Are dorms coming to USM Gulf Park campus? It's possible

The University of Southern Mississippi is exploring the possibility of adding student housing to its Gulf Park campus in Long Beach, officials announced Thursday.

The effort is a response to organizations and individuals along the Gulf Coast asking the university to consider adding housing, said USM President Rodney Bennett in a press release.

An 11-member committee will begin in January to evaluate the feasibility of such a project. The committee's recommendations will then be distributed among the university community, as well as shared with alumni and others connected to the school.

Members of the committee are:

-- Gerald Blessey, city attorney for Biloxi and owner of Blessey Law Firm

-- Cheryl Johnson, president, Regions Bank of Gulfport and USM alumna

-- Shane Loper, chief operating officer of Hancock Holding Company of Gulfport and USM alumnus

-- Ronald G. Peresich, Sr., founding partner of Page, Mannino, Peresich & McDermott in Biloxi

-- Billy Skellie, mayor of City of Long Beach

-- Scott Blackwell, director of Student Housing Administration at USM

-- Christopher Crenshaw, associate vice president for Facilities Planning & Development, USM

-- Chad Driskell, vice president for External Affairs at USM

-- Casey Maugh Funderburk, interim associate provost for the Gulf Park Campus at USM

-- Steven Miller, vice president for the Gulf Park Campus at USM

-- Douglas Vinzant, vice president for Finance and Administration at USM

This story was originally published November 12, 2015 at 3:39 PM with the headline "Are dorms coming to USM Gulf Park campus? It's possible ."