06/18/2026
It is with deep sadness that the Else School of Management and Millsaps College share the news that Dr. Hugh Parker, our second dean and a cherished member of the Millsaps family, has passed away.
Hugh joined Millsaps in 1987 as a professor of accounting and became dean of the Else School in 1993, serving until 1998. During those years he was instrumental in launching the Master of Accountancy program and in lifting the Else School to national recognition. He recruited many of the legendary faculty whose influence still shapes the school today, and his commitment to excellence remains part of who we are.
Those who knew Hugh describe a rare combination of brilliance and warmth: a CPA and PhD who was just as comfortable in a classroom, a boardroom, or a deer stand. He could explain a complex regression model to someone who struggled to balance a checkbook, then charm a room of business and government leaders with the ease of a career diplomat. He walked into every gathering seeing not strangers but lifelong friends, and friends he had simply not yet met. That generous spirit, paired with his quick smile, was his hallmark, on campus and long after he left it.
Generations of students, colleagues, and friends are better for having known him. Our hearts are with his wife, Cynthia, and all who loved him. Rest in peace, Dean Parker. Your legacy endures in every corner of the Else School you helped build.
