Welcome to the daily email for media members that includes news and notes from The University of Southern Mississippi. Today's message includes a special coverage opportunity regarding this evening's University Forum address by author Sarah Smarsh. Also included are news releases about the University's planned events in conjunction with Women's History Month in March and an announcement that USM alumna Aimee Murry will be the guest speaker for the College of Business and Economic Development's International Business Speaker Series.

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.

Special Coverage Opportunity

First University Forum of 2019 Features Author Sarah Smarsh

Myths and widely-held beliefs about class and wealth in America will be examined by acclaimed writer and social issues commentator Sarah Smarsh when she visits The University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg campus as first speaker for its spring 2019 University Forum series at 6:30 p.m. today at Bennett Auditorium on the Hattiesburg campus.

Smarsh, is the author of “Heartland: Working Hard and Being Broke in the Richest Country on Earth,” a 2018 National Book Award finalist for nonfiction. Heartland is Smarsh's memoir of growing up poor in Kansas in the 1980s and 1990s. It explores gender and class divides in our country, while seeking to unravel myths about rural America that hold that those who live in the flyover states are backward and ignorant. To schedule coverage, call Van Arnold or David Tisdale.

News Releases

USM Celebrating Women's History Month in March

The important and lasting contributions to America's story that women have made and continue to make will be recognized throughout March at The University of Southern Mississippi during Women's History Month. Supported in part by USM's Committee on Services and Resources for Women, Women's History Month programing at the university will feature educational programming in the form of lectures and roundtable and panel discussions on a variety of topics, as well as dance performances.

http://news.usm.edu/article/usm-celebrating-women-s-history-month-march

USM Alumna to Address International Business Students as Part of Speaker Series

University of Southern Mississippi alumna Aimee Murry will serve as guest speaker for the first International Business Speaker Series of the spring semester from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 21 at Scianna Hall on the Hattiesburg campus. Murry has served as the Public Relations and Marketing Communications Manager for Bio Soil Enhancers, Inc., since 2011.

http://news.usm.edu/article/usm-alum-address-international-business-students-part-speaker-series

Expert Availability

The University of Southern Mississippi provides a wide range of faculty experts who can offer insights on 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

The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Library will host “Mississippi Sharkology: Taking a Bite Out of the Myths,” the second edition of the spring Science Café on the Coast series today at 2 p.m. in the Gulf Coast Library, room 204, at the USM Gulf Park Campus in Long Beach. Jill Hendon, a research scientist and the interim director of the Center for Fisheries Research and Development in the University's School of Ocean Science and Engineering, located at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, will give a hands-on presentation about sharks found in the Gulf of Mexico. She will have shark specimens, including jaws, teeth and pieces of shark bone for attendees to touch and hold. To schedule coverage, call Van Arnold or David Tisdale.

Did You Know?

USM welcomes a diverse student body of approximately 15,000, representing 71 countries, all 50 states, and every county in Mississippi.

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 130 universities in the nation to earn the CarnegieClassification of Institutions of Higher Education's "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity” designation, 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.