Building a Philanthropic Culture and Advice for Young Philanthropists
OMWC hosts Khayat Lecture Series’ panel discussion on women’s impact on philanthropy
Four of the University of Mississippi’s accomplished alumnae, friends and supporters were brought together May 2 to discuss “Women in Philanthropy.” The topics examined included expanding philanthropic engagement in the workplace, maximizing philanthropic impact and return on investment, women’s role in the future of philanthropic leadership, critical role of philanthropy in society and ideas in which to engage young people in philanthropic activities early in their lives.
The topic of women in philanthropy reflects one of the founding pillars of the Ole Miss Women’s Council for Philanthropy (OMWC), the scholarship organization hosting the event.
The members of the Women’s Council oversee a scholarship program that is not only one of the most generous scholarship programs at the university, but also a scholarship program that has been recognized as one of the most innovative in the nation.
The program was launched 25 years ago by a group of female leaders and philanthropists determined to create a scholarship for male and female students destined to be ethical and caring future leaders. It was specifically designed to support and nurture students who have a deep desire to help others through community service and other forms of philanthropy.
The panel discussion, held at The Powerhouse Community Arts Center in Oxford, Mississippi, was the latest event in the Robert C. Khayat Lecture Series, which was established by the Women’s Council in 2021. Liz Randall, a former OMWC chair and current chair of the lecture series, served as the moderator for the panel discussion.
When members of the Women’s Council first began laying the groundwork for a new lecture series, they invited UM Chancellor Emeritus Robert Khayat, one of people instrumental in the founding of the OMWC, to join them in formulating the mission of this effort, said Randall.
“One of Dr. Khayat’s suggestions for our lecture series was to highlight women who serve as leaders in higher education, nonprofit philanthropic organizations, community-support efforts within the business world, and local, regional and national government institutions. The lecture series aims to execute the OMWC mission by promoting philanthropic involvement and leadership through diverse channels while providing a benefit to the overall Ole Miss family and our state,” she said.
Randall said the event brought more than 100 female attendees from a wide geographic area and diverse professional backgrounds. While they represented various business, government and nonprofit sectors, they were all active in the university’s family and involved in philanthropy. Each lecture series event is unique and the audience composition substantially varies, but the topics remain centered around the lecture’s pillars of leaderships, philanthropy and culture.
The invitation-only event included a dinner catered by chef Nick Reppond, owner of Grit Restaurant in Taylor, Mississippi, and a discussion featuring the following leaders:
- Meredith Aldridge, the executive director of the Office of Development and Alumni Engagement for the University of Mississippi Medical Center, joined UMMC in 2018 to assist with the $100 million capital campaign to build the Kathy and Joe Sanderson Tower at Children’s of Mississippi. Aldridge now manages fundraising and alumni engagement teams to support the Medical Center’s mission areas.
- Rose Flenorl, a UM alumna, serves as manager of Global Citizenship at FedEx Corp., where she has been instrumental in the design and execution of the company’s major citizenship initiatives. She was inducted into the Ole Miss Alumni Hall of Fame, served as president of the Ole Miss Alumni Association, chair of the University of Mississippi Foundation and a founding member of the Women’s Council.
- Leigh Mansberg, the president and CEO of Junior Achievement of Memphis and Mid-South, oversees a K-12 program across 25 counties, blending experiential learning with real-world skills. During her career, she worked at St. Mary’s Episcopal School, Bridge Capital and as COO of Epicenter before joining Junior Achievement.
- Amy Tate, executive leader of the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Southwest Region, focuses on serving customers and communities in Mississippi. Founder of the Milam Elementary Girls Leadership Academy, she is a graduate of the Mississippi Economic Council’s Leadership Mississippi program and was named as one of the Mississippi Business Journal’s Top 10 Business Women.
Randall said one of the goals for the event was to provide a platform of connectivity and networking for this dynamic group to meet, reconnect and build community with each other.
“As members of the Women’s Council, it is our pleasure to gather these remarkable ladies together for an evening of fellowship and engaging discussion, while celebrating the profoundly positive impact that they have on business, philanthropy, government and all areas of their leadership, especially the vitally important roles that they play within our Ole Miss family.”
The Khayat Lecture Series brings renowned cross-cultural leaders, entrepreneurs and philanthropists to the university. The series creates opportunities for speakers to share their ideas and experiences to cultivate a more expansive mindset among students and the broader Ole Miss community.
By Jonathan Scott/University Development