First Year Navigators

Connections. Support. Encouragement.

Our First Year Navigators program is a mentoring program for incoming first-year students. Navigators are academically focused student leaders across campus who work with a group of students throughout their first year at Southern Miss. These mentors offer students who opt in to the program a connection to campus, campus resources, support, and encouragement throughout their transition to college.

If you would like to be connected to a First Year Navigator during the 2022-23 academic year, please complete the short interest form.

Connect to a Navigator

Our 2022-23 First Year Navigator Team!

	Jaliyah Chandler Major: Criminal Justice Bio:  My name is Jaliyah Chandler and I’m majoring in criminal justice with a minor in psychology. I am a first -generation college student and I’m excited for the future.
	Gabrielle Collier Major: Nursing Bio: Hey everyone I am a junior nursing major from Horn Lake, Mississippi. I am so exited to be one of your First Year Navigators.  I cannot wait to help you all maneuver through your freshman year of college.
	Summer Dillon Major: Political Science (Pre-Law) Bio: Hi, I am Summer. I have been a student at USM for two years now and I love it. The campus is a great place to find friends and groups that align with your likes.
	Ellie Forsyth Major: History Bio: My name is Ellie Forsyth and I am a sophomore history major here at Southern Miss! I absolutely love getting to mentor firs-year students and help them soar as Golden Eagles!
	Alaina Gardner Major: Nursing Bio: Hi everyone! My name is Alaina Gardner and I am a junior here at USM! I experienced quite some changes from the adjustment of being a high school student to a college student, but I am able to say that I overcame those challenges and grew as a person and student here at Southern Miss! I am super excited to be a part of your journey as first-year students and cannot wait to build community with you all as a First Year Navigator!
	De'Asia Gaylor Major: Psychology Bio: De'Asia Gaylor is a senior Psychology major here at Southern Miss with aspirations to obtain their Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling to specialize in providing Play Therapy to children and adolescents. Some of their on-campus involvement includes the Luckyday Scholars Program, TRiO Scholars Program, Sexual Assault Prevention Ambassadors (SAPA), Genders and Sexualities Alliance, and Alpha Delta Pi (NPC) Sorority.
	Morrison Ingram Major: Biology Bio: Hey y’all! My name is Morrison Ingram and I’m from Memphis, Tennessee. I’m majoring in Biology and have a minor in Forensics. I am excited to be a part of the First Year Navigator program to help students transition to college life, just as others helped me out.
	Madisyn Killough Major: Elementary Education Bio: Hi, my name is Madisyn Killough! I am a returning First Year Navigator! I am from Flowood, Mississippi.
	Kaleigh Nathaniel Major: Biomedical Sciences Bio: My name is Kaleigh Nathaniel and I am a junior Biological Sciences major from Magnolia, Mississippi. I am so excited to be a First Year Navigator and to become more involved on campus!
	Hope Pierce Major: Biomedical Science Bio: Hi! My name is Hope and this is my second year as a First Year Navigator. I am majoring in Biomedical Science here at Southern Miss and I am a junior. I am very much looking forward to helping you all on your freshman year journey!
	Will Sutton Major: Biological Sciences Bio: William "Will" Sutton is a junior at the University of Southern Mississippi, Majoring in Biology (Biomedical Emphasis) with a minor in Chemistry. He hopes to one day be a primary care physician working in medically underserved communities across Mississippi.
	Laighla Walker Major: English Bio: Hi, my name is Laighla Walker. My hometown is Gulfport, Mississippi. I am an English Major. I am excited to be a part of the First Year Navigator Program because I am a first-generation student myself and adapting to the college life without prior knowledge is difficult and I would love to be there for future first year students!