Diversity and Inclusion

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Beyond Diversity: You Belong Here

USM is proud to be the most diverse university in the state of Mississippi with a student body that reflects our larger community.

We are committed to the principles of shared communal engagement among people who represent diverse backgrounds, identities, beliefs, experiences, and goals, and we welcome you to our university. As a starting point, discover some of the resources—including information, services, student organizations, and academic programs—that are part of our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Senior Associate Provost for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Eddie A. Holloway

Chief Diversity Officer

Kim Brown, Chief Diversity Officer

Kimbaya S. Brown

For more than 20 years, Kimbaya (Kim) Brown has served in progressively responsible positions at USM, including her 15-year tenure with the McNair Scholars Program, a federal TRIO program funded by the United States Department of Education, with the mission of preparing academically talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds for doctoral studies through involvement in research and other scholarly activities. She holds a Master of Science in Mass Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from USM. She is an active member of the Hattiesburg community, having served as an Area Development Partnership Ambassador, a member of the Leadership Pine Belt Class of 2019, and a member of the Hattiesburg Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Community and Belonging

The Office of Community and Belonging provides experiences to foster students' growth and development and create a more caring and welcoming campus community. We are on a mission to create more globally aware citizens by helping Southern Miss students connect to the surrounding Hattiesburg community through service.

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Story and Documentary

A Measure of Progress:
The Clyde Kennard Story

Clyde Kennard, a civil rights pioneer, led the way in desegregation in higher education in Mississippi.

Watch A Measure of Progress: The Clyde Kennard Story, a documentary produced with the hope to spark an open dialogue about race relations and make Kennard's voice heard, not just at the University, but in the community.

The Clyde Kennard Story