University of Mississippi
IN-24: Innovation A

In April 2019, students at the University of Mississippi and Rust College, which is a historically black college and university located about 30 miles north of Oxford, created the first two National Audubon Society's Audubon on Campus chapters in the region. The UM and Rust College chapters have formed a unique partnership focused on fostering opportunities for inclusion in the field of conservation in the complex setting of Mississippi. According to an article by the National Audubon Society (linked below), the UM chapter "is dedicated to a specific cause pertinent to their regional and campus climate: creating a more mindful, diverse, and bird-friendly community at the University of Mississippi and surrounding areas."

The two student groups met for the first time in April at Strawberry Plains Audubon Center, located in Holly Springs. Students from Rust College also visited UM in April as part of the university’s Green Week celebration, attending the Earth Day Keynote delivered by Dr. J. Drew Lanham. Lanham is an active board member for the National Audubon Society and Alumni Distinguished Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Master Teacher at Clemson University. Dr. Lanham’s literary works examine the connections among environmentalism, conservation, race, space, and history. Lanham has been featured in National Geographic and is well known for the video “Bird Watching While Black“, which was adapted from his essays, “9 Rules for the Black Birdwatcher.” The Rust College group arrived early and was able to spend time with Lanham before the talk.

National Audubon Society, Strawberry Plains Audubon Center, Rust College and University of Mississippi Office of Sustainability and Environmental Studies Minor will continue to support the student partnership between the two campus groups in the coming academic years as they work toward their goals.