E. Gray Flora Iv, Ph.D. Email & Phone Number

Oxford, Ms, Us

Oxford, Mississippi, United States

• Led effort to establish the Grove Scholars program as stand-alone entity at University of Mississippi• Independently create, direct, supervise, and promote all programs related to Grove Scholars• Supports the mission of the Grove Scholars Program by identifying goals and implementing plans to reach those goals • Oversees the management of admissions and enrollment processes related to Grove Scholars Represents the program and participates as a member of various university committees • Ensures preparation and dissemination of materials promoting student success and retention initiatives. Interfaces with parents, faculty, and staff to address issues related to student retention and success in STEM and related fields • Creates mentorship programs and activities for students in Grove Scholars • Brokering and cultivating partnerships across campus to ensure that Grove Scholars is a seamless part of each student's university experience • Collaborates with university leaders to identify metrics as an indicator of student progression and retention • Provides vision, strategic direction, and accountability for developing programs and implementing practices and services • Provides guidance and supervision to support staff • Supervises and evaluates Grove Scholars staff • Creates and maintains an environment which fosters a high-performance learning culture, good morale, diversity, teamwork, and professional development • Manages program budgets and authorizes expenditures • Develops relationships with donors and provides stewardship of funds • Leads fundraising activities, provides stewardship of donor relations, and cultivates relationships with potential donors • Prepares annual reports related to program assessment for internal and external stakeholders.

Oxford, Ms

Grove Scholars• Responsible for the development and stewardship of scholarship program that serves 45+ traditionally under-served Mississippi students pursuing a degree in a STEM discipline at the University of Mississippi• Organize summer academic enrichment program 15+ entering freshmen students • Cultivate partnerships and develop relationships with key stakeholders on and off campus• Develop curriculum and programing for students to ensure exposure to scholastic and vocational opportunities and academic retention and success throughout the entire academic year• Mentor and advise 45+ students as they pursue a degree in a STEM-related field• Capture and analyze data to make decisions on best ways to serve students in programFASTrack• Provide one-on-one support to help 80+ first-year students manage time, develop effective study skills and balance schoolwork with other activities• Track student absences, grades, and degree progression• Interact with professors, staff, and parents to ensure that each student has access to resources and opportunities to thrive as a student• Create and organize events focusing on financial literacy, student employment and internships opportunities, and resume construction• Brokered partnership with the University of Mississippi’s Clinic for Outreach and Personal Enrichment (COPE) to provide free counseling and wellness enhancement for all FASTrack students

Oxford, Ms

North Mississippi VISTA ProjectThe VISTA project develops projects that promote education in North Mississippi. We seek to establish mutually beneficial partnerships with local education agencies and community learning organizations. We develop projects within a 23-county area that represents roughly the northern 1/3 of the state. Whenever possible, we develop projects in communities with under-performing schools and/or schools eligible for Title I School Improvement Grants. Our VISTA project builds capacity by developing new, meaningful, and sustainable connections between our university, with its abundant resources, and the schools, education agencies, and learning organizations already working to move the people of our region toward academic success and higher education. In August 2016, our staff transitioned responsibility of the successful, nationally recognized project to a different office at the University of Mississippi.

• Designed college access and success curriculum for K – 12 educators using CollegeforTN.org resources centered on career exploration, college access and financial aid and assists teachers/counselors in integrating CollegeforTN.org resources into existing curriculum.• Served as the primary contact for CollegeforTN.org in‐person training and technical assistance.• In partnership with other staff, developed and implemented outreach activities focused on increasing usage of CollegeforTN.org and the CollegeforTN.org Professional Center.• Assisted the Commission in day‐to‐day outreach activities, including presenting at conferences, staffing outreach booths and presenting at schools and/or community meetings • Scheduled, designed, and conducted in‐person trainings and presentations on CollegeforTN.org resources across Tennessee in a variety of settings including, but not limited to: regional trainings, high schools, middle schools, elementary schools, conferences, businesses, career centers, and higher education institutions.• Develops relationships and maintains regular contact with K – 12 educators including school counselors, college access professionals and other agencies with similar missions with the intention of increasing CollegeforTN.org implementation statewide.• In partnership with other staff, prepares high‐quality presentations, handouts, and other materials to promote state‐wide web portal usage, financial literacy, college access, etc.• Assisted in identifying, logging and addressing problems with the site and works with the web portal vendor to facilitate solutions.

Nashville, Tn

•Counsel 100+ students and families on goals and college choice options•Advocate and communicate for students with post-secondary institutions•Provide admissions application assistance including: application reviews, transcript submission, essay assistance•Assist students and families with filing FAFSA’s and verification for all students•Verify new and continuing college attendance•Maintain data on student matriculation, enrollment, and retention

Nashville, Tn

* Serve on cross-functional project teams that support various VCC initiatives including coordinating VCC's recent Alumni program and leading student staff with on campus interviews* Supervise and mentor 17 undergraduate student workers including development and execution of bi-weekly training sessions* Advise students as they discern career goals and navigate employment opportunities * Coordinate events that support VCC mission including open houses, Industry Career days, leading forums, and givingpresentations to various groups on Vanderbilt's campus* Propose innovative and effective ideas from a graduate student perspective to Career Center Teams including Communications Team, Employer Relationship Strategy Team, and Internship Development Team

Planned and implemented CommonVU and Vanderbilt Visions new student programs as part of two-person team* Reviewed, edited, and assisted in design Vanderbilt's 2010 VUpoint new student manual which is used to help 1st years adjust to life at VU* Conducted research for the Dean of The Commons about how to better engage students from a variety of different backgrounds* Participated in regular Commons staff planning sessions

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Education

Dissertation: Instant Schools: The Frenzied Formation and Early Days of the Mississippi Private School Association.

Ed.M, Specialized Studies In Education

Board of Freshman Advisers • Advised Harvard freshman on curriculum, requirements, course selection, leadership goals, career aspirations.

Master'S Degree: Higher, Education Administration

Activities and Societies: Peabody Graduate Student Association, Department Represenative

B.A., English, Sociology

Activities and Societies: Sigma Nu Fraternity, Reformed University Fellowship, Pat Patterson Inc.