Triplett Alumni Center expansion plans underway
For almost 75 years, Ole Miss alumni have found a home at the Alumni House overlooking the iconic Grove. This space has served as a hub for connection, celebration and memories. However, as the university—and its alumni base—continues to grow, so has the urgency for a facility that meets the evolving needs of the Ole Miss community.
The Alumni House was originally built in 1950, a time when Ole Miss had just over 11,000 alumni. It quickly became a beloved space where alumni returned to reminisce and reconnect. As the university’s footprint expanded and enroll-ment grew over the years, the need for a larger, more versatile space became increasingly evident.
The Triplett Alumni Center, named for late past president Dr. Faser Triplett (BA ‘55), was completed in 1997 to meet some of these needs. But, with an alumni population now over 168,000 and a thriving campus community, a space was needed that reflects the growth of Ole Miss.
Ole Miss Alumni Association CEO Kirk Purdom (BA ‘93) says the Association plays a crucial role in maintaining lifelong connections between the university and its former students. Through programs, events and initiatives, he says the association fosters a sense of belonging that extends well beyond graduation. As the number of living alumni has surged, the demand for facilities to support these relationships has only increased.
“Enhanced facilities are not only essential in achieving this mission but also contribute to expanding services and engagement opportunities,” said Purdom. “Demands for meeting and event spaces exceed the current Triplett Alumni Center’s capacity. Some traditional events have moved off campus, while some new requests have been declined due to space limitations.”
Plans to fulfill this need are underway with a new and improved Triplett Alumni Center—a transforma-tive space that promises to honor the university’s legacy while meeting the needs of a growing alumni community.
The envisioned expansion of Triplett Alumni Center serves multiple purposes, all aligned with the Alumni Association’s commitment to supporting the university community.
“Our current building has served us well for decades, but it’s simply past time for a new facility,” said Alumni Association President Jeff Hubbard (BBA ‘80, JD ‘83). “Our alumni have already started answering the call with generous gifts that will ensure the new Triplett Alumni Center becomes a source of pride for generations to come.”
Architectural plans call for a classic red-brick building—a $51 million-plus project that will ultimately welcome visitors and enhance the great beauty of the Oxford campus. The alumni center will serve as a gateway to the campus, welcoming visitors as they enter Grove Loop from University Avenue.
A lead gift of $4 million from the Dr. and Mrs. R. Faser Triplett Foundation was a significant start in the building of a new alumni center, which will retain the Triplett Alumni Center name.
The Triplett Foundation is managed by their children: Chip Triplett, of Ridgeland; Diane Holloway (BS ‘85), of Nashville, Tennessee; Suzy Fuller (BBA ‘88, MBA ‘89), of Greenwood, South Carolina; Liz Walker (BSW ‘89), of Jackson; and Lou Ann Woidtke of Madison.
“My siblings and I are thrilled that the alumni center will welcome a whole new generation of students, alumni and families,” said Holloway. “It will act as a front door to the university that everyone can be proud of.
“We know that the new building will continue to anchor our community, just as the old building has for decades. And we are excited to see it evolve to meet new needs and purposes that advance the university’s cutting edge.”
A primary function of the new facility will be to serve as a welcome center, extending hospitality to alumni, prospective students, university guests and others. A partnership with the Office of Enrollment Management will see staff and offices housed on the first floor, allowing the center to be the starting point for campus tours.
“Interest in Ole Miss and the demand to visit campus is at an all-time high,” said Martin Fisher (BA ‘11, MA ‘14, EdD ‘21), Director of Campus Visits and Orientation Programs. “Having a dedicated space in such a beautiful area of campus will enhance our visitor experience and allow us to increase the number of people we host each year.
“We are excited about the partnership and are appreciative of the Ole Miss Alumni Association for having the vision to include us in this project.”
The ground floor will also house a ballroom with seating for 150, the alumni records office, a catering kitchen and a large gathering space in the lobby. This allows for early con-nections with prospective students, fostering a relationship that lasts throughout their time at the university and beyond.
“With the new construction being one of the first places for new students and their parents to visit on campus right across the Grove, we felt that it would make a great first impression,” said Chip Triplett. “It will also be one of the last places they go when they graduate from school. Then, any time they come back and as they have children of their own, they can say, ‘This is the first place I came when I was on this campus, and I have great memories of it.’ That’s our goal for this gift.”
The second floor will be home to extensive event and meeting spaces, including a grand ballroom seating 300-plus, a large pre-function area, multiple breakout rooms and the president’s hospitality suite.
An expansive balcony will offer a one-of-a-kind view of the Grove, making it an ideal setting for receptions, reunions and other special events. This space will allow the Alumni Association to host a wide range of gatherings, from career fairs to alumni reunions, rehearsal dinners and weddings, further enhancing opportunities for connection.
OMAA immediate past president Karen Moore (BS ‘82) and her husband, Bruce Moore (BBA ‘82), see the new alumni center as a perfect and needed addition to Grove Loop and showed their support with a $500,000 gift toward the project.
“Bruce and I believe the new ballroom and event spaces are desperately needed and will create a warm and inviting atmosphere for both alumni and students with weddings and many other events,” said Karen Moore. “Prospective students will immediately feel a connection to Ole Miss as they step into a space that celebrates tradition while embracing the future.”
A significant aspect of the new Triplett Alumni Center is the integration of the athletic legacy of Ole Miss. The third floor will house the M-Club Alumni Chapter, featuring special collections and memorabilia in the Manning Room and the Jake Gibbs Room.
This space will provide a gathering area for former athletes, complete with a large terrace overlooking the Grove as well as an opportunity for all alumni, families and visitors to experience the rich history of Ole Miss athletics.
To kickstart this project, the M-Club Alumni Chapter is committing a $1.5 million gift toward the design and construction of the new space. M-Club Director Jessica Lynch (BSES ‘05) said this pledge marks the beginning of a special project with the hope of inspiring additional support from M-Club members.
“We want to create a space that tells the full story of our athletic traditions, by honoring the past, celebrating the present, and highlighting the evolution of athletics to inspire the future so every Ole Miss fan can experience it,” said Lynch.
Currently, the M-Club Museum is housed in the Starnes Athletic Training Center, where it has long preserved the history and memorabilia of the past. While this location will continue to showcase important pieces of athletic legacies, the transition to Triplett Alumni Center will allow for enhanced features.
This will include interactive exhibits as well as a broader representation of all sports. The vision also includes a dedi-cated Hall of Fame, providing a distinguished area to honor outstanding individuals who have left a lasting impact on Ole Miss athletics.
M-Club Alumni Chapter President Ryan Jones (BSES ‘05) highlighted the significance of the improvements in the new space.
“I am excited to see the investment in the new M-Club room,” said Jones. “Because of the efforts Jessica Lynch has made to grow our M-Club alumni base, the current space has limited capacity. This new area will provide a larger space for former athletes to gather, reunite and celebrate our athletic traditions.
“One of the most exciting aspects of the new M-Club room will be on game day, where former letterwinners can enjoy views from the balcony overlooking the Grove, and spend time with former teammates while sharing old memories and catching up on life.”
Lynch added that the new M-Club space will be unlike any other in the country.
“Our new space will showcase iconic pieces of Ole Miss sports history—from Jake Gibbs’ glove and Archie Manning’s cast to the Women’s Golf National Championship trophy and Olympic medals,” she said.
The fourth floor will accommodate Alumni Association staff, with offices, a boardroom, an additional conference room, a workroom, and roof decks on the north and south sides. This space will allow for increased operational efficiency and ensure the Association continues to provide high-quality services and programs.
Mary Kate Skelton (BS ‘18), Alumni Association fundraising director, emphasizes the importance of these improvements.
“Having a state-of-the-art facility will empower our staff to better serve our growing alumni community,” she said. “It’s about creating a space where we can enhance programming and build on the incredible momentum we’ve established.”
Skelton added that the new center will be much more than a building of brick and mortar. It represents a lasting commitment to the growth and excellence of Ole Miss.
“Beyond providing physical space for events and pro-gramming, the center will serve as a catalyst for increased alumni engagement, deeper connections and a greater sense of community,” she said.
“The University of Mississippi is home to one of the most beautiful and thriving campuses in America, and the new Triplett Alumni Center will reflect that same spirit of excellence. It will stand as a tribute to the leadership, success and lasting impact of our incredible alumni.”
With a firm foundation in tradition and a vision for the future, Purdom says the new Triplett Alumni Center will be more than just a building—it will be a symbol of the unwavering spirit of the Ole Miss family, welcoming prospective students as they embark on their journeys and providing a cherished space for alumni to celebrate their continued connection to Ole Miss.
Purdom said half the funds need to be raised before construction can break ground, and progress toward that goal is well underway thanks to pledges and gifts from generous supporters who, in addition to ones previously mentioned, include the Brevard Family Foundation, Susie and Lampkin (BBA ‘73) Butts, Cindy and Scott (BBA ‘84) Coopwood, Rose (BAEd ‘79) and Richard Flenorl, Laura and Walton (BBA ‘71) Gresham, Rebecca and Billy (MD ‘73) Long, Joseph Marshall, Brett (BA ‘97) and Bill (BA ‘79, JD ‘82) May, Melanie and Hal (MD ‘76) Moore, Laura (BA ‘69) and Richard (BBA ‘68, JD ‘73) Noble, Martha (BAEd ‘61) and John Pietri, Brian Pinto, Gail (BAEd ‘72) and John (BBA ‘72) Pittman, Mary Sharp (BAEd ‘64) and Jim (MD ‘66) Rayner, Cindy (BAEd ‘73) and Bill (BA ‘72, JD ‘77) Reed, Suzan (BA ‘68) and Tommy (BA ‘65) Thames, and Sandy and Greer (BS ‘72, MD ‘75) Whitacre.
As Hubbard succinctly said, “Our alumni will be proud of this new center—a place where memories are made, traditions are celebrated and connections last a lifetime.”
For more information on supporting this project, contact Mary Kate Skelton at marykate@olemissalumni.com or 662-915-2377.