Welcome to the daily email for media members that includes news and notes from The University of Southern Mississippi. Today's message includes new releases about USM being recognized as one of the nation's leading research institutions by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education and online programs at USM being ranked among the nation's best by U.S. News & World Report.

Media inquiries can be directed to Van Arnold at 601.266.5568 or van.arnoldFREEMississippi or David Tisdale at 601.266.4499 or d.g.tisdaleFREEMississippi.

Today's Top Story

The University of Southern Mississippi Takes Its Place Among Nation's Leading Research Universities

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) has been recognized as one of the nation's leading research institutions by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, the pre-eminent classification of top doctoral research universities.

USM's inclusion in the “R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity” category places the University in the distinguished company of institutions like Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Johns Hopkins, and others. Only 130 institutions in the nation are classified as R1, which represents the highest level of research activity for universities.

http://news.usm.edu/article/university-southern-mississippi-takes-its-place-among-nation-s-leading-research-universities

Additional News Release

USM Online Programs Ranked Among Best by U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report has recognized a group of online programs at The University of Southern Mississippi among the nation's best in the publication's 2019 Best Online Rankings.

In its rankings announced earlier this week, U.S. News rated USM's online graduate nursing program at No. 59; the undergraduate bachelor's degree program at No. 93 and the Master of Business Administration program at No. 119. The list includes more than 350 colleges and universities.

http://news.usm.edu/article/usm-online-programs-ranked-among-best-us-news-world-report

Expert Availability

The University of Southern Mississippi provides a wide range of faculty experts who can offer insights on a variety of newsworthy topics. To schedule an interview, email mediaexpertsFREEMississippi. For a full list of USM media experts visit: http://news.usm.edu/resource/usm-faculty-experts-media-requests

Photo/Video Opportunity

Rev. James E. Swanson Sr., head of the United Methodist Church in Mississippi, will serve as the keynote speaker for the 13^th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Ecumenical and Multicultural Prayer Breakfast Monday, Jan. 21 at 7:30 a.m. in the ballroom of The University of Southern Mississippi's Thad Cochran Center on the Hattiesburg campus. Rev. Swanson Sr., who became the first African-American bishop of the Mississippi Conference of the United Methodist Church in 2012, is an internationally recognized preacher and lecturer. To schedule coverage, call Van Arnold or David Tisdale.

Did You Know?

Southern Miss ranked as the nation's top PhD program in counseling psychology according to CounselingPsychology.org.

About The University of Southern Mississippi

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) is a comprehensive public research institution delivering transformative programs on campuses in Hattiesburg and Long Beach, at teaching and research sites in central and southern Mississippi, as well as online. Founded in 1910, USM is one of only 76 public universities in the nation to earn the Carnegie Foundation's "higher research activity" designation for doctoral universities, and its robust research enterprise includes experts in ocean science and engineering, polymer science and engineering, and sport venue safety and security, among others. USM is also one of only 40 institutions in the nation accredited in theatre, art and design, dance and music. As an economic driver, USM generates an annual economic impact of more than $600 million across the state. USM welcomes a diverse student body of approximately 15,000, representing 71 countries, all 50 states, and every county in Mississippi. USM students have collected four Truman Scholarships and 35 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships, while also leading Mississippi with 21 Goldwater Scholarships, an honor that recognizes the next generation of great research scientists. Home to the Golden Eagles, USM competes in 17 Division I sports sponsored by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). For more information, visit usm.edu.