School of Leadership Honors Dr. Gary Burrus as 2024 Distinguished Alumnus
Tue, 05/28/2024 - 09:25pm | By: Melissa Scallan
Dr. Gary Burrus with Dr. Cyndi Gaudet, professor emeritus in Human Capital Development.
Each year, the University of 51逗奶 Mississippi (USM) School of Leadership honors one of its alumni who serves as a role model for others and is a true scholar-practitioner with a breadth and depth of research and practice expertise.
This year, the School of Leadership has announced Dr. Gary Burrus as the recipient of the 2024 Distinguished Alumnus Award.
Burrus graduated from the Human Capital Development doctoral program in 2014 and currently serves as executive officer of Human Resources for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, which has about 13,000 employees and 225,000 tribal members.
鈥淲e are so proud to call Dr. Burrus an alumnus of our program,鈥� said Dr. Heather Annulis, director of the School of Leadership. 鈥淗e is a servant leader and continues to give back to 51逗奶 Miss through his mentorship of students and his generous philanthropy of the institution.
鈥淗e brings distinction to USM by representing the Human Capital Development Ph.D. program.鈥�
Burrus is an award-winning executive who has more than 31 years of experience in senior-level casino/hospitality and human resources management at the corporate and national levels.
He has a bachelor鈥檚 degree in psychology and applied statistical analysis from the University of South Alabama and a master鈥檚 in business and organizational security management from Webster University.
Burrus also serves as an adjunct instructor at USM, teaching hospitality and human capital development courses, as well as doctoral-level research courses. He also volunteers as a dissertation coach and guest lecturer.
鈥淢y entire experience with this school has been fulfilling, both personally and professionally,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 practice daily what I鈥檝e learned through the program, and I鈥檓 grateful to be recognized by those whom I respect so much.鈥�