Paul Thomas was already familiar with Millsaps College.
Thomas’ parents and sisters attended the college, with his parents both pursuing careers in the medical field.
So, naturally, the Hattiesburg, Miss. native felt a pull to Millsaps and figured he would follow his parents’ footsteps into the medical field.
“I was interested in schools that still retained an element of individuality, rather than simply being a ‘number,’ and I knew Millsaps was a great place for intimate relationships in the classroom setting. Being a legacy student, I also knew of Millsaps’ rich history of opening the door to a career in medicine.”
However, Thomas found his passions were leading him elsewhere during his senior year of high school, and he decided to pursue the fields of economics and business while at Millsaps.
“I always loved understanding the incentives behind how and why people work, and I thought economics was one field that could help,” Thomas said.
“Looking back, Millsaps was attractive to me because I could receive the hands-on attention that turned nascent curiosity into real-world subject-matter expertise.”
The hands-on attention he received would be a game-changer for his academic pursuits and career. Thomas became involved with ELSEWorks, the entrepreneurship program of Millsaps College’s Else School of Management. The ELSEWorks program functions similarly to a business consultancy firm and is overseen by Millsaps faculty, staff and students. The program offers students the unique opportunity to apply skills learned in the classroom in real-world settings while providing a valuable resource for the Jackson community.
Thomas thrived as an intern with ELSEWorks during his junior and senior years at Millsaps. He eventually was promoted to a leadership role in the program as project coordinator, marking the first time a student had been promoted to such a position in the history of the program.
During his time at Millsaps, Thomas has grown close to Dr. David Culpepper, professor of accounting and entrepreneurship and chair of ELSEWorks.
“He was the one who had the belief that I could take on the responsibility of running a program and leading students who are in some cases older than me,” Thomas said.
“Working with Dr. Culpepper has been one of the most positive experiences in my life. His background in both academia and running private companies has given me insight into both worlds. I am very fortunate to still be his ‘student’ each and every day.”
Culpepper found Thomas to be a very engaged student, thirsting for knowledge and seeking to make connections on a broad level.
“Paul came to us early as a junior and quickly figured out what ELSEWorks was all about—especially its commitment to the economic empowerment of the Midtown community,” Culpepper said.
“He drank the Kool-Aid and has been all-in since. He has also exhibited demonstrable leadership skills and earned the respect of his peers.”
While he has dedicated much of his time at Millsaps to his studies and ELSEWorks, Thomas also made time for experiencing Millsaps’ vibrant campus environment. He was a member of and served as the treasurer of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He also co-founded and served as president of the Millsaps Investment Club, a cross-major student organization dedicated to teaching individuals the importance of investing early.
In May 2022, Thomas earned his bachelor of arts in both economics and business administration with a concentration in finance. He was one of five winners of the Founders’ Medal, presented to the student with the highest grade point average over a four-year course of study and a ranking of “excellent” on comprehensive exams. After graduation, he became a full-time staff member with ELSEWorks in the role of director of business analysts.
“I was able to apply my skills immediately rather than having to wait months or years to be an agent of positive change. Now, I get to lead our project teams, meet with business owners and work to create positive social change in Jackson.”
Thomas plans to continue with ELSEWorks until 2025, when he will move to New York City and pursue an MBA at Columbia Business School. Upon earning his graduate degree, he plans to return home to further grow the creative assets of Mississippi.
“Mississippi’s assets sometimes go unnoticed, and I wish to show others that this state has more to offer than meets the eye,” Thomas said.
“Brain-drain, economic stagnation and sociological problems all go hand in hand. The only way to fix them is to stay and tackle them head on. Millsaps and ELSEWorks are one piece of this complicated puzzle. My education at Millsaps taught me about these things and why they occur, and now, Millsaps is giving me the tools to help fix them.”