ALUMNUS Fall 2024 - Winter 2025 - Mississippi State University

REMEMBERING A VERY GOOD BOY

October 2014-January 2025

In January, the Bulldog faithful mourned the loss of our loyal friend Bully XXI. Fondly known as Jak, he was born to champion the Maroon and White, serving as Mississippi State's mascot from 6 months of age until his retirement in 2023.

MSU Leads Mississippi AS

INNOVATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HEAT UP FOR HIGH-TECH JOBS OF THE FUTURE

By Allison Matthews, Photos by Grace Cockrell, Sarah Kirk and Sid Salter

Mississippi State University is proving its statewide impact, establishing next-generation jobs and high-tech industries, elevating Mississippi’s reputation as an international technology leader and ensuring citizens are well-positioned for the future.

MSU President Mark E. Keenum said the university launched 2025 with substantial milestones across the state, making advancements that will have far-reaching impacts. Yet citizens of the Magnolia State are the primary beneficiaries of MSU’s collaborative leadership that recently manifested in major economic development celebrations alongside partners in Biloxi, Meridian and the Golden Triangle.

In January, state and U.S. Air Force leaders gathered at Keesler Air Force Base to mark a new era in cybersecurity research and training with the Mississippi Cyber and Technology Center. This future facility will

serve as headquarters for the Mississippi Cyber Initiative, led by MSU to enhance state and federal cybersecurity capabilities.

Then, Keenum and other university leaders gathered with Mississippi Power, Mississippi Development Authority, East Mississippi Business Development Corporation and Gov. Tate Reeves to welcome Compass Datacenters to East Mississippi. An event at MSU-Meridian’s Riley Center during the EMBDC annual meeting celebrated the international company’s groundbreaking on the outskirts of the Queen City to house computing and network infrastructure to support large, tech-intensive companies.

MSU capped a landmark month by announcing a major MSU at The Communiversity partnership with East Mississippi Community College. The Communiversity houses EMCC’s Workforce Services Division, located off Highway 82 between Starkville and

Columbus and positioned in the Golden Triangle’s economic development hub.

Keenum and EMCC President Scott Alsobrooks signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalize the partnership through the Advancements in Manufacturing Upskilling Program, better known as AiM UP.

“Our university has tremendous momentum in academics, and our research portfolio is strong and growing—addressing everything from autonomous agriculture and unmanned aerial systems to improving healthcare. When we work with partners who also are committed to advancing our state, there is nothing we can’t accomplish, as I think these recent developments in cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing and other next-gen technologies demonstrate. These projects are going to have an incredible statewide impact.

“Preparing students for these jobs is what we’re all about at MSU,” Keenum added. n

MSU President Mark E. Keenum and EMCC President Scott Alsobrooks cut the ribbon to mark a new partnership between the universities. The Communiversity initiative aims to enhance workforce development and provide advanced manufacturing training, strengthening industry opportunities in the region.

MISSISSIPPI CYBER AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER, Biloxi

The university is a leading partner in the new Mississippi Cyber and Technology Center under construction at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi. The 100,000-square-foot facility building will support community and military needs as a national hub for cybersecurity training, support and research.

“The Cyber Center will strengthen Keesler’s mission to train cyber warriors, and it will serve as a hub for academic achievement and economic development for cyber, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and other technology companies and agencies,” Gov. Tate Reeves said. “In short, the future is here in Mississippi.”

Keenum shared that the Mississippi Cyber Initiative represents a continuation of the university’s land-grant mission to serve the entire state of Mississippi.

COMPASS DATACENTERS, Meridian

The state is accelerating its status as a hotbed for innovation and high-tech development, and MSU’s education and technology resources—including its nationally ranked supercomputing capacity— helped facilitate a coming hyperscale campus for high-tech powerhouse Compass Datacenters.

The announcement follows news last spring that Amazon Web Services is constructing multiple data center complexes in Madison County. At $10 billion each, these projects are the largest investments for the state in history.

MSU broke ground in spring 2023 on its new High Performance Computing Data Center as the land-grant research institution constructs its second facility increasing its capabilities as the fourth fastest U.S. academic supercomputing site.

MSU AT THE COMMUNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP, Golden Triangle

“The Communiversity is focused on giving students and workers the skills and training they need to compete and succeed in the 21st Century marketplace. We’re working together at the Communiversity so companies will continue to create next-gen jobs in our state and more Mississippians will be ready to fill these jobs of the future,” said Keenum, who thanked Gov. Reeves, Accelerate MS Executive Director Courtney Taylor, and EMCC’s President Scott Alsobrooks for their visionary leadership.

Advancements in Manufacturing Upskilling Program, or AiM UP, aspires to be a driving force in community economic prosperity. By fostering a culture of continuous learning, embracing technological advancements and nurturing a skilled workforce, its goal is to position Mississippians at the forefront of the global manufacturing landscape. MSU currently partners with East Mississippi, Mississippi Gulf Coast, and Northeast Mississippi community colleges for this initiative.

MSU’s Advanced Composites Institute, Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems-Extension, Athlete Engineering Institute, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering and Hall School of Mechanical Engineering at the university’s Bagley College of Engineering also support labs at the Communiversity.

Anthony Wilson, Mississippi Power CEO; Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves and MSU President Mark E. Keenum celebrated announcement of a Compass Datacenters campus in Meridian. It marked the second of two $10 billion investments to the state in less than a year.

MSU President Mark E. Keenum and EMCC President Scott Alsobrooks formalized a partnership with a Memorandum of Understanding to expand workforce training through the AiM UP program. This collaboration, based at the Communiversity, will equip workers with advanced manufacturing skills to support industry needs in the Golden Triangle and across the state.

Leaders from MSU, the U.S. Air Force, and the City of Biloxi, joined Gov. Tate Reeves in signing a proclamation for the Mississippi Cyber and Technology Center.

The son of Bully XX, known as Tonka, “Cristil’s Golden Prince”–known on campus as Jak–was born in October 2014. He served as Mississippi State’s mascot for eight years and was an ever-present presence on Scott Field and at MSU/Starkville community events. He has now joined his namesake Jack Cristil in cheering on the Bulldogs from beyond, but his spirit lives on in Dak, Bully XXII, who took on the harness in 2023. He is owned by Julie and Bruce Martin of Meridian. Photo by Grace Cockrell Scan QR code above to view Jak through the years.

PRESIDENT

Mark E. Keenum, ’83, ’84, ’88

VICE PRESIDENT FOR DEVELOPMENT AND ALUMNI

John P. Rush, ’94, ’02

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Jeff Davis

VICE PRESIDENT FOR STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS AND DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Sid Salter, ’88

EDITORS

Susan Lassetter, ’07

Harriet Laird

WRITERS

Bonnie Coblentz, ’96, ’00

Susan Lassetter, ’07

Mary Pollitz, ’16

Shunecy “Shun” Pounds, ’14, ’18

Bethany Shipp, ’08

Carl Smith, ’10

Claire Wilson, ’15, ’24

DESIGNER

Heather Rowe

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Grace Cockrell

Jonah Holland

Sarah Kirk

Emily Grace McCall

Tom Thompson

Beth Wynn

EDITORIAL OFFICE

P.O. Box 5325

Mississippi State, MS 39762

662.325.0630

slassetter@opa.msstate.edu

ADVERTISING

Leanna Smith

662.325.3360

lsmith@alumni.msstate.edu

Mississippi State University’s Alumnus magazine is published three times a year by the Office of Public Affairs and the Mississippi State University Alumni Association. Send address changes to Alumni Director, P.O. Box AA, Mississippi State, MS 39762-5526. Call 662.325.7000, or email cturner@advservices.msstate.edu

As general manager of WMSV-The Junction, Neil Price helped rebrand the station and develop its future-focused mission to serve the MSU community and the Golden Triangle. With he his role as Voice of the Bulldogs now becoming a full-time position with MSU Athletics, Becca Thorn is taking the reins of the student-programmed radio station.

Rebranding the Airwaves

By Mary Pollitz, Photos by Emily Grace McCall and Beth Wynn

Sitting in his Student Media Center office one fall Saturday, Neil Price looked out the window and saw the essence of Mississippi State—Bulldog students and fans tailgating on Davis Wade Stadium’s front lawn prior to kickoff.

As the general manager of MSU’s campus radio station, he said in that moment, he felt the station’s future changing in real time. What was WMSV–World Class Radio, is now The Junction—renamed for the outdoor hub of Bulldog tailgating, which is also a beacon for the community and family that surrounds the university.

Broadcasting on the frequency 91.1, the student-programmed FM station provides listeners community-based content accompanied by “adult album alternative” music, or a AAA format, that broadly appeals to adult listeners.

“The AAA format is where blues, Americana, indie rock, alternative country, pop and jazz all come together,” Price said.

“It’s a junction where all different types of music converge. With this idea that we want to be a full-service community radio show, we also are going to be a place where the

“We are here to provide a service to the community and ensure students get an experiential learning laboratory."

~ Neil Price

campus and the Golden Triangle can come together to see what’s happening in their own backyard: The Junction.”

The 24/7 radio station has a 70-mile reach in the Golden Triangle, including the MSU campus, Starkville, West Point and Columbus. After celebrating its 30th year in

operation, the station’s leadership decided to rebrand with Mississippi State’s mission in mind. David Garraway, associate director of the Office of Public Affairs and University Television Center director, saw how The Junction fits within the land-grant university’s motto of service, learning and research.

“We are here to provide a service to the community and ensure students get an experiential learning laboratory,” he said.

“It’s like the many things this land-grant institution does so well. We are using the power of teaching and learning to empower students to help better the community.”

Though the station is focused on areaspecific content, topics range from MSU news and sports to local and global issues. Listeners outside the broadcast range can listen from across the world with the TuneIn app or online at wmsv.msstate.edu

Humble Beginnings

WMSV first went on the air in 1994 led by founding general manager Steve Ellis, who had a passion to share news, train students and entertain listeners. That, in essence, was the mission of the campus radio station—a mission it stays true to today. In fact, not much had changed at the station since that first early ’90s broadcast. When Price entered the station, he saw worn-down carpet, walls with chipped paint and analog radio equipment in a digital world.

“It’s not anyone’s fault,” Price said. “You can see how much people loved and poured into this radio station. It just happens to be time, and we’re getting it done and moving forward to provide the best service we can.”

The Future is Bright

Since Price took over in 2023 as WMSV’s third general manager, the station has replaced the tower antennae, installed new carpet and repainted the offices while other building renovations are underway.

“The goal is make sure it’ll go another 30 years,” he said. “It’s a generational project. We’ve rebranded as The Junction and want to be a heavy presence here. We’re not doing anything earth shattering; we’re just taking steps. We’re here to help people, and we want to give students a chance to learn and grow.”

Price now serves as the director of communications for MSU athletics, lending his talents to football, baseball and men’s basketball radio broadcasts as the Voice of the Bulldogs. Becca Thorn has taken the reins as WMSV general manager and is poised to continue the rebranded station’s new vision and mission.

An Appalachian State University graduate, Thorn served as the music director and news director for The App’s 90.5 WASU radio station while in college. Understanding the value in a college radio station, she is pairing her passion for broadcasting and teaching to help lead the station on the heart of Mississippi State’s campus.

“I want to see students as the face of this station, I’m just here to mentor and lead,” she

said. “My goal is to take all the great work Neil has done in the rebrand and get as many eyes and ears on it as possible. I’m hoping now that we’ve got the train on the tracks, we can take off and expand the reach of the station.”

Expanding the reach of WMSV may include seeing radio station personnel at farmer’s markets on Saturday mornings, interviewing students on MSU move-in day or simply tailgating at football games and informing the public about the university, nonprofit charities or upcoming events. On game days, The Junction outside Davis Wade is the focal point of campus. With a targeted mission and vision in sight, Garraway wants that same presence on the airwaves.

“We’ve redeployed our resources to create an on-air product that’s more relevant to the community,” he said. “We continue to employ students from across campus to support that on-air mission. We are making long-term strategic investments into the station to ensure we remain relevant decades in the future. We are a community presence and will remain a community presence.” n

Senior Bralynn Newell of Newton manages the sound board and live broadcast as part of her student-worker position with WMSV. The student-programmed and directed station gives student like Bralynn practical, hands-on learning experiences in radio production and broadcasting.

First song to air on WMSV was “Right here, right now,” by Jesus Jones

A GROWING MARKET

REAFFIRMS MSU’S COMMITMENT TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP

By Carl Smith, Photos by Jonah Holland & Beth Wynn

Mississippi State really means business when it comes to supporting emerging entrepreneurs.

In 15 years, the university’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach has grown from a two-person office suite in the College of Business to a 4,000-square-foot space serving as the confluence of new ideas, academic theory and business support and mentorship.

In April 2024, MSU celebrated the completed renovations of the unit, also known as the E-Center, after an expansion project doubled the size of its McCool Hall footprint. The new space now offers facultyin-residence offices, space for emerging

entrepreneurs to develop their ideas, and ondemand space for instructors of innovationrelated courses to meet with students.

“The expanded E-Center provides additional learning space for students needing to meet with mentors and a spot to showcase our success stories to provide students with that extra drive when challenges start to mount,” said Scott Grawe, College of Business dean.

The recent boom in entrepreneurship isn’t isolated to MSU’s campus. Locally, university administrators recognized the need for more support after the COVID-19 pandemic redefined business in America. Since 2020, applications for new businesses

and startups have surged nationally each year, research by the University of Maryland and the Federal Reserve shows, outpacing their prepandemic levels.

To foster this entrepreneurial spirit at MSU, university administrators are focused on making the E-Center open and accessible to all students, no matter which college they’re enrolled in. Leading the center and its charge is Nick Pashos, who joined the university this fall and can draw from personal experience as a studententrepreneur to inform his leadership. He founded BioAesthetics Corp., a company that develops grafts for patients undergoing soft tissue reconstruction surgeries, while

Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach Nick Pashos, left, and Scott Grawe, dean of the College of Business, stand in the newly expanded McCool Hall home of the home of Bulldog business innovation. Commonly called the E-Center, the unit strives to empower students to turn bold ideas into successful ventures.

working on a doctoral degree at Tulane University in 2015.

Like many students the E-Center serves, the bioengineer-turned-entrepreneur said he was more versed in the technical side of his products than the business angles needed to turn them into a profitable venture. It was support from his faculty mentors, he said, that led to a connection with the venture capitalbacked accelerator program IndieBio, which in turn sparked the growth of his business—an act he hopes to replicate for aspiring Bulldogs.

“THE EXPANDED E-CENTER PROVIDES ADDITIONAL LEARNING SPACE FOR STUDENTS TO MEET WITH MENTORS AND SHOWCASES SUCCESS STORIES TO INSPIRE STUDENTS WHEN CHALLENGES MOUNT.”

~ Scott Grawe, Dean of the College of Business

“I was an engineer, so I mainly took classes in engineering. Outside of a business class here or there, I had no idea what it took to start a business when I was still a student,” Pashos said. “I came back to academia to help students who are in the same position I was in. Seeing someone exactly where you were years ago and helping them through those steps and hurdles—it’s a really exciting opportunity.

“Mississippi State has everything you could ask for from educational, research and business perspectives,” he continued. “In five years, I’d love to see entrepreneurship really integrated into a lot of the areas that traditionally are isolated from the business world.”

During the grand opening of the renovated space, Bully helped showcase some of the center’s new features including: small-group meeting spaces; the Oswald Think Tank, named for retired business dean Sharon Oswald; and a display featuring some million-dollar ideas brought to life by E-Center alumni.

In addition to its on-campus home, the center boasts off-campus locations including the 2,000-square-foot Idea Shop, a collaboration between the College of Business and School of Human Sciences that houses the Turner A. Wingo Maker Studio and MSU Retail Product Accelerator in downtown Starkville; coworking space in Starkville’s Innovation Hub; and a satellite office in Vicksburg—all spaces to make ideas come to life.

Another key resource it offers is cold, hard cash to take an idea from concept to production or application.

Through the MSU VentureCatalyst program, students, faculty or staff can receive up to $7,500 through three rounds of grant funding to assist with developing a proof of concept, customer and market discovery, and execution of an approved business plan. The E-Center manages other startup funding sources, including up to $1,500 through the Boost Fund, helping organizations overcome specific needs holding back growth or development; up to $5,000 from the National Science Foundation’s I-Corps Site training program focusing on science- and technology-related research ideas; and up to $10,000 through the MSU Sidecar Fund,

which provides funding to help magnify the interest of outside private investors.

In all, the E-Center distributes more than $100,000 annually in equity-free startup grants, competition prizes and other student supports. Helping match people and ideas

“SEEING SOMEONE EXACTLY WHERE YOU WERE YEARS AGO AND HELPING THEM THROUGH THOSE STEPS AND HURDLES—IT’S A REALLY EXCITING OPPORTUNITY.”

~ Nick Pashos, Director of the E-Center

to grant funding is Garrison Walker, who oversees the E-Center’s VentureCatalyst program.

Walker uses his past experiences with the E-Center to connect with students. In 2019, he and a few fellow Starkville Academy students created 3D-printed silencers for cowbells. The group’s idea swept through the competition at the E-Center’s 2020 high school innovation challenge, then Walker and the other

founders received $2,500 to develop the business through the VentureCatalyst program after he enrolled at the university in 2020. The silencer, now known as the Hush! Puppy, was reintroduced to local and area markets this year after Walker rebooted the business following turnover in the founding group.

“There’s a lot of self-fulfillment working with these students because that was me four years ago. I’m fortunate to be in this position to help people do the same thing,” he said. “It’s exciting to see them get funded or hear them when they deliver a killer pitch. We’re here to support and coach them. When it all comes together and works for them, there’s no better feeling.”

Without this kind of personal support and guidance, one of the world’s fastestgrowing companies wouldn’t exist. In 2015, MSU undergraduates Anna Barker, Kaylie Mitchell and Hagan Walker had an idea for light-up, ice cube-shaped devices for drinks. Thanks to the E-Center’s support, the students founded what is now known as the Glo Companies, with products that include bath-time sensory toys designed with children who have autism or other special needs in mind.

Since expanding its product line and partnering with Sesame Workshop to bring its beloved characters to life, Glo Companies has become a major player in a niche market. It landed at No. 282 on the Financial Times’ 2024 list of fastest-growing companies, which encompasses 500 organizations throughout 35 countries in North, Central and South America.

“There is no Glo without the Mississippi State E-Center. It just wouldn’t exist because the idea wouldn’t have been tried without its help,” said Barker, who was named to Inc. Magazine’s 2024 Female Founders 250 list of the most influential women in business. “I was on a very specific path throughout much of my college experience. I had no idea I would become interested in engineering or product design until I bumped into the perfect arrangement of professors and staff thanks to the E-Center.

“Our experience is unique, but the E-Center’s support isn’t. The staff and mentors truly want everybody to succeed, and we felt supported and encouraged the whole time, especially on some of the harder days,” she explained. “Without the E-Center, Glo would have never been on our radar. We would have continued on the traditional paths that were laid out for us and then gone on a traditional career track. We needed their specific resources at that very critical moment in time for us and our idea, and that support changed our lives.” n

BULLDOG BUSINESS

Whether through time, money or other resources, alumni support can go a long way to helping student startups. Mississippi State University offers many avenues for the Bulldog family to help budding businesses and the university’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach.

MENTORSHIP

• One-on-one mentorship: Each student team in the E-Center’s VentureCatalyst program is paired with a mentor based on skills, background and interest. One-on-one mentors work deeply with their assigned teams.

• Office hours: Rather than working closely with a few teams, some mentors prefer to serve as light advisors to many groups by holding office hours or making themselves available in person or through video chat a few hours per month.

EVALUATE PITCHES AND REVIEW TEAMS

• E-Center Advisory Board membership: The ECAB hears three to five pitches each month and makes award decisions from the Startup Grant Fund.

• Investment Review Council membership: The IRC ensures startup companies are adequately prepared to raise money. Each quarter, the council reviews their plans, projections and preparedness.

INVEST IN STUDENT AND FACULTY COMPANIES

• Bulldog Angel Network: The BAN is a private group that invests about $1 million each year in early stage companies that are majority owned by MSU students, faculty or alumni.

• North Mississippi Angel Fund: The NMAF is a privately managed investment fund that also contributes to early stage companies.

MAKE A GIFT

• The E-Center distributes more than $100,000 each year in equityfree startup grants, competition prizes, student internships, and other student support funded by a small endowment and private contributions. To learn more about giving opportunities, contact Rob Jenkins, Senior Director of Development for the College of Business, at 662.312.9300 or rjenkins@foundation.msstate.edu.

For more information on how to support the MSU E-Center, email info@ecenter.msstate.edu

COFFEE GROUNDS FOR CAMPUS GROUNDS

MSU senior's project strives for campus sustainability

By Mary Pollitz, Photos by Grace Cockrell

As a Mississippi State senior, Lishman Heathcock’s car always smelled like coffee, even though he never drinks it.

“Not a drop,” he said with a laugh. “But I do like the smell.”

Every Tuesday, the electrical engineering student stopped by the campus Fresh Food Company and Starbucks coffee shop in the Colvard Student Union to collect 10 to 15 gallons of used coffee grounds.

"Sustainability is creating what we can from what we have, like this compost. We're trying to get campus to be more self-sustaining, so we aren’t consuming more resources than we’re creating."

~ Lishman Heathcock

Then, Heathcock would drive just off Starkville’s main campus and empty each five-gallon bucket into the university’s compost pile. The Waynesboro native tackled this trial-run project as a student intern with the university’s Office of Sustainability.

Having earned his degree in December, he now hopes to work with renewable energy as an electrical engineer. Although his coffee composting project isn’t directly correlated to his career aspirations, being environmentally conscious has always been in the forefront of his mind.

“Sustainability is generally a good idea no matter what you do or what you’re in,” he said. “It’s good practice. The more we can make Mississippi State sustainable, the better the environment will be, and it will reflect in costs as well.”

According to Jim Bo Hearnsberger, associate director of campus grounds, even simple steps toward sustainability can have an impact. For instance, recycling campus coffee grounds can help lower the university’s

fertilizer costs, correct erosion issues and improve the soil’s water retention.

Using coffee grounds as an organic compost also creates healthier soil and material for landscaping, he added. Though Heathcock’s project was a trial run, the small compost pile has already contributed to amending soil for various plants and projects around campus.

“It would be good to see it expand,” Hearnsberger said. “It would be nice to supply enough material for amending soil for all new construction jobs. We’re not there quite yet, but maybe these smaller efforts we have can show how productive that can be.”

Heathcock isn’t exactly in the same line of work as Hearnsberger, but they both believe in and have seen the benefits of working toward a self-sustaining campus.

“You don’t have to have a landscape or horticulture background to see the bigger picture of why sustainability is important,” Hearnsberger said. “I’m glad to see students

wanting to be involved. This project paints the picture of what we could be doing. I’m 100% supportive and glad that someone in his field, which is totally outside of our world, is interested in it.”

Heathcock, who also was a member of the Students for Sustainable Campus organization, worked alongside several departments to ensure the project’s success. Each week while unloading buckets of coffee grounds, he saw the university’s greenhouse just behind his compost pile. Though he considers his project on the small side, seeing how used coffee grounds could enrich soil and help shrubbery and plants thrive made him see it was impactful, nonetheless.

Likewise, Hearnsberger said he recognizes the importance of sustainability and the university’s landscaping department is making those changes toward sustainability whenever possible—including planting more native plants and adding pollinator gardens throughout campus.

Part of building sustainability comes from the public’s buy-in, Heathcock said. That starts with simple conversations. For him, collecting used coffee grounds helped raise awareness for the university’s array of sustainability efforts, which include recycling, energy efficiency, community gardens and educational events.

“My friends think it’s pretty cool,” he said. “They think it’s cool that there’s even a department on campus and efforts on campus to do things like this big or small. They think it’s cool that they know someone that’s a part of it.”

Heathcock hopes to see his project expand over time, along with the university’s efforts to becoming more sustainable.

“Sustainability is creating what we can from what we have, like this compost,” he said. “We’re trying to get campus to be more self-sustaining, so we aren’t consuming more resources than we’re creating. Hopefully in the future, I’ll be surprised with how it grows.” n

Recent Mississippi State graduate Lishman Heathcock, an electrical engineering major, empties used coffee grounds into the university’s compost pile as part of a sustainability initiative. Each week, Heathcock collected 10 to 15 gallons from campus dining locations to help enrich soil and reduce waste.

COMPOSTING AT HOME

At-home gardeners’ thumbs can turn a little greener through a series of intentional changes in their own backyards.

For example, by collecting lawn clippings or saving fruit and vegetable scraps, gardeners can create less waste while composting a rich, organic soil coined “black gold.”

Composting, like any hobby, can vary in complexity and investment. Simply put, you can compost in a fancy rotating tumbler or a pile in the corner of a yard.

Jeff Wilson, Mississippi State consumer horticulture specialist and Master Gardener volunteer coordinator, said composting is great for reducing unnecessary landfill items while providing a rich soil for gardening and landscaping.

“It doesn’t have to look fancy to make good compost and give you control of what you’re putting in the system,” Wilson said.

He recommends the following steps to get started:

1 FIND A GOOD SPOT. An ideal area for composting is at least a 3-by-3-foot space in a non-flooding area. If not using a rotating tumbler or other container, find a level spot of bare ground to start.

2 START ADDING MATERIALS. It’s best to add smaller items, such as grass clippings or chopped vegetables and fruit. Make sure to avoid larger items which will prolong the decomposition process. Never add inorganic materials, oil, meat, fat, bones, dairy or fish.

3 ADD WATER. After adding the materials to the compost area, either wait for rain or sprinkle water on the pile. The goal is to dampen but not drown. The moisture is needed for decomposition, but overwatering can slow down the process.

4 TURN AND MIX. Though decomposition will naturally occur, turning the pile will help speed up the process. Whenever fresh material is added, just use a shovel to push the newer material to the center.

5 HARVEST. The compost is ready to use once it is dark brown and has an earthy smell. Once ready, add the “black gold” to your landscaping and gardening projects.

The Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine’s Dr. Alejandro Banda is the new executive director of the Mississippi Veterinary Research and Diagnostic Laboratory System, or MVRDLS.

MSU scholars Payton Kelly-Van Domelen, a sophomore biomedical engineering major from Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, and Kaleb Love, a junior computer engineering major from Madison, participated in study abroad experiences through the prestigious Fulbright UK Summer Institute, one of the most selective summer scholarship programs in the world.

Lily Langstaff, a junior wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture major from Southaven, is the university’s latest Udall Scholar. She is the university’s fifth recipient of the prestigious national award given annually to approximately 55 students across the country.

Yuria J. Sloane, a junior architecture major from Charleston, South Carolina, traveled to Bolivia, Japan, New Zealand and Norway to research the use of architecture as a tool of oppression and liberation for indigenous communities through a $20,000 Aydelott Travel Award.

Les Potts was named MSU’s vice president for finance and administration. Potts served as interim vice president since 2023. For the past 15 years,

Potts has worked in MSU’s Division of Finance and Administration on appropriations and budgets, contracts, efficiencies and multiple special projects, many of which involved campus operations and infrastructure.

Elva Kaye Lance, MSU’s director of bands, is the new vice president of the largest professional band organization worldwide. A veteran music

educator for more than 40 years, Lance was elected to the leadership role for the National Band Association this spring and will serve a two-year term before moving into the roles of president-elect and president.

Qiana Cutts Givens, a Mississippi State associate professor of educational foundations, is the recipient of the prestigious 2024 Lillian E. Smith Writer-InService Award. Housed at Piedmont University in Georgia, the Lillian E. Smith Center annually bestows the award in honor of civil rights advocate and esteemed author Lillian E. Smith, whose body of work includes “Strange Fruit” and “Killers of the Dream.” The award, which includes a two-week summer residency and an honorarium, is open to U.S. residents advancing writing through volunteer work or public service careers.

James Chalmers of Cumming, Georgia; Joshua Phillips of Birmingham, Alabama; and Muneebah Umar of Starkville were among 125 nationwide students to receive 2024 Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grants from the nation’s oldest all-discipline collegiate honor society. The $1,000 awards are given based on the students academic achievements, campus and community service, the relation of travel to academic preparation and career goals, among other factors.

MSU alumnus Lee

Weiskopf is the university’s newest chief of staff in the Office of the President. His appointment comes on the heels of the retirement of longtime special assistant to the president Kyle Steward. Weiskopf also retains the title of director of government affairs, a role he has held since 2016. In that role, Weiskopf is a key advisor to President Mark E. Keenum and MSU senior leadership on policy and political issues affecting the university, higher education and other state government matters.

David C. Heson of Guntown, Annamarie L. Thompson of Trussville, Alabama, and Alyssa Williams of Franklin, Tennessee, are the university’s latest recipients of the nationally renowned Astronaut Scholarship, a prestigious designation that recognizes the best and brightest science-, technology-, engineering- and mathematics-focused students in the U.S. They are among 71 members of the national Astronaut Foundation’s 2024 Astronaut Scholars Class, and each student will receive up to $15,000 and join a lifelong network of professional mentors and peer researchers.

Joshua Granger, assistant professor in the College of Forest Resources, is the national selection for the Phi Kappa Phi Ray Sylvester Distinguished Service Award for 2024-2026. The honor is given to a member who represents the society’s principles through achievements and activities. Honorees are renowned professionals in their field.

Campus

The prestigious American Academy of Nursing, a competitive honor society rewarding extraordinary contributions to improve healthcare locally and globally, named MSU-Meridian’s Kayla Carr a 2024 fellow. A nursing professor and director of the Accelerated Master of Science in Nursing program in MSUMeridian’s new School of Nursing, Carr joins two colleagues already inducted as AAN Fellows: Alaina Herrington, associate professor of nursing and director of simulation and clinical affairs, and Mary Stewart, dean of the School of Nursing.

in Public Relations, or APR, credential which less than 2% of public relations practitioners earn worldwide. They are among just 4,500 active international APR experts and only a few current and former MSU employees with the designation.

MSU student Joshua Phillips, a G.V.

Professor Jeff Winger, who has more than a decade of service to the university, is the new head of MSU’s Department of Physics and Astronomy. Winger is the department’s advisor and he also serves on the University Course and Curricula Committee. He has a professional membership with the American Physical Society, Mississippi Academy of Sciences and Mississippi Association of Physicists.

“Sonny” Montgomery Presidential Endowed Scholar, is the university’s sixth Boren Scholarship recipient in the last seven years, and the award is among the latest additions to his growing list of prestigious honors. The junior political science and economics double major, who grew up in Australia but now calls Birmingham, Alabama, home, will study abroad in the country of Oman this spring as a Boren Scholar.

MSU’s Veterans Business Outreach Center was named the Veterans Business Outreach Center of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration as part of the 2024 National Small Business Week. One of only 28 VBOCs in the country, MSU’s center was awarded the honor by SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, a member of the U.S. Cabinet.

An MSU program helping students achieve classroom success is receiving reaccreditation for a three-year period. One of less than 65 accredited Supplemental Instruction programs in the U.S., one of four in the Southeastern Conference and the only one in Mississippi, MSU’s SI program is free for students and designed to increase academic success in courses students may find challenging. It is directed by MSU’s Center for Academic Excellence.

Professor Lara Dodds, an MSU faculty member steeped in literary knowledge, is the new head of the university’s Department of English after serving as its interim leader since last summer. With primary teaching interests in early modern British literature, early modern women’s writing and research methods, she said her goal as department head is to further elevate the department’s teaching and research.

Professor James W. “Jimmy” Hardin, a faculty member with more than two decades of experience in anthropology and Near Eastern archeology, is now the head of MSU’s Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures.

An alliance between MSU and William Carey universities is bringing the Magnolia State into a national collaborative focused on building rural communities through education. The Rural Schools Collaborative, which works to sustain rural communities by addressing teacher shortages through philanthropy and promoting place-based learning, is welcoming Mississippi educators and advocates through an MSU-WCU partnership—the Mississippi Rural Education Association.

The College of Arts and Sciences’ Karyn Brown, assistant dean for communications and media, and Office of Public Affairs’ Allison Matthews, news editor, have gained the Accredited

Missy Hopper, professor in the Department of Teacher Education and Leadership, has received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award to teach and conduct research abroad during the 20242025 academic year. She will focus on education, teaching and English language learning at the University of Bahrain. The prestigious award from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board allows her to teach classes, carry out research centered on teacher quality and work with students in their educator preparation programs.

MSU is receiving $8 million from the National Science Foundation to lead transformative science and technology capacity-building efforts across the state. The four-year NSF award establishes the Mississippi Research Alliance as a central hub for the state’s research ecosystem, leveraging existing strengths, expanding networks and creating new opportunities to advance research and development.

MSU celebrated its achievement of the prestigious All-Steinway School status with a public ceremony. Now among an elite group of institutions holding the acclaimed distinction globally, MSU is one of less than 250 conservatories, colleges, universities and schools solely using pianos designed by Steinway & Sons for practice, instruction and performance.

UNDER THE WEATHER

MISSISSIPPI STATE LAB TESTS UAS PERFORMANCE IN EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS

By Claire Wilson

Mother Nature makes for a fickle research partner, but scientists at Mississippi State University are no longer beholden to the whims of weather when it comes to testing the limits of uncrewed aviation systems, commonly known as UAS.

A new indoor set-up at the university’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory puts control of atmospheric conditions in the hands of researchers, allowing them to test aircraft systems in a variety of simulated weather conditions to evaluate their performance.

The Inclement Weather Lab’s mission is to define the challenges of operating UAS in extreme weather

and contribute to the development of technology critical to aviation’s future.

From gusty winds to heavy rain, the state-of-the-art lab uses a sophisticated wind wall system and water pipes equipped with nozzles to generate wind, precipitation and fog. This dynamic environment offers researchers the ability to test aircraft in conditions that are typically too challenging or dangerous to simulate outdoors.

“We can create very specific wind conditions with the use of a 12-foot by 12-foot wind wall, which features an array of nine fans per module,” said Bryan Farrell, interim director of Raspet. “This setup lets us generate uniform or non-uniform winds, like

turbulence or gusts, and simulate all sorts of weather patterns with a high degree of control.”

UNDERSTANDING AND MITIGATING WEATHER’S IMPACT ON FLIGHT

The effects of severe weather on flight safety and performance are major concerns for the aviation industry. To address these challenges, the Inclement Weather Lab focuses on aerodynamics, stability and sensor health to understand the complex dynamics of flight in adverse conditions. By capturing motion data through an integrated system that tracks the aircraft’s movements,

researchers can analyze how various weather factors, like wind shear or rain, impact flight performance.

“We aim to understand how these factors affect stability and control, which is crucial for the safety of autonomous aircraft operating in all kinds of weather,” Farrell explained. "This lab will provide data that helps us improve how we manage operations in adverse conditions.”

In addition to UAVs–the actual vehicles in the UAS–the lab will test the impact of precipitation on onboard aircraft sensors, which can be affected by rain, ice or fog. With the precision of the lab’s technology, researchers can recreate these environmental factors to study their effects in real-time.

This research has significant commercial applications, especially for the emerging drone delivery industry. As drones become more integrated into the airspace for deliveries and personal transportation, understanding how they perform in varying weather conditions will be essential to their widespread adoption.

“Inclement weather is a major hurdle for commercializing UAS, especially for applications like package delivery that require low-altitude flight near the ground where weather effects are strongest,” explained Shreyas Narsipur, an assistant professor of aerospace engineering and Raspet affiliated faculty member. “There are no established performance or safety standards for operating drones and other aircraft in inclement weather due to the lack of data. This lab will change that.”

BUILDING THE FUTURE OF AVIATION

The creation of the Inclement Weather Lab was inspired by a concern identified in a Federal Aviation Administration report, which highlighted the need to improve the all-weather performance of UAS. While the initial plan was for the Raspet facility to focus on UAS, the scope has expanded to address broader challenges in aviation, including urban

air mobility, human performance in flight and communication in areas with limited network coverage.

The lab, expected to become operational early this year, was made possible through a $1 million grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which funded the first phase of the lab’s development and early research, laying the groundwork for full capability. The lab’s mission aligns well with NIST’s own mission in creating performance standards for UAVs and other aircraft operating in adverse weather,

"NO OTHER EXISTING FACILITY PROVIDES THIS LEVEL OF CONTROL OVER WIND CONDITIONS AND PRECIPITATION TYPES."

— Shreyas Narsipur

ensuring these vehicles can safely and reliably navigate inclement conditions.

“As the FAA’s Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Safety Research Facility, Raspet is developing this system as part of the lab’s 20-year research plan,” says Caden Teer, associate director of research engineering at Raspet. “This grant expands our capabilities and positions Mississippi State at the forefront of weather and flight research as advanced air mobility and UAS become more commonplace in the National Airspace System.”

The lab will feature a wind generation system, equipped with advanced control capabilities to generate wind profiles, including gusts, shears and turbulence. An integrated precipitation system will allow simulation of rain, from fine mist to heavy downpours, and the large scale of the Raspet facility will allow testing of full-sized drones and systems, not just small-scale models.

“No other existing facility provides this level of control over wind

conditions and precipitation types,” Narsipur says. “This lab will enable the commercialization of applications like UAS deliveries by providing a basis for optimum design methodologies and certification.”

THE BROADER IMPACT

While the primary focus of the Inclement Weather Research Lab is aviation, its potential applications extend far beyond aerospace. The lab’s advanced weather simulation capabilities will be used to explore new possibilities across multiple disciplines, including sensor development, system environmental testing, human factors studies, agricultural spray coverage analysis and even research into pathogen spread. The lab’s versatility promises to support a wide range of industries, further establishing Raspet Flight Research Laboratory as a regional and national leader in research and innovation.

COLLABORATING FOR THE FUTURE

Looking forward, the Inclement Weather Research Lab will not only support innovative research but also foster collaboration with other departments, universities and industries. Partnerships with organizations such as the University of Alabama, Huntsville, and participation in programs like the Mobile Atmospheric Profiling Network will help the lab refine its weather simulations and enhance the accuracy of the data collected.

With its innovative work, the lab is not just advancing research; it is paving the way for a safer, more reliable future in aviation.

“Our collaborations will strengthen MSU’s position as a national leader in aviation research,” says Teer. “By working with students, faculty and industry partners, we are preparing for the future of flight, ensuring that Mississippi State University plays a pivotal role in the continued development of safe and effective aviation technologies.” n

Food for Thought

Mississippi State lab helps ensure consumer satisfaction

By Susan Lassetter, Photos by Grace Cockrell

We take many things for granted in life: the sun rises in the east, Mississippi has sweltering summers, and our preferred food brands will offer the same experience every time we consume them.

Those first two reliably occur without intervention, but the last—the consistency consumers expect from their routine purchases—gets a boost from Mississippi State University.

At the Muscle Foods and Sensory Laboratory, Mississippi State scientists and researchers are finding ways to help companies lower costs, become more

environmentally friendly and produce healthier products while keeping consumers safe and satisfied with their purchases.

Wes Schilling, director of Mississippi State’s newly formed Food Science Innovation Hub, said the lab supports these food-industry goals in two ways: by answering the questions food companies have today and graduating food scientists who will solve industrywide problems tomorrow.

“Our industry partnerships are important for helping us stay on the cutting-edge of what the industry faces, and train students who will be ready to make a difference in

Through the Muscle Foods and Sensory Laboratory in the Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion, students gain hands-on experience solving real-world problems facing the food industry. Professor Wes Schilling and graduate student Sawyer Smith, who serves as lab manager, oversee the work, which includes product taste testing to evaluate how all of a consumer’s senses impact their perception of a product. Note: To enable viewers to see more detail, not all of the typically required safety equipment was worn in these staged photographs.

the food industry as soon as they graduate,” Schilling said.

“We’re sending our students and our science into the food industry to help make food last longer, taste better and feed the world as the population grows,” he continued.

Increasing shelf-life and reducing pointof-sale food waste—food discarded from stores or restaurants when it is deemed too unsafe or unappealing for consumers—is at the heart of the Muscle Foods and Sensory Laboratory’s mission.

Lab manager Sawyer Smith said MSU students and faculty address these issues by evaluating how changes in ingredients and processing influence consumers’ senses.

“When a company wants to change an ingredient or alter the process they use to package their product, we help them study how those modifications affect consumer perceptions,” said Smith, a 2022 MSU graduate who now is pursuing a master’s with a concentration in food science and technology at the university.

“And it’s not just the flavor,” he continued. “We look at how all the senses— sight, touch, taste, smell and hearing—are affected by the changes.”

Smith explained that sight is often the first hurdle in turning a shopper into a

purchaser; if a food doesn’t look appetizing, it’s not going to sell.

“Marketing and perception play a big role in purchasing decisions,” Smith said, noting that in blind taste tests brand-loyal consumers often can’t differentiate between their go-to choice and the competitor.

“We’re sending our students and our science into the food industry to help make food last longer, taste better, and feed the world as the population grows.”

~ Wes Schilling

“It comes down to what shoppers think and what sensory experience they expect when they look at a product,” he continued. Schilling, who holds the university’s Reed Family Endowed Professorship, said visual appeal is one of the factors producers of muscle foods—the industry term for meat and meat products—must address when

evaluating the shelf-life of their products.

“Take red meat, for example,” Schilling said. “People expect it to be red. But overtime, and especially under the lights of a grocery store display, it begins to oxidize and turn brown. It can still be perfectly safe to eat, but a consumer will pass it over for something that looks redder—a quality associated with freshness.”

That particular problem is one Schilling and the Mississippi State lab helped address for Johnsonville, best known for its sausage products.

“We helped then optimize antioxidants to help their sausage stay red, longer,” Schilling explained. “And that one change helped improve the practical shelf life of their product and prevent an edible—but less visually appealing—product from becoming food waste.”

Travis Selby, Johnsonville’s vice president for research and development, said the partnership with Mississippi State University has been a great resource for the Wisconsinbased company. Though it has in-house scientists—including some Bulldog alumni— he said MSU provides much needed outside validation for their findings, as well as additional minds and specialized equipment that can more thoroughly study specific problems.

Professor Wes Schilling (right) and lab manager Sawyer Smith, a graduate students, coordinate with companies seeking Mississippi State’s assistance in product research and facilitate the lab’s activities.

“Dr. Schilling and his understanding and appreciation for what Johnsonville does, as well as the resources and capabilities that MSU has, keep us coming back to Mississippi State,” Selby explained. “It gives us a fresh set of eyes and an outside perspective to help solve problems.

“The ability to have top-bench research and sensory and processing testing all in one location is very beneficial to us,” he continued. “Partnering with MSU also allows us to network with students for potential internships and job opportunities.”

Schilling said industry partnerships, like the one with Johnsonville, are essential to the continued growth and viability of the Muscle Foods and Sensory Lab by not only keeping faculty in the know with current industry issues but also giving students opportunities for hands-on, applied learning.

“Our students leave with real-world experience on how to conduct studies and analyze results, and that’s what sets our graduates apart,” Schilling said. “And when our alumni have successful careers in the industry, they come back and speak to our students or bring their own projects to our department. It becomes a network, a cycle, that makes us stronger and stronger over time.”

While “muscle foods” is in the name of the lab, both Schilling and Smith are quick to note that it’s not only meat being studied. Students have the opportunity to work on projects from all areas of the food industry— including alternative proteins, produce, and dairy. They also benefit from access to Mississippi State’s robust entrepreneurial support system to develop their own products.

Schilling said he is proud to have Mississippi State positioned as a resource for the food industry, and he is equally proud to know Bulldogs are invested in making quality products that are available and remain accessible for all markets across the country.

“We in the Muscle Foods and Sensory Laboratory are open to working with any type of food product,” Schilling said. “We will work to continue making food last longer, be more nutritious and be of higher quality, Such innovations are important to improve sustainability and help feed the world’s growing population.” n

Debunking Food-Industry Myths

The U.S. food industry impacts everyone multiple times a day. Still, despite its importance to daily life, misconceptions abound—from how food is grown and transported to its additives and packaging.

Wes Schilling, who holds the Reed Family Endowed Professorship as director of the Food Science Innovation Hub, said people shouldn’t rely on social media or influencers for accurate information about what they eat. Instead, he suggests exploring university and Extension service publications, which contain fact-based, science-backed data, or working with a registered dietitian to better understand their food choices.

Below he tackles five common food myths he has come across in his work.

MYTH: Frozen foods are less nutritious and lower quality than fresh.

THE FACTS: Commercially frozen foods are frozen at such low temperatures that it’s like they’re frozen in time at their fresh state, preserving their quality with little to no effect on the nutritive value.

MYTH: The red liquid in packaged beef is blood.

THE FACTS: The red fluid seen in beef packaging is simply water and myoglobin—a protein that produces a red pigment in the presence of the oxygen contained in the muscle.

MYTH: Natural foods are healthier foods.

THE FACTS: A “natural” label on food simply means that all ingredients in the product were derived from nature. It does not have any bearing on how healthy the product is.

MYTH: Natural flavor compounds are healthier than synthetic flavor compounds. THE FACTS: There is generally no difference between natural and synthetic flavor compounds. One is derived from nature and the other through chemical processes, but the resulting compounds can be identical.

MYTH: Nut or plant-based drinks are “milk.”

THE FACTS: Milk is an opaque, white fluid that is rich in fat and protein, and secreted by female mammals. Beverages made from soy, oats, almonds or other plants and nuts are produced by soaking and grinding the plant material to create a liquid.

For demonstrating longstanding commitment to the field of psychology, Mississippi State University’s Michael Nadorff, a professor and director of the MSU Department of Psychology’s clinical Ph.D. program, is the recipient of a prestigious Friend of APTC award from the Association of Psychology Training Clinics, an annual honor presented to educators who provide unwavering support while training future psychologists.

research achievements. She will receive more than $150,000 for research and education materials in the first three years of her fiveyear fellowship.

Ryan A. Folk, an assistant professor in the MSU Department of Biological Sciences and herbarium curator, helped author a paper published in Nature

Also MSU’s William and Sherry Berry Endowed Chair, he was elected to the IAABE at the International Commission of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, or CIGR, conference.

MSU’s Merrill Warkentin, the James J. Rouse Endowed Professor of Information Systems, has been named an Association for Information Systems Fellow. A William L. Giles Distinguished Professor in the College of Business, he received this prestigious international designation for his outstanding contributions to research, teaching and service in the field of information systems.

Communications examining RNS, which allows plants to access atmospheric nitrogen converted into usable forms through a mutualistic relationship with soil bacteria. He joins investigators at the University of Florida and an international team.

Ridwan Ayinla, a doctoral student in the College of Forest Resources, will use a $5,000 award to expand his research into green batteries and supercapacitors powered by biomass—the harnessing and storing of energy from agricultural waste products. The sustainable bioproducts student is one of only four graduate students in the country to receive the Electrochemical Society’s summer fellowship to allow for expanded research.

Galen Collins, assistant professor in MSU’s Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology, co-authored a groundbreaking paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, or PNAS, in April. It details new mathematical tools that reveal how quickly cell proteins break down and are poised to uncover deeper insights into how we age.

Sarajane SmithEscudero, a master’s student in the Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures, is a selection for the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program in Anthropology. She was chosen as an outstanding graduate student with the potential to be a high-achieving scientist with demonstrated potential for significant

Researchers in the university’s Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station—in collaboration with the University of NebraskaLincoln’s Nebraska Water Center and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service— have produced the world’s first cotton quality module—a part of a larger forecasting tool—allowing cotton producers to better monitor crop quality under changing environmental conditions. K. Raja Reddy, MSU Department of Plant and Soil Sciences research professor, helped develop a computer application that simulates the processes affecting cotton plant growth and yield.

Alex Thomasson, professor and head of MSU’s Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, is joining the prestigious International Academy of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering.

Cory Gallo, an MSU landscape architecture professor, was honored as a new fellow with a national professional society in recognition of exceptional accomplishments throughout his career. Gallo, the assistant dean of MSU’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and assistant director of the university’s Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, has been elected to the American Society of Landscape Architects’ Council of Fellows. Members are selected based on their contributions to the landscape architecture field.

Angelle Tanner, an MSU associate professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, serves as the science-PI on the Landolt Mission, part of the NASA Astrophysics Pioneers program. She is managing a sub-grant of $300,000 for the collaborative $19.5 million Landolt NASA Space Mission that will put an artificial star in orbit around the Earth.

Richard Harkess, professor in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, is a selection for fellow of the American Society for Horticultural Science for his outstanding contributions to the field of horticulture. Harkess has been an integral part of MSU’s horticulture program for almost three decades. At the land-grant institution, he has been recognized for his teaching, advising and service with several honors.

CHAMPIONS OF THE SEC

Mississippi State Soccer celebrated its first SEC Regular Season Championship on the way to hosting the NCAA tournament and matching a program-best finish by reaching the Sweet 16. Record-breaking attendance by the Bulldog faithful throughout the season helped fuel the program’s rise to national prominence, and that excitement will continue to feed the growth of the program under the leadership of new Head Coach Nick Zimmerman, who has served on the Bulldog coaching staff since 2019.

‘UNLIKE ANY OTHERS’ MSU Shelter Medicine Program combats pet overpopulation with top-tier, unique education

By Mary Pollitz, Photos by Grace Cockrell and Tom Thompson

As a fourth-year Mississippi State Doctor of Veterinary Medicine student, Camryn Carlson has completed more than 100 solo surgeries.

That number will continue to grow during her time in the university’s Shelter Medicine Program. This mandatory rotation accounts for the majority of DVM students’ surgical experience, as they complete an average of 55 spay and neuter surgeries for rescues and shelters statewide during the two weeks.

Even though the students’ rotation is short, the program itself runs yearround, accommodating the state’s high demand for spay and neuter services. Some students, like Carlson, opt for additional rotations with the program.

Carlson said she was nervous the first few days as she completed a series of spay and neuter surgeries, but her nerves calmed with each procedure.

“It’s scary at first, but within a week I built my confidence,” the Cordova, Tennessee, native said. “The way they teach and coach you, you really catch on quickly.”

Dr. Jake Shivley, Shelter Medicine service chief, spearheads the program, overseeing medical services for the animals while mentoring future veterinarians through hands-on surgical experience. The program operates efficiently, providing spays and neuters nine days out of every two weeks.

Shivley said the program has three missions: help with pet

overpopulation, increase likelihood of adoption and provide handson surgical experience to future veterinarians.

“Our students are exposed to the problems those animals are experiencing,” he said. “They see the overwhelming effects of pet overpopulations, especially in our state. They also see the struggles that animal shelters have to get those pets adopted.”

Shivley, an MSU DVM graduate, works hand-in-hand with program founder Dr. Phil Bushby to provide students with high-quality education and lift financial burdens from animal shelters. During the program’s early years, Shivley—then Bushby’s student—completed his first surgery under his mentor’s guidance.

“When I was a student, I only performed two days of surgery,” Shivley said. “It was a phenomenal experience. The program has grown immensely, and it’s an honor to carry on Dr. Bushby’s legacy. Looking back, it was incredible. Seeing how much our students achieve now: It’s mind-blowing and a cool thing to be a part of.”

HOW IT BEGAN

Bushby, who holds the Marcia Lane Endowed Chair in Humane Ethics and Animal Welfare as a semiretired MSU veterinarian, founded the renowned MSU Shelter Medicine Program in the 1990s. He was inspired by a career-defining internship at the Henry Berg Memorial Hospital

"I almost feel like I have a higher comfort level than some practicing doctors I’ve worked with outside of MSU because of the way they’re teaching it here."

~ Camryn Carlson

Camryn Carlson, a fourth-year DVM student at Mississippi State, takes a moment with a furry patient aboard the mobile veterinary unit. With over 100 solo surgeries completed, she’s gained unparalleled hands-on experience through the university's Shelter Medicine Program, which provides free spay and neuter services to shelters across the state. Scan the QR code below to learn more about her experience at MSU.

of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in New York. There, more than 50 years ago, he witnessed the harsh realities of pet overpopulation, massive euthanasia and the urgent need for widespread spay and neuter initiatives.

At the time, the ASPCA hospital cared for animals from all five New York City boroughs, taking in hundreds of animals a day. It was unmanageable, Bushby recalled. If anything was wrong with a dog or cat— from being heartworm positive to simple tarter build up on teeth—the veterinarians were instructed to place it on a list to be euthanized.

“It sounds cold and heartless, but there’s no animal-care facility that could take that number of intakes,” he said. “I can remember the day we scheduled 50 animals in a row for euthanasia. In the year of my internship, they euthanized more than 130,000 stray dogs and cats. That statistic was always there in my mind. That haunts you, but that’s also how this all started.”

After arriving in Starkville in 1978, Bushby dedicated his career to educating MSU veterinary students about pet overpopulation and urging the future veterinarians to advocate for shelter animals.

In the 1990s, DVM student Sandy Kerr Thomas, who volunteered with the Columbus-Lowndes Humane Society, urged Bushby to help the shelter with over–crowding. This question, combined with Bushby’s advocacy for shelter animals, brought life to the expansive and impactful DVM Shelter Medicine Program.

SHELTER MED EXPANSION

The program was able to expand and start making a statewide impact in 2006. Through a series of gifts and grants, the university purchased two Mobile Veterinary Clinics to enable Bulldog vets and students to travel the state performing spay and neuter procedures at no cost to shelters and rescues. For the next 13 years, DVM students performed those surgeries in various locations until the COVID-19 pandemic parked the mobile clinics permanently.

This change stationed the Shelter Medicine Program in Starkville, which helped it grow and operate more efficiently from its homebase on the MSU campus.

Now, shelters and rescues travel to Starkville, where DVM students perform those surgeries—still at no cost, thanks to financial support from generous donors across the country—many of whom have never set foot on MSU’s campus but still choose to support the mission of Shelter Medicine because of its impact. Though the mobile units no longer travel, they are still used as surgical rooms for students to perfect their skills throughout these rotations.

MSU’s CVM tackles pet overpopulation in layers—first by partnering with nearly 30 shelters and rescues statewide to provide free spay and neuters, then by graduating veterinary students who understand shelter dynamics and the importance of spays and neuters and graduating veterinarians with unparalleled surgical experience, confidence and competence.

Although Bushby retired from the university in 2014, he still works part-time alongside his former students, who are now shelter medicine faculty, as they continue to mentor and shadow students through surgeries, hoping to grow the university’s impact on shelter animals year after year.

“We do about 8,000 surgeries a year for free,” Shivley said. “We’re providing a service to our community, our shelters and our rescues.”

Current students complete up to 10 surgeries a day—spaying and neutering dogs, cats and even the occasional rabbit— something Shivley says is a rare feat for most veterinary students nationwide.

“We like to graduate veterinarians who know how to do surgeries, I know this sounds crazy but there are vet students all across the country only doing half a spay or maybe just one before they graduate,” he said. “For the two weeks our students in the Shelter Medicine Program—which is just a small part of their overall education—they average about 55 surgeries or more. It’s a machine we have perfected and it’s well-oiled.”

MSU VS. EVERYBODY

For MSU students, having this level of surgical experience seems normal; however, that’s not the case. It wasn’t until Carlson traveled out of state for an externship that she realized the quality and level of expertise she gained from her studies.

"We do about 8,000 surgeries a year for free. We’re providing a service to our community, our shelters, and our rescues."

~ Dr. Jake Shivley

TOP LEFT: MSU veterinary student Camryn Carlson performs a gentle exam on a kitten, showcasing the hands-on training and compassionate care at the heart of the Shelter Medicine Program.

MIDDLE LEFT: The state-of-the-art mobile veterinary clinic provides a fully equipped space for surgeries and exams.

BOTTOM LEFT: Camryn Carlson opens the door to MSU’s mobile veterinary clinic, preparing to deliver lifesaving services to animals in need.

TOP RIGHT: Dr. Phil Bushby guides a veterinary student through a surgery inside the mobile clinic, providing practical experience and mentorship in shelter medicine.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Dr. Jake Shivley conducts a thorough exam on a black puppy, ensuring its health and readiness for adoption.

"The impact is not just in the 30 shelters we work with—it’s what’s happening in the shelters and rescues our graduates are working with. We don’t know that number, and we never will."

~ Dr. Phil Bushby

“It really reinforces how amazing this experience is. I almost feel like I have a higher comfort level than some practicing doctors I’ve worked with outside of MSU because of the way they’re teaching it here,” she said. “It’s rare. I don’t know of any other school that gives you this type of experience, and I think that’s solely because of the Shelter Medicine Program.”

Shivley and the CVM team create a professional atmosphere where students learn to navigate stressful situations and produce positive outcomes.

“It’s a really good environment. Vet school is a very high-stress place, and Shelter Medicine is a change of pace,” Carlson said. “They are very friendly and very professional. It’s a safe environment to build your confidence. We are recognized as future doctors, and it’s a respectful group of people. You get more comfortable with the skills you’ve been working on the past few years. It’s a very low-stress environment in something that can obviously be very stressful.”

THE IMPACT

While the statistics tell a compelling story, Bushby knows the impact is much larger than those numbers dictate. Since

Shelter Medicine’s inception, DVM students have performed more than 126,000 spays and neuters—significantly increasing those animals’ chances of finding permanent homes and reducing pet-overpopulation by astronomical numbers.

Just one spayed or neutered cat can prevent more than 2 million offspring over the course of eight years. By performing these surgeries, the projected pet population decreases, and spayed or neutered animals are 80% more likely to be adopted.

“The numbers of animals impacted and surgical hours gained by students are significant, but just as important is something immeasurable—the experience and confidence we give our students before they receive their degrees,” Bushby said. “We graduate students who understand, who have been in shelters and worked in shelters, and who go into their communities and understand the issues they face. How many surgeries have they done since they graduate? That’s the real number.

“The impact is not just in the 30 shelters we work with, it’s more,” he continued. “It’s what’s happening in the shelters and rescues our graduates the past 30 years are working with. We don’t know that number and we never will.” n

LEFT: Dr. Phil Bushby's career has been dedicated to compassionate veterinary care and improving animal welfare. RIGHT: Veterinary professionals and students perform spay and neuter surgeries as part of MSU's Shelter Medicine Program, with a mission of reducing pet overpopulation and increasing the likelihood of pet adoption.

College of Veterinary Medicine Partners with Local Humane Society

Another facet of the Mississippi State University’s Shelter Medicine Program is the on-going five-year partnership with the Oktibbeha County Humane Society, which enhances students’ educational opportunities while providing targeted assistance to the local shelter.

Dr. Jake Shivley, MSU’s Shelter Medicine service chief, also oversees this partnership and ensures students provide shelter animals with the utmost care. By having a portion of their education take place in an actual shelter, these students are exposed to the issues plaguing the community while providing necessary medical care.

“Students are placed in a realworld, authentic learning environment where they are part of providing much-needed services to OCHS and the community,” he said. “They are also getting real-world medical and

surgical experience in the process. This type of service-learning is highly impactful for their learning now and for their future careers.”

OCHS Executive Director Michele Anderson understands the value of these doctors-in-training interacting with the shelter’s animals and staff. Through this partnership, the CVM provides 16 hours of medical assistance and two days of surgical care to the shelter each week.

“It benefits students through hands-on learning experiences, supports the shelter with essential veterinary care and raises important awareness about animal welfare issues,” Anderson said. “Veterinary students, under the supervision of CVM faculty, perform health exams, administer vaccines and preventatives, and help provide care for injured and sick shelter animals.”

In addition to being the brainchild behind the Shelter Medicine Program,

Dr. Phil Bushby—a semi-retired MSU veterinarian and professor—also started the partnership with OCHS to ensure local animals’ needs were being met.

“Dr. Bushby has been instrumental in the establishment and success of this partnership,” Anderson said.

“His leadership and dedication have helped shape this vital program.”

MSU’s partnership with OCHS operates through the support of donors, and this year’s operations were funded through a gift from MSU alumna Dr. Rebecca Burcham.

The university’s partnership with the humane society will continue to operate with the help of donors who support the CVM and its mission.

“Dr. Burcham’s generous gift was crucial in ensuring the continuation of the partnership and that these vital services remain available, benefiting countless animals and the broader community,” Anderson said. n

A cat from the Oktibbeha County Humane Society is screened for ringworm by a team from the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine's Shelter Medicine Program, which provides vital care to area animal shelters and gives MSU students hands-on experience in shelter medicine.

The Surprise of a Lifetime

THREE MSU EDUCATION

ALUMNI

RECEIVE NATIONAL MILKEN EDUCATOR AWARD

By Bethany Shipp,

Photos Submitted

When fifth grade math teacher Krissy Long walked into a schoolwide assembly to celebrate Neshoba Central Elementary’s A rating, she had no idea the surprise of a lifetime was in store.

The entire school was gathered to hear from the interim state superintendent of education, who commended the school on recent accomplishments. However, when Milken Educator Awards Vice President Stephanie Bishop took the stage, it became clear that one teacher’s life was about to change.

She explained one special teacher in the crowd was about to receive the national Milken Educator Award,

“I try to take all my standards and match them to a life skill, so my kids know what they’re learning is meaningful and they have to do it to be successful citizens.” — Krissy Long

KRISSY LONG

which includes a $25,000 cash prize. That special teacher was none other than Long, a Mississippi State elementary education alumna.

“When she called my name, my heart just stopped,” Long said. “All those years of hard work and dedication had not gone unseen or unappreciated.

“I walked out with this giant check, like what you see in commercials,” Long continued. “We were in awe that our hard work was recognized on a national level, not just in our small community.”

Known as the “Oscars of Teaching,” the prestigious award is given annually by the Milken Foundation to honor outstanding educators across the country. It

“The way I see it, I just do my job every day. But it means so much to know that somebody thinks I am doing something good.”

— Anna Katherine Davis

includes an all-expenses-paid forum in Los Angeles and mentorship opportunities in addition to the cash award.

Long was not the only Bulldog elementary education alumna to receive the award in 2024. Anna Katherine Davis of Houston High School and Jennifer Hite of Pearl Upper Elementary were also surprised with the recognition during schoolwide assemblies at their respective schools.

“When Stephanie Bishop began talking about the award, people started looking at me because I was already District Teacher of the Year,” Davis said. “But I was thinking, ‘I don’t know why they think it’s me because I don’t think I’m any more deserving than anybody else.’ So, when they called my name, I was shocked. Everybody started clapping and cheering, and then a news station interviewed me.

ANNA KATHERINE DAVIS

“The way I see it, I just do my job every day,” Davis continued. “But it means so much to know that somebody thinks I am doing something good.”

When Hite’s name was called at her school, she says her jaw dropped.

“I think there’s actually a picture of me with my mouth wide open,” Hite said. “What made it so sweet is that my own son was in the fourth grade and got to be sitting there watching at the same time.”

Hite says the Milken Foundation’s selection process for the award is very secretive.

“They told us that the Milken Award is not something that somebody can just nominate you for,” Hite said. “They do research on you for several years, and you’ll never know how the ball got rolling on your selection.”

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE CLASSROOM AND BEYOND

Davis teaches math to ninth-12th grade students at Houston High School, where she sponsors the senior play and homecoming court, coaches the archery team, drives a bus and serves on various committees. She is also the goto teacher among her colleagues when it comes to math and technology. During the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Davis embraced technology and demonstrated her commitment to finding innovative ways to keep her students engaged and on track, essentially creating a virtual classroom.

“I started using Google Meet and looking into other programs, like Kami, to help my students see on their own screens what I was writing during the lessons,” Davis said. “As I figured things out, I gave the other math teachers different options to help them with the online learning challenges.

“Prior to the pandemic, I printed all kinds of stuff. Now, I do almost everything online in my classroom and use different programs, like Quizlet and Mastery Connect, to engage my students on their computers, but I still have them take notes in a spiral notebook,” Davis added.

At Pearl Upper Elementary, Hite cultivates a love for science among her fifth grade students while serving as the science chair and a mentor to first-year educators and student teachers. She is also one of two teachers in charge of the student council and served on the review committee for the state science standards and several data and content review committees for the state science test. With a stronger focus on science in fifth grade compared to younger grades, Hite surpasses conventional teaching methods to introduce her students to “a little bit of every area of science,” creating a fun, interactive experience.

“Science is something that all kids are naturally curious about, so I feel like I’m in a special position

where I get to be their favorite subject’s teacher," Hite explained. "I try to play off of that a little bit. Sometimes I wear a costume with our lessons or have the kids act something out. I try to make anything I can more tangible, more concrete for them but try to have a lot of fun, too.”

In addition to teaching fifth grade math at Neshoba Central Elementary, Long serves as the math chair and leads professional development workshops for new and veteran teachers. With a passion for hands-on learning, she incorporates real-life scenarios into her lessons to help her students grasp practical applications, such

as using menus from a local Mexican restaurant to calculate bills.

“I try to take all my standards and match them to a life skill, so my kids know what they’re learning is meaningful and they have to do it to be successful citizens,” Long said.

“I read somewhere in college that if you repeat something 13 times, you have it memorized,” Long continued. “That stuck with me, so I write songs–little chants and rhymes for them to use with motions to help them memorize and love learning.”

“Science is something that all kids are naturally curious about, so I feel like I’m in a special position where I get to be their favorite subject’s teacher.”

— Jennifer Hite

A COMMON MAROON AND

WHITE THREAD

Through the Milken Foundation, the three MSU alumna have become friends and are working together to develop an Activating Milken Educators, or AME, program in Mississippi to address a pressing educational need in the state.

“It’s been neat to meet the other Milken Educators and already have so much in common,” Hite said. “Now we can be cheerleaders for each other across the state.”

One thing Hite and Davis have in common from their undergraduate experience at Mississippi State is a favorite professor: Rebecca Robichaux-Davis, an elementary education faculty member and graduate coordinator in MSU’s Department of Teacher Education and Leadership.

“All of my teachers at Mississippi State made sure our classroom management skills were where they needed to be,” Davis said. “Thinking back, Dr. Robichaux-Davis is the one who stands out. She really brought math to life for me by showing different ways to teach math, the skills needed and the background for math.”

Hite fondly remembers Robichaux-Davis’s fun, hands-on activities for math.

“I loved going to her class and learning some of the methods that she used to teach her students because they were engaging,” Hite said. “As a science teacher now, I have the most fun teaching whenever I’m giving them a hands-on way to learn.”

Long attended MSU’s campus in Meridian, which she says provided the best foundation for her to succeed in life.

“As a dyslexic learner and an ADHD student, learning was very hard for me growing up,” Long said. “Once I got to MSU-Meridian, my professors taught me how to use my disability as a strength.

“Professor McCarra, who has since passed away, said something that will forever stick with me,” Long continued. “She said, ‘Building relationships with your students is the most important factor in becoming a successful educator.’ I have since based my entire education experience and my mission statement as an educator off her statement.”

Teresa Jayroe, dean of MSU’s College of Education, said she is immensely proud to have three alumni from the college receive the prestigious award this year.

“Their accomplishments highlight the quality of our nationally accredited teacher education programs and our commitment to excellence in education,” she said. “We are very proud to have contributed to their professional journey and celebrate their success in enriching the lives of their students.” n

JENNIFER HITE

EMBARK

Traveling Bulldogs 2025 Trips

The MSU Alumni Association sponsors trips across the globe through the Traveling Bulldogs program. Itineraries are booked through 2025. Explore our website for more details at alumni.msstate.edu/travel or contact the Alumni Association at 662.325.7000.

Invite your friends and family, and start crossing destinations off your travel bucket list!

Scan Me

Booking Trips for 2025 *

MARCH 2025

Panama Potpourri

Portrait of Italy

Hawaii Three Island

Adventure

APRIL 2025

Dutch Waterways

Village Life France

Mysteries of Peru and Machu Picchu

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms

The Inland Sea of Japan and South Korea

Kentucky Derby

Easy Company

Masters of the Air

MAY 2025

Enchanting Gems of Austria

Great European Journey

Flavors of the Spanish Coast

JUNE 2025

Apulia – Undiscovered

Italy

Enchanting Ireland

The Galapagos Islands

National Parks & Lodges of the Old West

JULY 2025

Radiant Alaska

Danube Delights with Munich

Stunning Scotland

AUGUST 2025

Island Life | Greek Isles and Ephesus

Canadian Rockies Explorer

Cape Cod & the Islands

SEPTEMBER 2025

Switzerland's Alpine Majesty

National Parks of the Southwest

Flavors of Tuscany

The Battle of Normandy

OCTOBER 2025

Mediterranean Mélange

Egypt & the Eternal Nile

Mackinac Island, The Grand Hotel & Niagara Falls

Victory in the Pacific: Japan and Okinawa

NOVEMBER 2025

Iceland and the Northern Lights

Douro River Voyage

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

DECEMBER 2025

Holiday Markets Along the Rhine

Christkindlmärkte Along the Danube River

Montreal & Quebec City Christmas Markets

*All trips and dates are subject to change. Visit our website for the most current information.

Influential MSU Alumnus

NAMED TO CEO HALL OF FAME

Richard C. Adkerson, whose dedication to helping Mississippi State excel in academics and athletics has sparked growth across campus, was named to Institutional Investor’s All-America Executive Team CEO Hall of Fame.

Awarded by a leading international business publication, this honor recognizes chief executives who have been voted top of their sector at least six times. Adkerson, who is CEO and chair of the board for Freeport-McMoRan, has earned the top spot in the Metals and Mining category nine times.

“DO THE RIGHT THING, AND DON’T SCREW-UP. THOSE HAVE BEEN ‘WATCHWORDS’ FOR MY CAREER.”

Through his success in the business world, Adkerson has been named to numerous boards and committees both for industry interests and community service, including many at MSU. He was named the university’s Alumnus of the Year in 2011 and earned an Honorary Doctor of Science from MSU in 2010.

~ Richard C. Adkerson

When asked by the publication's editor to share advice for the next generation, he recalled something he was told at age 33 when he was selected to lead accounting firm Arthur Andersen’s global oil practice.

“Do the right thing, and don’t screw-up,” he recalled in speaking with Institutional Investor. “Those have been ‘watchwords’ for my career.”

Earlier in 2024, Adkerson was named to the National Mining Hall of Fame.

Adkerson has helmed FreeportMcMoRan, a leading international metals company, since 2003. He joined the company in 1989 following his early career with Arthur Andersen and Co. He was also an accounting fellow with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

A 1969 accounting and 1970 MBA graduate, he is the namesake of MSU’s Adkerson School of Accountancy in the College of Business. Over the years, he and his family foundation have supported the university through generous financial gifts, including support for online graduate-level degree programs, renovations to Bulldog baseball and basketball facilities, and endowed scholarship funds. n

LIVE IN YOUR LIVING ROOM

MSU alumnus brings sports biggest events to the small screen

By Mary Pollitz, Photos Submitted

On a cool November morning in 2007, recent Mississippi State graduate Terrence Johnson stood on the sidelines of Scott Field and focused his camera before the University of Alabama center hiked the ball.

Working as a freelancer for Jefferson Pilot Sports, he followed the play action and held his camcorder steady until MSU defensive back Anthony Johnson intercepted the Tide’s quarterback for a 100-yard pick six just seconds before halftime.

As the Bulldog’s No. 11 took off toward the endzone, Johnson matched his stride, step for step—camera bouncing on his shoulder—in an effort to preserve a Maroon and White memory. That game, in which MSU football took down its Highway 82 nemesis, is one that will be relived for generations.

The play still resonates through fans’ stories, radio and replays.

“I ran from the opposite side all the way to the end zone,” Johnson recalls. “I don’t know what my camera

shots looked like or even if we used the footage, but I was just so excited when he caught that ball.”

Nearly 20 years later, Johnson now edits the footage to capture those pivotal sports moments. As a contractor with CBS, he manages the instant replay clips for millions of viewers—having covered big sports moments including the Olympic Games, Stanley Cups, World Series and women’s and men’s NBA championships.

Still, before the start of 2024, he had one more box to check.

“It was the only one I hadn’t done,” he said. “I had been waiting on it.”

In February, Johnson was one of 38 replay operators at Super Bowl LVIII who set up shop in 53-foot trailers outfitted with televisions, monitors and other equipment stationed beneath the field of the Super Bowl in Las Vegas.

He, along with nearly 300 broadcasting personnel, successfully aired what was rated as the most-watched televised event since the 1969 moon landing.

Johnson said he loved every intense moment.

“I’ve always loved high-pressure environments. Being able to turn things around fast at MSU gave me that experience,” he said. “I love the environment of the game and that I can be artistic and help bring the energy of the stadium into people’s homes."

Loyal Friends We’ll Always Be

After finishing the broadcast for Super Bowl LVIII, Johnson laid on the football field and thought about the experiences that brought him to this broadcasting milestone. With confetti still in piles around him, he thought of his college mentors Karyn Brown and Bennie Ashford.

“Karyn allowed me to produce and direct. She gave us experience producing shows,” he said. “She literally let you go as far as you wanted to go to learn the business. She would walk you through and fill in the gaps in what you were missing but still gave you the latitude to figure things out. I just don’t think there are many programs out there that give you those opportunities.”

Brown remembers seeing Johnson in class and quickly realizing he had the four traits necessary to succeed at an elite level.

“He sought every opportunity here, stayed humble, asked me questions and never acted as if he knew all the answers,” she said. “You don’t often see the fruits of your labor right away in education, but to see him make it big? That’s what we want for all our students—to find a career they love and can excel in.”

Johnson recalled many critical conversations while walking with Ashford from supply closets to sporting events. Though Johnson thought those experiences were casual, Ashford, who worked as a producer with the University Television Center at the time, knew then

he was playing a part in Johnson’s education and broadcasting experience.

“I always told students to be a sponge,” said Ashford, who recently retired as an associate athletic director with Hail State Productions, Bulldog athletics’ broadcasting arm. “A lot of learning starts by just listening. Terrence did. He has this contagious personality. He enjoys work, can master the technology and really works well on a team. It’s amazing to see Terrence able to ascend because of his passion.”

For Johnson, that MSU bond doesn’t stop with his former classmates, professors or friends. It’s all Bulldogs. In addition to the Super Bowl, Johnson covered several Kansas City Chief games—watching former MSU players Chris Jones and Willie Gay play. With several MSU graduates playing throughout the NFL, Johnson always checks the roster and wears maroon and white whenever a fellow Bulldog is taking the field.

“There was this one game up in New England, the Patriots were playing the Cowboys,” Johnson recalled. “Dak Prescott walked through the compound and saw my Mississippi State shirt and gave me a fist bump. It was quick, but it was an acknowledgment of that Mississippi State bond. He played his tail off in that game, too.”

A New NFL

The 2023-24 NFL season captured higher than average viewership thanks to worldwide pop star Taylor Swift, who began a relationship with Kansas City Chiefs’ tight end

Travis Kelce. While Johnson walked the field before kickoffs this season, he said he noticed the environmental shift.

“You could literally see the effect that Taylor Swift had on the NFL in real time,” he said. “It was amazing, the number of fathers and daughters in Travis Kelce jerseys. You could just tell there was a totally new fan base.”

That “new fan base” for the NFL spurred new interest in Johnson’s life and career as well. His nieces, who previously had no interest in his broadcasting career, started to watch games, ask him questions and wanted to understand what their uncle did.

“Growing up in the South, watching football is a family thing,” he said. “It wasn’t a gender thing. On weekends everybody watched the game, but to see some people who had no interest in sports at all now have a vested interest in how someone is playing on the field—seeing that transformation is really, really cool.”

Johnson was always passionate about sports broadcasting, originally wanting to be the one on camera. He admits that dream still is always with him but is thankful for how his university prepared him to pursue and excel in a field he loves.

“I knew I wanted to be in broadcast, but I just wasn’t exactly sure how to make it work,” he said. “I was always working on something in college—audio editing, my transitions, building video effects. A school like MSU, you can go as far as you want. There’s that opportunity to do anything." n

SETTING TRENDS

Gilbreath brings style to life at GQ magazine

Story by Carl Smith, Photo Submitted

Mississippi State alumna Haley Gilbreath has always been into fashion.

From sporting matching clothes and pacifiers as a young child to earning the Best Dressed senior superlative in high school, finding the right look comes natural for the Memphis, Tennessee, native. Now working as a fashion editor for Condé Nast’s renowned men’s fashion magazine GQ, she’s curating trends and inspiring style across the nation.

“My mother tells me I would change outfits four or five times a day when I was really young. Then in high school, I was the student who came to class in a full look, even if it meant standing out. I began to express myself through clothes,” she said. “I started to realize being in the fashion world was what would make me happy. Living in New York City and working in this industry keeps life very interesting.”

In her role, Gilbreath manages the confluence of personalities, brands, styles and the creative process, ensuring photoshoots not only happen from a production angle but also hit the high editorial standards set by the publication.

“Sometimes we’re working with someone who has impeccable personal style, and we want to draw that out and give it our own twist. For those newer to fashion, we might begin the styling process by showing a rack of clothes to try on and figuring out their likes and dislikes,” she said. “The goal is always to keep it natural and fun— to make talent feel comfortable and confident. Sometimes people surprise themselves when it comes to what they’re open to and willing to try.”

Along with the fast-paced and ever-changing nature of the editorial schedule, Gilbreath said she enjoys observing trends and putting her own unique touch on the day’s looks.

“We observe everything going on in fashion—from attending fashion shows to streetwear. The key is to form your own ideas from these observations,” she said. “I sometimes forget I’m playing such a role in trendsetting. If I think about it too much, it begins to sound like a lot of pressure.

“Each new project can be so different from the last one. Whether we’re working with athletes, a young musician or a legendary actor, it’s up to us to bring a character to life,” Gilbreath added. “This creative process

is what I love most. It’s exciting and intense, and there are always a lot of moving parts to it.”

Gilbreath began life as a Bulldog in 2012 when she enrolled as a fashion design and merchandising major in MSU’s School for Human Sciences. In addition to learning the ins and outs of the industry in class, she gained insight through study abroad in London, England, and while serving with the MSU Fashion Board, a student-group dedicated to all things fashion—from modeling, hair styling and makeup application to show production, lighting, photography and editorial coverage.

After a summer internship in New York City with luxury fashion retailer Moda Operandi, Gilbreath and her mother opened the doors to a Florida-based clothing shop in 2016, the same year Gilbreath earned her bachelor’s degree from MSU. While she enjoyed running the women’s beach-themed boutique, her New York City experience remained on her mind.

“Being able to get looks right off the runway, style and photograph them, and publish online for Moda Operandi—that was my first introduction to the editorial side, and I fell in love with it. I didn’t know you could do that for a living,” she said. “Florida was great, but I knew I wanted to get back to New York City. My opportunity came about unexpectedly in 2018. I didn’t exactly have a plan or much time to make one, but it was Condé Nast—that’s every fashion girl’s dream. I packed a bag, booked a one-way trip and had to figure it out. It really was God’s timing.”

Gilbreath said she’d like to continue growing in her role, “own the creative process” and garner a larger voice in fashion and style. To Bulldogs looking to start a career in the fashion world, she said students should get involved in campus groups and organizations, build their networks, be persistent in pursuing their goals and stay true to themselves.

“You never know where your peers are going in the world, which means you never know where your network can take you. On this journey, you must remember who you are and carry your values with you,” she said. “Sometimes things just fall into your lap, and you just go with it. I thought it would take me years to get somewhere big like Condé Nast. The way it came together early in my career was such a blessing.” n

“I SOMETIMES FORGET I’M PLAYING SUCH A ROLE IN TRENDSETTING. IF I THINK ABOUT IT TOO MUCH, IT BEGINS TO SOUND LIKE A LOT OF PRESSURE.”

~ HALEY GILBREATH

RURAL DOCTOR MANAGES HEALTH OF HIS COMMUNITY

By Bonnie Coblentz, Photos by Jonah Holland

Dr. Caleb Zumbro learned many lessons while in college at Mississippi State. One of the most lasting came not from a lecture hall, but the playground at vacation Bible school. There, he watched a 5-yearold conquer his fear of the slide and, finally, come down the chute alone.

“I told him how proud I was that he did it by himself, but he dragged me back to the slide and refused to go down again without me holding his hand,” Zumbro recalled. “I asked him why he wouldn’t do it again alone, and he sagely said, ‘Things are a lot more fun and less scary if you have someone to do them with.’”

Zumbro said that interaction stuck with him and is part of why he went back home to Franklin County as its first and only pediatrician.

"The pride I have in knowing I’m giving back to the community and improving it is a big part of what I do."

at the University of Mississippi Medical Center where he earned his medical degree. That double specialty makes him an important commodity in rural Mississippi, where 80 of Mississippi’s 82 counties are medically underserved. The Office of Mississippi Physician Workforce reports the Magnolia State has 67.4 primary care physicians per 100,000 population, compared to the national average of 94.7.

“I get to be the voice of health here, and everybody knows me,” Zumbro said.

“There’s not a lot of places where you get to practice old-school rural medicine where you do everything.”

~Dr. Caleb Zumbro

“I get to be there for sick kids and worried parents when times are scary and hard, and I can use the wisdom God has given me to make them better and calm their spirits,” Zumbro said.

A 2012 MSU chemical engineering graduate, Zumbro completed dual residencies in pediatrics and internal medicine

Zumbro, who is originally from Meadville, has worked at Franklin County Memorial Hospital and Clinics since 2022. He and his wife, Bonnie Zumbro from nearby Woodville in Wilkinson County, committed to working in the county before he finished medical school.

“When the hospital knew I was coming, they hired Holly Walker a year before I got here,” Zumbro said of the licensed practical nurse. “She set up a mobile clinic and used it to

administer vaccines. When I arrived, we began doing well-child visits, and we started using it as a mobile clinic.”

This doctor’s office on wheels is a big part of how Zumbro takes care of the health of local residents. Although he keeps weekly clinic hours in Bude and Meadville while another doctor handles most of the hospital work, he brings medical care to the front door of the schools.

“Our mobile clinic is a small RV outfitted with a typical exam room, draw station and point-of-care lab,” Zumbro said.

Parents can sign paperwork in advance through the school to authorize Zumbro to exam and treat their children. Often, he administers flu vaccines and allergy shots, but the school nurse can send patients to see the doctor if the consent form is on file.

“If a child is sick, the school nurse will call the parent to ask if their child can see the doctor, and I can go ahead and see the patient while the parent is on the way to pick them up,” Zumbro said. “For a lot of issues like an ear infection, we can save the parents from taking off work because we can see the child and prescribe an antibiotic, and the parents don’t have to leave work.”

Zumbro usually sees about seven kids per school visit and handles a lot of routine work managing their ongoing health needs.

Occasionally, a mobile clinic visit turns into a life-changing diagnostic session. By being able to treat children who may otherwise not be able to see a pediatrician, he has been able to recognize that one child’s repeated bouts with coughing were actually asthma, and a young boy’s testicular cancer was discovered at a very early stage.

Teachers also benefit from the mobile clinic as Zumbro sees them for ongoing health maintenance, such as blood pressure or diabetes management.

Zumbro basically inherited his practice from the previous generation of doctors who handled the medical needs of their community. His efforts have taken the practice in directions it had never gone before.

The result of long hours and a demanding schedule is he does not get to spend a lot of time with his own family. He and his wife have Amelia, 3, and Rowan, 1, but Bonnie Zumbro was prepared for this.

“We have quality time over quantity family time,” she said. “We knew what it would be like before we got married.”

Zumbro describes his work as exhausting but says it's a privilege he was called to.

“The pride I have in knowing I’m giving back to the community and improving it is a big part of what I do,” he said. “I get to be there for the community that I grew up in, and that gave me a lot of opportunities.

“My family has been here for generations. It means a lot to me to be able to come back and continue that legacy as a Franklin County family," Zumbro continued. “I get to take care of the adults I grew up with who took care of me as a baby and a child.” n

MSU ADDRESSING RURAL MEDICINE NEEDS

Dr. Caleb Zumbro was introduced to the medical field as a career by working as a counselor for the Rural Medical Science Scholars program offered by the Mississippi State Extension Service.

This summer program works to address the health needs of rural Mississippians by encouraging outstanding rising high school seniors to choose a career in a medical field and stay in the state. Students spend almost three weeks in campus classrooms and shadowing area health professionals to see firsthand what a career in medicine is like.

MSU started this program in 1998 after noting the problems created by limited access to health care. Each year, the program enlists stellar students to get a taste of college life while earning course credit and observing jobs in the medical field.

HELP RECRUIT STUDENTS TO MSU!

Your MSU experiences and love for the university can help recruit the next generation of Bulldogs. Through the Alumni Recruitment Network, you can put your passion into action through:

MAROON MAIL WRITERS

Write note cards to students who have received their acceptance letter to MSU.

BULLY'S COLLEGE FAIR CREW

Represent MSU at a college fair by hosting the MSU table and talking with prospective students and parents.

HAIL STATE EVENT REPS & SPEAKER AT AN EVENT

Represent MSU at a recruiting event, speak to a class or at a career day, host the MSU table at an academic signing day in Mississippi high schools, or present MSU scholarship awards during awards programs or graduations.

The picture of rural medical health care in the U.S. is bleak, but the MSU Extension RMSS program is annually narrowing that gap in Mississippi. Since its inception, 494 students have participated, and of those, 58 attended medical school. Today, 30 practice in primary care in the state, while others are still in medical or dental school.

Zumbro is part of a trend identified by the American Association of Medical Colleges that shows more than 75% of residents who received both their undergraduate and graduate medical education in Mississippi remain in the state to practice. This has tripled the Mississippi medical student graduation rate since 2005 and is the fourth best in the nation.

An expected 365 medical school students should graduate each year by 2028. n

STARKVILLE CLINIC

Find a Career You Believe In.

Youth Villages offers a continuum of behavioral health services to children in Mississippi, including intensive home-based treatment through MYPAC (Mississippi Youth Programs Around the Clock), Intercept®, and LifeSet™, which gives former foster youth a good start on successful adulthood.

Explore career opportunities across the state! (Biloxi, Brookhaven, Columbus, Greenwood, Hattiesburg, Hernando, Jackson, Meridian, Natchez, Vicksburg and Tupelo)

 Internships (includes spring, summer and fall)

 Full-time positions (includes both master’s and bachelor’s degrees)

We offer: youthvillages.org/careers

A comprehensive benefits package Tuition and licensure reimbursement The chance to grow professionally and be promoted

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Distinguished Bulldogs

Celebrating MSU's 2024 Alumni Fellows

Mississippi State University has welcomed a new group of distinguished Bulldogs into its prestigious Alumni Fellows program. Sponsored by the MSU Alumni Association and the university’s academic colleges, it recognizes alumni who have excelled in their respective careers.

The Alumni Fellows program has played a significant role in enhancing the educational experience at MSU by connecting students with successful alumni who offer practical insights and expertise from their professional journeys. The program serves as a platform that combines the experiences of professionals, the curiosity of students and the expertise of faculty members.

“The Alumni Association is proud to bring exceptional alumni back to our campus to share their experience and wisdom with our students,” said Jeff Davis, executive director of the MSU Alumni Association. “Since the Fellows program began in 1989, nearly 300 alumni have participated in this unique program, and each and every year, the class of fellows, their accomplishments, and the impact they have on our students is truly remarkable.”

The legacy of the Alumni Fellows program is the lifelong recognition granted to its honorees, further amplifying the spirit and pride of MSU’s extensive alumni network, which comprises over 165,000 individuals worldwide.

JAMES WORTH BAGLEY COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

Ronnie Allen Martin grew up in Byram and graduated from Mississippi State University in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering. He has since built a distinguished oil and natural gas career. He serves as senior managing director at FTI Consulting Inc. where he provides expert testimony in disputes and litigation related to oil and natural gas royalties, lease compliance, product prices, and contractual and regulatory interpretations. He and his wife, Jo, live in Magnolia, Texas.

Martin remains involved with MSU, serving on the Mechanical Engineering Advisory Board and the Bagley College of Engineering Dean’s Advisory Council. He and his wife, a fellow MSU graduate, are passionate supporters of the university. Their gifts have helped enhance the learning environment for students, including the renovation of the mechanical engineering student lounge, scholarships for mechanical engineering and archaeology students, and support for various student organizations and competition teams.

Martin also has been active in his community, serving as a leader with the Boy Scouts of America, a coach for youth athletic teams, and a member of his church and homeowners association committee. His career accolades include recognition as an MSU Department of Mechanical Engineering Distinguished Engineering Fellow and receiving the U.S. Department of Interior Corporate Leadership Award.

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES

Lea Ann Macknally has dedicated over 20 years to creating socially and environmentally conscious public spaces. As the president of Macknally Land Design since 2007, she leads the firm in project development and management, stakeholder engagement and environmental restoration. Her leadership has resulted in a portfolio of award-winning projects, including the nationally recognized

Railroad Park and the recently opened Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, where she and her husband reside.

Growing up in Kosciusko, Macknally developed a love for the outdoors through her family’s gardening and travel experiences. This early passion led her to MSU, where she earned a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture in 2000.

Macknally is an active leader in the landscape architecture community, serving as 2024 president of the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards and contributing to numerous nonprofit initiatives. Her expertise in sustainable design and inclusive engagement has shaped projects such as the Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children and One Pratt Park in Birmingham, Alabama, earning her several accolades from the American Society of Landscape Architects and other industry organizations.

COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE, ART AND DESIGN

Johnny L. “Ty” Crane III has leveraged his education to continue the legacy of his family’s business, F.L. Crane & Sons Inc. Crane grew up in Fulton and was deeply involved in the construction industry from a young age. His strong passion for the family business motivated him to pursue a Bachelor of Science in building construction science at MSU, a new program at the time that perfectly matched his career goals.

As the president of F.L. Crane & Sons Inc., Crane oversees all operations, focusing heavily on prefabrication. He and his corporate team manage 16 branches across the company, ensuring that each project upholds the high standards and quality that have become synonymous with the Crane name.

His wife, Chloe, has been alongside him throughout his career and has been pivotal to his success and involvement with various organizations and business endeavors. They are the proud parents of Edens and Jett Crane, and their family now resides in Tupelo. Crane’s wellknown leadership and commitment to excellence in the area have garnered him recognition as one of Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal’s Top 40 Under 40.

Crane remains deeply connected to MSU, serving on the Building Construction Science Advisory Board to help shape the future of the program that played a pivotal role in his professional development. His dedication to the construction industry is further evidenced by his involvement with the Mississippi Associated Builders and Contractors, Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry, and American Subcontractors Association.

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Dr. Katrina Poe-Johnson has built an impressive career in medicine and healthcare leadership and currently serves as executive director of University Health Services at MSU, where she is at the forefront of ensuring the Longest Student Health Center provides dedicated, quality healthcare and support to every patient.

Growing up in Kilmicheal, she was active in many extracurricular activities and an avid reader. Her passion for medicine began at age 10 when she received a toy medical kit for Christmas, sparking her journey toward becoming a doctor.

Poe-Johnson, a 1992 cum laude graduate with a Bachelor of Science in biological sciences, attributes much of her academic and professional success to MSU. She acknowledges the role of supportive professors and strong campus leadership in shaping her path. Returning to her alma mater in 2018 to practice medicine has allowed her to give back to the university.

She was recognized as one of Mississippi Business Journal’s Top 40 Business Leaders Under 40 and a finalist for the publication’s Mississippi Businesswoman of the Year. She also was named the 2005 Country Doctor of the Year by Staff Care Inc.

Poe-Johnson and her husband, Calvin Johnson, now residents of French Camp, began dating during their freshman year at MSU and have two sons. Their eldest, Calvin Dexter “C.J.” Johnson II, is a senior football player at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, while their younger son, James “Deuce” Johnson, is a sophomore at MSU.

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

James M. Robinson, a 1987 Mississippi State University business graduate, has built a successful career rooted in his passion for marketing. Growing up in Canton, Robinson always knew he wanted to pursue a business career, but it wasn’t until he took a marketing class at MSU that he found his true calling.

Currently residing in Birmingham, Alabama, and serving as president of P & R Metals Inc., Robinson’s leadership has steered the company to consistent placement among the top 100 largest private companies in the Birmingham metro area since 2019. The company has received accolades such as being named to the 2023 Middle Market 30 and ranking No. 151 among the largest private companies in Alabama in 2023. He also is a member of the Birmingham Chapter of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization, contributing to his community and industry.

Robinson maintains close ties with MSU, actively participating in the executive board of the College of Business and the Marketing/ Supply Chain Logistics Advisory Board, which he previously chaired. His deep affinity for the university, which he regards as a second home, drives his involvement, and he finds great joy in giving back, particularly through funding scholarships and engaging with students.

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

John Duke Passons of Gluckstatd, is a passionate educator and lifelong supporter of Mississippi State University. Born in Jackson, he has dedicated his career to shaping young minds and contributing to his community. While at MSU, he further nurtured his love for education before obtaining master’s and educational specialist degrees from Mississippi College.

His career in education spans over four decades, including 27 years as both a teacher and principal in the Jackson Public School System. Even after transitioning to administration, his love for the classroom never waned. After retiring from secondary education, he returned to teaching as a history instructor at Hinds Community College, where he taught for 16 years until his retirement in 2011.

His connection to Mississippi State University runs deep. Inspired by his older brother Peyton, who was the first in the family to attend MSU, he became a Bulldog fan at the age of 8 during frequent visits to Starkville. The campus atmosphere, traditions and spirit left a lasting impression on him.

His involvement with MSU has been extensive, from serving on the board of directors for the Bulldog Club to leading the Greater Jackson Bulldog Boosters as president. He also is a member of the MSU Alumni Association and a seasoned traveler with the Traveling Bulldogs. He also is active with the Madison County Lions Club and has held leadership roles within his neighborhood association and church.

COLLEGE OF FOREST RESOURCES

Jimmy Taylor of Fort Collins, Colorado, has had a distinguished wildlife research and management career and proudly served his country in the Armed Forces. He earned three degrees from MSU: a bachelor’s degree in forestry with a wildlife management concentration in 1992, a master’s degree in wildlife science in 1996, and a doctoral degree in forest resources with an emphasis in wildlife in 2001. Currently serving as the assistant director of the USDA, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Taylor supervises research project leaders focused on reducing human-wildlife conflicts in areas such as aquaculture protection, wildlife diseases and feral swine management, among others. He also plays a key role in shaping the center’s goals, policies and strategic plans, often taking the lead on special projects.

Growing up in Amory, Taylor developed a deep love for the outdoors, spending time hunting, fishing and camping with his father. His passion for wildlife biology solidified when he discovered he could turn his love for the outdoors into a rewarding career. As a Mississippi native, choosing MSU was a simple decision, particularly given the university’s renowned wildlife biology program designed to meet the qualifications for a federal wildlife biologist career and certification by The Wildlife Society, a path he desired at an early age.

Since 2002, he has been an adjunct faculty member in MSU’s College of Forest Resources, where he shares his knowledge and experience with

the next generation of wildlife professionals. He has been a member of The Wildlife Society since 1994, serving in numerous elected positions, working groups, and at the student, state and section levels. He served for 23 years in the Mississippi Army National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserve, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. He is a veteran of both Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE

Dr. Mirae Cade Wood of Franklin, Tennessee, is a boardcertified small animal surgeon providing specialized relief services for multiple veterinary hospitals across the Southeast. She performs diagnostics, executes complex surgical interventions and oversees postoperative management for conditions including soft tissue injuries, oncologic cases, orthopedic injuries and neurological conditions. Additionally, Wood collaborates with various specialists, such as oncologists, dermatologists and critical care experts, ensuring comprehensive care for the animals she treats.

Her fascination with science and anatomy was evident from an early age. Born in Kosciusko, she was raised in a family that encouraged her inquisitive nature. She was initially drawn to a career as a physician, but her passion for animals led her to veterinary medicine. Her enthusiasm to further her understanding of how different bodies function and her desire to interact with people reinforced her decision.

A lifelong Bulldog fan, Wood didn’t hesitate in choosing Mississippi State University. During her time at MSU, she earned a Bachelor of Science in microbiology before pursuing a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. Passionate professors played a crucial role in guiding her toward specializing in small animal surgery and anatomy, laying the groundwork for her career.

Wood has received numerous accolades, including the Mississippi Veterinary Medical Association Companion Animal Award and prestigious teaching awards from the University of Missouri, where she completed her residency. Her dedication to the veterinary profession also is evident in her community, where she mentors smallanimal interns and surgical residents and actively participates in various veterinary societies. n

Bulldogs Reunited

CELEBRATING MSU’S LEGACY ACROSS GENERATIONS

FAMOUS MAROON BAND REUNION

Famous Maroon Band alumni performed alongside current members during the halftime show as MSU hosted Toledo. The band annually hosts an alumni performance to encourage former members to return to campus and their marching-band roots.

SOCCER REUNION

The MSU soccer team held a reunion this past fall to celebrate the team’s strong start to the 2024 season. During the reunion, guests had the opportunity to meet and greet current players and coaches, tour the clubhouse, and enjoy a Saturday tailgate before the MSU team faced South Alabama.

THEATRE REUNION

This summer, former theater students returned to campus for a reception hosted by Theatre MSU and the Cunetto family in the Grisham Room of the Mitchell Memorial Library. The evening concluded with a performance of “Pippin” on the McComas main stage.

VET MED REUNION

College of Veterinary Medicine alumni and their families were invited back to campus for a fun-filled weekend in October 2024 to enjoy a variety of activities and food before the Bulldogs faced the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Thinking about planning your own alumni reunion? The MSU Alumni Association offers support and services to help make it happen. Learn more at www.alumni.msstate.edu/reunion-services

MSU Alumni Association

ANNOUNCES STUDENT DELEGATE OFFICERS

The Mississippi State University Alumni Association is announcing four new leaders of its student organization known as the Alumni Delegates.

Alumni Delegates officers for this year include:

• Madeline Blackburn of New Albany, president, a senior communication major;

• Jacob Lindsey of Shannon, vice president of member education, a senior industrial engineering and business administration double major;

• Anna Caroline Mormon of Birmingham, Alabama, vice president of public relations, a junior kinesiology major; and

• Hayes Henry of Madison, secretary, a sophomore biomedical engineering major.

Founded in 1980, the Alumni Delegates organization serves to help the university and the Alumni Association maintain strong ties with MSU students and the more than 166,000 living graduates of the land-grant institution. The 40-member group is often the first point of contact for graduates, friends and other special campus guests, and assists with tailgate gatherings, class reunions, graduation ring presentations and senior celebrations, among other events.

HONORING TRADITION

Ring Ceremony at the Chapel of Memories

The official fall 2024 Ring Ceremony was hosted in December at the Chapel of Memories. The Ring Ceremony, held twice each year before the fall and spring commencements, is a timehonored tradition for presenting the university’s official class rings. MSU President Mark E. Keenum was the keynote speaker and presented participants with their rings. MSU’s ROTC and Black Voices Gospel Choir also made special presentations during the ceremony. The Alumni Association recognized Terri Russell, who earned MSU degrees in 1984 and 1986. Russell is a longtime alumni

Over the past seven years, the group has distributed more than $100,000 generated through ticket sales for a semesterly “free tuition drawing” program. Members also created the MSU Alumni Delegates Endowed Scholarship in 2015, which benefits entering freshmen and transfer students.

To learn more about MSU Alumni Delegates and see a complete list of current members, visit www.alumni.msstate.edu.

volunteer with the Birmingham Alumni Chapter and currently leads the Alumni Association national board of directors as national president. She took part in the ceremony along with more than 50

MSU students as the fall Ring honoree. If you would like more information on ordering an MSU class ring, please contact the Alumni Association at info@alumni.msstate.edu.

MSU Alumni Delegates officers for this year include, from left, Anna Caroline Mormon, Birmingham, AL, vice president of public relations; Jacob Lindsey of Shannon, vice president of education; Hayes Henry of Madison, secretary; and Madeline Blackburn of New Albany, president.

Send-Off Parties

More than 40 chapters and clubs of the Mississippi State University Alumni Association hosted send-off parties during this past summer for new MSU students. The send-off parties welcomed new Bulldogs from across Mississippi and nine other states— Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.

This MSU tradition, now in its 19th year, allowed incoming first-year students, transfer students, and their families to meet future classmates, alumni, friends and current students to learn more about life at the university.

GAME-WATCH GATHERINGS

Last fall, MSU alumni across the nation gathered with their local alumni chapters to cheer on the Maroon and White.

The New Home for Bulldog Game Day Traditions

The Bulldog faithful have a new home for game day tailgates: The Mill at MSU. Home to the university’s Division of Development and Alumni, The Mill offers plenty of space for good times, great food and better company. Located at 600 Russell Street, it is just a short walk from both the Cotton District and Davis Wade Stadium, making it a perfect place to gather during football Saturdays in the fall.

ALUMNI ASSOCIA T ION

MAROON REACH & IMPACT

Learn

Total Living Alumni

165,589

Top 6 Concentrated States (as of February 2024)

Mississippi

Addressable

1,127

WAYS TO PARTNER

The Mississippi State University Alumni Association hosts events and offers programs and services which are directly supported by our partnerships. We can create a customized package to help your organization maximize its resources and strategic goals.

ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES

PRINT - Alumnus Magazine, event signage and event promotion

Alumnus Magazine Distribution

u 2x/year Print, 1x/year Digital

u Reaches more than 51,500 active alumni association members

u Print Audience - Active alumni and supporters

u Digital Audience - All addressable alumni

DIGITAL - E-newsletters, social media, web, email and mobile app

ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Engagement opportunities through events and programs:

u Tailgates (home and away)

u Black Alumni Weekend

u Awards Banquet

u Reveille 25

u Senior Celebration

u Traveling Bulldogs

u + Other Annual Events

HOW NAMING OPPORTUNITIES DRIVE MSU’S FUTURE

By Shun Pounds, Photos Submitted

Located at 600 Russell Street, The Mill is a monument to Starkville’s rich history and a beacon for Mississippi State University’s future. Originally built in 1902 and later repurposed for the Mississippi cotton textile industry, The Mill became one of the most successful operations of its kind, driving economic growth for the city and the state. Today, it has transformed into a symbol of MSU’s deep connection to the community—a centerpiece for events and a testament to ongoing revitalization, made possible by the generosity of Bulldog alumni and friends.

Within the 90,000-square-foot facility, private support has played a crucial role in extensive renovations to the ballroom, gallery and numerous conference rooms. While these public-facing updates are easily noticeable, some of the most impactful changes happen behind the scenes. By bringing together the MSU Foundation and Alumni Association staff into shared office spaces on the second floor, The Mill fosters greater collaboration, positioning the university and the community for a brighter future.

“The changes being made will not only meet the current needs of the MSU Foundation and MSU Alumni Association but they will also allow for future growth to better serve our alumni base,” said Jud Skelton, director of real estate strategy at the MSU Foundation.

A collaboration with Byrum Construction and Dale Partners, the architectural firm responsible for The Mill’s 2015 renovation, the revitalization project has made substantial progress in transforming The Mill into a dynamic space that meets modern demands. One of the most exciting developments underway is the Bryan and Cindy Wilson Founders Hall, an organizational history and recognition space that honors generous stakeholders who have made transformative gifts. This addition, along with ongoing improvements to The Mill Plaza and the refurbishment of the outdoor patio, creates an inviting environment for alumni and the community, particularly during game days and weddings.

Skelton said the university and its project partners were dedicated to meeting the challenges of maintaining the building’s

historical character while updating its functionality.

“Given that the building was constructed in 1902 and is on the National Register of Historic Places, we’ve worked closely with the Mississippi Department of Archives and History to ensure all updates are in keeping with the guidelines that preserve its historical significance,” he explained.

The success of these revitalization efforts, and future ones, depends on the continued generosity of MSU alumni and friends. Naming opportunities within The Mill offer a unique way to leave a lasting mark while also supporting MSU’s continued growth and success.

The Mill’s revitalization goes beyond preserving a piece of history—it’s about creating a space that will serve the university and its community for generations. As MSU looks ahead, these naming opportunities will be vital in helping The Mill evolve to support the university’s mission of excellence, innovation and service.

For more information on how you can be a part of this revitalization, contact Jack McCarty at 662.325.7000. n

A Lifetime of Giving LARRY NELMS’ ENDURING SUPPORT FOR MSU

By Shun Pounds, Photos Submitted

There is a common misconception that only the wealthiest alumni can give back to their school. People also commonly believe that giving can only be done through large, headline-grabbing gifts. However, both beliefs miss the mark. Giving comes from the heart, and faithful giving over consecutive years comes from one’s passion overflowing.

Larry Nelms has faithfully given to his alma mater every year since 1985. In 2021, he established the Ruth and Larry Nelms Endowed Scholarship in Mechanical Engineering to increase his commitment.

“People often think giving must be a grand gesture, but I’ve always believed that what matters most is consistency. Even if I only had a few dollars to give, staying connected to the university and its mission should be the most important thing.”

~ LARRY NELMS

Nelms’ story shows that the size of the gift doesn’t matter as much as the heart behind it.

Nelms’ giving story is rooted in his love for the university. Over the decades, his gifts to MSU have never wavered. His dedication exemplifies the impact of regular, consistent giving—a practice he believes is accessible to anyone, regardless of their financial situation.

“People often think giving must be a grand gesture, but I’ve always believed that what matters most is consistency," Nelms

said. "Even if I only had a few dollars to give, staying connected to the university and its mission should be the most important thing.”

Nelms graduated from MSU in 1963 with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering before earning a master’s from the University of New Mexico in 1965. His early career path included roles in the aerospace industry and later, in the petroleum sector, where he found his calling.

His work with companies like Humble Oil, which later became Exxon, and Ryder Scott Company allowed him to leverage his engineering expertise while developing new skills in management and even speechwriting.

“My education from MSU gave me the foundation to have a diverse career over the many decades," he said. "Mississippi State is a special place and I will always cherish the time I spent there.”

Nelms remained committed to MSU throughout his career. Whether it was giving to a naming campaign, supporting athletics or giving to his beloved Tau Beta Pi

engineering honors society, Nelms remained faithful to MSU’s mission for constant growth and improvement, and establishing his endowment is no different.

The endowed scholarship in mechanical engineering supports sophomores who have completed at least 30 credit hours and maintained a 2.5 or higher GPA. Nelms chose these requirements to give students time to adjust to the rigorous demands of the engineering program.

“I wanted to give students time to experience their first year and determine if engineering was really for them," he said. "Not every student excels right away, and I wanted to make sure that even those who are not at the very top of their class still can pursue their dreams.”

Nelms encourages students to take advantage of all the university offers, from joining clubs to attending events and networking. He believes these extracurricular experiences are crucial for developing the well-rounded skills that will set students apart in their careers. n

Ruth and Larry Nelms embody the spirit of faithful giving, with Larry’s decades of support to MSU demonstrating that generosity is about consistency and heart, not the size of the gift.

INVESTING IN TOMORROW Former Scholarship Recipients Give Back to MSU

By Shun Pounds, Photos Submitted

Nearly 25 years ago, William “Hunter” Jones III of Calhoun City and Emily Hicks of Tupelo arrived at Mississippi State University filled with ambition and hope made possible by prestigious scholarships that opened doors they had not thought possible. Now, as successful professionals, the couple is giving others similar opportunities through scholarships in engineering and arts and sciences, ensuring future leaders can follow their dreams, no matter their financial circumstances.

In 2000, Hunter was among 13 high school seniors awarded the prestigious Ottilie Schillig Leadership Scholarship. Emily–now Dr. Emily Jones–was honored as a Presidential Endowed Scholar, receiving the G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Presidential Endowed Scholarship, one of MSU’s top academic honors. While both enjoyed four years of paid tuition and living expenses, it was the access to leadership and service opportunities that shaped who they are today.

“We met so many inspiring students and MSU leaders through those scholarships," Emily said. "Seeing how upperclassmen with

similar scholarships were getting involved in student government, service clubs and campus activities pushed us to do the same.”

Both thrived at MSU. Hunter pursued a degree in computer science and held various leadership roles, including serving as attorney general for the Student Association. Emily followed her passion to medical school.

Hunter has now spent nearly two decades at International Paper, and Emily is a dermatologist and faculty member at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis. Even as their careers flourished, their desire to give back to Mississippi State never faded.

“We have always been so grateful for our time at Mississippi State. The university gave us so much, and now we’re in a position to help other students who might need that extra push to pursue their goals,” Hunter Jones said.

The Hunter and Emily Jones Loyalty scholarships in the Bagley College of Engineering and the College of Arts and Sciences are a gift of love for MSU and an important way for the Joneses to invest in future leaders. To qualify, students in

either college must be enrolled full time in their first year at Mississippi State with a minimum 3.0 GPA or be transfer students from community colleges with a minimum 3.0 GPA. In addition to this, students should demonstrate leadership potential, just as the Joneses did during their college years.

“Leadership ability is crucial for overcoming the challenges you will encounter in your college career," Emily said. "We firmly believe that students need that extra internal drive to make a meaningful impact.”

Notably, these scholarships offer flexibility, allowing recipients to change majors without losing financial support.

“It is hard to know exactly what you will do with your life when you are 18," Hunter said. “We want students to explore their passions, not feel locked into a path because of financial pressures.”

By giving back, the Joneses further fulfill the investment others made in them. Giving is more than just a transaction of gifts or time—it is the highest service anyone can give another and the best compliment of belief one can show to those full of dreams. n

Hunter and Emily Jones, pictured with their children, embody the spirit of giving back. Just as scholarships supported their dreams two decades ago, their endowed scholarships at Mississippi State University are helping current Bulldogs in achieving their academic goals.

Shaping the Future of Meteorology

FOX WEATHER'S GIFT HELPS LAUNCH CAREERS

By Shun Pounds, Photos Submitted

During their college years, students often wonder if their education will lead to a successful career.

Mississippi State University addresses these concerns proactively by forming meaningful partnerships with industry leaders, creating pathways from the classroom to the workforce. A prime example of this effort is the ongoing collaboration between MSU’s Department of Geosciences and Fox Weather. In 2021, Fox Weather established the Fox Weather Endowed Scholarship and the Fox Weather Annual Scholarship at MSU. These scholarships provide financial support, mentoring and internship opportunities to students studying broadcast and professional meteorology and climatology.

The collaboration builds on the strengths of MSU’s highly regarded meteorology program, enhancing students’ academic foundations with real-world experience. In the classroom, students learn the science of forecasting and develop skills in technical communication to deliver weather reports effectively to the public. Fox Weather then provides hands-on opportunities through internships and mentoring, allowing students to apply their academic knowledge in a professional environment.

A native of Greenwood, Indiana, Sadie Morris is the most recent beneficiary of this program. She follows in the footsteps of fellow Bulldogs Mark Kimoto and Haley Meier, who now works at Fox Weather.

Sharri Berg, president of Fox Weather, expressed her pride in the collaboration and its success.

“It has been such an incredible honor to work alongside Mississippi State University in cultivating the next generation of meteorologists, and we’re thrilled to welcome Sadie to our program. In our third year, we couldn’t be prouder of our scholarship recipients from MSU,” she said.

Morris, a junior majoring in broadcast meteorology at MSU, will officially begin her internship with the network this summer under the mentorship of Fox Weather meteorologist Jane Minar. However, she has already benefited from the program.

In July, Morris visited the Fox Weather

MSU alumna Haley Meier (left) and current student Sadie Morris (right) in a studio at Fox Weather. MSU’s partnership with Fox Weather is transforming classroom learning into professional success.

studios in New York, where she shadowed 2023 MSU graduate Minar during her morning shift, attended a luncheon with Fox Weather executives, and gained a wealth of industry insights. These early experiences have given her a taste of the professional world she will soon enter, reinforcing her passion for meteorology.

Morris said she is excited to formally begin her internship under the guidance of Minar.

“During my time in New York, Jane took the time out of her busy schedule to get to know me," Morris recalled. "Her passion and enthusiasm were contagious, and I’m excited to learn from her. The broadcast industry requires hard work and flexibility, and Jane and the Fox Weather team epitomize these values. This career is my passion, and being around them inspires me to constantly improve.”

“It has been such an incredible honor to work alongside Mississippi State University in cultivating the next generation of meteorologists.”

~Sharri Berg, President of Fox Weather

Since its inception, the Fox Weather partnership has garnered MSU national recognition, bolstering the university’s reputation as a leader in preparing students for careers in broadcast meteorology. According to John Rodgers, head of the Department of Geosciences at MSU, students are excited to combine their academic studies with hands-on experience in a highly competitive industry.

“This partnership has reignited interest in broadcast meteorology nationwide, strengthening students’ passion for the field," Rodgers said. "We are proud to support a collaboration that offers meaningful exposure and professional development for our students, helping them build connections and gain valuable industry experience.”

To qualify for the Fox Weather scholarships, students must be full-time undergraduates at MSU pursuing a degree in geosciences. A minimum 3.0 GPA is required, with preference given to juniors and seniors concentrating in broadcast meteorology or professional meteorology and climatology.

Endowed scholarships represent more than just financial support—they are opportunities that enable students like Morris to turn their passions into meaningful careers. As Morris continues her journey, she stands as the latest example of how MSU’s partnerships with industry leaders can positively impact students, industries and the future. n

Sadie Morris during a visit to the Fox Weather studio last spring. She gained firsthand experience through MSU’s partnership with the network.

From dreaming of being a broadcaster as a child (left) to pursuing that dream as a student at MSU (right), Sadie Morris exemplifies how Mississippi State turns passions into impactful careers through scholarships, mentoring and hands-on opportunities.

1980s

Don Pollitz (B.S. civil engineering, ’81) earned recognition from New Orleans, Louisiana, Mayor LaToya Cantrell and U.S. Senator John Kennedy for his more than 30 years of service to NASA and its Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. He earned numerous recognitions during his career, including the coveted Silver Snoopy Award—an honor given to just 1% of eligible recipients for professionalism, dedication and outstanding support that greatly enhances space flight safety and mission success. Prior to his retirement, he worked in the Office of Center Operations as a project manager.

of Colorado School of Medicine and with the Boulder Valley Care Network. He is board-certified with a medical degree from Vanderbilt University and hosts COPICS podcast “Within Normal Limits.”

1990s

“Hurricane Baby Stories” by Julie L. Whitehead (B.A. communication, ’90; M.A. English, ’92) is now available from Madville Publishing. Conceived in the days following Hurricane Katrina, the collection of short stories is set in Louisiana and south Mississippi, and explores what happens when a storm turns lives upside down.

Michelle R. Johnston (Ph.D. educational leadership, ‘06) was named president of Georgia Southwestern State University. With more than 20 years of experience in higher education administration, she most recently served as president of the College of Coastal Georgia, having previously served in the same role for the University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College in Ohio. In 2014, she was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Defense to the Maine Corps University Board, which she served as chair, and has been invited by both Republican and Democratic administrations for White House meetings about campus sexual assault response and prevention.

Donna Ladd (B.A. political science, ’83) editor and CEO of The Mississippi Free Press, has been named one of Mississippi’s top CEOs by the Mississippi Business Journal. She co-founded the statewide media outlet with Kimberly Griffin in March 2020, the culmination of more than a dozen years of journalistic and entrepreneurial collaboration. Under Ladd’s leadership the Mississippi Journalism and Education Group, which publishes the free press and runs the Mississippi Youth Media Project, has grown rapidly. Since its creation, the outlet has earned more than 75 awards, including the Poynter Institute’s inaugural Diversity Leadership Award presented in May 2024.

Dr. Eric Zacharias (B.S. biological sciences, ‘89) is now chief medical officer for COPIC, a medical liability insurance provider. He oversees the company’s Patient Safety and Risk Management department, having previously served as director of medical education. Prior to joining COPIC, he held key leadership roles at Boulder Medical Center, Boulder Valley Care Network, the University

In June 2024, Bart Gregory (B.S. agronomy, ‘99) received the National Sports Media Association “Mississippi Sportscaster of the Year” award. He serves MSU as an assistant athletic director for development and for more than a decade has been the play-by-play broadcaster for Bulldog men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, volleyball and soccer broadcasts. He is also creator and producer of the “Out of Left Field” podcast.

2000s

2010s

Seth Hood (BBA, risk management and financial planning, ‘12) is now lobbyist and executive vice president of the Home Builders Association of Mississippi. He is the government relations advisor of the Intersection of Business and Government practice at Adams and Reese, a nationwide, multidisciplinary law firm.

Jeffrey Watson (B.S. agricultural engineering technology and business, ‘01) was named Railroad Engineer of the Year by Railway Track and Structures. He is vice president of engineering at Genesee & Wyoming Inc., which owns or leases more than 100 railroads across North America. He joined the Marine Corps Reserve as an undergraduate and served more than six years as an infantryman with the Corps following his graduation.

Christine Daher (B.S. physics, ‘16) joined the Institute for Defense Analyses as a member of the research staff in the Operational Evaluation Division of the Systems and Analyses Center. In addition to her bachelor’s from MSU, she holds a master’s and doctoral degrees in physics from the University of Pittsburgh.

SHARE YOUR BULLDOG NEWS

Do you or a fellow Bulldog have exciting news to share—a recent promotion, a special achievement, or even a new family member? Send your updates to alumnus@msstate.edu and let us celebrate your milestones together!

• Serving communities for over 70 years

• Located in all 82 counties of MS, across the southeastern US, and Colorado

• Philanthropic supporter of MSU, Mississippi area high schools, and other institutions of higher learning

Henry Burt “Hank” Brock Jr. (B.S. accounting, business administration, ’62) 84, Germantown, Tennessee – While at Mississippi State, he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega and named an Elder Statesman for his active involvement across campus. He owned his own accounting firm, H.B. Brock Jr. CPA and Business Consultant. He served as the president of the Maroon Club in Memphis and remained a lifelong State fan. — Jan. 25, 2024

Louise Jeneen Eaves Davis (M.Ed., elementary education, ’86; Ph.D., elementary education, ’93; retired Extension agent) 65, Starkville – During her more than 40-year career in education, she served Prentiss and Neshoba county schools, East Mississippi Community College, Columbus City Schools, Mississippi University of Women, University of Mississippi and Mississippi State University. She joined the Extension Service in 1995 because of her belief in the mission of providing research-based educational programs throughout the state. She led the Mississippi Child Care Resource and Referral Network. — July 10, 2024

John Lucien Ellington (B.S., social studies education, ’73; M.S., social studies education, ’74) 73, Chattanooga, Tennessee – A lifelong learner, he continued to pursue formal studies in economics, government, history and education following his graduation from Mississippi State, earning a degree from the University of Minnesota and a doctorate from the University of Mississippi. He was a tenured professor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga for 40 years, during which time he served the School of Education, coordinated the annual Constitution Day and contributed to the Center for Reflective Citizenship. He served as editor for the Education About Asia magazine and director of the UTC Asia Program. — May 21, 2024

Mildred McCarty-Jordan (Ed.S. elementary education, ’77) 83, Laurel – A native of Laurel, she retired as assistant principal from the Hattiesburg Public School District. She held a bachelor’s degree from Jackson State, a master’s from the University of Southern Mississippi and a certification in education administration from William Carey. She served as an elementary teacher in Laurel, Greenville and Hattiesburg, and later as

principal at Lillie Burney Elementary School and assistant principal at Thames Elementary School in Hattiesburg. — May 17, 2022

Melvin Thomas Roland (B.S. industrial management, ’59) 86, Morton – An All-Star high school athlete, he played football for Mississippi State, which were called the Maroons at the time, and lettered in the sport. He had a 31-year career with General Motors Acceptance Corp. in Louisiana and Mississippi, ultimately returning to his hometown. In Morton, he was active in many faith-based and community organizations, including the Lions Club, Forest Community Arts Inc., and Morton Homemaker Volunteers, and he was a volunteer with the Scott County Extension Service. He was chosen as grand marshal of the Morton Christmas parade in 2006. With the Boy Scouts of America, he was a scout master and district commissioner, earning Order of the Arrow and Wood Badge honors, as well as The Silver Beaver Award. June 22, 2024

L. George Rone (B.S., animal science, ’50; retired Extension agent) 98, Senatobia –Born in Attala County, he joined the U.S. Navy during WWII, serving aboard the USS Converse, a destroyer in the Pacific Theater. He received the President’s Unit Citation. In 1957, he was commissioned as an assistant chief observer in the Ground Observer Corps of the U.S. Air Defense Command. He would later teach agriculture in Arkansas as part of the Veteran’s Farm Program before relocating to New Albany to begin a career with the Extension Service. Following an appointment in Holmes County, he moved to Senatobia where he served as an Extension county agent until his retirement in 1980. He received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of County Agricultural Agents. He was a Mason and Rotarian and a member of the Farm Bureau and Cattlemen’s Association. — April 23, 2024

Forrest Parkhurst Smith (B.S. education, ’74) 71, Leesburg, Virginia – A member of Sigma Chi, while at Mississippi State, he had a 21-year career in the Air Force, where he earned a reputation for his ability to put “bombs on target” with an error rate of zero—a fear few bombardiers in the history of Strategic Air Command achieved. He

commanded the 608th Combat Operations Squadron at the Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, where he provided combat support to in-theater air operation centers to execute air missions for the commander. In 1998, his last official position was the chief of combat operations in Southwest Asia, where he controlled weapon systems to achieve control of the air space. He managed U.S. and coalition aircraft operations for 10 air bases and the Battle Carrier Groups, USS Enterprise and USS Carl Vinson. His knowledge and expertise led him to work as an Air Force consultant for almost 20 years after his retirement. — June 25, 2024

Remembering Joseph Clayton Turnage (B.S. nuclear engineering, ’67) 78, San Juan Capistrano, California – While at State, he was inducted into the Tau Beta Phi engineering honor society and was part of the Young Democrats at MSU, which pushed for an end to prejudiced policies at Mississippi universities, including a ban on “outside speakers,” and ultimately was able to host the first Black speaker at a white Mississippi university. He went on to earn a doctoral degree, also in nuclear engineering, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He became the director of nuclear engineering at Yankee Atomic Electronic, and helped pioneer the use of probabilistic risk assessment to develop a method for measuring the safety of boilingwater reactors—a process soon approved by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Agency. He later became president of TENERA Energy LLC in Maryland and drove the creation of U.S. Generating, a joint venture between PG&E and Bechtel, which hired him as its senior officer responsible for engineering, construction and management of a fleet of plants. He then transitioned to Constellation Energy as senior vice president, where he oversaw the acquisition of a nuclear power plant in New York.

An active member of the American Nuclear Society, he served as chair of its Nuclear Reactor Safety Division’s executive committee and ultimately achieved the rank of fellow. He also served as an advisor to the MIT Center for Environmental and Energy Policy Research. In 2006, he was named a Distinguished Engineering Fellow by Mississippi State. — Aug. 8, 2024

HUGH CRITZ

as told by Steve Robertson

Mississippi State’s eighth president, Hugh Critz, may have been the most reluctant leader in the institution’s history.

Born in 1876 as the oldest of seven children, Critz learned to handle horses and farm the land. Critz’s father, Wiley, earned his living running a livery stable and served as a part-time farmer to keep the family fed.

In 1891, Critz enrolled at Mississippi A&M, unsure of his career path. As a sophomore, engineering programs were introduced. He initially planned to pursue a degree in engineering but changed course and switched to agriculture the following year.

The spring of 1895 saw Critz earn a varsity letter in baseball under the direction of coach G.C. Creelman. Serving as the team’s second sacker, Critz earned the respect of his teammates. As a senior, he was voted team captain.

While baseball proved to be Critz’s sport of choice, there was also an ill-fated, short-lived run on the first Mississippi A&M football team.

Fascinated by the sport, Critz joined that inaugural squad only to discover that he did not enjoy being tackled. After one teethgrinding hit, Critz decided that he would stick to baseball for his athletic pursuits.

Despite not sticking it out on the gridiron, Critz was part of an important decision that helped shape the future of Aggie, Maroon and Bulldog teams—he helped secure funding for the first-ever football uniforms and was among the number who voted that the team’s colors be maroon and white. In 1896, Critz graduated with a bachelor’s in agriculture and eventually found a home in education. His teaching career began in the Starkville public school system, but stops in Alabama, Arkansas and Tennessee were made before he returned home to Mississippi A&M as faculty.

The Mississippi Institutes for Higher Learning experienced some chaos during former Mississippi Gov. Theodore Bilbo’s second term.

What was later deemed “The Great Bilbo Purge” of 1930 saw multiple school presidents around the state terminated without cause, including Mississippi A&M’s Buz Walker.

At the time, Critz was working as the industrial commissioner for Mississippi Power and Light. Bilbo and his leadership team were curious if Critz was ready to return to education after a five-year hiatus.

Critz accepted the post with a sense of obligation and loyalty to his alma mater. His first order of business as the school’s new leader was to inform nearly 200 faculty members on the A&M campus that they were out of a job.

The strain of it all led to Critz offering his resignation to Bilbo. Critz’s request was denied.

While it took some time, Critz prepared for his new role with vigor. When the fall semester opened, the former Aggie baseball great was prepared to run the school to the best of his ability.

“The time for real work is here,” Critz told the Clarion Ledger. “I am going at it with enthusiasm.”

The simple truth was that dark days lay ahead, and Mississippi A&M needed the tender hand of guidance from one of her own.

Some retained faculty members went over a year without receiving compensation for their efforts. Only their love for the school and its students provided any sense of satisfaction.

Critz was extremely popular with faculty and students alike. During his tenure, he turned down the invitation to play former President George Washington in a studentled play. His obligations as the school’s leader during such uncertain times were simply too pressing to participate in the production.

Another school year led to another attempted resignation that was rebuffed, so Critz dug in to try to make his beloved school even better.

In 1932, Critz successfully pushed to change the school’s name from Mississippi A&M to Mississippi State College. With the advancements in curriculum and new fields of study, “Dear Ol’ State” was more than just an ag school. The new name reflected the diversity in degree programs.

The following year, Critz saw his son, Hughie, win a World Series with the New York Giants. The younger Critz was also an A&M baseball alum who served as the team captain on coach Dudy Noble’s first team in 1920.

On May 3, 1934, President Critz resigned from his position with Mississippi State College due to health problems. There was

some chatter about him staying on as a faculty member, but those rumors never came to fruition. Duke Humphrey won a narrow state college board vote 5-4 to be Critz’s successor.

Critz left Starkville and, in his final years, he served as secretary for the Clarksdale Chamber of Commerce.

On Jan. 28, 1939, Critz passed away from a heart attack. His death was mourned by friends, family, and State alums all over the South.

Respected by all, his mark on Mississippi State is unmistakable and unforgettable. He helped lead the school through some troubled waters and left it on a much more solid footing.

Critz Hall bears his name out of respect for his legacy and contributions to Mississippi State. One could say that Hugh and Hughie Critz are the most accomplished and distinguished father-son tandem in the university’s history.

Editor’s note: Read more about Hugh, Hughie, and so many others in Robertson’s biography of Dudy Noble, “The Dude: The Life and Times of Dudy Noble.” This book, along with Robertson’s other titles, can be ordered at dudynoblebook.com. n

A Mississippi native, Steve Robertson has been a professional writer since 1997. He is well known to the Bulldog faithful as a frequent contributor to MSU sports media, including fan site Gene’s Page, the “Out of Bounds” radio show, “The Bone Yard” podcast and other fan-loved outlets. His books, which are mainstays on lists of Mississippi’s bestsellers, include “Dawg Pile,” “Alpha Dawgs,” “Flim Flam” and “Stark Villains.”

Hugh Critz

Found in the University Archive, this image from the 1990s captured students playing hacky sack outside the Colvard Student Union. Before the union’s 2006 renovation, the stairs to the union were a popular gathering place for students between classes. Building on this sense of fun and friendship, outdoor living spaces have been incorporated into campus renovations and landscaping since the mid-2000s. Did you have a favorite place to pass the time on campus? Share your stories at alumnus.msstate.edu or by emailing alumnus@msstate.edu. Include your name your name, major(s), and graduation year(s) as your memory could be featured in a future issue.

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COMPASSION IN ACTION

Mississippi State’s Shelter Medicine Program teaches veterinary students hands-on surgical training and empathy for animals in need. Partnering with more than 30 rescues and shelters throughout the state, MSU students spay and neuter more than 8,000 stray animals a year, dramatically reducing pet overpopulation.    p. 24