![\"niemeyer.jpg\"](\"http:\/\/ezing.me\/transfer\/wp-content\/uploads\/stories\/niemeyer.jpg\" "\\"niemeyer.jpg\\"")
<\/p>\nOXFORD, Miss. – Ryan Niemeyer has come a long way from his \n\u00a0\n<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \n“It made me realize I wanted to get a terminal degree in \nNiemeyer heads the Holmes-Grenada Center, which began \nNiemeyer’s experience includes 12 years in education, \n“We are excited about the leadership Ryan will bring to the \nHaving majored in sports administration, Niemeyer admits \n“I realized I wanted to have an effect over issues in the \nNiemeyer earned his master’s degree in educational \nHis experiences as a school administrator have shaped his \n“Being out there in a field doing the job as an \nHis work at UM has earned him the Department of Leadership \n“He is already getting to know the school districts and
\ndays working on his family’s dairy farm near Lumberton.
\nRecently named director of the University of Mississippi’s
\nGrenada site, Niemeyer joked that, if nothing else, his
\nupbringing helped him realize the value of higher
\neducation.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n
\nsomething, and that I probably didn’t want to milk cows for
\na living,” said Niemeyer, who is on track to receive his
\ndoctorate in educational leadership from UM in May.
\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\noffering classes this spring. The joint venture between UM
\nand Holmes Community College enables area residents to
\nenroll in graduate-level courses in education, and
\neventually junior- and senior-level courses, which are to
\nbe added. His duties as director include serving as liaison
\nbetween UM and HCC. His title also includes assistant
\nprofessor of educational leadership, and plans call for him
\nto begin teaching educational law in spring 2009.
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\nincluding teaching and coaching. After graduating from the
\nUniversity of Southern Mississippi in 1996, he taught
\nhistory and coached baseball and football at middle schools
\nin Columbia and Lucedale for four years. During this time,
\nhe also served in the Mississippi Army National Guard,
\nrising to the rank of captain.
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\nGrenada position,” said Tom Burnham, dean of the UM School
\nof Education. “His past experiences as both a principal and
\nmilitary leader have prepared him well for this position.
\nThe initial efforts will require a great deal of individual
\ninitiative and vision, and Ryan is up for the task.”
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\nthat he initially focused on coaching but soon became
\ncaptivated by the educational system and the issues
\naffecting schools and students.
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\nfield, and that was the impetus for my moving into
\neducational leadership and eventually led me to moving into
\nthe administrative role,” he said.
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\nleadership from USM in 2001 and soon was named assistant
\nprincipal at Hancock High School in Kiln. He later assumed
\na post at Oak Grove Middle School in Hattiesburg, where he
\nremained until 2005. After a year as headmaster at Oxford
\nUniversity School, he enrolled in the doctoral program at
\nUM.
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\nresearch interests, he said. His doctoral dissertation
\nfocuses on U.S. laws surrounding bullying and whether they
\nare adequate to address cyberbullying: the act of
\nharassment through the use of digital technology.
\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nadministrator made me realize that everything I do is
\naffected by some policy, state law or federal law,”
\nNiemeyer said. “So, that became my interest and I wanted to
\nbe able to help others in that area.”
\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nand Counselor Education’s annual Graduate Achievement
\nAward. He also is among this year’s inductees into Phi
\nKappa Phi honor society.
\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\ntheir administrators in the area to help assess their needs
\nand how the university can help meet those needs,” said
\nLynne Murchison, UM director of academic credit programs
\nfor UM’s Division of Outreach, which coordinates the new
\ncenter. “He will help us to see where and how we need to
\nexpand our offerings at Holmes-Grenada.”
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