Gray Passionate About Her Role with Southern Miss Career Services
Mon, 12/15/2025 - 08:30am | By: Dr. David Tisdale
Mackenzie Gray
A desire to leverage her experience in workforce development to help students at her beloved alma mater brought Mackenzie Gray back to The University of Southern Mississippi as assistant director for Career Services.
Gray joined the Career Services staff in July. She oversees marketing and social media branding for the department, manages employer relations, coordinates employer engagements and campus visits, and leads planning and execution of career fairs. Gray is also responsible for departmental reporting, including First Destination Survey collection and analysis, as well as success reporting across key initiatives.
“I work closely with campus partners to strengthen cross-campus collaboration and support, and I am actively expanding the Career Services Employer Partner Program,” Gray said in explaining her responsibilities. “I also support advertising sales for the Southern Miss Career Guide.”
A Mendenhall, Miss. native, Gray holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in human development and family science from the university. She began working in the career services field as a career specialist for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act program with South Carolina Works (Ross Innovative Employment Solutions). In that role, she provided one-on-one coaching, developed individualized service plans, supported education and training efforts, and helped participants gain experience through paid work opportunities, internships and on-the-job training.
“It was during this time I realized [the field of] career services was truly my calling,” Gray said.
After two years, South Carolina Works promoted Gray to manage its Work Experience Program, an internship initiative giving job seekers paid, hands-on experience while developing transferable skills, as well as access to career counseling and job search support. She later joined Palmetto Community Action Partnership, a nonprofit serving low-income residents across Charleston-area counties, as manager of its Education and Employment programs. In that role, she oversaw initiatives designed to promote self-sufficiency and connect individuals with meaningful career and educational pathways.
Gray was drawn to the position with Southern Miss Career Services because it “allows me to live my purpose—providing resources and opportunities that help people thrive,” she said.
“I love engaging with students and learning from their perspectives,” Gray continued when asked what she enjoys most about her work at Southern Miss. “By listening to their needs and feedback, I can help make Career Services even more effective and impactful, providing meaningful opportunities that support their growth and success.
“Returning to Mississippi with the tools and experience I gained in South Carolina allows me to provide meaningful opportunities and experiences for students who now sit in the same seats I once did.”
Being back at Southern Miss also gives Gray the chance to reconnect with an influential mentor and friend—Dr. Mariann Taylor, an associate teaching professor in the university’s School of Human Development and Family Science.
“Dr. Taylor taught me the importance of leading with compassion and purpose simultaneously and instilled in me and my classmates a confidence and drive that has guided me throughout my career,” Gray said. “Her example shaped the kind of leader I strive to be.”
Career Services Director Rusty Anderson said Gray’s “energy and enthusiasm enhance Career Services’ visibility on campus and drives impactful recruiting collaborations with employers.”
Gray says helping Southern Miss students achieve their dreams after graduation is a labor of love for “a place [the university] that will always feel like home.”
“As a first-generation college student, I’m especially proud that my younger sister, Macie Wilks, followed in my footsteps and also attended Southern Miss,” Gray said. “My brother-in-law, Slade Wilks, is a proud alumnus as well, having played four years for the Golden Eagle baseball team. We truly bleed black and gold in our family.”