Meridian Mayor Cheri Barry was the first of several guest speakers for the Honors Seminar in Leadership class led by university president Mark Keenum. Leaders from the business community and local, state, and federal government are scheduled throughout the semester to discuss leadership principles with students. Barry served as the executive director of the Key Chapter of the American Red Cross, which serves central Mississippi, during Hurricane Katrina, a position she held from 2001-09 when she was elected the first female mayor of Meridian.