Remembering Dr. Shelby Thames
Dr. Thames was the founder of the polymer program at The University of Southern Mississippi. His vision, persistence, and scientific curiosity built the foundation on which the School of Polymer Science and Engineering stands today - from the Department of Polymer Science he established in 1970, to the research center that bears his name, to the Waterborne Symposium and Mississippi Polymer Institute he helped launch. Over more than five decades at Southern Miss, he served in nearly every capacity the University offers, including as its President, and shaped the careers of generations of polymer scientists along the way.
Dr. Shelby F. Thames, the eighth president of The University of Southern Mississippi and an accomplished research scientist and academic leader, passed away on Friday, April 17, 2026.
He is an iconic force in the history of our institution, and his trailblazing work in establishing a polymer science and engineering program was a pioneering catalyst, propelling the journey to our current status as a Carnegie R1 Research Institution. His life’s work left a lasting imprint on scientific research, economic development, and institutional resilience, and we are grateful for his service to Southern Miss.
