SEAHO Report - Winter 2018 - 17

SEAHO News
2018 Scholar in Residence: Dr. Ethel Scurlock
Q: Where are you from? What did you study in college? Were you ever an RA
or Hall Director?
I grew up in Memphis, TN and attended the University of Tennessee. I majored
in English and I was a RA for 3 years.
Q: What helped you to get through grad school and your doc program? What
advice can you provide to the current graduate students in SEAHO?
I tried to build my course work around things that I was passionate about and
make the things that we learned in the classroom connect to things in the greater
world. When I got tired, I motivated myself by thinking that someone's academic life could change if I learned
the information and shared it, so I had to keep pushing. I also made sure that I nurtured close friendships and
engaged with activities that affirmed me beyond the classroom. I was active in theater and in a local church
community.
Q. What brought you to Ole Miss? What has kept you there?
I was particularly attracted to my job as a faculty member because I it allowed me to teach within my specific
field. I applied to several jobs across the nation and I visited several campuses. At UM, I was impressed
with the faculty members and the warmth of the administrators. People seemed genuinely concerned about
other people and their careers. I stayed because the job allowed me to explore all aspects of what I bring to an
intellectual setting. I have flexibility about what I teach and research, and I have had the opportunity to explore
administrative jobs. I have also enjoyed raising my daughters in Oxford, MS.
Q: How did you first get involved with LLCs? What is your favorite thing about working with students where
they live?
I was interested in moving into more administrative responsibilities, but I did not want to lose contact with
students. I have always been passionate about undergraduate education. I had a discussion with one of our vice
chancellors about my predicament and she suggested that I look into LLC's and I was hooked. I love working
with students where they live because you get to see who they are multi-dimensionally. I feel fortunate to be an
intimate part of their development and growth while they are enrolled in college.
Q: Everyone has a fun housing story--do you have one that you can share?
I work in a community that is funded with help from the Luckyday Foundation. There is a large bronze statue
in the entrance of our building in honor of our benefactor, Frank Day. Members of our community were
involved in a game of Zombies and we purchased orange bandanas for the community to signify that the person
was already dead and could not be shot again. Well, one of our students decided that it would be great to wrap
an orange bandana around the life-size statue of our benefactor, Frank Day. Imagine the look on the face of our
foundation director when they saw an orange bandana on the man they respect so much!
Q: What led you to seek a career in academics?
I started graduate school with a teaching assistantship and I was hooked on teaching the first day I walked into
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SEAHO Report Winter 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of SEAHO Report - Winter 2018