Editor-In-Chief, Founder
Crystal Garner
Mississippi native, Crystal Garner is a vivacious freshman attending the University of Southern Mississippi studying Broadcast Journalism and International Studies. Crystal serves as a reporter/newsreader for the university’s radio station, Editor-In-Chief and founder of Her Campus Southern Miss, and Campus Correspondent for HerCampus.com.
The media junky was introduced to journalism in the fourth grade; it was love at first sight! Since then, the young journalist has completed several j-internships, been awarded for public speaking, and has had articles featured in local papers and USA Today College. Crystal serves as an assistant at the ELI, an intensive program where international students gather to learn English communication skills. Crystal hopes to travel the world reporting every step of the way, covering international issues and making positive impacts on people’s lives. When Crystal isn’t writing, reading, or looking for career advancing opportunities, she can be found looking for items to add to her mini aquarium, spending time with family, or indulging in a southern style meal.
You can contact Crystal at CrystalGarner(at)hercampus(dot)com, follow her on Twitter and get connected with her on LinkedIn.
Section Editor, Contributing Writer
Mallory Hatten
Mallory Hatten is a junior at the University of Southern Mississippi studying news editorial journalism. Mallory serves as Section Editor for Her Campus Southern Miss. She has a passion for writing and editing, and she is looking foward to pursuing a career in publishing upon her graduation in May 2013. Mallory has always strived to get involved at Southern Miss. she serves as a Southern Miss Leadership Scholar, as well as Phi Mu Fraternity Vice President of Public Relations.
You can contact Mallory at Mallory.Hatten(at)eagles(dot)usm(dot)edu or on Facebook.
Public Relations Director, Staff Writer
Leighanne Lockhart
Leighanne Lockhart is the Public Relations Director and Staff Writer for Her Campus Southern Miss. She promotes the branch on campus and writes articles and blogs for the site every week. Lockhart is a senior majoring in Public Relations and minoring in Spanish. She was Captain of USM’s Dixie Darlings dance team in 2010 and Lieutenant in 2009.
On the side, Lockhart is a professional makeup artist and instructor in her hometown, Mandeville, LA, where she is also working to finish obtaining a license in cosmetology. She graduates in August 2012 and hopes to combine her knowledge, skills, and experience in the fields of mass communications, journalism, and cosmetology to land a career promoting and working for a company within the health and beauty industries.
You can contact Leighanne at LeighanneLockhart89(at)gmail(dot)com, follow her on Twitter and get connected with her on LinkedIn.
Social Media Director
Nikki Shelton
Nikki Shelton is a junior Public Relations major with a minor in Political Science at the University of Southern Mississippi. Nikki is a charter member of Her Campus Southern Miss and oversees the social media team as the Social Media Director. Nikki is in charge of making sure Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and YouTube are updated properly and regularly. She is also a member of the Public Relation’s Student Society of America, Kappa Delta Sorority, the Eagle Club and the College Republicans.
Nikki also serves as a student representative for the University Communications Advisory Board for Southern Miss. She is expected to graduate in May 2013. After graduation this Atlanta native hopes to work on Capital Hill where she dreams of assisting congressman and making a difference in the political arena.
You can contact l Nikki at nikkilshelton(at)gmail(dot)com, follow her on Twitter and get connected with her on LinkedIn.
Staff Writer
Keiandria George
Keiandria George is a senior at the University of Southern Mississippi. She is studying broadcast journalism as her major, and Spanish as her minor. She is currently a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated, where she holds the position of the philanthropy chair. She is also a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council Executive board where she holds the position as philanthropy chair as well.
She is a feature Staff Writer for HerCampus, and is glad to be given the opportunity to use her writing skills to write about topics that benefit and advise college women around the world. Keiandria is graduating in December and hopes to pursue a job as reporter or a writer for a well-known magazine.
You can contact her at keiandria08(at)yahoo(dot)com or Facebook.
Staff Writer
Kiffani Zackery
Kiffani Zackery is a Sports Management major at the University of Southern Mississippi. She’s dabbled in the Public Relations field for over 3 years, and is currently a layout designer for The Southerner Yearbook staff as well as a Staff Writer for HC Southern Miss. By being on the HC staff, she hopes to bring humor, sassiness, and a unique perspective of college life to her articles.
She enjoys dancing with friends as well as planning tailgating events for her chapter of Alpha Delta Pi. When she isn’t blasting Luke Bryan on repeat in her ears from her iPod, you can usually find her with an oversized frocket tee, Norts, and a bottle of Sprite permanently attached to her hand. Her current obsession is Total Frat Move, her guilty pleasures are Friends and Boy Meets World, and she proclaims to be fluent in sarcasm and ebonics.
You can contact Kiffani on Facebook and follow her on her Twitter.
Staff Writer
Megan Fink
Megan Fink is a Staff Writer for HerCampus Southern Miss. She is a freshman Journalism major, and loves to write about public opinion, politics, and current events as well as her everyday college life.Megan writes for Her Campus Southern Miss and the Student Printz. After school, she hopes to work for a foreign affairs paper or magazine and maybe publish a novel someday. Right now, she’s looking for any internship that can advance her goals.
You can always contact this writer at meganfink(at)rocketmail(dot)com. She’s always looking for a story idea, input or reaction to a piece she wrote, or just a lively conversation. You can find more of her news and editorial writing at www.studentprintz.com, or her fiction and just-for fun work at www.writing.com/intrepidation .
Public Relations Team, Contributing Writer, Secretary
Kerelia Schmitz
Karelia Schmitz is a sophomore at The University of Southern Miss studying Journalism, with an emphasis in Public Relations. Karelia hails from the small town of Poplarville, MS and is a Luckyday Scholaras well as Resident Assistant. In her free time she enjoys sewing, discovering new music, playing tennis, biking and traveling.
As a partof the Her Campus Southern Miss Public Relations team, she brings creativity and enthusiasm in increasing subscribers and awareness of the best online magazine for collegiette ladies. Following her undergrad she plans to pursue a graduate degree after completion at USM and explore political campaigning. Karelia also serves as treasurer of the Her Campus Southern Miss staff.
Social Media Team
Chelsea Franks
Chelsea Franks is a senior Entertainment Industry Management major who transferred to USM in January 2010 from Aberdeen, MS. She is on the Her Campus social media team and is working on bringing a fresh spin to HC in the form of local music coverage and various other Hattiesburg Happenings.
She believes Her Campus is a great addition to the Southern Miss campus and is a useful tool for keeping college women in the know by responding directly to the their needs and interests. Her main interests lie in live music, marketing, and playing saxophone and guitar in her spare time. Her goals after graduation in May include moving to Austin, TX to pursue her dreams in music festival marketing and production.
You can contact Chelsea on Facebook.
Social Media Team, Staff Writer, Secretary
Kristy Shelley
Kristy Shelley is a sophomore broadcast journalism major at The University of Southern Mississippi. Aside from running the HerCampus Southern Miss Tumblr page, she also writes 1-2 articles per week for HerCampus Southern Miss, and is the current secretary.
At school, Kristy is a part of The Legacy and Student Eagle Club. She is also the president of the TOMS Campus Club and a newsreader for WUSM 88.5 on campus. In her spare time, Kristy likes to sing, dance, spend time with friends and family, and play with her puppy. After graduation, she plans to move to Nashville and work at a local news station or CMT. One day, Kristy hopes to be on The Today Show as a news anchor/reporter.
You can contact Kristy at Kristy(dot)Shelley(at)eagles.usm.edu, follow her on Twitter and Tumblr and join her network on Facebook.
Social Media Team, V-Blogger
Leslie Datsis
Leslie Datsis is a senior with graduation sneaking up on her. As a theatre major from Iuka, MS , she works as a Publicity Coordinator for the Department of Theatre. Her main love is promoting theatre productions through online video, and she hopes to produce videos for professional theatres in the future. Making videos for the stage—it makes sense somehow.
Leslie joins Her Campus Southern Miss as a member of the Social Media team and the Resident All-Powerful Video Blogger. Her personal YouTube channel lesliefoundhergrail has received over 5,000 subscribers and over 200,000 video views. She’s also the host of the live show In the Green Room… where she discusses current topics in theatre. Some people say she’s funny, but most say she just tries too hard. Leslie loves copious amounts of television, Jason Segel, and sweet tea. Her current aspiration is to be Leslie Knope.
You can check out Leslie’s YouTube Channel and her website.
Graphic Designer
Deonica Davis
Deonica Davis is a senior Graphic Design major with a minor in Advertising. She is a native of Pearl, MS and has lived in Mississippi all her life. She is fundraising event chair for the USM chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and president of Students in Free Enterprise or SIFE. She is also known by USM student government, Greek, and other organizations for her flyers, advertisement, and promotions. She is often see at the fundraising and programing events she helps plan.
Deonica loves bright colors and all things fashion. Her dream is to move to New York where she hopes to work for Ebony magazine as a Creative Director. Deonica has worked for businesses such as Jackson Free Press and their quarterly magazine Boom Jackson. She was awarded two American Advertising Federation ADDY awards for illustration and campaign series in 2011. She is known for being a hard worker and helper and wants to be known for empowering others. Some of Deonica’s favorite things include music, design, and traveling.
You can follow Deonica on Twitter.