Khayat Lecture Series

Khayat Lecture Series Brings Renowned Speakers to UM Community

Launched in the fall of 2021 by the Ole Miss Women’s Council for Philanthropy, the Robert C. Khayat Lecture Series brings renowned speakers to the University of Mississippi community to share their inspirational ideas, fresh perspectives, personal experiences and unique insights.

By bringing cross-cultural leaders, entrepreneurs and philanthropists to the Oxford campus, the Khayat Lecture Series creates opportunities for these speakers to engage with our students and community members.

“When these speakers share their transformative topics and unique experiences, our students will be better able to view the world through a more philanthropic lens,” said Liz Randall, chair of the Ole Miss Women’s Council (OMWC). “This helps further one of the primary missions of the Women’s Council, which is to create caring and ethical leaders, who ultimately will be change agents helping to accomplish this goal.”

Given the noble purpose of the lecture series, the OMWC members unanimously agreed to name this initiative in honor of Chancellor Emeritus Robert C. Khayat. Khayat was UM chancellor when the idea for the Women’s Council was developed and, with his support, the program was successfully launched in 2000.

Khayat continues to be one of the OMWC’s biggest boosters, calling its scholarships some of the “most innovative in the nation.”

“I am enormously grateful and honored to have my name associated with this remarkable lecture series, but the true honorees are those who support the University of Mississippi’s students, fund our scholarships, and work so hard to ensure tomorrow is even better than today,” Khayat said.

“Creating a lecture series aimed at improving the lives of others is reflective of all the efforts of this phenomenal organization. What the Women’s Council has become is truly remarkable. The women who organized it are still active; the program has grown; the endowment has grown; and the success has been exceptional.”

The Robert C. Khayat Lecture Series is part of the OMWC’s Global Leadership Circle, an international studies and internship initiative. While the GLC raises funds to enable students to expand their horizons by studying abroad and obtaining rewarding national and international internships, the lecture series is a way to bring similar experiences to community members who may not otherwise have those opportunities.

Those who want to support the series will be able to buy tickets to one lecture, a series of related speakers and/or topics, or the whole season of lectures. Additionally, the series can be supported by sponsorships or financial pledges to the program.

For more information or to support the Robert C. Khayat Lecture Series and/or the Global Leadership Circle, contact Suzanne Helveston, program director of the OMWC, at shelveston@olemiss.edu or 662-915-2956.

Advice for Future Leaders

OMWC hosts Khayat Lecture Series’ panel discussion on women’s impact in the workforce

Five of the University of Mississippi’s accomplished alumnae, friends and supporters were brought together recently to discuss the impact women in leadership positions are having in the worlds of business, philanthropy, mentorship and public service.

Hosted by the Ole Miss Women’s Council for Philanthropy (OMWC), the event, “Women’s Leadership and Impact in the Future Workplace,” brought more than 100 female attendees from a wide geographic area. While they represented various business, government and nonprofit sectors, they were all part of the university’s  family.

First Lady Emily Boyce, who is a member of the OMWC, was the honorary hostess for the evening.

The insightful conversation, held May 2 at The Lyric in Oxford, was the latest event in the Robert C. Khayat Lecture Series, which was launched by the Women’s Council in 2021.

“When we initially started working with UM Chancellor Emeritus Robert Khayat on this initiative, one of Dr. Khayat’s visions for the lecture series was to highlight female leaders and philanthropists,” said Liz Randall, former OMWC chair and one of the programming directors of the lecture series. “A strategic goal of this 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.”

Moderated by Randall, the panel featured the following leaders:

  • Bethany Cooper, executive of global talent management at CoreLogic. At the company, Cooper oversees recruiting, talent development teams and diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging programs. She and her recruiting team have accomplished a remarkable record of filling between 1,000 to 2,000 global roles annually.
  • Tanya Frey, leader of the Midsouth territory for ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. Frey focuses on cultivating, closing and stewarding high-wealth donors, corporations, partnerships, individual volunteers and supporters to enhance revenue resources and create new revenue opportunities.
  • Meredith Latham, director of groups of chief communication officers and senior marketing executives at World 50, a global peer-to-peer community of the most respected organizations in every industry. Latham is a seasoned organizational leader, problem-solver and change agent.
  • Ashley Miles, CEO of Franklyn West, a new-era business growth advisory and execution firm. Miles leads with a play-to-win mentality and shapes the future of work in the growing on-demand economy by inserting vetted teams of top talent and solutions into companies to drive incremental growth.
  • Jenny Robertson, senior vice president of global brand and communications at the FedEx Corp. in Memphis. Robertson is responsible for managing the global FedEx brand and reputation through strategic communications, public affairs, citizenship, sponsorships, media relations, social media and advertising.

The Khayat Lecture Series discussion on leadership began with a welcome by Suzan Thames, OMWC chair, followed by a message by Elizabeth Heiskell, the chef for NBC’s “TODAY” show, on the importance of sharing meals with others in relationship building and networking.

“In planning this event, it was important for us to work with the various schools on campus to connect female leaders together and provide them with relevant content around leadership and the future of the workplace for women,” Thames said. “The OMWC strives for intercampus collaborations across our programming to provide value throughout the Ole Miss family.”

Before the panel got underway, attendees enjoyed hors d’oeuvres, a two-course meal and dessert.

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

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