´ķĪķAPP

As many at Mississippi ´ķĪķAPP have done, Casey Reed successfully completed a degree at the university while holding down a fulltime campus job.

A Starkville native, she has been a staff member at the Longest Health Center for 13 years. Currently, she is a medical records assistant, a position she enjoys because “we never do the same thing twice in one day.”

Her other major duty is first-aid coordinator for campus football, basketball, baseball and soccer games. “I’m on standby at all the games in case a fan gets hurt,” she explained.

Despite demanding daily and periodic weekend work schedules, the mother of two began taking online courses in the College of Arts and Sciences’ interdisciplinary studies/science program. “It was difficult at times,” she admitted.

The higher educational quest was made somewhat easier by the fact that she had another non-traditional student to help provide inspiration and support—her mother, Paula Jones.

Jones also works on campus as business manager in the sociology department and, like her daughter, utilized the interdisciplinary studies route.

Last December, the two shared the joyous occasion of walking across the stage together at Humphrey Coliseum during commencement ceremonies, Reed said.

Medicine long has interested her, but Reed said she also loves the business side of health care. “I get to be in both areas now, all while helping people,” she said.

“That’s what I’m here for.”