Staff Contact
Lauren Jones, M.A.
Director
she/her/hers
Lauren Jones graduated from the University of Mississippi in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy Leadership and in 2015 with a Master of Arts in Higher Education and Student Personnel.
Prior to joining the CICCE team, Lauren worked in several capacities at the University of Mississippi. She worked as an Academic Mentor with the FASTrack Learning Community and as an Admissions Counselor in the Office of Admissions. She also worked at the University of South Carolina in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions as the Assistant Director of Admissions for Multicultural Recruitment and Outreach.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, being outdoors, traveling, and watching Ole Miss sporting events.
Sarah Piñón, M.S.Ed
Assistant Director for Cross Cultural Engagement & Programming
she/her/hers
Sarah holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of Delaware and a Masters of Science in Student Affairs Administration from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
Prior to joining the CICCE team, Sarah worked at the University of Wisconsin-Madison as a Fraternity & Sorority Life Specialist, a Diversity & Inclusion Coordinator at Western Technical College, and an Admissions Counselor at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
In her free time, she enjoys listening to podcasts, cooking and eating, playing basketball and ultimate frisbee, trivia, spending time with friends and family, and exploring new places.
Robert Fleming, Jr.
Assistant Director for Retention, Mentoring & Student Engagement
he/him/his
Robert Fleming, Jr. serves as the Assistant Director for the Center of Inclusion and Cross-Cultural Engagement within the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement. Robert is responsible for leading initiatives and programs that support retention efforts and academic success of underrepresented students at the University of Mississippi. He also facilitates programming that engages students in high-impact practices to enhance their student experience and contribute to their overall success. Prior to joining the Center of Inclusion and Cross-Cultural Engagement, Robert served as Assistant Director of Student Success and Engagement in the Holmes Cultural Diversity Center at Mississippi State University.
Robert earned a B.S. in Human Development and Family Science and M.S. in Human Development and Family Science with a minor in Higher Education Administration from Mississippi State University.
Karrye Tynes, M.Ed.
Assistant Director for Access and Recruiting Initiatives
she/her/hers
Karrye Tynes graduated from The University of Mississippi in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and received her Master of Education in Counselor Education in 2014 from Delta State University.
Prior to joining the CICCE team, Karrye served at Northeast Mississippi Community College as a Student Services Counselor for seven years. She also worked as an adjunct instructor in the Social/Behavioral Sciences Division and Test Coordinator for the National and On-Campus ACT.
Karrye and her husband, Bryant, have two children: Braxton and Bryce. In her free time, she enjoys doing nails, outdoor cycling, traveling, spending time with her family and friends, and singing at church.
Aileen Lambert
LGBTQIA+ Programs & Initiatives Coordinator
she/her/hers
Aileen Lambert holds a Bachelor of Arts with honors in Theatre from Wesleyan University, where she was the recipient of the Rachel Henderson Theatre Prize and the Gay, Lesbian, and Sexuality Studies Prize.
Aileen is responsible for supporting the LGBTQIA+ community on the University of Mississippi campus through developing and delivering student programming, services, and events and serving as a liaison between students and the University. Before moving to Mississippi, Aileen was based in New York City where she was the Literary Manager for Williamstown Theatre Festival. She has worked in administrative roles with other theatre and performing arts organizations including Vineyard Theatre, New York Theatre Workshop, and The Juilliard School, and she has volunteered as a crisis counselor with The Trevor Project.
Outside of work, Aileen enjoys reading, cooking, running, and gardening. She and her partner share their home with a corgi (Henry), a parrot (Hero), and a cockatiel (Hamlet).
Erica Gates-Hutchins serves as the Administrative Coordinator for the Center for Inclusion and Cross-Cultural Engagement. Erica is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Center. Erica is currently enrolled at Strayer University where she is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
Prior to joining the CICCE team, Erica served as a Case Analyst Manager for a bankruptcy law firm here in Oxford.
During her free time, Erica enjoys spending endless hours with her family, watching her son’s in their various sports activities, riding ATVs with her close friends, and spending time with the CICCE team.
Yakia McKinnie
Graduate Assistant for Access and Recruiting Initiatives
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Yakia graduated from the University of Mississippi in 2021 with a Bachelor’s degree in Allied Health Studies and a minor in Psychology. During her undergraduate career, Yakia was involved in various roles throughout campus centered in student engagement and leadership.
She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Public Health and is expected to complete her degree in May of 2023. During this time, she plans to focus her interests on health policy and administration while using her position in this department to analyze the health disparities present within the underrepresented communities of college campuses.
During her personal time, Yakia enjoys cooking, spending time with family and friends, and watching new movies.
Fredrick (Fred) Tidwell
Graduate Assistant for Mentoring and Student Success
he/him/his
Fred is a graduate from the University of Mississippi where he received his B.S.W (Bachelor of Social Work) in May of 2022. During his undergraduate experience, Fred was involved in various organizations on campus such as: Student Social Work Organization, Associated Student Body (ASB) & Black Student Union (BSU). Fred is currently pursuing his masters in higher education administration with an emphasis in student affairs. He is expected to complete this degree in May 2024.
Outside of work, Fred enjoys exercising, cooking new foods, and spending endless hours with family & friends!
Kayla Addoh
Graduate Assistant for Cross-Cultural Engagement
she/her/hers
Kayla graduated from the University of Mississippi in Spring of 2019 with a B.A. in Clinical Psychology. During her undergraduate years, she participated in many organizations including the Black Student Union and the University of Mississippi Gospel Choir.
Kayla is currently pursuing an M.A in Higher Education/ Student Personnel at the University of Mississippi. As a Graduate Assistant for Cross-Cultural Engagement, she plans to utilize her role to extend resources to underrepresented student communities on campus and integrate the local Oxford community with the university.
In her spare time, Kayla is a professional photographer/videographer and enjoys capturing lifestyle, and culinary content!