Learn more about MUS faculty.

About

MUS has made its mark empowering boys through excellence since 1893. In an environment focused on honor, scholarship, service, and belonging, young men thrive as they prepare for college, and for life beyond their degrees. Our unparalleled academics, dedicated faculty, all-boys experience, and 94-acre wooded campus offer students an opportunity to grow intellectually, morally, artistically, physically, and socially, becoming leaders well-equipped to turn ideas into action.

Admissions

Come learn for yourself why there is no better school in the Mid-South for boys. We are committed to academic excellence, and we know how to teach boys. Nearly 70 percent of our teachers have advanced degrees, and they average 22 years of experience. We maintain a student-teacher ratio of 7 to 1, and a typical class size of 15. Step-by-step, our students learn to take responsibility for their actions, serve the community, and develop leadership skills as they make lifelong friendships.

Academics

The extraordinarily accomplished and dedicated faculty is our driving force, and providing boys an unparalleled college-preparatory education is our guiding principle. Since the school’s founding in 1893, we have upheld a tradition of excellence, and we stay on the cutting edge by keeping an eye on the future. What we teach is shaped by the expectations that colleges have for students they admit, and by what we believe we should pass on from generation to generation.

Arts

Understanding and appreciating the works of man’s creative spirit are necessary for a complete education. We offer students myriad opportunities for hands-on, full-fledged participation in performing, visual, and recording arts. Boys here have the chance to sculpt, to paint, to act, to sing, and to perform, and the whole community benefits from the creativity that they express.

“It is art that makes life, makes interest, makes importance … and I know of no substitute whatever for the force and beauty of its process.” - Henry James, 1915

Athletics

Sports have always played a significant role in shaping the moral character of our students. Teamwork, self-sacrifice, courage, stamina, perseverance, hard work, self-control - these values are forged in the crucible of competition. While we are extremely proud of our numerous athletic achievements, we realize these endeavors are never an end in themselves, but a powerful means to an end: self-knowledge and self-improvement for our boys. Our athletic program lives by the highest code of sportsmanship. We play hard, we play by the rules, and we have fun. At MUS, we always play the games well.

Student Life

A tradition of excellence remains vigorous here due to the commitment of the entire community - especially students. We encourage our boys to strive for excellence because that allows them to find meaning in what they do, to play a role in something greater than themselves, and to discover a sense of competence and thus confidence in themselves and in their abilities. If our academics, or our sports, or our arts, or our service and leadership opportunities do not challenge or engage boys, then they lack the capacity to transform boys. The struggle for excellence makes our experiences real. And boys need something real.

Our Faculty

Our expert teachers and coaches are passionate about their fields and dedicated to their craft. Within a community rooted in honor and integrity, our faculty members know how to provide the support, structure, and challenge boys need to thrive. And they do thrive. Young men who join the MUS family receive a world-class education and join a lifelong network of successful alumni.

Our Board

Our distinguished and accomplished trustees bring expertise from wide-ranging fields to bear on their work for the school. They all share a common trait: a dedication to the MUS mission.

Click on the trustee names to see their roles in our community.

2024-25 Board of Trustees

List of 25 items.

William V. Thompson III '95, Chairman

President
NFC Investments, LLC
Glenn A. Crosby II '77, Vice Chairman

Neurosurgeon
The Crosby Clinic
Frederick C. Schaeffer, Jr. '88, Secretary

Strategic Financial Partners
D. Stephen Morrow '71, Treasurer

Co-Founder, Principal
NewSouth Capital Management, Inc.
Brandon K. Arrindell '04

Portfolio Manager, Principal
Southeastern Asset Management, Inc.
James H. Barton, Jr. '85

Independent Advisor
R. Earl Blankenship

Chief Executive Officer
Mercury Investment Management
James F. Burnett '83

Managing Director
Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
Andrew F. Cates '89

General Partner and CEO
RVC Outdoor Destinations
William B. Dunavant III '78

CEO and President
Dunavant Enterprises, Inc.
Robert M. Fockler '77

President
Community Foundation of Greater Memphis
P. Trowbridge Gillespie, Jr. '65

President
NewSouth Capital Management, Inc.
J. Brett Grinder '91

Managing Principal
Grinder, Taber & Grinder, Inc.
Mark J. Halperin '67

Chief Operating Officer
Boyle Investment Company
Robert J. Hussey III '81

Managing Partner
C.W. Hussey land Company LLC
W. Thomas Hutton, Jr. '91

Senior Vice President
Boyle Investment Company
Margaret C. McLean
Jeffrey B. Meskin

Partner, Head of Private Banking
Brown Brothers Harriman
Richard C. Moore III '98

Partner
Roberts Family Companies
Joseph M. Morrison '78

Principal
Sentry, LLC
William E. Orgel '81

President
Tower Ventures LLC
Dharmesh S. Patel

Cardiologist
Stern Cardiology
Jennifer R. Ransom

President
The Ransomed Group, Inc.
William B. Townsend '78

CEO
Townsend Development
Philip S. Wunderlich ’90

Managing Member
Wunderlich & Company

Baseball Senior Day: April 19

Saturday, April 19, 1 p.m., is Senior Day for our baseball players! Come celebrate our seniors as the varsity Owls play Germantown at 1:30 p.m. on D. Eugene Thorn Baseball Field.
Read More
Beg To Differ Garners Gold

Beg To Differ traveled to New York to participate in the WorldStrides Heritage Festival, coming away with a Gold Medal for the second year in a row.
Read More
Soccer Senior Night: April 22

We will recognize senior soccer players Tuesday, April 22, as the JV and varsity players take on Briarcrest. Grab dinner and dessert at the food and ice cream trucks.
Read More
Tennis Senior Day: April 23

The tennis team faces CBHS at the Dunavant-Wellford Tennis Center on Wednesday, April 23, 3:45 p.m.
Read More
Concerts Coming Your Way

Don’t miss these free concerts in Hyde Chapel featuring our wonderful Owl musicians.
Read More
Ding Helps Launch State Math Coalition

Why would high school students form a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation to organize Tennessee students for math competitions? Why would they select student officers, solicit donations, develop a website, and plan and run the first Tennessee Math Tournament?
Read More
Nineteen Owls Earn Biliteracy Seal

Nineteen Owls earned the Seal of Biliteracy, a program recognizing students who have achieved proficiency in two or more languages by high school graduation.
Read More
School Holiday: April 18

MUS will be closed Friday, April 18, in observance of Good Friday.
Read More
College T-Shirt Photo: May 9

We will take a group picture of seniors with their college T-shirts Friday, May 9, in Thomas Amphitheater immediately following the headmaster’s lunch, which begins at 11:30 a.m.
Read More
All-Sports Awards Night: April 28

The 2025 Jake Rudolph All-Sports Awards Night is Monday, April 28, 6 p.m., in Ross Lynn Arena. All varsity athletes earning a letter this year will receive an invitation in the mail.
Read More
Sports Events: April 14-19

Spring sports are jumping! Check out all the action in baseball, fencing, golf, lacrosse, soccer, and tennis.
Read More
LS Manhood Breakfast: April 25

The next Lower School Manhood Breakfast is Friday, April 25, in Wunderlich Auditorium. Breakfast begins at 7:15 a.m.
Read More
Sly Tate ’13 Speaks on Leadership

Sylvester “Sly” Tate ’13 returned to his alma mater as the 22nd Rogers Leadership Forum guest to speak about lessons he has learned along his path.

“Today I get the awesome opportunity to talk to a school built on leadership about leadership,” he said.

Read More
Goat Yoga T-shirt Grub Day!

The Counseling Department will be selling $10 goat yoga T-shirts in preparation for the next Goat Yoga Day. A Grub Day is planned Tuesday, April 29, for those who purchase the shirts and wear them that day.
Read More
Mock Interviews with Alumni: June 9-10

Rising seniors can practice their interviewing skills with alumni this summer. The sessions will be virtual, so students can participate even if they are out of town. Each student will need to commit an hour, completing two 20-minute interviews and receiving feedback from each interviewer.
Read More
National College Decision Day/Deposit Due Date: May 1

Seniors, submit your enrollment deposit to one (and only one) college by May 1. Do not miss this deadline, as your offers of admission expire after that date.
Read More
Special Olympics Volunteers: April 26

CSO is holding a Special Olympics Festival on campus Saturday, April 26, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteers will host and officiate games of spikeball, cornhole, soccer, kickball, and relay races for the athletes.
Read More
Bubones Lauded for Latin Translation

Owls achieved recognition in three Latin translation contests.
Read More
College Counseling Meeting for Seniors

Now that all college admission decisions are released, seniors will receive a calendar invite for meetings with their college counselors to discuss their options and next steps.
Read More
Latin Students TJCL Champs

For the 16th consecutive year, the Bubones secured the Tennessee Junior Classical League championship. A total of 43 Upper School and Lower School Latin students traveled to the state convention at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville March 28 and 29 and amassed a combined score of 1,802 total points to top the competition.
Read More

Senior Administrative Team:

List of 10 members.

Pete Sanders

Headmaster, History Instructor

(901) 260-1310

University of Virginia - MEd
Queen's University - MA
St. Lawrence University - BA

2017
McKee Humphreys 01

Assoc. Headmaster, Interim Head Lower School

(901) 260-1391

Vanderbilt University - MA
University of Mississippi - BA

2022
Rankin Fowlkes

Asst. Head for Business Operations & CFO, Economics Instructor

(901) 260-1306

University of Memphis - MBA
University of Mississippi - BS

2005
Michele Cacioppo

Headmaster/CFO Executive Asst.

(901) 260-1310

Harvard University - BA

2021
Perry Dement

Asst. Head for Advancement

(901) 260-1353

Georgetown University
Rhodes College - BA

2004
Zach Hansen

Head Upper School

(901) 260-1327

Pacific Lutheran University - BA
George Fox University - MA

2017
Jenny Byers

Asst. Head for College Counseling & Student Programming

(901) 260-1399

Washington University - MA
Washington University - BA

2021
Thad McCracken

Athletic Director

(901) 260-1372

Hanover College - BS
Eastern Kentucky University - MS

2024
Joe Cummings

Admissions & Enrollment Management Dir., Lacrosse Head Coach

(901) 260-1423

University of Maryland - BA
Vanderbilt University - MEd

2022
Kevin Brown

Security Director

(901) 260-1311

LeMoyne-Owen College - BA

2019