By Bethany Fitts
Shaquita Curry joined the Alumni Association staff in July 2016 and was named alumni programs assistant in January. In her new position she provides administrative support in managing the day-to-day operations of the department and fills a variety of roles ranging from managing event registration to organizing alumni merchandise orders.
One quality that makes Curry truly outstanding, though, is her genuine devotion to helping students. She gets that opportunity daily in her work with the Association’s Future Alumni Network (FAN), a student membership program that provides special discounts, gifts and networking opportunities for Ole Miss undergraduates. Some of the most popular perks of the program are free printing and scantrons for active student members.
“We have over 600 FAN members, and I think Shaquita knows every one of them,” said Office Manager Emily Echols. “She goes above and beyond to make sure each student feels welcome and cared for. She even creates inspirational notes that she hands out to students that need encouragement. We have a lot of students that visit our office to study in the lobby, hang out or stop by to see Shaquita’s friendly face. The genuine care and support she provides to our students is creating a lasting impact on everyone around her.”
Not only does she ensure that student members receive applicable membership benefits, but she also serves as a liaison and mentor. For Curry, this devotion to helping students comes naturally because she has always enjoyed meeting and welcoming new people.
“I am a people person that loves to meet and help others,” Curry said. “I get joy knowing I can help brighten the students’ days, but I also try to leave a positive impression on all our visitors because you never know what that person is dealing with or going through.
“We have a lot of students who are far from their parents and family. Some don’t have much of a local support system here on campus, so I try to do that for them. It’s very rewarding to know I have played a part in helping these students accomplish their goals at Ole Miss by just being there to motivate, encourage and support them.”
When she is not working with the Alumni Association, Curry serves as an active member of the youth department of her church and hosts positive community events. She plans to complete her degree in business administration at Ole Miss.
