Events

Dr. Denny Bubrig joined the Southern Miss community in July 2017 as Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs. In this role, Denny works with and provides oversight for Campus Recreation, Union Operations and Conference and Event Services in addition to other divisional responsibilities. Denny has been a part of the higher education/student affairs profession for over 15 years having worked at such institutions as University of Alabama-Tuscaloosa, Bowling Green State University, Samford University, and the University of Texas-Austin. His roles have ranged from Student Organization Services to Greek Life, and from Parent Programs to Campus Major Events/Student Activities. An active member of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), Denny serves on the Regional Board as Professional Programs Coordinator, and on the Centennial Celebration Education Committee. Denny has been active in the Scouting community as an adult volunteer and has served as alumni club chairman in two cities for his undergraduate institution. When he is not on campus or involved in the community, you may find Denny traveling, enjoying outdoor sports, training for his fourth marathon, or working with the PTO at his sons’ schools. Denny is married to Kathryn and they have three sons, Collier, Ellis, and Flynn.

Doctorally prepared Nationally Certified Nurse Practitioner with an in-depth knowledge base and extensive clinical background in Acute Care, Primary Care, and management of Chronic Illnesses, especially Diabetes. Hold certifications in ACLS, PALS, ATLS, FCCM, and as a CDE and a CDFS. Hold a Ph.D. focused in Nursing from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and have 12 years of academic teaching experience in undergraduate and graduate nursing programs.

Sheriff Sims is a career law enforcement officer with over 37 years of experience. After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi, Sims worked his way up through the ranks of the Hattiesburg Police Department to the position of Chief of Police. Under Sims’s leadership, the Hattiesburg Police Department was recognized for several accomplishments in the area of community policing and the department was recognized as a law enforcement leader in the state.

After twenty years at Hattiesburg, Sims retired and went to work for the Mississippi Police Corps, a federal scholarship program that trained college graduates in the field of law enforcement. Again, Sims worked his way up through the organization and eventually became the National Director of Staff Development for Police Corps. This position involved training police corps instructors across the nation and conducting assessments to insure compliance with police corps standards.

After five years in this position, federal funds were no longer allocated and Sims began his career at the Forrest General Hospital Department of Public Safety where he held that position until being elected Sheriff of Forrest County in 2019.

SPEAKER BIO

Mark A Tullos Jr. is the President and C.E.O. of the Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience in Meridian, Mississippi. He has been the Assistant Secretary for the Louisiana Office of State Museum, Director of the Louisiana State Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana and founding director of the Walter Anderson Museum of Art. Tullos received a degree in visual arts from Louisiana State University. He attended graduate school at Stephen F. Austin University and also participated in Getty Leadership Institute at Claremont Graduate University. Tullos served as a member of the advisory board for the Museum Loan Network at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the honors committee of the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), a panelist for the National Museum Service Board, and a peer reviewer for AAM, Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the state arts commissions of Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, and Florida.

He and his wife of 39 years have four adult children and four grandchildren.

THE EXPERIENCE

The new Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience (The MAX) is a revolutionary museum experience showcasing Mississippi’s global legacy—honoring our legends and inspiring tomorrow’s artists to follow their creative dreams. There are two main objectives behind the creation of this new cultural attraction. First, The MAX provides educational opportunities for youth and families and creates a sense of pride in our great state and its people. Second, The MAX is a new cultural economy asset, attracting not only interstate tourists but also visitors from international markets. Mark Tullos, The MAX President and CEO, provides a 20-minute multimedia presentation to major civic clubs and service organizations.