About

The Economic Outlook Forum is an annual event where experts in areas of banking, finance, and academia discuss economic trends and forecasts for the upcoming year. Sponsored by The First, A National Banking Association. Find out more and register here!

The Southern Miss Business Excellence Awards is an annual luncheon hosted during the fall semester that recognizes the Entrepreneur of the Year, and Alumni of the the Year, and the Young Alumni of the Year for their professional achievements. This event is supported by the endowment of the late Joe Boardman Jr. 

The Golden Idea Pitch Competition is a "shark tank" style event that provides a platform for budding entrepreneurs to pitch their innovative products and services to established, professional entrepreneurs from the community. Find out more here! 

Experience Business Virtually is a video series that tackles all of the important topics young professionals need to know, from social media etiquette to professional travel. Subscribe to the Southern Miss Business YouTube channel to be notified when new videos are released! 

• Professional Travel Essentials [Experience Business Virtually Ep. 1]: Learn to travel professionally with Southern Miss Business. Today J.T. will teach you the basics of Professional Travel as part of our Experience Business Virtually series. Download the Business Travel Packing List!
• 5 Financial Tips For Business Students [Experience Business Virtually Ep. 2]: View the video to learn five financial tips every business student should know as part of our Experience Business Virtually series. Download the Financial Tips Flyer!
• How to Stay Professional on Social Media [Experience Business Virtually Ep. 3]: Meredith Moseley, a marketing intern for Southern Miss Business, gives some great tips on how to stay professional on your social media. She discusses what is appropriate and inappropriate to post on all of your social media platforms, and provides insight that will help you keep that professional look for your social brand. Download the Social Media Branding Flyer!
• Dining Etiquette Basics for Business Students [Experience Business Virtually Ep. 4]: Get to know Restauranteur and Author Robert St. John as he shares tips on dining etiquette basics for business students as part of our Experience Business Virtually series. Download the Dining Etiquette Flyer!

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Undergraduate Business Programs Rankings

#1 in the Mississippi & #44 in the Nation Best Online Bachelor’s in Business, U.S. News & World Report, 2023
#39 Best Online Bachelor's in Business, U.S. News & World Report, 2021
#1 Best Online Business School in Mississippi, SuccessfulStudent.org, 2019

MBA Program Rankings

#12 Best Online MBA Programs in the South, 2024
#19 Most Affordable Online MBA Programs, Fortune 2024
#31 Best Online MBA Programs, Fortune, 2024
#61 Best MBA Programs, Fortune, 2025
#95 Best Online MBA Programs for Veterans, U.S. News & World Report, 2025
#163 Best Online MBA Programs, U.S. News & World Report, 2025

Master of Science in Sport Management Program Rankings

#9 Best Online Master's in Sport Management Programs, Intelligent.com, 2025
#43 Best Online Sport Management Master's Degree Programs, OnlineMastersDegrees.org, 2024

Human Capital Development Program Rankings

#1 Best Online Master's in Human Resources, OnlineMastersDegrees.org, 2022

Mission

Our purpose is to develop leaders who leverage an entrepreneurial mindset to create value and innovative business solutions. We ensure that all students have applied experiences that build the knowledge and develop the skills needed to succeed and lead in the global marketplace. We support economic development by advancing knowledge through influential scholarship and collaboration with our communities.

Vision

We will be a recognized leader in providing business educational experiences that inspire and empower business scholars and students to fearlessly lead on the national and international stage.

Organizational Values

• Authenticity: We stay true to who we are and always act with integrity.
• Unity: We respect others’ perspectives and work together to strengthen our community.
• Resiliency: We persevere by being relevant, tenacious, and adaptable.
• Passion: We nurture passion and inspire boldness.
• Resourcefulness: We foster curiosity, creative problem-solving, and forward thinking to meet challenges head-on.

Strategic Priorities

In the next five years, the College of Business & Economic Development will focus on:

• Becoming the business school of choice for experiential learning, real-world preparation, and entrepreneurial mindset.
• Expanding opportunities for community, industry, and global engagement.
• Fostering a culture and community of scholars characterized by excellent teaching, impactful teaching and research, collegiality, and considerate service to all stakeholders.
• Enhancing external relations and fundraising activities. 

Our graduate and undergraduate business and accounting programs are all accredited by AACSB International. Southern Miss offers the only on-campus AACSB-accredited business programs in South Mississippi.  

AACSB-accredited schools have the highest quality faculty, relevant and challenging curriculum, and provide educational and career opportunities that are not found at other business schools.

AACSB Accreditation represents the highest standard of achievement for business schools worldwide. Less than 5% of the world's 13,000 business programs have earned AACSB Accreditation. AACSB-accredited schools produce graduates that are highly skilled and more desirable to employers than other non-accredited schools.

AACSB-accredited schools... 

• are recognized worldwide by top employers and other universities. 
• have employers that only hire their graduates. 
• have more access to recruiters. 
• have graduates that receive higher, more competitive salaries. 
• say being accredited improves the quality of their business programs. 
• say being accredited helps them hire and retain the best professors and researchers. 
• have students that are more international and are likely to earn higher levels of education. 
• have students with high-graduating GPAs 
• are challenging and teach the best skills that give a distinct advantage in the real world.

• Understanding Accreditation
• Business Accreditation
• Accounting Accreditation
• Accreditation Standards
• Accredited Institutions

Dean's Executive Council

Dean's Advisory Council

Undergraduate Programs and Assessment Committee (UPAC)

Dr. Srinidhi Kanuri (Chair)
Dr. Greg Bradley
Amber Cole
Dr. Ke Gong
Dr. Alison Hubbard
Whitney Branch (non-voting)

Graduate Programs and Assessment Committee (GPAC)

Dr. Steven Stelk (Chair)
Dr. Jacob Breland
Dr. Chris Croft
Dr. Abubaker Haddud
Amber Hatten
Dr. Chad Miller
Dr. Alex Scrimpshire
Dr. Joel Bolton (ex-officio)
Brett Benigno (non-voting)
Joely Sellers (non-voting)

Scholarships and Awards Committee

Dr. Joseph A. Greene was the first Dean of the business program at The University of Southern Mississippi. Find out more about the legacy that he left here at the College of Business and Economic Development.