond Jones Jr.

Sanford is a masters in Higher Education/Student Personnel major, who is on track to graduate in Aug 2020. After graduation, Sanford looks forward to advancing her career within higher education. She also wishes to continue her studies by pursuing either her Ph.D. or Ed.D. degree in the future. Sanford is also a member of the Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society in which she has donated and volunteered in several community events. She has been invited to be a part of the Who’s Who of the University of Mississippi. When she is not taking care of her three children, Alayna Sanford, Alexander Sanford Jr. and Andrew Sanford, she is volunteering to work with the youth in her surrounding communities through the nonprofit organization, Greater Impact CDC, located in Batesville. Sanford is the daughter of Yvonne Thomas of Milwaukee and Sylvester Thomas of Chicago (divorced). She is married to Alexander Sanford Sr.