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Ayanna Norman describes her time at ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø as a “brain chemistry altering” experience. The Corinth native came to Ole Miss as someone passionate about health care and the people it serves, and she spent four years turning that passion into action.  

In May, she graduates with degrees in allied health studies and psychology, having led one of campus’s most visible student organizations, launched a wellness initiative and conducted research on food insecurity across communities. 

Q&A with Ayanna Norman 

What brought you to Ole Miss? Why did you choose your major? 

While truthfully so, Ole Miss became my final option after being provided with the support and resources that I needed and that made me comfortable in my decision to come here. I was offered community, opportunity and the ability to learn about myself at a comfortable distance from home. 

As someone passionate about health care and the people it serves, I pursued allied health studies and psychology to better understand both the clinical and human sides of care. My long-term goal is to address health disparities, and these majors have allowed me to explore the intersection between physical health, mental well-being and systemic inequities. 

What standout experiences have you had at Ole Miss? 

My experience at Ole Miss has been both transformational and challenging in ways I did not expect. I often describe it as a brain chemistry altering experience because I have become the very person of my freshman year self’s wildest dreams. 

I came in wanting to be in rooms where decisions were being made advocating for resources, building community and creating meaningful experiences for students. Over time, I stepped into those spaces through my role as president of the Black Student Union, where I shifted my focus from simply planning events to building structures that would last.  

I helped restructure leadership roles to strengthen advocacy efforts, created a director of health and wellness position to better support students, and worked with campus partners like the William Magee Center and UMatter to expand access to mental health resources. I also helped launch Ole Miss Unplugged, an initiative centered on addressing student burnout and creating space for rest and connection. 

Beyond leadership, my research project, Bridging Across Tables, gave me the opportunity to travel, immerse myself in different communities and sit at tables with people whose lived experiences were different from my own. Those moments deepened my understanding of food insecurity and reinforced my commitment to addressing issues beyond surface-level solutions. 

But just as impactful have been the quieter moments, finding community with people who are also trying to navigate college, responsibility and growth all at once. Being able to share that weight with others reminded me that while I have grown into someone I once dreamed of becoming, I am still learning, evolving and discovering more about myself every day.  

In many ways, these past four years have taught me more about who I am and what matters to me than any other period in my life. 

Were there any challenges you overcame during your college journey? 

One of the biggest challenges I faced was learning how to balance responsibility across different areas of my life such as academically, financially, emotionally and in leadership. There were times I was navigating personal and family challenges while still trying to show up fully for everything else.  

At first, I tried to handle everything on my own, but I eventually realized that was not sustainable. I had to learn how to set boundaries, ask for help and be honest about what I could carry.  

That shift changed not only how I took care of myself, but also how I led others. Those experiences taught me resilience, but more importantly, self-awareness.  

I learned how to show up for others without losing myself in the process, and that is something I will carry with me beyond these school years. 

Who has been your most influential mentor, professor or supporter at Ole Miss? 

I owe a lot of my growth to (Sovent) Taylor in the Health Professions Advising Office. He was one of the first staff members I connected with on campus, and that initial meeting really set the tone for my college experience.  

What stood out most was when he asked to meet with me alone and told my parents that this was the moment I stepped into being a college student. Coming from a background with very involved parents, that moment felt small but was actually a turning point. It really gave me a sense of autonomy and responsibility that I had not fully experienced before. 

(Andrew) Bilbo (assistant director of health professions advising) has also been a constant source of support throughout my journey. He challenged me to be unapologetic about my interests and ambitions, while also trusting me to find my own way. 

 He offered guidance and reassurance, but never took the wheel. He allowed me to stay in the driver's seat of my own path.  

Together, they helped me grow not just as a student, but as a person. They gave me both the confidence to step into independence and the support to keep moving forward. 

What are your post-graduation plans? 

Before anything, I will be taking a much-needed break. After that, I will be attending the on a full scholarship, where I plan to continue my work at the intersection of public health, policy and community-based solutions.  

I am especially interested in expanding my research on food insecurity into policy-focused work that addresses the systems impacting access to food, health care and education. Long term, I hope to pursue a Master of Public Health and continue building initiatives that create sustainable change in underserved communities.  

I also have aspirations of coming back to Mississippi, with the university in mind, to contribute back to the home that brought me thus far. 

How has your Ole Miss education prepared you for your next steps? 

Ole Miss has prepared me by giving me both the knowledge and the experiences to understand problems from multiple angles. Through my coursework, leadership roles and research, I have learned how to think critically, navigate complex systems and take initiative in creating solutions.  

More importantly, it taught me that a journey is truly what you make of it. You can allow life to happen to you, or you can run alongside it controlling the things only you can control. 

In one sentence, what would you tell future Ole Miss students? 

Ole Miss will meet you where you are, but the more you lean into the moments, the people, the experience and what brings you meaning, the more you will become. 

Top: Ayanna Norman, an allied health studies and psychology graduate from Corinth, graduates in May after serving as president of the Black Student Union, launching Ole Miss Unplugged and conducting research on food insecurity. She will attend the Clinton School of Public Service on a full scholarship. Photo by Srijita Chattopadhyay/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services

See more photos from Ayanna Norman's Journey to Commencement