Our Team
A.I.M.-Hattiesburg, Inc., means Association of International Ministries in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
We began in 2008 as a small group of people in 3 churches who shared an interest in welcoming International Students, and have grown into a citywide network of volunteers from 18 churches and 6 campus ministries: The Church at 4Points, Central Baptist Church, Ekklesia, Episcopal Church of the Ascension, First Presbyterian Church, Grace Temple, Hardy Street Baptist, Hattiesburg Chinese Christian Church, Kensington Wood Church of Christ, Main Street Baptist, Main Street UMC, Midway Baptist Church, Parkway Heights UMC, Temple Baptist Church, University Baptist Church, Venture Church (Main Campus, Hunt Club and Gulfport), Westminster Presbyterian Church, Woodland Presbyterian Church, and The Baptist Student Union at USM, The Wesley Foundation at USM, CRU, Campus Outreach, Southern Christian Student Center, & RUF.
AIM-Hattiesburg, Inc. was incorporated on February 1, 2022, and on April 3, 2023, we became a 501c3 Tax Exempt Non-Profit. Our Board of Directors are all sincere Christians who are actively ministering to International Students in our City.
2025-26 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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Kathy Pope
PRESIDENT / COORDINATOR
General Coordinator, Admin. for iFriends and AIM Facebook pages, wife of Randy, Ekklesia volunteer. Peace Feast Team. Loves the Arts. Ready to help with my pickup truck!
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Jeanne Carlson
SECRETARY
Coordinator at Midway Baptist Church, Moderator for iFriends, Cardio-Pulmonary Program Dir. at FGH, Peace Feast Team
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Deana Ponder
TREASURER
Coordinator at Temple Baptist Church, Admin. for iFriends, Mom of Ukrainian kids, loves teaching, cooking, young people, Peace Feast Team.
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Ava Moudy
VICE PRESIDENT
Coordinator at Venture Church, Lincoln Road, Moderator for iFriends, Registered Nurse, Mom, and Fun Friend!
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Malcolm Dias & Laura Catherine
VOLUNTEER
Coordinator at The Church at 4 Points, Moderator for iFriends, Coach at Wm. Carey Univ., Go to Guy for car stuff.
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Melinda Gholson
VOLUNTEER
Tennis enthusiast, former Young Life leader, Wife of Bob. Loves hiking, hosting gatherings, home music concerts, great conversations & helping others.
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Ben Rickman & Emily
VOLUNTEER
Director at Southern Christian Student Center, Coordinator at Kensington Woods Church of Christ. Has truck and will help! Always welcoming Int’l Students to SCSC activities!
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David Walker and Kim
VOLUNTEER
Coordinator at University Baptist Church. Leads reading group on Wednesday nights and Coffee Hour on Fridays for English Conversation and meaningful discussion.
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Fernanda Ferreira & Diego
VOLUNTEER
Coordinator at Grace Temple Church, Social Worker with great ideas for helping!
ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS
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Russlyn Castle
VOLUNTEER
Coordinator at Episcopal Church of the Ascension, retired Social Worker, Peace Feast Team, always ready to help or have fun! Contact for “Conversations with Dr. Giulia.”
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Kim Walker
VOLUNTEER
Co-Coordinator at University Baptist Church, wife of David, Supper & English Reading Group on Wednesday nights, Former Director of South Miss. Writing Project
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Maurine Pace
VOLUNTEER
Singer & Guitarist for KenMoe Music, USM Staff & Grad Student, Main Street United Methodist Church volunteer, a friendly resource person, world traveler!
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Kacey Cole
VOLUNTEER
Southern Miss International Admissions staff, Midway Baptist Church, mentor, event planner, problem solver, fun friend.
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Larry & Betsy Panella
VOLUNTEERS
Southern Miss Director of Jazz Studies, Saxophonist, mentor and encourager, husband of Betsy, dad and grandad!
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Anne Velichkovski
VOLUNTEER
Former Ex-Pat, Caring Friend
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Kyle Liu
VOLUNTEER
Pastor, Hattiesburg Chinese Christian Church, former international student, friend
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Emilie Hatch
VOLUNTEER
Loves children, teaching, making friends.
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Rev. Eric Davis
VOLUNTEER
The Rev.! Director of The Wesley, extrovert in the good way! Dad, husband, friend, pastor. Happy to serve and meet needs!
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Soon & James Guin
VOLUNTEERS
A Chinese & American love story! He’s musical and she’s artistic! They are happy to help and make friends with everyone.
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Sarah & Jason Wright
VOLUNTEERS
Jason is Pastor at Immanuel Baptist Church. Sarah is Assistant Prof. in Math at USM. They love showing hospitality to students.
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McKenzie Raley Platt
VOLUNTEER
Member at 4Points Church. Loves walking, running, pickle ball, fashion, reading, eating good food, kayaking, anything fun outside or on the water.
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Erin Bradley
VOLUNTEER
Great organizer and furniture-finder, friend and helper!
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Roseanne Crockett
VOLUNTEER
Coordinator at Main Street Baptist Church, retired teacher, friend of children and families!
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Darcy Conrad
VOLUNTEER
A friend in the USM School of Humanities, Member at Venture Church Hunt Club, wife of Dane, mom, lover of the arts & travel.
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Debbie & Christopher Carraro
VOLUNTEERS
The Carraros have a big family and always have room for more! They enjoy interesting food, good music, and encouraging young people!
iFriends Student Volunteers
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Eduardo Escobar
GRAD STUDENT VOLUNTEER
Grad Student at USM from El Salvador, Leader in The Nations club and the BSU, ISSS Mentor, Peace Feast Team, always there to help.
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Shiza Hassan
GRAD STUDENT VOLUNTEER
Grad Student at USM from Pakistan, Leader of Pakistani Student Organization and Muslim Student Association, Peace Feast Team, ISSS Mentor, wife of Ahmad. Loves to help others and work together for a better world.
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Srividya Karuturi
GRAD STUDENT VOLUNTEER
Grad Student at USM from India. Loves to read and help others. ISSS Mentor. She has recently started a YouTube channel for iFriends and make several videos for us!
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STUDENT VOLUNTEER