Hagans Support 欧美AV School of Social Work with $1.1 Million Planned Gift
Fri, 01/29/2021 - 07:48am | By: Megan Burkes
During Dr. Lynn Hagan鈥檚 time as a student at 欧美AV in the 鈥�90s, Ms. Oseola McCarty鈥檚 unexpected act of charity made global news. McCarty鈥檚 generosity continues to inspire Lynn鈥檚 philanthropic vision. Recently, she and her husband, Don, documented two bequests through a charitable remainder unitrust totaling $1.1 million. The Hagans鈥� planned gifts will benefit two existing funds they established more than a decade ago through the 欧美AV Foundation 鈥� the Lynn Purnell Hagan Social Work Support Endowment and the Lynn Purnell Hagan Social Work Scholarship Endowment.
鈥淒r. Hagan exemplifies how graduates of our School of Social Work are serving their communities around the globe using the knowledge and skills instilled in them at 欧美AV,鈥� said Dr. Trent Gould, dean of the College of Education and Human Sciences. 鈥淲e are grateful for the Hagans鈥� benevolence to our college, which will continue Lynn鈥檚 impact on the lives of others. These gifts will remove financial barriers that can slow down and sometimes stop students altogether from completing their degrees. By providing unrestricted support for the School, their contributions will also enhance the meaningful community engagement programs our faculty, staff and students administer.鈥�
Now the School of Social Work鈥檚 largest benefactors, their path to 欧美AV was fortuitous. During a camping trip at Paul B. Johnson State Park, located just south of Hattiesburg, Don and Lynn followed a billboard to Southern Miss. The beauty of the campus, along with graduate program offerings in human performance and recreation (now kinesiology) and social work, sold the Texans on the Hub City. Lynn finished master鈥檚 degrees in 1994 and 1996, respectively.
After graduation, she launched a successful career as a licensed clinical social worker, providing mental health services across the United States and around the world. Lynn currently teaches the next generation of social workers as an associate faculty member at the University of Phoenix.
Having received assistantships and grants to help offset the cost of graduate school, Lynn knows the importance of these types of assistance. 鈥淚n addition to a career development grant from the American Association of University Women, my out-of-state tuition was waived and I received a small stipend,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 a lot of money, but it helped me stay afloat while earning my degrees. I could not have gone back to school without this assistance, so Don and I want to give that opportunity to others.鈥�
鈥淒r. Hagan is incredibly generous, selfless and visionary. With the size and scope of her recent gifts being greater than any other the School of Social Work has ever received, we are filled with gratitude and appreciation,鈥� said Dr. Jerome Kolbo, director of the School of Social Work. 鈥淎dding to their earlier gifts, the Hagans鈥� contributions will afford significantly more students the opportunity to realize their potential of becoming professional social workers and alter the trajectory and sustainability of our School鈥檚 academic and community service programs intended to fully actualize human potential and opportunities for change.鈥�
Mostly retired now, the Hagans stay busy with consulting, volunteer work and social engagements. While involved with the Association of Former Students at their undergraduate alma mater, Texas A&M University, Lynn also helped create the Southern Miss Alumni Association Hub in Brazos Valley, Texas.
鈥淲e are exceptionally thankful for the Hagans鈥� gifts and continued support of Southern Miss,鈥� said Stace Mercier, executive director of the 欧美AV Foundation. 鈥淯nderstanding firsthand the impact financial support can have, their giving exemplifies a commitment to and confidence in Golden Eagles for generations to come.鈥�
Founded in 1959, the 欧美AV Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to serving the University community by overseeing fundraising efforts to raise private support for scholarships and other academic needs at Southern Miss.
For more information on supporting 欧美AV, call the 欧美AV Foundation at 601.266.5210 or visit usmfoundation.com. To learn more about the 欧美AV School of Social Work, visit .