Millsaps College Else School of Management

It is with deep sadness that the Else School of Management and Millsaps College share the news that Dr. Hugh Parker, our second dean and a cherished member of the Millsaps family, has passed away.

Hugh joined Millsaps in 1987 as a professor of accounting and became dean of the Else School in 1993, serving until 1998. During those years he was instrumental in launching the Master of Accountancy program and in lifting the Else School to national recognition. He recruited many of the legendary faculty whose influence still shapes the school today, and his commitment to excellence remains part of who we are.

Those who knew Hugh describe a rare combination of brilliance and warmth: a CPA and PhD who was just as comfortable in a classroom, a boardroom, or a deer stand. He could explain a complex regression model to someone who struggled to balance a checkbook, then charm a room of business and government leaders with the ease of a career diplomat. He walked into every gathering seeing not strangers but lifelong friends, and friends he had simply not yet met. That generous spirit, paired with his quick smile, was his hallmark, on campus and long after he left it.

Generations of students, colleagues, and friends are better for having known him. Our hearts are with his wife, Cynthia, and all who loved him. Rest in peace, Dean Parker. Your legacy endures in every corner of the Else School you helped build.

If you are considering taking the next step in your career, we invite you to join us for a Virtual Executive MBA Information Session on Wednesday, June 10, at 12:00 p.m. CST.

During this session, you will have the opportunity to:

• Learn about the Millsaps Executive MBA curriculum and cohort experience
• Hear from Dr. Gerad Hardy, Executive MBA Program Director, about the classroom experience
• Learn more about the international residency in Mérida, Mexico from Dr. Harvey Fiser
• Hear directly from a recent EMBA graduate about the impact of the program on their professional growth
• Ask questions about admissions, scholarships, and the application process

The Millsaps Executive MBA is designed for experienced professionals seeking to strengthen their leadership skills, expand their network, and gain practical business knowledge they can immediately apply in their organizations.

To reserve your spot, please RSVP using the registration link below:

https://admission.millsaps.edu/register/VirtualInfoEMBA2027

Once your RSVP is received, a Zoom link and session details will be emailed to you prior to the event.

We look forward to connecting with you and sharing more about the only Executive MBA program in Mississippi!

Congratulations to Collin Edwards and Keely Marshall, recipients of the Allison Coggin Lee Endowed Scholarship — the largest scholarship awarded to an MBA student at the Else School of Management!

Recipients are selected for academic excellence, leadership, professional experience, and a commitment to ethical business and service to their campus and community. Collin and Keely embody all of it, and we look forward to the impact they'll make in their careers.

At the Else School, we believe cost shouldn't be a barrier to graduate education. Through merit-based scholarships like this one, we help talented students invest in their future.

Our MBA doesn't cost more. It means more.

Considering an MBA? Scholarship opportunities are available, and we're accepting applications now! We'd love to talk about your goals!

Your career has momentum. Your education should match it.

Mississippi has one AACSB-accredited Executive MBA program. The Else School of Management. That's the whole list.

Built for executives who can't pause the work: virtual one day a week, in person one weekend a month. A cohort of peers navigating the same demands you are.

Request more information here: https://admission.millsaps.edu/register/EMBA27

We’re still reminiscing about graduation. A few weeks have passed, but we keep coming back to these photos. 🎓

To our newest graduates, we hope you’re settling into your next chapter, whether that’s a new role, a promotion, or a goal you’ve been chasing for years. You earned every bit of it, and we could not be prouder!

And to everyone reading this and wondering whether the time is right: this could be you, one year from now.

A year goes by fast. We’d love to help you make it count. 💜

Your future deserves more than endless scrolling.

At Else, we’re focused on building leaders ready for what’s next.

📩 Connect with our Graduate Admissions team: [email protected]

Else School of Management understood the assignment 📚💼

Congrats to our Hall of Fame winners:

⭐ Mallory Richardson
⭐ EJ Ousley
⭐ Christian Grey

We’re incredibly proud to see these business students recognized for their leadership, impact, and commitment to excellence both inside and outside the classroom.

Safe to say the future of business is in good hands. 👏

Success doesn’t wait until graduation day.

Here our students are advancing their careers while earning their degree!

📩 Connect with our Graduate Admissions team: mailto:[email protected]

ONE week until the Else School of Management Graduate Hooding Ceremony 🎓

We look forward to celebrating the accomplishments, dedication, and hard work of our graduate students on Friday, May 8, 2026, at Yates Chapel. Congratulations to the Class of 2026 — the countdown begins!

Real connections matter!

At The Else School of Management, leadership is built through conversations, collaboration, and the relationships that happen beyond the screen.

📩 Connect with our Graduate Admissions team today! [email protected]