Stover Elected President of UMMC's The Academy for Excellence in Education

The AEE was established in 2022 to create a community of educators spanning UMMC's seven schools, including the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy. The academy operates under the Office of the Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

Its mission is to strengthen the learning environment across all UMMC's schools by supporting and recognizing outstanding educators, building a community of dedicated faculty, and promoting excellence, innovation, leadership, and scholarship in education.

“I’m honored to serve as president and I look forward to leading the organization as we continue to grow and promote the great things our people are doing around campus,” Stover said. “We have so many gifted and dedicated educators, and it’s a privilege to help promote their accomplishments.”

Membership in the organization reflects significant contributions to teaching, or to scholarship and research in health sciences pedagogy. Pathways for induction include educators being nominated by their dean, or through recognition as their college's Nelson Award winner. Nominees must be approved by the membership.

Stover was inducted as part of the inaugural class in 2022, and has since moved through a series of leadership roles within the organization, serving on the first membership committee, then as membership chair, then as president-elect. She officially stepped into the presidency on June 4, and will transition to the role of immediate past president next year.

Looking ahead, Stover said anchoring events will continue, including the induction ceremony, two annual business meetings held in the fall and spring, and the Robin W. Rockhold Leadership Lecture, held each spring on the medical center campus.

In addition, Stover said building the organization's long-term sustainability will be a team effort. Plans include launching a fundraiser, adding a quarterly newsletter, and expanding recognition of resources and development programs available to educators across campus. She also hopes to highlight the work educators are doing throughout UMMC.

“The Academy for Excellence in Education is a fantastic community that has grown from its inaugural class to more than 200 members,” Stover said. “I want to help continue the growth of this community, and help provide valuable resources for our members and to members of the Medical Center community at large.”