UM-Grenada Welcomes New Director Ryan Niemeyer

By Stephen Belden
March 28, 2008

OXFORD, Miss. – Ryan Niemeyer has come a long way from his days working on his family’s dairy farm outside Lumberton, Miss. Niemeyer, who was recently named director of the University of Mississippi – Grenada site, joked that, if nothing else, the opportunity helped him realize the value of higher education.

“It made me realize I wanted to get a terminal degree in something,” said the PhD candidate. “And that I probably didn’t want to milk cows for a living.”

Niemeyer comes to UM after twelve years working in the field of education. He began his career after graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1996. He worked for four years teaching history and coaching baseball and football at middle schools in Columbia and Lucedale, Miss. At the same time, he was working in the army reserves as a first lieutenant for the Mississippi Army National Guard, and would rise to the rank of captain before stepping down in 2000.

Having been a sports administration major in college, Niemeyer admits that he was initially more interested in the coaching aspects that his job entailed, but he soon became captivated by the educational system and the issues affecting schools and students.

“I realized I wanted to have an effect over issues in the field, and that was the impetus for my moving into Educational Leadership and eventually led me to moving into the administration role,” he said.

By 2001, Niemeyer had completed work on his master’s in Educational Leadership from USM and soon after was named assistant principal at Hancock High School in Kiln, Miss, later moving on to Oak Grove Middle School in Hattiesburg, Miss., where he remained until 2005.

After a year serving as headmaster at Oxford University School, Niemeyer began work on his PhD in Educational Leadership at the University of Mississippi, where he has become familiar with the University’s programs. Niemeyer said it has been his dream for a while to work in higher education and to research in areas that became of interest to him while working as a school administrator. He expects to complete his doctorate this May with a dissertation on U.S. laws surrounding bullying and whether they are adequate to address “cyber-bullying”—the act of bullying or harassment through the use of digital technology. He is set to be presented with the Graduate Achievement Award from the UM Leadership and Counselor Education department next week and will be inducted into Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.

“We are excited about the leadership Ryan will bring to the Grenada
position,” added UM School of Education Dean Tom Burnham. “His past experiences as both a principal and military leader have prepared him well for this position.  The initial efforts will require a great deal of individual initiative and vision, and Ryan is up for the task.”

Niemeyer’s job as director of the site will include acting as liaison between the University and partner Holmes Community College – Grenada.  

“He is already getting to know the school districts and their administrators in the area to help assess their needs and how the University can help meet those needs,” said Dr. Lynne Murchison, UM Director of Academic Credit Programs for the Division of Outreach. “He will help us to see where and how we need to expand our offerings at Holmes – Grenada.”

In addition to being director, Niemeyer will also serve as assistant professor of Educational Leadership, teaching Educational Law starting in spring 2009.

“Being out there in a field doing the job as an administrator made me realize that everything I do is affected by some policy, state law or federal law,” Niemeyer said. “So, that became my interest and I wanted to be able to help others in that area.”

Niemeyer added that he believes the partnership will be invaluable, not just to the University and Holmes Community College, but to the Grenada community at large.

“This partnership is going to bring higher education to a lot of people who normally might not have that opportunity because of work or family commitments,” said Niemeyer. “I think we’re going to meet the needs of a lot of people there. They’re very excited about us being there. They see the growth potential for their communities.”

The University of Mississippi and Holmes Community College – Grenada offer junior, senior, and graduate level classes at the Holmes-Grenada Center.

To learn more about the University of Mississippi - Grenada site, visit www.olemiss.edu/grenada. For information on courses, contact Ryan Niemeyer at srniemey@olemiss.edu or 662-227-3384.