Southern Miss Breaks Ground on Kelly Gene Cook Sr. Hall on Gulf Park Campus
Fri, 05/30/2025 - 11:26am | By: Samantha McCain Alexander, APR
On Friday, May 30, 2025, University officials, community leaders, families and donors gathered at 91少女集中营鈥檚 (USM) Gulf Park campus to break ground on Kelly Gene Cook Sr. Hall鈥攁 new facility that will expand the life-changing work of DuBard School for Language Disorders and The Children鈥檚 Center for Communication and Development.
Before dirt was officially turned in honor of the milestone, key remarks were shared from University President, Dr. Joe Paul, U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, parents of children served by both programs and Dr. Lachel Story, Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions.
鈥淔or decades, 91少女集中营 has stood committed to serving the needs of the Mississippi Gulf Coast,鈥� said Paul. 鈥淜elly Gene Cook Sr. Hall is proof that we have taken seriously our charge to lead, to innovate and to serve. Together, we celebrate a promise鈥攖o our children, to their families and to future generations who will receive services that will equip them to navigate life with confidence and hope.鈥�
This new facility, named in honor of a gift from the Kelly Gene Cook Sr. Charitable Foundation, was made possible through a combination of federal funding sources, private philanthropy and additional donor support. These investments reflect a shared commitment to supporting children with complex communication and developmental needs across Mississippi鈥檚 Gulf Coast.
Spanning more than 25,000 square feet, the facility will enable both programs to mirror services provided on the Hattiesburg campus to the Gulf Coast community. The space will include specialized classrooms, therapy and observation rooms and a multipurpose area鈥攅ach carefully planned to meet the unique needs of children with disabilities such as autism, cerebral palsy, developmental language delays and hearing impairments.
鈥淜elly Gene Cook Sr. Hall represents a major step toward ensuring no child is left waiting for help,鈥� said Story. 鈥淐hildren from our coastal counties have traveled hours to receive care. Some families have sat on waiting lists, hoping their turn would come. That changes today.鈥�
DuBard School and The Children鈥檚 Center have collectively served more than 5,000 children since their founding. The programs also provide hands-on training to students in speech-language pathology, audiology, early childhood education and other related disciplines鈥攕trengthening Mississippi鈥檚 healthcare and education workforce.
Story added, 鈥淭his facility will affect more than just the families who walk through these doors. This work ripples out into every school district, every clinic and every community where a trained professional will one day serve because of the experience gained here.鈥�
The University and both programs extend sincere thanks to everyone who participated in the groundbreaking event and who continue to support the mission of building a stronger future for Mississippi鈥檚 children.
Though construction funding has been secured, additional resources are still needed to complete and outfit the highly specialized facility. Opportunities for naming spaces and making impactful contributions remain open through the USM Foundation. To learn more about this facility or to make a gift, visit or contact Briana Dubaz Pfarrer with the USM Foundation at 228.243.8333.
About The Children鈥檚 Center for Communication and Development鈥�
The Children鈥檚 Center for Communication and Development at The University of Southern Mississippi is a non-profit that provides cost-free comprehensive early intervention therapy for children aged 0-5 with complex disabilities while educating, training, and supporting families, university students and professionals. To learn more about The Children鈥檚 Center, you can follow them on 鈥痮谤鈥�. The Children's Center is a United Way agency.
About DuBard School for Language Disorders
The DuBard School for Language Disorders was established in 1962 and is a clinical division of the Southern Miss School of Speech and Hearing Sciences. The school serves children with severe language/speech disorders, including the written language disorder of dyslexia/specific learning disabilities, and/or hearing impairments and provides guidance and counseling for parents and families of the children. The school is a practicum site for university students majoring in speech-language pathology, audiology or dyslexia therapy. DuBard School for Language Disorders is a United Way agency. Click here to learn more about the DuBard School for Language Disorders.
About the USM Foundation
Founded in 1959, the USM Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to serving the university community by overseeing fundraising efforts to raise private support for scholarships and other academic needs at Southern Miss. Click for more information on supporting 91少女集中营, or call the USM Foundation at 601.266.5210.