University Foundation Names Four to Ole Miss Women’s Council for Philanthropy
On December 5 the University of Mississippi Foundation announced four new members of the Ole Miss Women’s Council for Philanthropy, expanding the council that funds and mentors OMWC scholars. The appointments strengthen local and regional ties to Oxford, and promise renewed support for student scholarships, leadership programming, and fundraising efforts that affect Lafayette County students and the university community.
The University of Mississippi Foundation named Donna Glenn of Memphis, Stephanie Hickman of Chicago, Jenny Robertson of Memphis, and Donna Strum of Oxford to the Ole Miss Women’s Council for Philanthropy on December 5. The appointments were presented by UM Development and underscore the council’s ongoing role in funding and shepherding students through the OMWC scholars program, a multi year scholarship and leadership initiative for University of Mississippi students.
The council has a long history of supporting student scholarships, and the release accompanying the appointments highlighted the number of scholars assisted and the size of the council’s endowment. The new members bring professional and civic experience described in the announcement, and will participate in programming, fundraising, and mentoring that sustain scholarship awards and leadership opportunities for students.
Local impact is immediate and tangible. Donna Strum’s residence in Oxford connects council deliberations directly to Lafayette County, easing coordination between campus programs and community partners. The addition of members from Memphis and Chicago broadens the council’s fundraising and networking reach, potentially increasing private support that sustains scholarship awards and student leadership activities on campus. For families and prospective students in Lafayette County, continued council backing affects affordability, retention, and the availability of leadership development tied to degree completion.
Institutionally the appointments reinforce the foundation’s reliance on alumni and civic leaders to manage philanthropic priorities. Council members are expected to help steward the endowment that underwrites OMWC scholars, shape programming that complements academic services, and mentor recipients as they pursue graduation and community leadership. That mix of fundraising and mentorship places the council at a critical intersection between private donors and public university obligations.
As the council integrates its new members, transparency around fundraising goals, scholarship selection criteria, and mentoring outcomes will matter to county residents and university stakeholders. Decisions about how endowment earnings are allocated influence who benefits from scholarships and how the university cultivates future civic leaders. The new appointments offer an opportunity to strengthen those connections between donors, students, and the Lafayette County community.
