Jon’na Bailey overcame challenges to excel in academics, leadership and service.
Even before Jon’na Bailey decided that she wanted to attend the University of Mississippi, the Pickens native knew that Ole Miss was where she wanted to be.
“I had been visiting the campus since 2012 when my brother enrolled,” said Bailey, a sociology and pre-med major recently inducted into the Ole Miss Hall of Fame. “I remember at orientation everyone being so helpful and intentional.
“When I attended the MOST Conference in 2017, I further noticed the sense of community and pride that students that looked like me had for the university.”
As a first-generation student, Bailey has been successful in her academic career, has held several leadership roles and has grown exponentially during her tenure at Ole Miss.
Small Fish in a Large Pond
Despite feeling strongly about the university before enrolling, Bailey said she felt like she hadn’t found her place during her freshman year.
“I felt like one small fish in a large pond that just swam in circles,” she said. “I even contemplated transferring somewhere else because I didn’t like how uncomfortable I was as a student.”
Bailey began as a biology major, but soon found that she wasn’t enjoying both her academic journey and her campus experience. As she entered her sophomore year, Bailey had an eventful conversation with the late Jackie Certion, her academic adviser and then-administrator of the FASTrack program.
“Mrs. Certion and I talked about what I enjoyed and what meant something to me,” Bailey said. “At the heart of the conversation was understanding people and the issues or barriers they face. Following our conversation, I was drawn to switch my major to sociology.”
Bailey and Certion walked from Certion’s office to the library. There, Bailey met a faculty member from the Department of Sociology and Anthropology.
“Everything in the universe must have decided to align, as there was someone from the department who was able to confirm my thoughts for me. The rest worked itself out.”
— Jon’na Bailey
From FASTrack Student to Flourishing Leader
Once Bailey became part of the FASTrack program, she lived in Burns Hall, made meaningful friendships and had a support system that connected her with the right people, who ultimately became her tribe.
“Because of the resources and network of people I found, I decided to stay at the university,” Bailey said. “And it was the best decision I ever made.”
Bailey served as president of the Black Student Union and vice president of the Pre-Med Mentor Organization. She was also the community service chair of the Lambda Sigma Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. A Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities inductee, Bailey received the 2022 Julien Tatum Award and the B.H. Richardson Jr. Memorial Scholarship.
“I am most proud of becoming the Black Student Union president,” Bailey said. “In this role, I was continuously challenged. I knew what my experience was like as a Black student and how isolated you can feel being a minority here at the university.
“However, in this role, I have been able to advocate for students and their needs. For me, it was a full-circle experience.”
Bailey said she knows the importance of community, being engaged within that community, and then fostering and nurturing others there. She previously served as BSU director of academics and student success, a UM Connect mentor, FASTrack peer leader, orientation leader, Grove Scholar, pre-med mentor, member of the Associated Student Body First-Year Encounters Freshman Council and logistics manager for the Division of Outreach and Continuing Education.
During the fall semester of her sophomore year, Bailey took Willa Johnson’s Sociology of Disability course. This particular class challenged her the most and brought Bailey to her peak performance academically.
“Before her class, I never had to think critically,” Bailey said. “I can remember not doing well on an assignment in her class and what it did to my confidence as a student. Then I went to her during office hours.
“The care and passion she had – not only for the work she does, but also for me as a student – pushed me to want to be better. It pushed me to think differently and approach the work differently. To this day, I take what I learned and apply it to my experience as a student and person.”
Onward and Upward
As she graduates, Bailey already has her sights upon a glorious future.
“My short-term goals are to make the most out of my gap year by discovering the things that bring me joy in a life where school isn’t my sole priority and to travel more,” she said. “My long-term goals are to continue my education while focusing on public health and how to increase access to certain resources that help combat the barriers that minority faces that lead to health disparities.”
Bailey’s stellar trajectory during her tenure at Ole Miss has not gone unnoticed.
“Jon’na’s commitment and dedication to her role as president of BSU are unmatched,” said Karrye Tynes, assistant director of the Center for Inclusion and Cross Cultural Engagement. “Her greatest strengths, in my opinion, are her ability to lead and genuinely connect with anyone that crosses her path.
“She’s going to do great things in the near future, and I’m happy and privileged to know her.”
By Edwin Smith, University Marketing & Communications
