The University of Southern Mississippi Master in Economic Development program hosted its 25th Anniversary of the  Basic Economic Development Course accredited by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). The basic course, now known as the True South Basic Economic Development Course, was once known as the New South Course.  It is held every year in September and this year forty-two economic developers and students participated in four days of presentations by economic development experts that culminated in a role playing scenario, "The Game." 

The course was sponsored by Mississippi Power, Area Development Partnership (ADP), Mississippi Coast Alliance, Hancock County Port & Harbor Commission, Mississippi Development Authority, and Mississippi Economic Development Council (MEDC). Scholarships to attend are offered through Mississippi Power, ADP, MEDC and donations made to the USM Foundation in memory of Chuck Ueltschey, and MEDC . This year's recipients were:

Charles 'Chuck' Ueltschey for Municipal and County Elected Officials Scholarship provided by Mississippi Power - Mayor Brian Gomillion, Town of Walnut Grove;  Councilman R. Lee Flowers, city of Gulfport; and Alderman at Large Donald Frazier, city of Long Beach. 

Charles 'Chuck' Ueltschey Family Economic Partner Scholarship - Michael Reso, city of Diamondhead, and Cindy Lamb, Pickering Firm, Inc. 

Ron Swager Scholarship for Practitioners New to Economic Development provided by Area Development Partnership - Meryl Fisackerly, Golden Triangle Development LINK. 

MEDC Scholarship - Jon Levingston, Clarksdale/Coahoma Chamber of Commerce. 

The 2019 True South Course will be held September 23-26, 2019, and registration will open this spring.

With the start of the fall semester, the Master of Science in Economic Development (MSED) program has a new cohort of graduate research assistants to welcome. The following students will spend the next year working on applied community projects while completing their graduate degree. Click on each name to view and connect with them on LinkedIn. 

Graduate Assistant	Hometown	Undergraduate Degree
Cody Block	Phoenix, Arizona	University of Southern Mississippi Business Administration and Marketing
Mikhail Esipov	Tashkent, Uzbekistan	University of Southern Mississippi  Business Administration and Entrepreneurship
Jennifer Hooper	Mobile, Alabama	University of Southern Mississippi Hospitality and Tourism Management
Robert Johnson	Raymond, Mississippi	Jackson State University Mass Communications
Jhai Keeton	Moss Point, Mississippi	Jackson State University  Accounting
Caleb Prine	Hattiesburg, Mississippi	University of Southern Mississippi  Industrial Engineering Technology and Logistics
Emily Stecher	Gulfport, Mississippi	University of Southern Mississippi  German and Interdisciplinary Studies
Eric Wiggins	Ridgeland, Mississippi	Mississippi University for Women Communication