University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast

News Archive

Southern Miss Gulf Coast to Offer Bachelor's Degree in Marketing
The College of Business at The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast will offer a bachelor's degree in marketing beginning in the fall 2008 semester. The program, which will mirror the program on the Hattiesburg campus, is expected to accommodate the schedules of all students. "We try to put students who are taking particular courses at particular times in a certain flow of classes so that they build on each other," said Dr. Tony Henthorne, chair of the Department of Tourism Management, professor of marketing, and executive editor of the publication, Journal of Tourism: An International Research Journal on Travel and Tourism . "We are looking at how best to sequence the timing of the classes so that we reach the largest student base that we have - both the traditional and non-traditional students." The new marketing major will allow the university to respond to the ongoing demand for marketing-related skill sets on the Gulf Coast says Dr. Alvin Williams, interim dean and professor in the College of Business.

BILOXI – Students in The University of Southern Mississippi Department of Tourism Management will get the opportunity to rub elbows with some of the biggest names in the Mississippi gaming industry at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Biloxi on Thursday, Oct. 25.

Joe Billhimer, president and chief operating officer of the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Biloxi, will host a tour of the hotel and casino for students. Following the tour, students will have the opportunity to meet with the gaming industry professionals during a luncheon at the Satisfaction Buffet in the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.

The students are familiar with the professionals through the “Partnering with Professionals” program. One of the guests attending the luncheon will be Larry Gregory, the executive director of the Mississippi Gaming Commission.

“Many of the students met the industry leaders via online live classrooms and streaming videos, so it will be exciting for both students and industry leaders to meet face-to-face,” said Evelyn Green, instructor in the Department of Tourism Management.

Through Tourism Management’s online courses, students learn firsthand from gaming industry professionals who are members of the department’s “Partnering with Professionals” program. In the courses, students access their virtual classroom and through streaming video, hold online discussions with gaming industry experts. The professionals share their knowledge and experience with students and answer any questions they may have.

For more information on the tourism management program, please call 601.266.6762 or visit the Southern Miss Department of Tourism Web site at http://www.usm.edu/business/departments/tourism_management.

Team Angel –The fictional company Angel Tech LLC was the winner in the 2007 Golden Eagle Challenge. Team members pictured from left are Justin Crockett, E.J. Croal, Yen Nguyen, Brenda Lewis and Ashleigh Rogers. The annual competition is sponsored by the College of Business at The University of Southern Mississippi. (Southern Miss Photo by Jana Bryant)

Aust

Bruce Aust, executive vice president of the Corporate Client Group of the NASDAQ Stock Market Inc., spoke at the College of Business Oct. 19, 2007. Aust, a 1986 economics graduate of Southern Miss, was honored as the college’s Distinguished Alumnus for 2007. Click here to watch a video of his address.

Julian Ingalls, president of the newly founded Delta Epsilon Chi (DEC) chapter, traveled with advisor Dr. Jennifer Sequeira to the State Career Development Conference in Tupelo, Feb 25-27, where he placed second in the marketing management competition and third in the advertising competition. Julian will now represent the state of Mississippi in these events at the Delta Epsilon Chi International Conference in Orlando, Fla., in April.

Around 150 students from 15 Mississippi colleges and universities competed in areas of entrepreneurship, marketing, human resources, financial services, apparel and accessories and e-commerce.Delta Epsilon Chi (a college/university level DECA) is an organization that prepares students for careers in marketing, management, merchandising, banking and finance, culinary arts and entrepreneurship. If you have students who may be interested in this organization, please let them know that there will be a meeting in Joseph Green Hall Room 212 on theHattiesburg campus on Tuesday, March 6 at 5:30 p.m. Dr. Leon Bracey, Delta Epsilon Chi state coordinator will be the speaker.

In the photo above, Julian Ingalls (left) is pictured with Dr. Leon Bracey.