I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy. It’s hard to believe the level of change we all have endured over the past several weeks. This is an unprecedented time for our country and for the Ole Miss Alumni Association. The university is conducting both spring and summer classes online, and the campus is quiet. Almost all of our Alumni Association staff members are working from home and continuing our operations remotely. Though The Inn at Ole Miss is closed, at least until April 30, construction on McCormick’s Grill is continuing and going very well. Fundraising for this project is also underway.
As you have heard in letters from Chancellor Boyce, the university has either canceled or postponed all spring events, including Rebel Road Trip 2020. The university has also canceled or postponed all in-person on-campus summer camps, conferences, events and other experiences through Aug. 1. We hope to be able to reschedule many of our alumni events for a later date. We also hope to still have a few RRT stops in late summer, and there are hopes to be able to have some virtual club meetings. As many of you know, March, April and May are historically the three busiest months for the Association. We are all disappointed that we have had to postpone so many events, but we will see our way through this and emerge a stronger organization.
OMAA Executive Director Kirk Purdom (BA 93) and his team have done an extraordinary job in leading our Association during this difficult time and have made some truly remarkable changes to adapt to the pandemic, all of which are being executed on a remote basis. The Alumni Association’s spring board meeting will take place remotely as we continue to make plans to better serve you both during the pandemic and once we resume in-person gatherings.
In closing, I continue to be amazed by the resiliency of our team and of the Ole Miss family. I look forward to seeing what the future holds for the OMAA, the university and all of our great communities. In the meantime, stay well!
Forward Rebels!
Matt Lusco (BBA 79)