OXFORD, Miss. – The Office of Orientation and Parent
Programs at the University of Mississippi is expanding and
a recent UM graduate, who served as president of the
Associated Student Body, is its new coordinator.
Rebecca Bertrand, formerly of Kingwood, Texas, is
responsible for planning, developing, coordinating and
evaluating orientation and parent programs.
“We were very lucky to be able to hire Rebecca,” said
director Whitman Smith. “Her experience working with
orientation, her leadership qualities, ability to relate
with students and parents, coupled with her positive
attitude and tireless work ethic, makes her the ideal
person to work with new students and parents. Her
leadership experience will be a huge boost to our
orientation leader training program, and I look forward to
having her on our team.”
Bertrand, who graduated from Ole Miss in May 2006 with a
bachelor’s degree in journalism and political science, is
working on her master’s degree in higher education at UM.
As ASB president during her senior year, she represented
15,000 students as liaison between the university
administration and student body.
Following graduation, she interned with U.S. Sen. Trent
Lott (R-Miss.), Houston City Council member Addie Wiseman
and U.S. Rep. Ted Poe (R-Texas). After returning to UM, she
worked with the Department of Educational Leadership and
University Development.
“The University of Mississippi has provided me with many
professional development opportunities,” Bertrand said. “I
look forward to beginning my career in the Office of
Orientation and Parent Programs and continuing my
involvement in the National Orientation Directors
Association.”
Other duties of her position include assisting in the
planning and implementation of orientation, overseeing
communication efforts with parents and assisting in the
development, implementation and assessment of departmental
goals and objectives. The office has also expanded to take
on the full duties of coordinating all parent programs,
which includes events like Summer Send-Offs and Fall Family
Weekend, as well as all summer, fall and spring orientation
programs.
“The coordination of events for the Ole Miss Parents
Association and involving families in the university
community is something I look forward to the most,”
Bertrand said.
For more information, contact Whitman Smith in the Office
of Orientation and Parent Programs at 662-915-1185 or
orequest@olemiss.edu, or visit