As we move into the new year, Millsaps College is pleased to welcome several new staff members who will be serving in key roles across campus. Their expertise will serve our students, faculty and staff well and we encourage you to get to know them!
Martin Smith, Vice President of Institutional Advancement
Martin Smith comes to Millsaps from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he has served as senior associate vice chancellor for development and alumni affairs. In that role, he oversaw development for the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business, Engineering and Computer Science, Health Education and Professional Studies, and the Honors College. Prior to his time at UT Chattanooga, Smith served as vice president for advancement at Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky and Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois. He will start in his new role, and as a member of the Executive Staff, on January 18. Smith will provide the leadership and direction necessary to support the overall vision and philanthropic strategy for the college.
Contact Martin Smith here.
Melinda Barrow, Director of Human Resources
Prior to Millsaps, Melinda Barrow worked as director of human resources with The Madera Group in West Hollywood, CA. She brings a decade of human resources experience to Millsaps, having served in HR roles with Universal Studios Hollywood; Rothschild, Inc. in New York, New York; and Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles. Barrow started in her new role in January and oversees all human resource functions, including recruiting and retaining talent, compensation and benefits administration, training and development and payroll administration and human resources information systems.
Contact Melinda Barrow here.
James Forte, Director of Annual Giving
In his new role at Millsaps, James Forte is responsible for the planning, management and execution of the college’s annual giving efforts. He brings his development experience to Millsaps from Delta State University, where he has most recently served as director of alumni affairs. He previously served Delta State as director of annual giving. He taught at Humphreys County Junior High as part of Teach for America, and also served in the Peace Corps in Lesotho, South Africa. Forte began his work at Millsaps on January 11.
Contact James Forte here.
John Ramsey, Director of Campus Safety
John Ramsey brings more than 25 years of law enforcement experience at the local and federal levels to his new role at Millsaps. Most recently, he served as resident agent in charge of the Criminal Investigations Division with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. As director of campus safety, Ramsey is responsible for overall security of the Millsaps campus and preparedness related to weather, fire and other emergency-related plans. He assumed the role on January 3.
Contact John Ramsey here.
Geneva Torrence, Director of Pathways and the First Year Experience
Geneva Torrence comes to Millsaps from the Newcomb-Tulane College Career Services department at Tulane University in New Orleans, where she has served since 2013. She grew up in the Jackson area and earned her B.S. from University of Southern Mississippi and her master’s of liberal arts from Tulane University. At Millsaps, Torrence will focus on the successful introduction and support of the six new Pathways learning communities, as well as programs and partnerships designed to guide students through their four years on campus.
Contact Geneva Torrence here.
Susan Springer, Associate Registrar
Susan Springer has served for 30 years as an academic librarian in five states, including her home state of Ohio. With her past library experience, she looks forward to continuing with her skills of attention to detail in the Office of Records. Springer’s work focuses on office operations, international student issues, FERPA regulations and student degree audits.
Contact Susan Springer here.
Joseph Stone, Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach
Joseph Stone was a walk-on football player at Delta State University and earned a scholarship in the spring of 2019. He graduated in December 2021 with a degree in exercise science, and is also pursuing a master’s degree in human performance. He has completed two internships in strength and conditioning at Delta State and the University of Memphis.
Noah Reilly, Assistant Football Coach – Linebackers
Noah Reilly graduated in December 2021 from the Florida Institute of Technology. At Florida Tech, he was a student assistant with the football team, working with key defensive positions, filming practices and researching opposing offenses. He worked with the Melbourne High School football team last year, as an analyst and defensive coordinator.
Derek Rose, Assistant Football Coach – Outside Linebackers
A coach since 2016, Derek Rose joins the Millsaps football team from the University of Fort Lauderdale in Florida, where he worked as linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator. A top defensive player at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana, Rose was selected as team captain and MVP for three consecutive seasons and graduated with a career total 360 tackles.