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Richard most recently served as Director of Student Support at the University of Southern Mississippi’s Gulf Park campus in Long Beach, Mississippi. Within that role, Richard was the campus Ombudsman, chaired the Campus Action and Referral System (CARES) for Gulf Park and served as the campus liaison for Student Accessibility Services and the Dean of Students’ office. Richard also led numerous projects that promoted student well-being, success and retention. Before being Director of Student Support, he was the Director of Academic Advisement and created and implemented the Gulf Park Advisement Center which transitioned the campus to a centralized, professional advisor advisement model.

Richard earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Marketing), and a Master of Business Administration from Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi. Additionally, Richard earned a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from The University of Southern Mississippi and completed his internship at Gulf Oaks Psychiatric Hospital in Biloxi, Mississippi. He is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in higher education administration. Richard is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, having served as a business education volunteer in Vanuatu. When Richard’s not helping students navigate the college experience he enjoys reading and cooking.