Cate Thompson discovers her Ole Miss joie de vivre
Sometimes when you think you know something inside and out, approaching it from a different angle can provide a whole new perspective. This is true of a lot of University of Mississippi legacies who grow up coming to games and spending time in the Grove, but discover a whole new level of belonging as a student.
Cate Thompson, of Nashville, Tennessee, has been around Ole Miss since birth. Her parents, Doug (BA 90) and Ashley (BAE 90), met on campus. Her brother Jack (BBA 18, MBA, 19) is an alumnus, and many other family members attended the university. She shares that Ole Miss has always been a part of her life and will continue to be so after she graduates.
But during her college search process, Cate – majoring in management with an emphasis in human resources along with minors in psychology and entrepreneurship – felt that she would have found her fit better at a smaller university.
“I had strong considerations for other schools, but there was a sense of longing for attending Ole Miss,” Cate said. “Having my brother there at the time and all the comfort that stemmed from familiarity, I made my decision.”
As a freshman and into sophomore year, Cate frequently questioned her choice and worried if she had made the right decision. She felt hesitant, yet pressured to do more, make more, be more.
She often reflected on lyrics from a song by The Byrds, that go, “to everything – turn, turn, turn – there is a season – turn, turn, turn.” This song has brought Cate clarity during challenging periods over the years.
Joining Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and being involved with the Chancellor’s Leadership Class her freshman year put her foot in the door to help validate her decision to attend Ole Miss. But, it wasn’t until about the end of her sophomore year that she felt a certain spark that motivated her to take even more action in her own way.
Cate and her cousin, Ellie Gorham, during Ellie’s bid day 2018. 
Cate and her freshman year roommate, Emily, and other friends. 
Cate and the other members of the 2019 College Panhellenic Executive Council. She served as the Vice President of Administration and Finance among these outstanding women.
Cate began networking and making connections on campus. After taking business and psychology courses early on, she settled on management as her major, intertwining her love of psychology into the mix as a minor.
She found a whole new world outside campus and got involved in the Oxford community, making an impact with the farmers market and several areas of the Oxford Film Festival. On campus, she served as a Big Event project leader and even joined the UM Beekeepers.
“I found the hidden spots of light and hope within the university and throughout the community that made me realize this is a place for all,” Cate said.
Once Cate hit her stride, there was no slowing her down. She was inducted into the Omicron Delta Kappa National Honor Society and Order of Omega. She served as vice president of administration and finance for the College Panhellenic Council, where she oversaw all administrative and financial matters regarding sorority activities that support more than 4,000 women on campus. And most recently, she was recognized as a Who’s Who Among Students honoree.
Her proudest accomplishment, however, is founding and serving as co-president for the Ole Miss chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management.
“I helped draft bylaws and secured recognition as an official student organization by SHRM Nationals and the Associated Student Body,” Cate said. “I also recruited nine board members and nearly 30 student members, organized professional development programs and solicited local business professional speakers for monthly meetings during my time as president.”
For her efforts, Cate was recognized as an Outstanding Student Organization President by the Associated Student Body.
Cut from her own cloth, Cate is described by friends as bold, sophisticated, personable, diligent and thoughtful. She has a drive to find enjoyment in each and every day.
“I like to talk with people and discover that point of what excites them and brings them joy,” Cate said. “I give people a fair shake and don’t just jump to judgment based on first impressions.
“I want to know others based on substance, and maybe it’s because I want others to know me by mine. I’m an inquisitive gal; what can I say!”
The co-presidents of the Ole Miss SHRM chapter, Cate Thompson and Allayna Lovorn. They met in Organizational Behavior in December 2018 and have been working together ever since. 
Cate with her Kappa friends. 
The 2019 Omicron Delta Kappa awardees. She was more than flattered to be inducted into this organization and be recognized with the crème of the crop of the University.
It is fitting then that one of Cate’s favorite classes was multicultural psychology, taught by Laura Johnson. Before the course, Cate thought she had a strong grasp of the Ole Miss student body, but this was simply not the case with the class, made up of students from numerous backgrounds and identities.
The class’ focus on sharing worldviews and empathizing with one another encouraged Cate to branch out even more and take part in events such as the International and American Student Alliance culture night and Code Pink events.
“Thanks to this class, my intercultural skills were refined, and I have gained an entirely new perspective on this ever-changing world and the variety of individuals in it,” Cate said. “It’s important to have moments to exercise skills in cooperation and collaboration with others who think and act differently than you.
“It will be a benefit for years to come, no matter where I go.”
For the Thompsons, Ole Miss is truly a family affair. With Cate’s parents, Doug and Ashley, being alumni, they were obviously thrilled that she chose to attend UM. They also have taken great joy in seeing Cate carve out her own path and making the university special in her own way.
“Cate has always had a knack for seeing life through a unique lens, so it was fun to watch her Ole Miss experiences unfold in ways we had never envisioned,” Doug Thompson said. “She experienced Ole Miss the way she wanted to, which allowed us to find new ways to appreciate the university.
“Ashley and I are very proud of Cate and all her accomplishments and for finding her own way to love Ole Miss.”
For her next adventure, Cate would love to move back to Nashville and start a career in the human resources field, focusing on talent management and leadership development. Her ultimate goal, though, is to find her fit by assisting others in finding theirs.
And as she wraps up her undergraduate years at Ole Miss, she has some poignant advice for other students:
“No one envisioned this semester to end so abruptly. With the unknown ahead, try to experience everything you can and enjoy this stage of life as a student. As a generation that focuses on what’s urgent more so than what’s important, don’t forget to live in the moment and not be hung up on the ticks of a clock.
“Walk through the Grove at least once a day! Truly appreciate being at Ole Miss, make the most of it and you will find your way.”
By Lisa Stone/University Marketing & Communications
