School of Polymer Science and Engineering
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School of Polymer Science and Engineering Events
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Managing Up and Navigating Your Higher Education Careers
Managing Up and Navigating Your Higher Education Career is a professional development topic designed to help academic staff strategically and effectively manage relationships with supervisors while proactively shaping their own career paths within the higher education ecosystem. The session focuses on understanding leadership expectations, communication styles, decision-making structures and institutional culture and then leveraging that understanding to anticipate needs, add value and build trust with senior leaders. For academic staff, managing up is not about hierarchy or deference, but about partnership, clarity and accountability. Participants learn how to communicate solutions rather than problems, align their work with college and institutional priorities and document contributions in ways that support performance evaluations and advancement. The session also addresses navigating organizational politics ethically, advocating for resources and professional growth, and positioning oneself for long-term success through skill development, visibility and strategic relationships. Overall, the session equips academic staff with practical tools to operate with confidence, professionalism and intention, enabling them to thrive in complex university environments while advancing both their careers and the mission of the institution. Register Here SherRhonda Gibbs,Ph.D SherRhonda Gibbs is the Dean of Business and Economics at Morehouse College. Dr.Gibbs also serves as Professor of Management, and is a Longenecker Fellow United States Association of Small Business and Entrepreneur (USASBE) Longnecker Fellow, an honor bestowed on highly successful entrepreneurship researchers.
20
Special Collections Opens “Mahony’s Meanderings” Exhibit with Reception at McCain Library and Archives
Join Special Collections for the opening of “Mahony’s Meanderings” on March 20 at 2:30 p.m. in McCain Library and Archives, Room 305. This new exhibit explores the life and literary world of Patrick Mahony. Drawn from Southern Miss’ archival and book holdings, the exhibit highlights Mahony’s life and work as a collector and writer whose interests spanned literature, celebrity culture, politics, and the paranormal. On display are correspondence and inscribed books from major literary figures such as Maurice Maeterlinck (1911 Nobel Prize in Literature) and Lord Dunsany (Anglo-Irish poet and fantasy writer), alongside letters exchanged with royalty, politicians and prominent intellectuals. The exhibition also features celebrity correspondence with film icons Fay Wray and Gloria Swanson, offering a glimpse into Mahony’s connections across cultural spheres. In addition to his literary pursuits, Mahony maintained a deep interest in the supernatural. Visitors will see examples of his writings and published works on the paranormal, reflecting his curiosity about mysticism and unexplained phenomena. “Mahony’s Meanderings,” curated by Andrew Rhodes and Jennifer Brannock, will be on exhibit in McCain Library and Archives, Room 305, through September 1. For more information about Patrick Mahony and the materials featured in the exhibit, contact Jennifer Brannock at Jennifer.Brannock@usm.edu.
24
Art & Design Annual Student Show, 2026 at George Hurst Building - Gallery of Art and Design
The Annual Student Show is a juried exhibition of works produced by Art & Design students in the School of Performing and Visual Ars. This greatly anticipated event is held each spring and allows Art & Design students from all levels to exhibit their creative achievements in visual arts. The student show features work from studio courses in art foundations, drawing, painting, printmaking, digital photography, ceramics, sculpture, and graphic design. The opening reception and awards ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, March 24, 2026, from 5:30-7 p.m. Free and open to the public.
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Preparing for Success: Applying and Interviewing Beyond Academia at JB George Building
Preparing for the non-academic job market requires effort, but no matter where you are in the process, there are several steps you can take to ease the transition. While many academics pursue research roles, there is a wide variety of non-academic professions where your skills and expertise will be highly valuable. Registration Form
24
Piano Recital at Marsh Auditorium
This recital will feature piano students from the University of Southern Mississippi.