millsaps college viewbook - 2010-2011

MILLSAPS COLLEGE: THE INTELLECTUAL HEART OF MISSISSIPPI

From the first time I visited Millsaps College, I knew it was a place I could call

home. We were moving my older sister into her freshman dorm, and everything

about campus was just so inviting. As the year went on, I heard all about

her new friends, fantastic professors, and all the incredible opportunities to

broaden her education. The more I heard, the more amazed I was – and the

more convinced that this was the college experience I wanted for myself.

But it doesn’t take a sibling to get on the inside track at Millsaps. You can arrive

a complete stranger, and you’re immediately embraced. To me, this close-knit

community is what makes Millsaps so special. There is always an opportunity

to get involved. No matter what I’m doing – planning an event for my sorority,

writing for our student newspaper Purple & White, or helping form campus policy

through the Student Body Association – I’m constantly surrounded by supportive,

inviting, and uplifting people.

This community extends to the classroom, too. My professors know me and are

always available to discuss possibilities for my future. They are knowledgeable

but down-to-earth people who love what they do. I’m not sure exactly what my

future will hold – whether I’ll go straight into a career or to graduate school

– but I know that my Millsaps education will have prepared me well for the

path I choose.

Through the Faith & Work Initiative, I’ve received the opportunity to examine

the world through a spiritual perspective. By studying the meaning of work,

I’ve come to realize the importance of finding a career that I enjoy – and one

that utilizes my talents to make a positive impact.

ARE YOU ONE? Schedule a visit to campus, and see if Millsaps is the place for

you.

– Bonnie Tucker, Class of 2011

ARE YOU

One?

EXPLORE MILLSAPSBefore you decide where you want to go,

stop and think about how far you want to

go. Once you have the drive, you can pursue

any goal. If you’re willing to go the distance,

Millsaps College will provide the direction

you need.

Millsaps students have been blazing trails

since the school was founded by Major

Reuben Millsaps and the Mississippi

Methodist Church in 1890. Arts,

humanities, sciences, business, teaching –

you can explore virtually any path through

our curriculum. Our top-ranked faculty will

guide you along the way. Small classes and

personal attention from your professors

ensure that you are an active participant in

your education. Our liberal arts approach

teaches you how to think, not what to think

– so you’ll be equipped to handle whatever

obstacles and opportunities come your way.

That’s why we’re one of only 40 schools

included in the widely respected guidebook

Colleges That Change Lives.

You’ll make an impact as soon as you set foot on campus at Millsaps. A close-knit

community, our student body energetically embraces new students. Clubs, sports,

campus ministry, student publications – it’s easy to get involved here. You’ll find more

than 80 clubs and student organizations reflecting interests from community service to

martial arts. Socializing Activities and Programming for Students (SAPS) offers students

the opportunity to plan concerts, dances, parties, and events for the entire campus. Our

Student Body Association (SBA) works closely with the faculty and administration and

makes sure students’ voices are heard. Writers and artists express themselves through

three student publications: Stylus, our literary and arts magazine; Purple & White, our

student newspaper; and Bobashela, our yearbook.

Sunny and breezy days find scores of students chatting, relaxing, and studying in the

Bowl – the aptly named courtyard in the center of campus, which also serves as a venue

for concerts and campus-wide parties. And you’re always sure to find familiar faces

unwinding after (or prepping for) class at Reuben’s, our campus café.

Student Life

Throughout my high school career, I was always incredibly involved in school activities. But I was worried that, when I came to college, I would become simply a number. These fears soon subsided once I reached Millsaps. I was excited to find that students are encouraged to be involved in many school activities. I played football, worked in the admissions office, and participated in student government, the newspaper staff, the Wellspring Community Service organization, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and various other committees and organizations. This may sound like far too much for a college student to be involved in, but Millsaps does a wonderful job of helping students fulfill their extracurricular needs while maintaining a strong focus on academics. By becoming involved, I gained a great deal of experience I could not have gained by simply going to class every day. Go Majors!

ACTIVE ACADEMICS by Cree Cantrell, Class of 2010

FactsQUICK

• Approximately 1,100 undergraduate students

• 10:1 student/faculty ratio

• Average class size of 15

• Approximately 63% of student body comes from out of state or foreign countries

• ACT midrange: 24-29

• 37 majors and 42 minors, with the option to design your own major

• B.S., B.A., B.B.A., M.B.A., and M.Acc. degrees

• Pre-med, pre-law, pre-dental,

pre-engineering, and pre-ministerial tracks

• One-of-a-kind Faith & Work focus available for all majors

• First Mississippi college or university to earn

a Phi Beta Kappa academic honorary chapter

• One of a select few liberal arts schools in the U.S. to have both a Phi Beta Kappa chapter and AACSB business school accreditation

• 80% of student body lives on campus

• More than 80 clubs and organizations

• 12 active national fraternities and sororities

• NCAA Division III athletics include football, soccer, cross country, track & field, tennis, basketball, baseball, golf, volleyball, lacrosse, and fast-pitch softball

• Aggressive scholarship program, with more than 98% of students receiving some financial aid through merit scholarships and institutional, federal, and state need-based programs

Situated on 100 vibrant acres, Millsaps is a bustling campus. You can dash from your dorm to that biochem class across campus in less time than it would take to park at most schools. And since you can get everywhere by foot, you tend to run into more familiar faces – especially when you consider that more than 80 percent of our student body lives on campus.

Millsaps is an NCAA Division III school, and more than half of our students play at least one varsity or intramural sport, and they play hard – we are the co-conference football champions. Spirited sports fans also fill the stands at baseball, soccer, and volleyball games.

While our varsity teams fill the bleachers, our Campus Ministry Team packs the pews with students of all faiths. The One Campus, One Community initiative brings students from all walks together and keeps the student body, faculty, and staff involved in Jackson with community service projects and roundtable discussions.

The HAC (Maurice H. Hall Activities Center) offers a fantastic outlet to blow off steam. This 63,000-square-foot athletic facility offers a well-equipped gym; basketball, racquetball, volleyball, and squash courts; and an outdoor pool.

SBA (Student Body Association) and SAPS (Socializing Activities and Programs for Students) events offer plenty of parties, and Millsaps’ 12 active national fraternities and sororities provide their fair share of revelry – and also encourage community service, academic performance, and leadership.

Rest assured, there is life off campus as well. As the state’s capital, Jackson offers everything from ballet to barbecue. And most of the hot spots can be found within a few blocks of Millsaps. Just hop aboard the neighborhood trolley and paint the town red...or purple, as the case may be.

STUDENT LIFE

Nearly a third of Millsaps

scholar-athletes recently received

all-conference academic honors.

We believe that studying abroad is one of the most powerful tools for understanding

our world. To that end, nearly 40 percent of our students undertake coursework

outside the country. From religious studies in Israel to cultural studies in Tanzania,

these innovative programs open eyes, broaden perspectives, and build character – not

to mention friendships. Other popular Millsaps cultural experiences include studying

international business or arts and letters across Europe, classical studies in Greece

and Rome, Spanish immersion in Costa Rica, and French immersion in Nice, France.

We operate a spectacular biocultural reserve in the heart of Yucatán, Mexico.

These lush and rugged 4,000 acres offer a wealth of archaeological sites vital to

the understanding of ancient and modern Maya culture. But our Living In Yucatán

program also provides faculty and students a truly unique living laboratory where they

EducationCUSTOMIZED INTERNATIONAL

Visit our spectacular

4,000-acre biocultural

reserve in the heart of

Yucatán, Mexico.

study the relationships among disciplines as varied as biology, English, business,

the environment, sociology, and anthropology. By demonstrating and exploring the

connections between economic development, environmental policy, and cultural

preservation, this program has become a national model for interdisciplinary studies.

Of course, it’s a bit of a commute to make it to class in Albania, and airfare can be

intimidating, if not prohibitive. But thanks to the generosity of the Robinson International

Fellows Program and the McNair Fund for Christian Missions, international study and

service become more fiscally feasible. It’s a life-informing experience every student

deserves, and Millsaps offers some undeniably incredible opportunities.

Millsaps faculty

design and teach

study abroad

courses around the

world, including

London, England.

In his book Desiring God, John Piper asserts: “If

we take our doctrines into our hearts where they

belong, they can cause upheavals of emotion and

sleepless nights. This is far better than toying

with academic ideas that never touch real life.”

The Faith & Work Initiative at Millsaps provided

me with many restless nights as I struggled to

grasp more completely the complex ideas of

meaningful work and a meaningful life. It is the

means by which academic ideas are fused with a

sense of the needs of the world – the movement

of ideas from the head to the heart.

As a Lilly intern, I worked at Alta Woods United

Methodist Church, a church in south Jackson.

I had the pleasure of serving as the youth and

children’s minister and learning about parish

ministry from my mentor, Reverend David

Carroll. The internship itself added two integral

parts to the education I received at Millsaps

that I could not obtain in a classroom. First, it

gave me the opportunity to seek out and more

clearly define the vocation I wished to pursue

after I graduated. Secondly, it allowed me

to do work that mattered and that I enjoyed

while I continued in my other academic

endeavors.

It was an opportunity

not only to obtain “real

world” experience while

I was in college, but also

to search for a means to

make my life positively

affect someone else.

THINKING WITH YOUR HEART by Chad Bowen, Class of 2009

We don’t just want our students to find good jobs – we want them to find good lives.

So with funding from the Lilly Foundation, we launched the Faith & Work Initiative – a

dynamic path of study exploring the crossroads of conviction and profession. Through

internships, mentor programs, corporate projects, travel, and inspirational coursework,

you’ll get a grasp on the real meaning of work and how it can serve your beliefs and

passions. You will examine ethics, values, and faith, while learning how to build a career

and life that benefit the greater good – not just your bank account. Our Lilly internship

program matches your professional interests with local businesses to give you a taste

of potential careers and how they might mesh with your calling. Mentors from the

business community offer a wealth of wisdom, insight, and guidance. Your shared

experience with fellow Faith & Work scholars creates a community of compassion you

can rely on for support, discussion, and inspiration. Faith & Work may be undertaken

as a minor, or as a means to enhance any other studies. The program is open to all

students of all faiths. The only requirement is a desire for purpose.

THE GOSPEL OF WORKby Liz Ofem, Class of 2009

The Faith & Work Initiative helped me examine what

was really important to me as a person, what kind of

career I wanted, and how I wanted to live my life. The

program showed me new and interesting approaches to

life and taught me how we see ourselves as people.

Not only did Faith & Work enhance my thought process

about my future career, but it also gave me a chance to

experience the work firsthand. I have always wanted to

work in the music business, but was never sure exactly

what area of this broad, fast-paced industry I wanted to

be a part of. The Faith & Work Initiative searched for someone local who could give

me the hands-on introduction to the industry I needed.

Malaco Music Group is internationally known for its rhythm and blues and traditional

gospel offerings, as well as its distribution. My Faith & Work internship at Malaco

was a truly enlightening experience for me, where something exciting happened every

day! I had the opportunity to talk to music professionals all over the country, to meet

legendary recording stars, and even to travel with the company to some of the most

important events in the gospel music industry. The internship showed me my calling

and paved my career path – and it was all because of the Faith & Work Initiative.

“The able and enthusiastic faculty has national rather than regional roots. Its members not only earned their academic spurs in the nation’s top universities, but have also taught in them. But they prefer to teach at Millsaps, a conviction that comes through loud and clear in just about everything they say.”– Loren Pope’s Colleges That Change Lives

ACADEMICS

“The able and enthusiastic faculty has national rather than regional roots. Its members not only earned their academic spurs in the nation’s top universities, but have also taught in them. But they prefer to teach at Millsaps, a conviction that comes through loud and clear in just about everything they say.”– Loren Pope’s Colleges That Change Lives

Bottom line: Millsaps is a college for high school graduates serious about learning and about having a full social life.

— Barron’s Best Buys in

College Education

“

”

Faith & Work

No matter what major you declare at Millsaps, the most important

concept you’ll learn is how to think. Millsaps College consistently creates

academic programs that set us apart from ordinary institutions. That’s

why we were the first Mississippi institution to earn a chapter of the

nation’s oldest academic honor society, Phi Beta Kappa. By reinforcing

the connection between academic pursuits and the real world, we educate

men and women who become informed and engaged leaders in both their

vocations and communities. Our liberal arts core curriculum imparts the

foundations of modern knowledge while teaching the analytical skills

to approach topics from a broad perspective. The Heritage program

offers the opportunity to tackle most of the core components in two all-

encompassing semesters, immersing you in an interdisciplinary study

of Western culture and world history. No matter how you approach it,

you’ll be steeped in a wide range of subjects and ideas to broaden your

awareness, intellect, and vision.

I gave up my search for the perfect identity and realized all I had to become was me. I found myself at ease as a

Millsaps student, and not just a face in the crowd.

– Sital Sanjanwala, Class of 2010

“

”

The Millsaps College Writing Program is recognized as one of the premier writing programs in the

country. Our Writing Across the Curriculum initiative ensures that every student in every class,

from geology to history, develops excellent writing skills – a prized commodity in any profession.

Interdisciplinary degrees such as Environmental Studies (science meets the humanities) and Public

Management (political science tempered with business) bolster ideals with practical skills. You can

work with your faculty adviser to design a major around your particular interests and ambitions.

Pre-professional concentrations are also available within any major. Specialized tracks include

medicine, law, engineering, education, or ministry. But no matter your career choice – accountant,

writer, or scientist – your studies will be geared to perfect your talents, stoke your passions, and

achieve your goals.

From biology to psychology, clinically minded students have the

facilities and faculty at their disposal to analyze and comprehend any

problem. And armed with our liberal arts background, you’ll be able

to relate data to the bigger picture and actually communicate your

theories – traits highly sought-after by top M.D. and Ph.D. programs.

Our medical mentoring program pairs students with practitioners in

their chosen field. Students work alongside their mentors in clinics

and hospitals, earning credit for real medical experience on their

transcripts. Political science and pre-law students spend semesters

in Washington, D.C., studying the inner workings of government. And

regular trips to Ghana, Tanzania, and Albania offer rare insight into the

social sciences. Sociologists, anthropologists, and biologists have a

living research lab at their disposal in our biocultural reserve in Yucatán,

Mexico. In addition to all these exotic and unique research programs,

student-teacher teams regularly publish and present their findings

in scientific journals and at national conferences. Unsurprisingly,

Millsaps graduates’ acceptance rate to graduate and medical schools far

exceeds the national average.

SCIENCE

AcademicsOU

R

Applied Mathematics

Biochemistry

Biology

Chemistry

Computer Science

Computer Science with

Computer Info Systems

Education

Geology

Mathematics

Neuroscience and Cognitive

Studies

Physics

Political Science

Psychology

Public Management

Sociology/Anthropology

Through Arts and Letters, Millsaps students find their own

perspective, voice, and vision. Whether it’s on a canvas,

in a newspaper column, in a poetry journal, or on stage,

you’ll have abundant opportunity to express yourself. In the

process, you’ll refine your approach until it rings loud and

clear – to audiences, critics, and employers. Millsaps’ Arts

and Letters faculty is respected around the world. Their expert

insight is sought-after on topics ranging from the writings of

Eudora Welty to the Dead Sea Scrolls. They also all regularly

publish, perform, and exhibit their own highly lauded works.

So the entire division functions as a dynamic creative

community, with students and teachers alike embracing

causes and concepts from Sudanese refugees to the impact

of biotechnology. Through the study of ancient masterpieces

and the creation of their own works, students forge intellectual

partnerships with faculty mentors. They push each other to

explore the eternal questions and dilemmas of mankind while

inspiring each other to define their own voices.

ARTS AND LETTERS

African Studies

Art

Art – Art History

Art – Studio Art

Classical Studies

Communications

English

European Studies

French

History

Latin American

Studies

Music

Philosophy

Philosophy –

Religious Studies

Religious Studies

Religious Studies

– Sociology/

Anthropology

Spanish

Theatre

Accounting

Business Administration

Economics

Some people find it surprising that a liberal arts

college is home to one of the best business schools

in the country. It makes perfect sense to us. Ideas

are a vital raw material in any industry. So we teach

you the ins and outs of business practices and principles.

In addition, you’ll develop the broad critical-thinking

skills required to see the possibilities and assess the

opportunities for any business. You’ll also get real-

world experience through our exceptional internship

connections. From the steps of the state capitol, to

towering corporate offices, to grassroots community

efforts, or even to recording studios – we can open

the door for you to see how things really work at your

dream job. Princeton Review ranked our business

faculty eighth in the nation. Millsaps is also one of only

a handful of liberal arts colleges in the United States

to hold both a Phi Beta Kappa academic honorary

chapter and accreditation by AACSB, the international

accrediting agency for business schools. What’s more,

our Else School of Management graduate program

allows Millsaps business majors to earn an M.B.A. at

Millsaps with just one additional year of study.

BUSINESS

APPLICATION DEADLINES:November 15Early Decision deadline

December 1Early Action/Performing Fine Arts/Second Century Scholarships deadline February 1Regular Decision/Millsaps Awards Preferred deadline

March 1Need-based financial aid priority deadline

May 1National Candidate’s Reply Date

Millsaps College does not discriminate on the basis

of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation,

or national or ethnic origin in administration of

its educational policies, admissions policies, or

scholarships and loan programs. Millsaps College

makes every reasonable effort to accommodate the

needs of its students with disabilities.

ValueTH

E OFYOUR EDUCATION

Your education is one of the most valuable investments you’ll ever make.

A Millsaps College degree can open doors with employers, graduate

schools, and nonprofit organizations nationwide.

We want every Millsaps College student to be able to take advantage

of the experiences here, which is why we devote significant resources

to financial aid. There are also merit scholarships available to qualified

students, and Millsaps College is one of the only colleges in the United

States to offer families with the greatest financial need full-tuition grants.

”“ At Millsaps, I’ve found a true

connection with other students and my professors, which has allowed me to

explore more possibilities for my future than I ever imagined.

–Zach Davis, Class of 2011

Our professors come to Millsaps for the same reason our students do – the rare opportunity to learn and grow in a

genuine, meaningful, and personal way. This nurturing environment draws them from leading graduate schools like

Berkeley, Harvard, Carnegie Mellon, and Juilliard. They know their academic disciplines inside and out, and on our

campus they’re able to get to know their students just as well. Millsaps has an 10:1 student/faculty ratio and an average

class size of 15. Classroom discussions are inviting and insightful, and perplexing topics are often hashed out over coffee

during informal sessions in professors’ offices. Millsaps students regularly conduct research projects and publish papers

with their professors – academic privileges reserved for graduate students at most schools. But at Millsaps, the faculty

is focused on you.

FacultyAWARD WINNING

”

When looking for the perfect college I knew that I did not want to be just another number; however, I never dreamed that I would find a

place that would allow for such personal growth so soon in my college career. I can only imagine what I’ll learn in the next three years at Millsaps.

– Kendall Gregory, Class of 2013

“

WHY I TEACH AT MILLSAPSby Dr. Bill Storey

I grew up in New York and

was educated at Andover,

Harvard, and Johns Hopkins.

I never thought I might live

in the South. I first learned

about Millsaps from my wife,

Joanna, who grew up in Jackson. Jackson’s mild weather,

calm lifestyle, and cultural attractions appealed to me, so

eleven years ago, when an opportunity for me came open

at Millsaps, I was very happy to accept the dean’s offer.

My favorite thing about Millsaps is that I am part of

a community that is dedicated to learning. Students,

faculty, and staff get to know each other, thanks in part

to the small size of classes, and thanks also to the spirit

of the place. The people who come here truly want to

learn respectfully about the world. I see this in my classes

every day – students have abundant curiosity about the

specific subjects that I teach, ranging from the history of

South Africa and the British Empire to the history of the

environment and technology – and they are always thinking

about ways to connect these narrower subjects to their

broader experiences in disciplines across the liberal arts.

A liberal arts education helps us all to step out of our

own shoes and imagine the world from somebody else’s

perspective. I see this every day at Millsaps, not only

in academic discussions but all around the campus.

Students hold doors open for one another. Faculty and

staff are cordial. Civility is our mark of citizenship. I’ll

never forget how my students responded to 9/11. As I

worried out loud about friends and family in New York, my

first-year writing students asked if they could have the day

off, so that they could donate blood. They had become

true citizens of Millsaps and true citizens of the world, too.

”

“My professors at Millsaps are always enthusiastic about helping students,

and I’ve never felt like just a number. I can be myself

without worrying about how others think. Millsaps has helped me recognize my

amazing skills and talents—and how much potential I have to give to the world.

–Khushi Patel, Class of 2012

We want our students to leave our halls with much more than a stellar GPA. As a college, it is our goal to give you both the knowledge and experience to excel in the real world. So we encourage students to undertake internships within their field of interest. Through Millsaps’ connections in the corporate, cultural, and political worlds, opportunities abound in Jackson and on a national level. Our students have interned at places like NASA, Nike®, the FBI, and Sotheby’s. Graduate school is also a prerequisite for many careers, so students and parents alike should sleep a little better knowing that Millsaps graduates are accepted to medical school, law school, and graduate school at a rate well above the national average. As a matter of fact, more than 70 percent of our graduates go on to pursue advanced degrees at the nation’s top graduate schools – many of them armed with outstanding scholarships.

When I look back over my four years at Millsaps College, I realize how

fortunate I was to have made the wise decision that got me there. I did not

realize the importance of that decision then, but now I do. Millsaps provided

me with an extraordinary education and stellar professors who continually

challenged me. Every professor had my best interest at heart– both

academically and personally. They and my advisers were always available

to offer assistance with difficult material and coursework planning,

even offering their own personal time when needed. Because classes at

Millsaps are so small, professors and students really get to know each

other. I felt totally immersed in a positive learning atmosphere as I was

gently nudged and guided toward reaching my full academic potential.

For two summers, I interned on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., for

different politicians. In order to make that possible, my adviser, Dr.

Pat Taylor, helped me get the recommendations I needed – because he

cared about me as a student, as an advisee, and as a friend.

After graduation, I got a job at the Mississippi Republican Party, which

I fully believe Millsaps College helped me get, albeit indirectly. My

comprehensive exams at Millsaps prepared me for tough job interviews,

in addition to the more obvious purpose of reviewing what I’d learned.

I owe my success to Millsaps, and I’m proud to join the ranks of the

College’s successful alums all over the world.

POWERFUL FRIENDSby Meredith Drake, Class of 2007

CareersAFTER MILLSAPS

We invite you to make Millsaps College your college home. There’s no limit to what you can achieve guided by professors who are nationally acclaimed scholars, but whose first love is teaching. You will be joined by students who are enthusiastic about learning and getting the most out of their college experience. At Millsaps, that means not only brilliant classroom instruction, but also hands on experience through internships with leaders in business and politics, being mentored for medical school by practicing physicians or professors of medicine at the University of Mississippi Medical School across the street from our campus, or conducting cutting-edge archeological research about the Mayan civilization at Millsaps’ very own biocultural reserve in the Yucatán peninsula.

Our students are down-to-earth and easy going, yet passionate about growing as scholars and leaders. As Baron’s Best Buys in Education points out, we are a “college for high school graduates serious about learning and about having a full social life.” You’ll crack your share of books here, but the focus is really on the bigger picture. More important than any collection of facts, you’ll learn how to think - a prerequisite for any meaningful career and certainly for a meaningful life. Millsaps offers the very best in liberal arts and business education as preparation for a good and worthy life of learning, leadership, and service. Our graduates are leaders in their respective professions and communities, have a high sense of honor and integrity, and are committed to helping change the world for the better.

If you are looking for an intellectually stimulating and caring community among people who love what they are doing and who have high aspirations for themselves and the world in which we live, please visit Millsaps College. I hope to see you when you’re here.

Best wishes,

Rob Pearigen, President

PresidentA MESSAGE FROM OUR

As the state capital, Jackson combines small-town charm with city amenities. From the leaps of the

International Ballet Competition to the beats of music festivals, there is plenty of culture and entertainment to

be found. The reservoir offers boating, fishing, and countless picnic spots. The Natchez Trace provides easy

access to wooded trails, bicycling, or just a lazy Sunday drive. And the restaurants, hangouts, galleries,

and shops of the quirky Fondren district are just around the corner from campus.

JacksonWHERE’STHE FUN?

Thalia Mara Hall is

the official U.S. home of the

International Ballet

Competition—but you can

enjoy musicals and blues

singers there, too.

Join the fun during

Jackson’s famous Mal’s

St. Patrick’s Day Parade,

which draws over 50,000

people to the streets

downtown every March.

Land an internship with

a state senator or the

governor’s office at

Mississippi’s new State

Capitol Building, just

10 minutes from campus.

millsaps college viewbook - 2010-2011

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