Ogletree Installed as President of Mississippi’s IHL Board of Trustees

Adams & Reese Counsel Gee Ogletree has been officially installed as the Board of Trustees President for Mississippi’s Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL). At the April 17th board meeting, outgoing IHL Board of Trustees President Bruce Martin passed the gavel to Ogletree, and he chaired his first meeting as President on May 15th.

“Bruce Martin has been a strong presence on this board, and I am glad he will remain with us and continue in his work as a trustee,” said Ogletree. “Our call to support the work of Mississippi’s public universities is more important than ever right now.”

In 2018, Ogletree was appointed by former Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant to a nine-year term on the IHL Board of Trustees. The IHL Board of Trustees is the constitutional governing body responsible for the policy and financial oversight of the eight public institutions of higher learning in the state. It is a 12-member board with four members appointed from each of the three Mississippi Supreme Court districts.

Mississippi’s eight public institutions include Alcorn State University, Delta State University, Jackson State University, Mississippi State University, Mississippi University for Women, Mississippi Valley State University, The University of Mississippi, and The University of Southern Mississippi. IHL, under the governance of its Board of Trustees, assists each university in achieving its distinct mission and meeting the diverse educational needs of students.

At Adams & Reese, Ogletree is a former practice group leader and chair of the firm’s executive committee. He is a leader of the firm’s forestry practice and represents clients throughout the southern United States in real estate, finance and development matters with a focus on forestry and agricultural transactions.

Within his forestry practice, Ogletree formerly served on the American Bar Association Council of the Section of Environment, Energy and Resources. His real estate practice was recognized by his induction as a fellow in the American College of Real Estate Attorneys. He is general counsel for the Mississippi Forestry Association and the Mississippi Manufactured Housing Association. Ogletree is a former adjunct professor at the Mississippi College School of Law. He is a member of the USM Alumni Association Hall of Fame and is a Fellow of the Mississippi Bar Foundation.