Whether through supporting innovative teaching practices, creating meaningful STEM experiences, fostering partnerships, or advancing educational research, our work is guided by a simple question: How can we best support students as they learn, grow, and pursue their goals?

One way we are answering that question this year is by partnering with departments across campus to strengthen and promote academic support resources for STEM students. Through collaboration with faculty, staff, and teaching assistants, we are compiling a comprehensive guide to resources such as tutoring, supplemental instruction, study groups, review sessions, office hours, mentorship opportunities, and course-specific support. We are also gathering feedback from campus partners to identify gaps in existing services and explore new ways to connect students with the assistance they need.

By making these resources more visible and accessible, we hope to empower students to build confidence, develop critical skills, and engage more deeply with STEM disciplines. Together, these efforts strengthen pathways to student success and help prepare the next generation of problem-solvers, innovators, and leaders.

We know many of the most impactful student support efforts happen within individual departments and programs. If your department or unit offers academic support resources (e.g., tutoring, review sessions, supplemental instruction, mentorship opportunities), we would love your help in identifying and promoting those opportunities. Please email Meredith Pyle (mapyle@olemiss.edu) so we can include them in our campus-wide STEM resource guide launching this Fall.

Ms. Kelli Hutchens, a Senior Academic Advisor in the Health Professions Advising Office, continues to make significant contributions to the health professions advising community through leadership, service, and national engagement. In June, she presented "A Physician Assistant Primer for Health Professions Advisors" at the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NAAHP) Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her presentation provided advisors from across the country with a comprehensive overview of the physician assistant (PA) profession, admissions processes, educational pathways, and emerging trends in PA education, helping equip advisors to better support students pursuing careers in healthcare.

As a member of the Health Professions Advising Office, Ms. Hutchens works closely with students pursuing careers in healthcare, helping them navigate academic preparation, experiential opportunities, and professional school admissions. Her selection as a national conference presenter reflects her expertise in physician assistant admissions and her commitment to advancing the profession of health professions advising.

In addition to her conference presentation, Ms. Hutchens serves as Chair of the Virtual Engagement Committee for the Southeastern Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (SAAHP), Ambassador to the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) for the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NAAHP), a member of the CASPA Steering Committee through PAEA, a volunteer advisor for NAAHP, and a member of the University of Mississippi Medical Center Medical Laboratory Sciences Program Advisory Board. Through these leadership and service roles, she contributes to the development of future healthcare professionals while representing the University of Mississippi at the regional and national levels.

Select each button below to learn about each program or to reach out to Ms. Kelli Hutchens for more information.