A new student-led opportunity at the University of Mississippi School of Business Administration is giving juniors and seniors experience in making investment decisions with real funds.
Thanks to a major gift to the Student Managed Investment Fund from the Hereford Family Foundation in Atlanta, Georgia, the Rebel Student Investment Group (RSIG) is making actual investment decisions. Launched with 40 students selected as the inaugural members, the RSIG is also benefiting from the creation of an analytics and trading lab and an advanced investment analytics course.
“We are deeply grateful to Matt Hereford for his generous gift, which provided the seed capital to turn our vision into reality,” Fred Dewald, instructional assistant professor of finance and director of the Ole Miss Analytics and Trading Lab, said. “This program gives students the kind of hands-on experience that directly advances their career goals and establishes a lasting legacy of practical finance education at Ole Miss.”
The group is open to finance, business and accounting majors who undergo a competitive application and interview process. Students are chosen for their performance in the Advanced Investment Analytics course and proven ability managing the Tennessee Valley Authority investment challenge.
RSIG mirrors the structure of a professional investment firm, emphasizing collaboration, rigorous analysis and leadership development.
“The RSIG serves as a cornerstone of experiential learning at Ole Miss, empowering students to manage a real investment portfolio with the discipline and rigor of professional asset management,” Dewald said. “Our streamlined structure, adaptive policies and focused investment universe deliver practical experience while pursuing competitive returns. Regular policy reviews keep pace with evolving markets.”
Sector coverage groups conduct fundamental analysis, propose securities and present stock pitches at regular meetings. This work drives portfolio decisions under faculty oversight.
“Classroom investment scenarios rarely mirror the realities of the market,” Dewald explained. “RSIG allows students to experience those real‑world gaps directly — managing volatility, evaluating risk and making decisions under pressure — all in a structured learning environment. This hands‑on exposure strengthens their résumés, networks and confidence, making them better prepared and more competitive for top roles in finance throughout their careers.”
Hereford, a 1994 graduate of the School of Business Administration, serves as managing director and portfolio manager for Atlanta Capital’s suite of high-quality equity strategies, including Small Cap, SMID Cap and Select Equity.
“My desire to help the Department of Finance become better equipped to make a positive impact on students and to make Ole Miss more attractive to prospective finance majors, is the inspiration behind this gift,” Hereford said. “I have two goals: help students become better investors and grow assets for the university.”
All investment returns remain in the fund, allowing strong performance to compound over time. The long-term vision includes creating multiple funds and expanding opportunities so that more students can participate and progress through structured tiers.
“I feel getting real-world experiences will help the students become better investors,” Hereford said. “It’s one thing to invest in a paper portfolio, it’s another to invest real money. Also, they will become more marketable to employers.”
Before joining Atlanta Capital Management in 2002, Hereford spent five years at Invesco, where he managed the Concentrated Equity Portfolio. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the CFA Society Atlanta.
Hereford said he enjoys many things about his career with Atlanta Capital but especially the intellectual stimulation of investing.
“I’m curious by nature and love to learn about new things,” he said. “I’m also rather competitive and investing in the public markets gives you a scorecard at the end of each day.”
Hereford remains closely connected to the Ole Miss School of Business Administration and serves on the University of Mississippi Foundation Board.
“Ole Miss has always had a special place in my heart. It’s just an amazing place. I want future generations to experience what I did at Ole Miss,” the donor said.
Andrew McDonough, a senior managerial finance major from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, serves as president of both the RSIG and the Ole Miss Finance Club.
“The Rebel Student Investment Group is very grateful for Mr. Hereford’s donation,” he said. “His support allows our group to get more hands-on experience with investing and build connections with amazing alumni like himself.”
Other donors who have supported the first round of renovations to the physical space in Connor Hall for the Analytics and Trading Lab include two anonymous donors; Charles Doty, Kevin Woods and Kevin Vogel, all of Atlanta, Georgia; and Alex Lawhorn of Oxford, Mississippi. Students in this lab can practice and explore the investment world, using both the tools and funds of the Student Managed Investment Fund.
Continued renovation and improvements funds are still needed for phase two of the Analytics and Trading Lab, to be completed over the summer. To make a gift to the School of Business Administration Trading Room/Lab Fund, send a check to the University of Mississippi Foundation, with the fund’s name noted in the memo line, at 406 University Ave., Oxford, MS; or online here.
To make a gift to the Student Managed Investment Fund, send a check to the UM Foundation or go online here.
To learn more about how to support the School of Business Administration, contact Angela Brown, executive director of development, at browna@olemiss.edu or 662-915-3181.
By Tina H. Hahn/UM Development