OXFORD, Miss. – Donations continue to increase in a $1.5 million fundraising campaign to recognize Chancellor Dan Jones for his commitment to faculty support and a culture of academic integrity at the University of Mississippi.
Since its announcement before commencement activities in May, the Chancellor Daniel W. Jones, M.D. Faculty Chair has received approximately $600,000 from roughly 260 alumni, faculty, staff and friends.
“We have every confidence that our goal of $1.5 million for the Jones Chair Endowment will be reached,” said Wendell Weakley, president and CEO of the UM Foundation. “We have had an overwhelming response thus far, which is not surprising given the respect that our faculty, staff, alumni and friends have for Dr. Jones.”
Rose Flenorl of Memphis, chair of the UM Foundation board of directors, thanked everyone who has embraced the effort.
“Dr. Jones has had a deeply meaningful impact on our university community during his administration,” Flenorl said. “The Ole Miss family feels a very personal connection to him. We are so happy to have this chance to thank him for his service and also to give back to Ole Miss in a way that illustrates how we have learned from his example.”
At his 2010 inauguration, Jones highlighted attracting faculty support as a priority. Since then, the university has assembled almost $40 million in endowed funds to continually strengthen teaching and research on the part of UM faculty. With the university’s enrollment continuing to grow at record pace, it is estimated that UM must recruit 200 new faculty members in coming years. Total applications for the fall semester have already increased by 10 percent from last year, Jones said.
“I love Ole Miss,” Jones said. “While I have some sadness, I leave this position with great joy in my heart. The opportunity to be a part of this university for 30 of my 66 years is the greatest professional privilege of my life.”
Individuals and organizations may contribute to the Chancellor Daniel W. Jones, M.D. Chair Endowment by visiting https://ignite.olemiss.edu; mailing a check with the fund noted in the memo line to the UM Foundation, 406 University Avenue, Oxford, MS 38655; or by contacting Wendell Weakley, UM Foundation CEO and president, at wendell@umfoundation.com, 662-915-3845 or Debbie Vaughn, senior executive director of development, at dvaughn@olemiss.edu or 662-915-3937.