ALUMNUS Winter 2018 - Mississippi State University

p. 19 I N S I D E Winter 2018

In Dreams p. 2 | Library of Life p. 5 | A Changing Legacy p. 14 | Growing Our State p. 25 | Flavors of Life p. 32

Table of CONTENTS

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FEATURES

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A Changing Legacy Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library at MSU cultivates renewed interest FSCMTE6Xx.cmyk.eps in a critical American figure.

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ABOVE:

Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden touring the Frank and Virginia Williams Collection of Lincolniana. It is part of a $10-million, 21,000-sq.-ft. addition to the Mitchell Memorial Library that includes the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library.

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19 This is Our Turf

Mississippi State turfgrass program is a cut above the competition.

25 Growing Our State

Bulldog research and outreach provide economic opportunities for Mississippi.

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WINTER 2018 | VOL. 95 | NO. 2

PRESIDENT

Mark E. Keenum, ’83, ’84, ’88

VICE PRESIDENT FOR DEVELOPMENT AND ALUMNI John P. Rush, ’94, ’02

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Jeff Davis

CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

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Sid Salter, ’88

EDITORS

Harriet Laird Susan Lassetter, ’07

WRITERS

Vanessa Beeson Amy Cagle James Carskadon ’12 Addie Mayfield Susan Lassetter ’07 Abby Ready Rushing ’18 Sasha Steinberg ’14

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DESIGNER

Heather Rowe

PHOTOGRAPHERS Megan Bean Kelly Price Beth Wynn

EDITORIAL OFFICE

P.O. Box 5325 Mississippi State, MS 39762 662.325.0630 slassetter@opa.msstate.edu

ADVERTISING

46 DEPARTMENTS 02 12 30 43 51 61 64

Campus News State Snapshot Our People Infinite Impact Statements

Jeff Davis 662.325.3444 jdavis@alumni.msstate.edu

COVER The golf and sports turf management concentration at MSU is nationally recognized for its thorough curriculum and innovative research. With a program that ranks above the rest, MSU graduates dominate the turf industry worldwide. p.19 Photo Illustration by Heather Rowe

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.

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Campus NEWS

Tora Norheim

IN DREAMS Mississippi State researcher helps patients put their minds at ease

By Susan Lassetter | Photos by Beth Wynn

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She sits in a forest. She’s on a blanket of moss surrounded by towering redwoods. A deep breath brings with it a damp, earthy smell.

She’s in Oregon. Maybe Washington. Wherever she is, it’s enchanting.

The air’s crisp, but not cold; dewy, but not humid.

She hears birds in the trees and sees their shadows on the ground as they take flight. In the fallen leaves, a fox scurries by. Maybe it was a rabbit. Maybe it will come out to greet her. And maybe, if she focuses hard enough, it will chase away the blood and gore.

Maybe.

People wake up, on average, every 90 minutes. As long as sleep returns within 5 minutes, most of these interruptions are forgotten.

Nightmares—violent, detailed and horrifying—have plagued Tora Norheim since she was a child. The visualization described above is new. It’s the product of her work with Michael Nadorff, an associate professor of psychology at Mississippi State University. Together they are working to help her, finally, rest easy.

“There are times, if something physically happens to me in the dream, I wake up and still feel it. Like with any kind of blood, I’ll still feel the warmth.

It’s very disturbing,” Norheim explained.

“More often than the continued physical sensations, I’ll actually continue to see the nightmare.

“Sometimes I’ll wake up two or three times a night from nightmares,” she continued, “but I had always kind of put them on the back burner because I didn’t think it could change.”

Norheim, a senior transfer from the University of North Alabama, said she was referred to the MSU Psychology Clinic’s sleep disorder unit by the Student Counseling Center after seeking help to cope with the death of her dog.

“My dog was a constant positive reinforcement on my life, so when I lost him it really messed me up,” Norheim said. “I knew I needed help because the anxiety I already had skyrocketed. After hearing about my sleep issues, counseling services referred me to Dr. Nadorff and the sleep clinic.

“It was nice to talk to someone specifically about my nightmares,” she continued. “He’s a very sympathetic person and it was nice to hear him say, ‘It’s a good thing you’re trying to get help. No one should have to live with this.’”

Nadorff, who is director of the Sleep, Suicide and Aging Laboratory at Mississippi State, is one of the few behavioral sleep medicine specialists in a three-state radius. Through the MSU Psychology Clinic, he helps clients understand their sleep issues and teaches techniques to overcome them.

“Removing someone’s anxiety over the night makes a big difference in their days,” Nadorff explained. “Just improving someone’s sleep has been found to lead to

significant improvements not only in rest but also nightmares, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety.”

Psychologists at the sleep clinic treat a wide range of bedtime obstacles including insomnia, sleep apnea and poor sleep hygiene—behaviors and environmental factors that affect the quality of rest.

Nadorff’s specialty is the treatment of nightmares, which feature heavily into his research.

Nadorff said his focus on nightmares happened as an offshoot of his original

treatment has been shown to improve a lot of different aspects of a person’s life.”

Nadorff’s treatment program combines counseling, to address any underlying psychological issues, and processes designed to help control the dream.

Norheim said her treatment started with image rehearsal therapy—the practice of using daytime visualization exercises to help sleepers have a dream of their choosing rather than the nightmare.

For this, she created the woodland scene, a place where she felt calm, happy and

“Removing someone’s anxiety over the night makes a big difference in their days. Just improving someone’s sleep has been found to lead to significant improvements not only in rest but also nightmares, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety.” ~ Michael Nadorff work studying the link between sleep disorders and suicidal behaviors. He found a significant relationship between nightmares and suicidal thoughts, even after accounting for anxiety, depression and PTSD—conditions known to increase the occurrence of both.

“For whatever reason, there’s a direct relation between nightmares and suicide, and we’re still pretty early in understanding what that is,” Nadorff said. “We’re still studying what brings on nightmares, but I realized it doesn’t matter what causes them; we just need to treat them.”

Nadorff estimates that 20 percent of children experience nightmares at least weekly, as do 15 percent of college students and 6 percent of adults. He said for people who regularly experience nightmares, it becomes a self-perpetuating cycle—they avoid sleep to prevent the nightmare, which causes the body to fall more quickly and deeply into REM sleep, the stage at which nightmares occur.

“By trying to avoid the dream, they can actually make themselves more likely to have it,” Nadorff said. “Nightmares won’t get better without some intervention, and

peaceful. Twice a day, for five minutes, she would sit quietly and imagine herself in the redwood forest.

“You have to really try to put yourself there, really imagine it,” Norheim said.

“The hope is if you practice it enough, you’ll have that dream instead of the nightmare. I haven’t been able to do that yet, but it does help with my anxiety.”

After image rehearsal, Norheim said they began working on hypnosis for lucid dreaming. This treatment helps sleepers alter their nightmares while they’re happening. This could mean giving themselves special abilities, calling for help or altering elements within the dream to make them less frightening.

“We decided to give me a superpower, a force field to protect myself,” Norheim explained. “The hypnosis is almost like guided meditation—you focus on your breathing and listen to his words as he talks you through using this power. I never felt out of control, just very relaxed.”

She has also had sessions with a doctoral student who is not only learning methods for sleep treatment but is also exploring their usefulness when delivered remotely.

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Campus NEWS While Norheim says she’s not completely over her nightmares, she said she has noticed some improvements.

“I wish I could say, ’Everything’s cured!’

But it’s not like that,” Norheim explained.

“I can say that they’ve been less frequent and I’ve had a very positive experience working with Dr. Nadorff and his students.

I actually really like that it’s not just helping me but it’s helping the students and the research as well.”

Between himself and a group of clinical psychology doctoral students, Nadorff estimates that each semester the clinic sees approximately 30 sleep clients. They are a mix of referrals from Student Counseling Services and private individuals, some from as far away as Texas and New Orleans.

He said they treat as many people as they can handle and provide a sliding scale for payment in an effort to ensure time and money don’t impede anyone from having a restful night’s sleep.

“I just think these services need to be available somewhere in the region,” Nadorff said. “I think we need the next generation of clinicians trained in these interventions and assessments, so they can go and do them wherever they end up practicing.” n

Michael Nadorff

What dreams may come When a person sleeps, they cycle through various stages of wakefulness and slumber. Dreaming most often occurs during the REM cycle, a state of light sleep during which the muscles relax, and it is thought that the brain begins to consolidate memories—saving new information and refreshing old recollections.

Nadorff said this explains why

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people might have dreams that intermingle recent events and those from long ago. He also noted that dreams, and nightmares, occurring during the REM cycle tend to be more vivid and memorable for the sleeper. But it’s not the only time the mind works during sleep.

Night terrors tend to be bad dreams that occur during deeper stages of sleep. These result in physiological

fright that the dreamer might not wake from or be able to recall.

Nadorff said these are common in children and often happen at the same time of night.

In those cases, he recommends finding a way to break the cycle. For instance, setting an alarm to wake the sleeper 10 minutes before the terror usually occurs can reset the sleep cycle and bypass the night terror.

In his quest to discover new species of grasshopper, assistant professor JoVonn Hill uncovered longforgotten specimens of rare and extinct insects.

E X PA N D I N G T H E L I B R A R Y O F L I F E Entomology museum’s growth catalogs the changes in the natural world

By Susan Lassetter | Photos by Megan Bean

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he small slip of paper sat tucked away, all but forgotten among the drawers of insect specimens. Its words, “on loan to Wallace,” offered the only clue to the location of the Smithsonian Institution’s collection of Hesperotettix. If JoVonn Hill wanted to study them, he’d have to channel Sherlock Holmes and solve the mystery. Call it the Case of the Hidden Hoppers.

An assistant research professor at Mississippi State University, Hill is conducting research that involves hundreds of preserved grasshoppers on long-term loan from the institute. Despite the dozens of full specimen drawers stacked in his office, the missing Hesperotettix, a genus of spur-throated

grasshopper, left a hole in his project.

“I didn’t know who Wallace was. He wasn’t a grasshopper researcher I had heard of,” Hill explained. “I did some digging and found a paper he published as part of his Ph.D. in the 1960s and that gave me his full name—Herbert S. Wallace.”

Still, Hill said he struggled to find out what happened to the man until the right combination of Google search terms turned up Wallace’s 1984 obituary, which mentioned his employment at the University of Louisiana, Monroe. A few emails and phone calls later, the missing grasshoppers were successfully located in the basement of the Warhawks’ track stadium, among the rest

of the school’s biological specimen collection.

“I was eventually able to make the trip down to pick up the Hesperotettix, and I got to glance at the rest of the collection,” Hill said. “They had a large grasshopper collection and I said if they ever decided that they could no longer house it, we would be interested.”

That would have been the end of things, but almost a year later, an impassioned plea from a ULM staffer appeared on Facebook asking the scientific community for help rehoming the university’s natural history collection, including thousands of plants, insects and fish. Hill said he immediately reached out to request the entomological specimens.

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Campus NEWS “There was some paperwork and we had to pay $100, but that was it,” Hill explained. “We drove down with a 17-foot U-Haul and picked up the insects.”

The total ULM insect collection includes approximately 16,000 specimens. Among those are the more than 2,000 grasshoppers, many of which were supplied by Wallace during his career. It also held a few surprises: an example of the extinct Rocky Mountain locust and a dozen specimens of Xerces blue, a butterfly known as the first invertebrate species made extinct by human actions.

said. “We have specimens going back 100 years and when you start looking at those and adding to it, you can see how the insect distribution has changed over time and is changing now.”

Since 2012, the museum, a unit of the university’s Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, has hosted more than 100 visiting scholars from around the world and made 128 research loans of more than 23,750 specimens. This value as a scholarly recourse led the National Science Foundation to award Mississippi State a $292,055 collection improvement grant, which

“We’re rare because we’re a university collection that’s thriving. Many collections are folding, but we’re

not thanks to certain projects. We usually have 25

people or more working at a time.” ~ Joe MacGown “These are specimens that were previously unknown to science,” Hill explained. “You can’t just go get more of these, so there are a limited number available to study. This just adds to the data set for the species. It’s something incredible to find and add to our collection.”

Hill said this is the third large-scale entomology collection Mississippi State University has obtained from other institutions in recent years.

“These collections take up a lot of space, and space is always a big commodity at universities,” Hill said. “Plus, they can be expensive to maintain, but there’s a ton of research value in them. We need these collections. It’s sort of a library of life.

“We are fortunate here at MSU to have a lot of support from the administration,” he continued. “We have one of the better collections around and as we take in these orphaned collections, it’s getting stronger.”

Known as the Mississippi Entomological Museum, Mississippi State’s insect collection is hosted in the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology. With a collection that started in the 1890s, it is now home to more than 1.6 million specimens, a number that grows by more than 35,000 each year.

“The more specimens you pull together, the better picture you have of living history,” Hill

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will allow the university to install, among other things, movable shelving to provide better access to its growing collection and make space available for expansion.

Joe MacGown, an ant expert with the museum, said Mississippi State is unique among its peers.

“We’re rare because we’re a university collection that’s thriving,” MacGown boasted.

“Many collections are folding, but we’re not thanks to certain projects. We usually have 25 people or more working at a time.”

MacGown has been part of numerous funded projects regarding ants in the Southeast, including the invasive and costly tawny crazy ant. This species is one of the pests explored through the museum’s educational outreach initiative Bug Blues, which strives to educate the public about the ecologic and economic dangers of nonnative insects.

Mississippi State students and staff are also working with the NSF-supported LepNet project, a web-based information hub focused on Lepidoptera, an order that includes butterflies and moths. The searchable database will include data and high-resolution images of specimens. The museum also houses a United States Department of Agriculture screening center, which is a first line of defense against invasive species gaining a foothold in the Southeast.

JoVonn Hill (right) examines a tray of scarabs from the Mississippi Entomological Museum’s collection, which includes more than 1.6 million specimens. This number grows by approximately 35,000 specimens each year as it adds insects from fieldwork and research projects, as well as collections obtained from other institutions or private individuals. A recent National Science Foundation collection improvement grant will allow the museum to add movable shelving and other features to accommodate the ever-growing collection.

Richard Brown, a professor and director of the Mississippi Entomological Museum, said it is important to understand the natural world—both what it was and what it is—in order to protect unique habitats and species for the future. The researchers stress that one doesn’t have to travel to exotic places to find undocumented species, many of those named by Hill have come from delicate environments in the Southeast.

Claire Caprio, a recent biology graduate from Rhodes College in Memphis and summer employee in the museum, images moths and inputs data for Lep-Net, an NSF supported web-based information hub that focuses on Lepidoptera.

The searchable database will include data and high-resolution images of more than 130,000 specimens from the museum’s collection.

Native to the coastal sand dunes of San Francisco, Xerces blue is believed to have been made extinct through habitat loss.

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Campus NEWS “It’s like surveillance,” Hill explained. “We collect trap material from all over the region and document what insects are present. We’re mainly looking for invasive species, so we can monitor the spread and distribution.

It’s a large but important data set we’re keeping.

“We’re not just a museum,” Hill continued. “We have a research collection and a screening center, and we do conservation work. We’re multifaceted.”

Hill said many people think the only new insect discoveries will come from remote, exotic locations, but the museum’s work proves that’s not the case. It just takes knowing what to ask and where to look.

“A lot of people think you have to go to the rainforest to find new and interesting things, but there’s so much in our backyard that hasn’t been recorded,” Hill explained.

“People are finally recognizing the biological significance we have right here in the South.”

In the past four years, Hill has described—or assigned names to—24 previously unrecognized species of grasshopper found in the Southeast. He speculates that many of these might be in danger of disappearing as their habitat changes. Museum director Richard Brown, a W.L. Giles Distinguished Professor, said that underlies the importance of Mississippi State’s entomological work.

“It’s so important to document the animals and plants that are out there,” Brown said. “We need to find out what’s there now, so we can protect unique habitats and species.”

To help find these unique specimens, the department hosts the W.H. Cross Expedition, an annual faculty-led collection trip named for museum founder William H. Cross. Finds from this excursion, as well as those from faculty and staff research and amateur collectors, contribute to the museum’s growth, which Brown said increases its scientific value and regional prominence each year.

“If there’s no growth, you’re dead and then you have problems,” Brown explained. “What we want is continual growth because there’s so much more to be studied. We’ve only scratched the surface.” n

TOP: Keith Caprio, a senior communication major, sorts a trap sample in the screening center for detection of invasive species. BOTTOM: Ryan Whitehouse, a weevil specialist and research associate in the museum, holds a drawer of preserved, identified and curated specimens.

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MSU researcher develops biosensors for real-time monitoring of oil and gas pipelines

By James Carskadon | Photos by Megan Bean

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umans have monitored oil pipelines since they were first built, but a biosensor being developed by Mississippi State University researchers could make the pipelines more closely monitored than ever before.

Veera Gnaneswar Gude, an associate professor in MSU’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, is leading a team of researchers working to develop biosensors that adhere to the outside of oil and gas pipelines. Biosensors are devices that convert certain biological responses into an electronic signal. Those sensors could potentially send an immediate signal when a leak begins and work to repair any damage, diminishing the environmental harm of oil spills and maintaining the safe flow of oil and gas needed to power the economy.

“Biosensors are not new, but our application and process is new,” Gude said. “Currently used sensors are not highly reliable and mostly monitor the internal side of the pipeline. Those systems have some delays in response because they travel through and relay information. What we’re developing provides continuous monitoring.”

The microbial biosensors Gude and his colleagues are developing are designed to release electrons when oil is detected. This would produce enough voltage to be translated as a signal, and that signal could automatically alert those in charge to the leak, prompting a quick response to minimize the effects of the spill.

Gude has been working on bioelectrochemical research since he joined the James Worth Bagley College of Engineering faculty in 2012. Primarily, his applied

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Campus NEWS

Veera Gnaneswar Gude, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, is developing biosensors that adhere to the outside of oil and gas pipelines and send a signal when a leak occurs.

The sensors aim to prevent larger spills in the United States’ 2.5 million miles of energy pipelines.

L-R: Professor Gude, graduate student Umesh Ghimire, and visiting NSF REU Fellow Mary Heili.

Gude’s research on wastewater treatment has attracted students from around the world to work in his lab and conduct research in areas that will help solve critical issues worldwide.

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The Department of Transportation estimates there are over 2.5 million miles of energy pipelines in the U.S.

In addition to being recognized for his research, research has focused on wastewater treatment. In that Gude has also been recognized for his commitment to area, he is working to develop environmentally friendly engineering education. The New Mexico State University and energy-positive wastewater treatment methods, which doctoral graduate and India native has published 15 also involve highly specialized microbes. This research, articles related to engineering education. He is the which remains ongoing, was a precursor to the pipeline program chair for the environmental engineering division biosensor research. of the American Society for Engineering Education.

The researcher’s work in wastewater treatment In his lab, Gude has two doctoral student assistants, attracted civil engineering doctoral student Umesh as well as undergraduate students who are supported Ghimire to MSU. Both Ghimire and Gude said they are

by National Science Foundation, Bagley College of motivated to use their research to solve critical issues in Engineering and departmental funding sources. wastewater treatment around the world.

“They get to work on these projects and leave with “I am from Nepal, and I started studying wastewater strong research experience,” Gude said. there as an undergrad,” Ghimire said. “In Nepal, we have Hariteja Nandimandalam came to MSU from India water resources, but they can be polluted. The management to obtain a doctorate in civil engineering and work with and treatment process there is not good. I always think Gude. Nandimandalam, who assists Gude with the about how to manage wastewater and how to treat the biosensors project, said Gude wastewater. With our research, has helped him become more we are doing three processes “We’ve been successful in comfortable in a research lab. at once. We are generating identifying microorganisms that can “I’m not really interested electricity, desalinating sea in generating electricity. I just water and treating wastewater. consume oil and produce electricity. want to know if there’s been Dr. Gude is always motivating People are beginning to learn more a change in electricity because me and keeping me going in that could mean an oil spill,” the right direction.” about this research, and there is a lot Nandimandalam said. “That’s As the wastewater of potential and interest in this area. the basic idea. It’s fun to work treatment research evolved, on something that will Gude began to study different I hope to find opportunities that can help that.” ways microbes could be used take this research to the next level.”

The high commercial to benefit society, such as the ~ Veera Gnaneswar Gude potential and positive impact biosensors for oil pipelines. to humanity of Gude’s Using similar techniques, Gude biosensor research has made it one of the top 100 Science began studying how the biosensors can absorb oil from a Spinoffs according to spinoff.com, which connects pipeline leak, further minimizing the impact of oil spills. university researchers to potential investors. Federal In developing the biosensors for oil pipelines, Gude researchers have also taken notice of the work as Gude uses an interdisciplinary approach, pulling from the fields and his colleagues were invited to contribute an article to of chemical engineering, biochemistry and microbiology. the Homeland Defense and Security Information Analysis “This research requires an interdisciplinary approach Center’s research journal in the summer 2018 edition. The to understand the different problems,” Gude said. “We center is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense. need to keep these microorganisms in place, so that means As Gude moves the research forward, he will continue some materials research to ensure organisms stay within to examine the best ways to apply the biosensors to the system. You need some kind of connecting material pipelines and design them in a way that makes them for the sensors. There’s a lot that has to go in from function in a wide variety of environments. He is also different fields.” exploring different applications for the techniques, such Gude is working with scientists at the U.S. as remediating hydrocarbon contaminated groundwater Department of Agriculture and MSU’s Department of from environmental dangers.

Chemistry to help advance the research and technology.

“We’ve been successful in identifying microorganisms Over the past decade, he has received national and that can consume oil and produce electricity,” Gude international recognition of his research by his peers. said. “People are beginning to learn more about this In his time at MSU, he has published over 60 researchresearch, and there is a lot of potential and interest in journal articles, five books, 15 invited book chapters and this area. I hope to find opportunities that can take this 25 peer-reviewed conference proceedings. His work has research to the next level.” n been cited over 3,000 times by other scholars.

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State SNAPSHOT

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HEADING HOME: Eager teammates await No. 40 Elijah MacNamee at home plate as he completes a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Bulldogs to a 10-8 victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores in the first game in the NCAA Super Regional at Hawkins Field, Nashville. Mississippi State went on to take the series in three games, earning a trip to the College World Series in Omaha.

Photo by Kelly Donoho.

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A Changing Legacy Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library at MSU cultivates renewed interest in a critical American figure

By James Carskadon | Photos by Beth Wynn

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n 1863, Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant continued his rise from relative obscurity to nationwide fame by defeating Confederate forces at Vicksburg, part of a series of victories that propelled him to the highest ranks in the U.S. Army. Over 150 years later, Mississippi is once again the site of Grant’s rise to prominence, this time through the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library at Mississippi State University.

Grant’s life was marked by dramatic swings in fortune as he went from failed farmer to Civil War hero and president of the United States to cancer-stricken, destitute victim of a Ponzi scheme. John F. Marszalek, MSU Giles Distinguished Professor Emeritus and executive director of the Ulysses S. Grant Association, said Grant’s reputation has had similar swings since his death in 1885.

“One of the things about Grant is that his reputation has gone up and down,” Marszalek said. “In the late 19th century, he was considered the greatest American of that period. Grant’s tomb had more visitors than the Statue of Liberty. That lasted into the ’20s; then his reputation went down into a trough with historians calling him a butcher or corrupt. Those misconceptions became a big deal.”

The misconceptions were part of what sparked the creation of the Ulysses S. Grant Association, formed during the Civil War centennial in the 1960s with the goal of publishing the complete papers of its namesake.

Headquartered in Mississippi State’s Mitchell Memorial Library since 2009, the Grant Association and the MSU Libraries have made thousands of documents on Grant’s life available to researchers and

the public. By creating a central place to study Grant’s life and times, historians are painting a more complete picture of Grant, Marszalek said.

Earlier this decade, the 32nd and final volume of Grant’s papers was published.

Now, prominent authors such as Pulitzer Prize winner Ron Chernow, of “Hamilton” fame, are writing new biographies of Grant after spending weeks in Starkville to research at the Grant Presidential Library.

“That has helped to change the whole perception of Grant,” Marszalek said. “I like to brag that the Grant Association had a lot to do with it because it made a lot of things available. What we’ve done here at Mississippi State is make it even more accessible. The result has been a different perspective of who Grant was.”

Chernow’s “Grant,” released in the fall of 2017, received widespread media acclaim and was a New York Times best-seller. In his review of the book, former President Bill Clinton noted, “If we still believe in forming a more perfect union, [Grant’s] steady and courageous example is more valuable than ever.”

Chernow described in the book’s acknowledgments how the collection housed at Mississippi State and the university’s staff helped him bring Grant to life.

“In addition to the fifty thousand documents from the published papers, the library contains another two hundred thousand documents that never made it into print—a scholarly feast for anyone remotely curious about Grant,” Chernow wrote. “I especially profited from the numerous oral histories, profiles, newspaper interviews, letters, and diaries that conjure up Grant with extraordinary vividness.”

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Bringing Grant’s story to MSU

The success of Chernow’s biography has Although having the Union general’s resulted in opportunities for Grant’s story presidential library in the heart of the South to be told to larger audiences. According to often surprises people, it is located in an area Deadline reports, “Grant” is set to become that was central to Grant’s military career.

While Grant’s story can now be found atop a major motion picture as Lionsgate and The Battle of Shiloh, and Grant’s ensuing best-seller lists and, soon, on the big screen, Appian Way acquired movie rights to the Mississippi campaign that ended with the it’s also being told in a new state-of-the-art book. The same outlet reports that Steven Siege of Vicksburg, helped endear the general museum at Mitchell Memorial Library.

Spielberg will direct the film and Leonardo to Lincoln, with whom he formed a pivotal The gallery is part of a $10 million DiCaprio will play Grant. A six-part History relationship in the final years of the war. addition to the library that was opened with channel docuseries based on “Grant” is also Now, Grant’s legacy lives on in a a celebration in November 2017. The new in the works. presidential library that is located almost space also includes a gallery for the Frank and Historian Charles W. Calhoun recently exactly halfway between Shiloh and Vicksburg.

Virginia Williams Collection of Lincolniana, released a book on Grant’s presidency, a Often, visitors will stop by the library while new storage for MSU’s Congressional and time period that is often under a critical eye driving from one park to the other.

Political Research Center, office space, a from historians. However, Calhoun, who There is also interest among MSU preparation room, a reading room and cold did research for his book at MSU, embraces students, who can now visit a presidential storage. MSU President Mark E. Keenum the criticism of Grant’s presidency and library in the same building where they meet worked with the Mississippi Legislature to offers a re-evaluation of the country’s 18th to work on group projects. In addition to secure bond funds for the library expansion. president. The Library Journal said in its enjoying the galleries, students also have access review that Calhoun to high-quality archival “offers a balanced material for research.

“When school kids come, they always are learning something treatment of the Grant Frank J. Williams, because they want to press the buttons and open the drawers, administration that will retired Rhode Island likely be definitive for Supreme Court justice which we encourage. People seem to really love that stuff, even many years.” and longtime president the adults. You can’t drag them away. They want to push all the In addition of the Ulysses S. Grant buttons and read everything.” ~ John F. Marszalek to these books by Association, said the external researchers, presidential library The new galleries feature four life-size Marszalek and fellow USGA editors and MSU complements the various Grant historical statues depicting different stages of Grant’s Libraries associate professor David Nolen and sites across the country. He donated a life: West Point cadet, Civil War general, publications editor Louis Gallo released photobook from Grant’s funeral, which statesman and writing his memoirs at the end a completely annotated version of Grant’s captures in great detail the massive celebration of his life. Interactive screens provide details classic memoirs in 2017. These memoirs of Grant’s life that took place in New York. of Grant’s life and address the myths that provide a modern context for Grant’s writing In the new gallery, visitors can flip through have plagued his legacy. and have been so well received the historians a digital version of the book, complete with “When school kids come, they always have been offered a contract by Harvard accompanying information on the pictures. are learning something because they want University Press to write an annotated version “We can be very proud of the fact that to press the buttons and open the drawers, of William Tecumseh Sherman’s memoirs.

MSU has one of the premier presidential which we encourage,” Marszalek said. “People “The general’s reputation has been trending libraries in the country,” Williams said. seem to really love that stuff, even the adults. upward as recent historians strive to replace You can’t drag them away. They want to push the powerful stereotype of the top Union all the buttons and read everything.” general and two-term president as a butcher Display pieces, such as some of Grant’s commander and failed chief executive,” paintings and other artifacts, help put Grant’s UCLA historian Joan Waugh wrote recently Ulysses Grant Dietz, a great-great grandson life in perspective.

Nolen, who spent four in the Civil War Times. “Their collective of the former president, did not always tout years researching Grant for the annotated work has provided a measured and often his connection to one of the most well-known memoirs, said his story is one that resonates more appreciative evaluation of the soldiermen in American history. In his early years, he with almost any visitor. statesman’s event-filled life and vital legacy.” went by “Grant.”

“This really is an amazing and kind of A recent poll among presidential historians “I wasn’t particularly proud of the name quintessentially American story that still shows that Grant’s stature is continuing to because the automatic response was always resonates with people,” Nolen said. “I’ve heard rise. In C-SPAN’s survey of presidents, Grant bad,” Dietz said. “His reputation was really that from several different people.

They come has risen 11 spots to No. 22 since 2000. Most low because of all this bad history that had out of the museum and they say, ‘I learned presidential rankings have remained relatively been written.” things I didn’t know about, and I was moved steady, with Abraham Lincoln maintaining a By the time Dietz went to boarding school, emotionally in a way I didn’t anticipate.’” firm grip on the No. 1 spot. he took on the name “Ulysses,” which caused

More Celebrations to Come

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Since officially opening in November 2017, visitors of all ages have enjoyed exploring the galleries for MSU’s Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library and the Frank and Virginia Williams Collection of Lincolniana. The galleries, along with the collections they represent, have helped make Mississippi State a leading place to study the American Civil War.

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him to be involved with various Grant organizations, including the Grant Association. He visited Starkville for the grand opening of the new museum and again for the USGA’s annual meeting in May. He was among numerous descendants of Grant that attended the annual meeting.

There are historical Ulysses S. Grant sites in New York, Ohio, Illinois and Missouri, but Dietz said Starkville is now the “emotional epicenter” for Grants.

“This really is an amazing and kind of quintessentially American story that still resonates with people. I’ve heard that from several different people. They come out of the museum and they say, ‘I learned things I didn’t know about, and I was moved emotionally in a way I didn’t anticipate.’” ~ David Nolen “Having this library and having it here really means a lot to me,” said Dietz, who lives in New Jersey. “So much of the negative stuff about Ulysses S. Grant was all about politics between the North and the South, and Grant was the victim. To have this here is a triumph of truth over myth, for both the North and the South.

This is a triumph for Mississippi State, but I think it’s also a real triumph for the Grant family.”

As the USGA continues its research and outreach activities at MSU, it will also have a major celebration to plan in the coming years. A bipartisan U.S. Senate resolution placed the organization in charge of the national celebration marking the 200th anniversary of Grant’s birth in 2022.

The bicentennial will mark another opportunity to bring Grant back into the public conscience. Williams said the commission plans to have a national bicentennial event at the presidential library in Starkville. n

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A N EX T R AO R D I N A RY G I F T Rhode Island couple’s donation makes MSU one of the nation’s foremost centers for studying the Civil War and its leaders

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etired Rhode Island Supreme Court Chief Justice Frank J. Williams first became interested in Abraham Lincoln when he spent every day of sixth grade sitting under a classroom portrait of America’s 16th president. His teacher encouraged him to read and learn more about Lincoln, and he has not stopped learning about him since.

The lifelong pursuit led Williams and his wife, Virginia, to spend decades acquiring Lincoln artifacts. Having amassed what was considered the largest privately held Lincoln collection in the country, the couple donated the items to Mississippi State in 2017.

With MSU also serving as home of the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library, the Frank and Virginia Williams Collection of Lincolniana makes MSU a national leader in the study of the American Civil War. “If you study Lincoln, you really have to study Grant,” Williams said. “When we saw the way the Grant collection was treated when it moved from Southern Illinois to Mississippi State, it became clear that this was the right time and place to donate our collection.”

The assortment, valued at approximately $3 million, contains over 16,000 books and pamphlets plus 20,000 items relating to Lincoln and the war, including statuary, prints, original artwork, political paraphernalia, photographs, currency and postage stamps. MSU Libraries faculty and staff are working to digitize portions of the materials. The

most prominent pieces are on display in a gallery adjacent to the Grant exhibits.

Williams said he hopes visitors to the gallery will take away lessons from Lincoln’s life as he did.

“I wanted to be a lawyer because Lincoln was a lawyer,” Williams said.

“There’s not a day as a lawyer, a judge and now a mediator that I am not influenced

by Lincoln’s character.”

Considered one of the country’s foremost experts on Lincoln, Williams has written or edited over 20 books on the president. A decorated U.S. Army veteran, he is an adjunct professor at the United States Naval War College, where he teaches a class on Abraham Lincoln and statesmanship.

The former judge has served as president of the Ulysses S. Grant Association since 1991 and was instrumental in bringing the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library to MSU. He said he will continue to amass Lincoln materials, which will be donated to MSU over time. Frank and Virginia have also funded an annual lecture on Abraham Lincoln and Civil War studies.

“One reason we gave this collection to MSU is to help continue healing,” Williams said. “We wanted this to go to a place in the South for that very reason.

It was exhilarating to see the collection on display because we’ve never had the space for all these treasures. A number of alumni came up to us at the grand opening and thanked us for what we did, and that means a lot.” n

MSU TURFGRASS PROGRAM A CUT ABOVE

By Vanessa Beeson | Photo Illustrations by Heather Rowe rom the coast of Mississippi to the coast of Japan, the roots of Mississippi State’s turfgrass program reach far and wide.

Housed under the agronomy major in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, the golf and sports turf management concentration has been around for more than 50 years. In that time, it has become nationally known for its rigorous curriculum and innovative research, which

F

has produced unique varieties of turf used on lawns and athletic fields across America.

Established in 1965, the degree program includes 10 turf courses and requires three semesters of cooperative education.

Assistant professor Jay McCurdy said this comprehensive education makes Mississippi State alumni highly sought after in the field.

He estimates there are nearly 500 Bulldogs working in the industry around the world.

“Our graduates are diverse in background

and experience,” McCurdy said. “The opportunities in turf management go far beyond golf courses. We have alumni working in areas like municipal turf, lawn care operation and sports field management.

Our motto is ‘stay in the game.’ While many high school athletes will not have the opportunity to play at the collegiate or professional level, this concentration allows them to still be involved in sports by managing the field of play.”

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BULLDOGS TAKE ON TURF

public see golf course maintenance from a different perspective.”

McDaniel has even been featured as a character in a local golf-themed manga—a Japanese comic book. He said he’d like to get more young people engaged with turfgrass in Japan, which he says doesn’t have programs like the one found at MSU. “I hope to collaborate with one of my mentors to create a turf academy at Keya to train the younger Japanese generation on turf management,” McDaniel said.

ANDREW MCDANIEL It took 21 hours for Andrew McDaniel to get to his final turfgrass internship. Though he’d never flown before, he didn’t let the distance keep him from a semester-long stint at a golf course in Japan, more than 7,000 miles away from Mississippi State University.

The 2001 Mississippi State graduate is now celebrating 17 years in Japan, where he is superintendent of Keya Golf Club and begins each day walking the 18-hole course with his dog, a Rhodesian Ridgeback named King.

“When I accepted the full-time job after I graduated, I never dreamed I’d be in Japan as long as I have,” explained McDaniel, who hails from Alabama. “But once you pick up the language, life gets easier, things change, other opportunities arise and, next thing you know, it’s been 17 years.”

McDaniel has been with Keya for six years. The 54-year-old family-owned enterprise in Fukuoka City hugs the coastline of the Itoshima Peninsula and is best known for its zoysiagrass greens.

“Japanese greens were traditionally zoysia

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KEAIR EDWARDS because it’s a native species. Over time, however, superintendents started switching to bentgrass and bermudagrass greens, which tend to have a better ball roll,” McDaniel explained. “We kept it classic. Now, when people think of Keya, they think of zoysia grass greens. They like the challenge, and we’ve built a reputation on keeping the tradition.”

Keya is a stop on the Japan Golf Tour, and McDaniel said the unique turf gets him time in the spotlight.

“When the tournament rolls around, I get to talk about turf on national television,” McDaniel said. “It’s good for the industry because it helps the general

As superintendent turf manager of the Gulfport Sportsplex, Keair Edwards says he’s always on call.

Thanks to internships at the facility and insight from his predecessor—who also happens to be his dad—he had some understanding of the job’s demands. Still, he said there was an adjustment period when he took the reins in 2017.

“My first day on the job, my dad handed me the cellphone and the next thing I knew it was constantly ringing. I thought, ‘Wow, what have I gotten myself into?’” Edwards recalled with a smile.

The 2016 Mississippi State graduate grew up watching his father Ken manage turf at the

facilities, which earned a certification from the Sports Turf Manager Association for environmentally responsible management.

The same organization honored the fatherson duo for their efforts with the award for Softball Field of the Year in the Schools and Parks Division.

“My dad built this facility, so his were pretty big shoes to fill,” Edwards said. “But we figured it out.”

MELODEE FRASER 250-acre Gulfport Sportsplex and nearby 15acre Goldin Sportsplex. But Edwards said he didn’t realize it was something he could study until he was in high school.

“My dad was on the board for the Mississippi Turfgrass Association with a lot of Mississippi State alumni,” Edwards recalled.

“That kind of set things in motion for me to follow in his footsteps. Now, I’m actually on the board, too.”

All told, Edwards oversees nearly 30 fields, each hosting an estimated 880 games annually at the sportsplex alone. He is also the head groundskeeper for high school and college sporting events at Biloxi’s MGM Park.

Edwards said he looks forward to carrying on the work his father put into the

Melodee Fraser grew up on a golf course and thought she’d be a golf superintendent like her dad. Instead, this former Bulldog golfer went from reading greens to breeding them.

Fraser came to MSU in part because she wanted to play golf year-round. She graduated as the first woman in the turfgrass program in 1985, then stayed to study turf breeding as she earned a master’s. She said her plan was to manage a golf course, but graduate school showed her a different path.

“I felt that I could do more for golf courses if I was developing new varieties of turf,” Fraser recalled. “That’s what turf breeders do—we look for improved traits in different species and cultivars.”

After earning a doctorate in turfgrass breeding from Rutgers in 1991, Fraser joined Pure Seed, a global seed-breeding

company headquartered in Oregon. She was hired to lead the company’s brand-new eastern testing facility—a 25-acre research farm in Rolesville, North Carolina.

More than 25 years later, she’s helped lead the development of over 120 varieties of turfgrass. Her focus is on improving the summer performance of cool-season grass and breeding warm-season grasses, including tall fescues with improved summer performance.

“It’s very rewarding to talk to people who have used the varieties you’ve developed and been successful with them,” Fraser explained.

“When a variety has a long life, has traits that make it successful and that people like, that’s rewarding to see.”

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“MSU’S UNDERGRADUATE TURF PROGRAM IS ONE OF THE STRONGEST IN THE NATION. ALL MAJORS TAKE THE GOLF COURSE OPERATIONS AND ATHLETIC FIELD MANAGEMENT COURSE, SO THEY CAN WORK IN EITHER AREA.” ~ BARRY STEWART

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TRAINING TOMORROW’S TURF MANAGERS Part of securing Mississippi State graduates’ spot at the top of the field is ensuring they leave Starkville with a wellrounded education and a focus on the future of the turfgrass industry, according to associate professor Barry Stewart.

A 20-year veteran of the department who teaches numerous courses, including an online athletic management class for students from Mississippi State, LSU, Oklahoma State University and Arkansas, Stewart said the unique education offered to MSU turf students prepares them to weather shifts in the industry.

“MSU’s undergraduate turf program is one of the strongest in the nation,” Stewart said. “All majors take the golf course operations and athletic field management course, so they can work in either area.”

The Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology also contributes to the turfgrass curriculum. Research professor Maria Tomaso-Peterson, a three-time MSU alumna, said she is thrilled to pass turf knowledge on to the next generation of MSU students.

“Working with undergraduate and graduate students brings out my true passion for learning and being a mentor,” Tomaso-Peterson said.

As a scientist with the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, Tomaso-Peterson works to identify pathogens that affect the health and longevity of turf today. Her peers, meanwhile, are breeding better, stronger and more resilient turf for tomorrow.

SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE Bulldog fans look forward to celebrating wins achieved on the football field. However, MAFES researchers and Mississippi State sports turf managers are focused on the Celebration that is the field.

A type of bermudagrass, Celebration is widely used across the Southeast as licensed by Sod Solutions. The company

is now working with MSU to come up with a new Celebration variety that would capitalize on the university’s track record of developing sports-friendly turf.

MAFES breeders have crossed Celebration with successful MSUdeveloped breeds including Bullseye—a Bermuda grass that has been installed on athletic fields such as the Rose Bowl, Chase Field, the Home Depot Center, Kauffman Stadium and PetCo Park, as well as several golf courses around the country.

Eric Reasor, a MAFES scientist and assistant professor, works with Brandon Hardin, Mississippi State’s sports turf superintendent and an alumnus of the program, testing the new Celebration cultivars on the Bulldogs’ football practice field.

“Once Brandon sees which cultivars he likes best in terms of aesthetics and traffic tolerance, we will narrow the turf playing field and go from there,” Reasor explained.

Hardin isn’t the only SEC sports turf superintendent who earned his degree at MSU. Fields at the University of Florida and Ole Miss, including the highly trafficked Grove, are managed by Bulldog turfgrass alumni. MSU also helps high school coaches. Turfgrass Extension efforts include a clinic to help local coaches manage their fields.

A NEW S T. AUGUS TINE GRASS OPTION FOR MISSISSIPPI HOMEOWNERS While research for athletic fields and golf courses is a priority, the MSU breeding program also helps homeowners. The first planting in the new MAFES Turfgrass Breeding Nursery at the R.R. Foil Plant Science Research Center, commonly known as North Farm, is geared toward sod farmers who ultimately serve individuals looking to sod their lawns.

The breeding nursery is the first step in the turfgrass certification process. Ideally, the grasses developed there will be sent on to sod producers who will use it to

establish foundation or certified fields.

Reasor said the nursery encompasses 6 acres that have never been planted in turf.

“It’s far away from established turf, so we can keep the material clean and pure,” Reasor said. “Hopefully, we can send this grass to sod producers, so they can then grow it and sell it as clean material.”

The breeding team planted 1,170 plugs of MSA 2-3-98 St. Augustinegrass, which MSU marketing students in the College of Business tentatively named Silk St. Augustinegrass. The grass was patented for MSU in the early 2000s

by Wayne Philley. The senior research associate has been a part of the turfgrass breeding program for nearly 40 years.

“Currently, there is no St. Augustinegrass grown by local producers,” Philley explained. “The St. Augustinegrass you purchase at a local retailer is likely grown in southern Alabama or North Florida and isn’t completely adapted for the North Mississippi climate.”

Philley said St. Augustinegrass, which is shade tolerant, is a good alternative to bermudagrass for shaded yards.

“This is a warm-season, shade-tolerant variety adapted for Mississippi,” Philley explained. “This gives local producers the chance to provide a product well-suited for homeowners here.”

Breeding program researchers have plans to plant two of the nursery’s 6 acres by spring 2019. Currently, the team is evaluating 110 to 120 grasses for athletic fields, golf courses and home lawns.

MSU is also a testing site for the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program, one of the most well-known turfgrass research programs in the world, encompassing the evaluation of 17 turfgrass species across 40 states and six Canadian provinces.

Throughout its history, the MAFES turfgrass research program has garnered national attention for Mississippi State.

The patented grasses have generated revenue for the university as one of the most lucrative licensed technologies. And the future looks bright for the program, with new grasses being developed that will one day grace golf courses, sports facilities and home lawns everywhere. n ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

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S T. A U G U S T I N E G R A S S Pros: the most shade tolerant warm season lawn grass of the Southeast, fairly drought tolerant Cons: cold intolerant, vulnerable to pests and disease, no seeded cultivars CENTIPEDEGRASS Pros: low maintenance, requires very little fertilization, seeded varieties widely available Cons: tricky to establish from seed without irrigation, not shade tolerant, limited tolerance to common herbicides

ZOYSIA GRASS

ZOYSIA GRASS Pros: good durability, fairly low maintenance, modest shade tolerance Cons: can be somewhat slow to establish, prone to thatch buildup if not properly managed, very few seeded cultivars

ST. AUGUSTINEGRASS

BERMUDAGRASS Pros: excellent durability, heat-tolerant, easy to grow, dark green color, many different cultivars available as seed, sod or sprigs Cons: no shade tolerance, requires routine mowing and maintenance

CENTIPEDEGRASS

For new homeowners, it’s important to choose the best grass type for the property. MSU researchers recommend these options for Mississippi lawns.

BERMUDAGRASS

ON YOUR SIDE OF THE FENCE

FOR EXISTING HOMEOWNERS, MSU RESEARCHERS OFFER THESE TIPS TO STAY IN THE GREEN Good turf starts with good soil. Soil test once per year. Samples can be submitted to the MSU Extension Soil Testing Laboratory to get a fertility and soil amendment prescription tailored to your specific lawn.

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Overwatering is more common than not watering enough. Don’t overwater your grass. Learn to identify dry turf. It has a gray or desiccated appearance, and it might be difficult to stick a pocket knife in the soil. If natural precipitation doesn’t occur, aim for an inch of supplemental irrigation each week.

That’s about the depth of a tuna can.

Turf likes to soak up the sun. No grass grows in complete shade. Mow shaded turf at a slightly higher height of cut and thin or remove trees to reduce shaded areas. Choose alternative landscape material if you have deep shade.

A

s Mississippi State educates the next generation of business and economic leaders, its research centers, faculty laboratories and outreach initiatives strive to create economic opportunities in the Magnolia State.

“Our state faces many, many challenges, but MSU’s work in economic development is making a real difference every day,” said David Shaw, MSU vice president for research and economic development. “We hire faculty, staff, grad students and undergraduates that want to make a difference in our state and go about their work every day with that in mind. As a land-grant university, our history and culture focus on improving our state–it’s in our DNA.” MSU is the only university in the state designated as an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University by the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities’ Commission on Innovation, Competitiveness and Economic Prosperity. The designation, attained after a rigorous review process, recognizes Mississippi State for advancing engagement and economic well-being in the state, region and nation.

Much of MSU’s impact in economic development is an outgrowth of one of the university’s strengths–high-quality research. According to a National Science Foundation survey, MSU’s $239.4 million in total research and development expenditures in fiscal year 2016 place the university among the top 100 research

institutions in the country. Shaw said MSU faculty and their research programs attract research funding and top industries looking to tap into that expertise.

“We have a strong research program that supports industry in problem-solving, from specific analytical needs to plant and process optimization,” Shaw said. “We also

“We

have a strong research program that supports industry in problem-solving, from specific analytical needs to plant and process optimization. We also provide expertise on data relevant to business operations, from workforce data to modeling and simulation to solve problems.”

- David Shaw provide expertise on data relevant to business operations, from workforce data to modeling and simulation to solve problems.”

Companies regularly collaborate with MSU researchers in a variety of fields, including mechanical engineering, computer science, aerospace engineering, veterinary medicine and agriculture. For example, because of MSU’s aerospace expertise, Boeing selected MSU to host its Stitched Resin Infused Composite Research Center and donated $3 million in equipment to the

Raspet Flight Research Laboratory. Insitu, a Boeing subsidiary that focuses on unmanned aircraft systems, opened an office in MSU’s Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park in 2017.

The Golden Triangle region that comprises Starkville, Columbus and West Point has received national attention for its economic development success, which includes nearly $6 billion in industrial investments in just over a decade. Joe Max Higgins, who has led the Golden Triangle Development Link for 15 years, said that while companies may not choose to locate in the area solely because of MSU, the university is involved in almost every step of the recruitment process.

During visits to the region, aerospace companies like Airbus tour facilities such as Raspet, while automotive companies such as Yokohama Tire and PACCAR can get a firsthand look at MSU’s Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems.

As MSU continues to grow its enrollment, Higgins and other economic developers can tout the availability of highly qualified employees to handle increasingly complex manufacturing processes. Additionally, the cultural events provided by the university, such as concerts and Southeastern Conference sports, help showcase the area’s quality of life and entertainment options.

“We can go down to CAVS and they can see students working on the EcoCAR,” ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

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Higgins said. “You go in there and they’re tooling on an extremely advanced vehicle and they’re writing code for a car system. That stuff is all way over my head, but when the student sits there and explains what they’re doing to a company that’s technologically advanced, it checks the box.”

In addition to providing potential employment for MSU graduates, companies locating in the Golden Triangle also work with the MSU Career Center to provide internship and co-op positions for students.

Industry leaders also see the value in MSU’s teaching and research. For example, after PACCAR announced plans to build an engine manufacturing facility in Lowndes County in 2007, the company funded an endowed professorship in the James Worth Bagley College of Engineering that helps the college recruit and retain leading scholars.

Kathy Gelston, Mississippi State’s associate vice president for corporate engagement and economic development, said companies almost never come to MSU with a problem the university can’t help them solve.

“We have areas where we really punch above our weight, such as computational fluid dynamics and supercomputing,” Gelston said. “We have plans in the research park to expand the High Performance Computing Collaboratory and increase our computing capacity. I think that gives us tremendous opportunities. When a university has that type of data capability, it opens up some research opportunities that most universities can’t accommodate.”

SUPPORTING NEW BUSINESSES AND STATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Mississippi State’s alumni ranks contain many business owners, CEOs and executives that provide business growth in the state.

Two proud members of the Bulldog family lead efforts to promote economic development in their home state.

In 2015, Gov. Phil Bryant appointed Tupelo native and MSU agricultural economics graduate Glenn L. McCullough Jr. as executive director of the Mississippi

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Development Authority. Earlier this year, alumnus Scott Waller was named president and CEO of the Mississippi Economic Council, the state’s chamber of commerce.

Waller attended MSU in the 1980s but left school early to begin a successful journalism career. He later joined the Mississippi Economic Council and led its communication and government affairs efforts before being named CEO. In 2010, Waller earned his bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State after completing coursework through the university’s distance education programs.

“Mississippi State is a very special place to me, and it’s more than just a place to come watch football or baseball,” Waller said. “More importantly, I love what MSU does for our state, because what we have as a university is the opportunity to make an impact on people’s lives. When you get to that point where you’re having an impact all across the state, and ultimately across the nation, it shows the value of what the university has.”

McCullough, a 1977 alumnus, has held several leadership roles in government and economic development. He has served as executive director of the Appalachian Regional Commission and was elected mayor of Tupelo in 1997. In 2001, McCullough was appointed chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority board of directors by former President George W. Bush.

McCullough said Mississippi’s research universities are key partners in economic development as they enhance the pool of potential employees and provide expertise in key industrial sectors.

MDA works closely with Mississippi State administration and research personnel to attract private investment and new careers for Mississippians.

In his current position at MDA, McCullough oversees team members who provide support for communities, businesses, industries and leaders to help them reach their goals in Mississippi.

“In Mississippi, you’re going to see continued growth in the automotive, aerospace and agriculture industries, and MSU is on the leading edge in each of these sectors,” McCullough said. “Mississippi State is a fundamental advantage in community and economic development.”

Kathy Gelston & David Shaw

Joe Max Higgins Jr.

“We

have plans in the research park to expand the High Performance Computing Collaboratory and increase our computing capacity. I think that gives us tremendous opportunities. When a university has that type of data capability, it opens up some research opportunities that most universities can’t accommodate.””- Kathy Gelston

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Glenn McCullough

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“At MDA, I have a unique opportunity to help our economy grow at a faster pace,” McCullough added. “Governor Bryant works 24/7 to grow Mississippi’s economy. We depend on MSU and other universities. At every level, we play to win as one team.”

In addition to its extensive work with economic development agencies and existing companies, the university also helps turn the ideas of students and faculty into new companies through several initiatives that support entrepreneurship.

Housed in the College of Business, the MSU Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach provides mentorship and guidance to approximately 100 student entrepreneurial teams. The center has developed a program through which students can earn up to $7,500 in seed money to develop their ideas into a business. Wade Patterson, an MSU alumnus, recently launched the Bulldog Angel Network, which connects entrepreneurs with potential sources of venture capital funding.

As part of the $100 million invested in the Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park, MSU has created a business incubator that provides low-cost office space for startup companies.

The same building houses the Veterans WINTER 2018

Business Outreach Center, which provides business training for veterans of the U.S. armed forces.

Gelston said smaller “mom and pop” companies are the backbone of the Mississippi economy, and College of Business students can work with small and medium-sized companies to help them develop a comprehensive business plan that includes market research and financing plans along with realistic risk assessments.

These services can also provide assistance to university faculty who have developed intellectual property through their research.

This property, once patented and licensed to the faculty, can be developed into startup companies in their area of expertise.

“We can license that intellectual property and it can become the kernel of a new company,” Gelston said. “A catfish vaccine was developed by one of our Extension faculty and that catfish vaccine has increased catfish growth by almost 20 percent. Now the state has a new problem – we have more catfish than we have catfish processing facilities. That creates the opportunity for a company here in Mississippi to process those catfish and hire employees, pay taxes and grow our economy.

Those are really important things.”

REACHING OUT ACROSS THE STATE As with most aspects of the university, outreach is a key component of MSU’s economic development efforts. McCullough said MSU Extension’s programs make the state a more attractive place for people and companies to locate.

“Economic development happens in successful communities, and Extension makes communities the best they can be,” McCullough said.

MSU’s National Strategic Planning and Analysis Research Center was the key entity that brought together the Mississippi Statewide Longitudinal Data System, which provides high-quality data about Mississippi’s workforce.

Economic developers say that data is crucial when companies are looking to locate in a rural area and need to know they can fully staff potential facilities. The center has also developed the Mississippi Works app, which lets employers post available jobs and job seekers can search for open positions in the state.

CAVS’ facility in Canton, CAVS Extension, provides direct assistance to manufacturers across

“Mississippi State is a very special place to me, and it’s more than just a place to come watch football or baseball.

More importantly, I love what MSU does for our state. Because what we have as a university is the opportunity to make an impact on people’s lives. When you get to that point where you’re having an impact all across the state, and ultimately across the nation, it shows the value of what the university has.”

the state and helps them solve issues in their industrial facilities. Since 2006, CAVS Extension has had an approximately $6 billion impact on the Mississippi economy, including 4,753 jobs created or retained.

Gelston, who worked for 11 years at MDA before coming to MSU, regularly meets with local economic development agencies from across the state to provide direct assistance or share expertise.

“We support local economic development organizations across the state,” Gelston said.

“Dr. Shaw and I both have been known to make presentations, explain the many ways the university can work with industry and also just serve as additional staff and assistance when our economic development partners need that. In addition to helping them, we want to tell them about MSU’s capabilities so that they can tell the story when they talk to companies.”

The story Gelston aims to continue to tell is one where MSU keeps creating jobs, enhancing the quality of life in Mississippi and providing opportunities for students and alumni, all through the university’s consistent focus on research, learning and service. n

Scott Waller

- Scott Waller

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Our PEOPLE

RANKINS EYES EFFICIENCY, SUPPORT AS MISSISSIPPI’S HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSIONER Interview by Susan Lassetter | Photo by Beth Wynn A native of Greenville, Alfred Rankins Jr. has firsthand experience with education in Mississippi. Now, he has the opportunity to shape its direction for future generations.

Rankins assumed the role of Commissioner of Higher Education in July, following his appointment by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning. He previously served as president of Alcorn State University and IHL’s deputy commissioner for academic and student affairs.

This appointment is the latest entry in Rankins’ long history with education in the Magnolia State, which includes earning a bachelor’s degree from Alcorn and both a master’s and doctoral degree from Mississippi State University. He also gained experience on the faculty-side of university life as he worked his way through the ranks of Mississippi State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences before turning to administration.

Rankins said his transition from student to faculty to the highest levels of administration was inspired by his desire to make a difference in people’s lives.

In an interview with Alumnus magazine, he explained how he plans to use this experience to continue the growth of higher education in Mississippi.

Q: How do you feel your personal experience within different areas of higher education will influence your perspective in this new role?

A: My experience gives me the ability to view decisions from various perspectives and understand the impact these decisions will have on faculty, staff and students. Viewing an issue from a single perspective is not helpful in the decision-making process. It is important to be able to understand and balance various competing priorities when the goal is to find the best solution to an issue.

Q: What would you most like to accomplish in this new role?

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A: As Commissioner of Higher Education, I plan to continue communicating the benefits of higher education to all Mississippians, from policymakers to parents and students.

Our university system advances our state through its mission of education, research and service. From preserving history in a way that is accessible to all Mississippians, to preparing students for careers using cuttingedge technology, to helping current business owners improve processes and increase profits, our universities touch the lives of all Mississippians.

Mississippi State is a great example of this. The university is the home of the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library and the prestigious Frank J. and Virginia Williams Collection of Lincolniana, while serving as the national lead university for the FAA’s Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems. The university’s Extension agents also help local farmers grow a better tomato for you to buy at the farmers market. I want to help all Mississippians understand the full breadth and depth of the contributions made by the university system.

As a system, we have placed an emphasis on completion that I would like to continue.

In 2017, the public universities in Mississippi awarded 17,760 degrees, and we have had an 8.9 percent increase in degrees conferred over the past five years. We must continue to structure support to help students succeed and find ways to help them break down barriers to completion.

Q: What is your assessment of the state of higher education in Mississippi?

A: We do an excellent job of providing students with an education that prepares them to be the workforce and leaders of the future, while solving Mississippi’s most pressing problems through research and strengthening our communities through outreach. However, we must continue to work with existing and potential businesses to ensure that we provide the programs and experiences that will prepare our students to succeed in the workforce upon

graduation and to adapt to industry changes over time. We must continue to seek grants to provide the resources needed to conduct research that will improve the lives of all Mississippians. We must continue to stress the importance of investing in higher education to our state leaders.

Q: What is your forecast for how the role of higher education will change in Mississippi?

A: Higher education must continue to grow and evolve to meet the ever-changing needs of business and industry. As the world becomes more automated, we will need less manpower and more brainpower, which is why the university system has had a 37.9 percent increase in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) degrees awarded in the last five years. We must continue to evaluate our program offerings to ensure they align with the majors that students want and to provide graduates with the skills businesses need. We must also continue to find ways to be more efficient and stretch our resources as far as possible, so we can remain accessible and affordable for Mississippi students.

Q: How do you see land-grant and researchheavy universities, like Mississippi State, playing into that future?

A: Land-grant, research-intensive universities, like Mississippi State, play an important role in our state and nation.

We are advancing the state and making a difference in the lives of all Mississippians.

The land-grant universities were established to provide a practical education that served the nation’s agricultural and technical needs of the late 19th century and were also asked to conduct research that would help local farmers to net better crops and to share this information with other farmers. More than 100 years have passed and much has changed within agriculture and technology, but the mission of serving others remains at the heart of land-grant universities. n

“

We do an excellent job of providing students with an education that prepares them to be the workforce and leaders of the future, while solving Mississippi’s most pressing problems through research and strengthening our communities through outreach.

However, we must continue to work with existing and potential businesses to ensure that we provide the programs and experiences that will

“

prepare our students to succeed in

the workforce upon graduation and to adapt to industry changes over time.

~ Alfred Rankins Jr.

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Our PEOPLE

Flavors of life

MSU alumna blends passion for cooking into fulfilling career

By Sasha Steinberg | Photo by Beth Wynn

S

ometimes, all it takes is one.

One place, one person, one experience may be all the inspiration needed to chart a course for success. For Ann Taylor Pittman, the road from MSU freshman to Cooking Light magazine’s award-winning executive editor is a healthy mix of all three.

Pittman, a native of Winona, enrolled at MSU in fall 1987 as a computer science major. After two semesters, she was drawn down a different academic path. Inspired by a beloved English Composition II teacher, she changed her major to English and also pursued a master’s in the subject.

The “wonderful experience” that later came with teaching in the MSU English department helped Pittman develop a passion for literature and leadership, two key ingredients in her personal and professional recipe for growth.

“I love Starkville and Mississippi State. They will always hold a very special place in my heart,” Pittman said.

“I encourage students to be present in their experience and soak up as much as they can from the incredible, talented teachers at MSU. That openness to learning and willingness to accept each day for whatever it has in store can carry you into your professional career in a very good way.”

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Known as the “Oscars of the food world,” the James Beard Foundation Awards are the most coveted honors in the culinary industry.

Like many proud Mississippians, Pittman also has a love for great food.

Throughout her childhood in the 1970s and 80s, she accompanied her Korean mother to source ingredients at the nearest Asian market, which at the time was in Memphis, Tennessee.

“Korean food felt like a special treat,” Pittman recalled. “The flavors were just so different from the meatloaf, chickenfried steak and pork chops of our everyday Southern table. They were bold, sometimes slightly spicy, unsubtly savory and just insanely delicious.”

“Mom would make bulgogi—saltysweet, paper-thin sliced beef marinated in soy sauce, brown sugar and toasted sesame oil that she’d quickly char or grill, then wrap in red-leaf lettuce leaves with a nugget of short-grain rice. Or she’d make japchae, which was my favorite—translucent noodles tossed with slivers of bulgogi, sautéed spinach, julienne-cut carrots, scallions and a soy-sesame dressing. Those were the dishes she made the most.”

With two Mississippi State diplomas in hand and teaching experience under her belt, Pittman left the Magnolia State in 1998 looking for another fun, supportive environment where she could explore her childhood passion for cooking and newfound passion for writing. Twenty years later, Cooking Light magazine in Birmingham, Alabama, remains that special place.

Pittman said she has many cherished moments from her time climbing the ranks from Cooking Light editorial assistant to executive editor, but considers “Mississippi Chinese Lady goes home to Korea” as her greatest accomplishment to date.

The personal essay she penned in 2012 received the prestigious 2013 James Beard Foundation Journalism Award in the Food and Culture category. It also taught her an important lesson about her craft: If you want a story to resonate with readers, you have to be real.

“When I came to Cooking Light, I started out researching and writing articles about food and culture. Later on down the line, my editor gave me the opportunity to travel and write a very personal story about visiting my extended family in Korea,” Pittman said. “It’s a very vulnerable thing to write something with your name on it and put it out there for the world, but it was a good experience for me and netted a good story for our readers.”

Pittman said her willingness to embrace new experiences is an integral part of organizing editorial content for Cooking Light’s print readership of nearly 9.4 million.

Translating science-backed nutrition into innovative, everyday recipes for today’s home cook is a challenging task Pittman and her colleagues embrace with zest.

“We’ve found that if you put a personal spin on a topic, it will always feel interesting and relatable,” she said. “I love working at Cooking Light because it’s such a collaborative environment. I’ve learned so much from everyone—our four other print editors, registered dietitians, art directors, designers, production managers. We have a lot to balance, but we have a great team.”

Along with overseeing editorial content from cover to cover, Pittman has been known to roll up her sleeves and head into the Cooking Light test kitchen. There, she carefully organizes and transforms healthy ingredients into tasty meals readers can enjoy making in the comfort of their own homes.

“Recipe development is really fun because it’s a more technical sort of writing,” Pittman said. “I have to be very, very specific in order to have a recipe that people can be successful creating at home, so I have to do a lot of good notetaking on how to make food visually appealing or cook faster or better.

You may go into a kitchen thinking you know how ingredients will go together or how the recipe is going to turn out, but sometimes it throws you for a loop, so you have to be creative and willing to go there with it,” she continued. “It’s the same with writing. If the story needs to take a different direction, you have to let it.”

Away from the desk or test kitchen, Pittman has channeled her appetite for authorship into “Everyday Whole Grains,” a comprehensive cookbook of 175 flavorful recipes featuring whole and ancient grains. She also is co-author of Cooking Light’s “The New Way to Cook Light,” winner of a 2013 James Beard Foundation Cookbook Award.

“To me, cooking a healthy meal for someone is an incredible way of showing love,” said Pittman, who lives in Birmingham with her husband and their twin 12-year-old boys. “To write about that on a daily basis and to encourage people to do that in their own lives is an amazing opportunity.” n

Oh,

Snap EATING WITH THE EYES FIRST

Pittman’s Tips For Improved Food Photography 1. Lighting is No. 1. Avoid direct, harsh light. Instead opt for natural light, like that coming from a window. Make sure all interior lights are turned off because they can give a yellow tint to the image.

2. Crop makes it pop. An interesting crop can make for a very interesting food photo. If the bowl or plate is round, consider cropping off one side of it. It frames the food in a different way.

3. Color is the spice of (photo) life. Use a variety of fresh ingredients to give the photo pizazz on the plate. The end result will be tasty, too.

4. Look at things from a different angle. Overhead is universally flattering for food, but also try coming down at a three-quarter angle. Using some sort of background or a long table also can give depth of field.

Follow these tips to put the best photos forward in no time! Want to see more food-photo magic? Follow Pittman on Instagram @annietaypitt.

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Our PEOPLE

For three generations, Austin family marches in MSU graduations

By Sid Salter | Photo by Beth Wynn

B

ill Austin, a quiet man who spoke through his actions more than words, was intensely proud of his affiliation with Mississippi State University. He often observed, “I bleed Mississippi State maroon.”

Austin’s Maroon bloodline was obviously strong in his descendants.

When Jesse William “Bill” Austin Sr. earned his undergraduate degree from Mississippi State College in 1938, there was no way to know that he was beginning a family tradition that would peak in 1968 and again in 2018 with the MSU graduations of his son and grandson.

Bill Austin would go on to earn his medical degree from Tulane Medical School in 1942, shortly before entering the U.S. Army for service in World War II. He was a battalion surgeon in the U.S. 3rd Army in the European Theater, where he served in five major battles from the Normandy invasion until VE-Day– including harrowing combat service during the Battle of the Bulge.

Austin earned the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars and the Purple Heart. After his military service, he returned to Forest to practice

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medicine with his father, Dr. R.B. Austin.

During his long and distinguished 39-year medical practice in Scott County, Austin delivered over 3,500 babies and most of them were born outside a hospital setting.

“Doctor Bill” and his wife, Opal, were the parents of daughters Sue Thigpen and Judy Webb and sons Jesse William “Ace” Austin Jr., Richard Austin and Terry Austin. There were 14 grandchildren and a great-grandchild at the time of his death on Feb. 12, 2001, at the age of 84.

Bill’s son, Dr. Jesse William “Ace” Austin Jr., who would follow in his grandfather’s and father’s footsteps as a physician, earned an undergraduate degree in biology and chemistry from Mississippi State in 1968, 30 years after his father’s graduation.

While at State, “Ace” finished first in his pre-med class, studying chemistry under the legendary professor Clyde Q. Sheely and embryology under Dr. L.L. Ellis. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and won an honorary award from Phi Kappa Phi. Dr. “Ace” Austin enjoyed a long career as an emergency medicine physician in

the Montgomery, Alabama, area, where he served for 25 years as the deputy coroner in Montgomery County. Early in his career, he was chief of Womack Army Hospital Emergency Room at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

He and wife Dockery are the parents of three children: Matthew Pittman Austin, and twins Jennie Dockery Austin and Jesse William Austin III. In May 2018, Jesse William Austin III became the third generation of the Austin line to graduate from Mississippi State University–80 years after his grandfather and 50 years after his father.

Jesse Austin was a star member of the MSU Track and Field team during his four years at State as a decathlete participating in 10 events– with pole vaulting as his specialty. He served as president of the MSU “M” Club and received the SEC Scholar-Athlete Award for four consecutive semesters at MSU. He is continuing the Austin family tradition of service to mankind as a student in the University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Dentistry. n

Dawgs in

With more than 142,000 living alumni, the Bulldog family has roots around the world. In the greater Atlanta, Georgia area, over 4,000 Bulldogs are helping turn the Peach State Maroon and White.

A

s a geoscience graduate student at Mississippi State, Phillip Lana learned to forecast many things, and while he’s no longer a practicing meteorologist, he can predict a sunny outlook for the 2019 Super Bowl.

As director of operations and logistics for the Atlanta Super Bowl Host Committee, he is working to anticipate all of the city’s needs when the NFL’s biggest party comes to town.

“A lot of people don’t understand that with the Super Bowl, there’s the game but there are also potentially 150 other events that will take place within the city that weekend,” Lana explained. “It’s our job to coordinate to make sure these events can be successful.”

This marks Lana’s second time planning a major sporting event for ATL. He was also on the committee for the 2018 College Football National Championship

and is on tap to help the city with the 2020 NCAA Final Four.

“A lot of cities would just go out and hire a committee for each of these events, but with Atlanta hosting all three in a row our board of directors thought it would be good to keep the group together,” the Baltimore, Maryland, native said. “You form connections with the venues and different groups, so it’s easier than having to switch out personnel.”

A 1997 graduate, Lana coordinates all of the moving parts for these events. That means ensuring everything flows properly, from team and media movements to the additional

90,000 people joining the already busy city streets. There’s also parking, security, vendors and practice venues to secure.

While Lana’s job has given him enviable access to some of the country’s hottest entertainment and sporting events, he said he rarely gets to just enjoy the action.

“I can be anywhere, but it’s constant movement. You never get to just enjoy the event,” Lana explained. “My happiness is that moment after the event when traffic is flowing smoothly and everyone is going home.

That’s when I know it’s been a success and that we’ve pulled off something incredible.” n ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

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Dawgs IN

W

hen Dr. Cara Robinson, current president of the Atlanta Chapter of the MSU Alumni Association, began creating notebooks for the group’s leaders she noticed an unexpected trend. Since 2010, and until at least 2021, the Georgia Dawgs have been led by a female president.

“It just seemed to have happened, but it also seems to be unique among alumni chapters,” Robinson said.

The trend began with Kieu Anh Tran, a 1996 civil engineering graduate. Then came Susan Yeosock, home economics, 1989; Sonja Moseley, marketing, 1995; and Michelle Sherman, psychology, 2003. Robinson, who graduated in 2003 with a degree in biological sciences will be followed by current vice president Blaire Wilson, who earned a bachelor’s in mathematics and an MBA in 2012 and 2013, respectively.

The chapter’s line of succession has members spend two years as vice president before taking on the top spot for two years.

“It helps everyone learn the ropes, which makes for a smoother transition.

And rotating the roles keeps things fresh and keeps you from getting burned out,” Robinson explained. “Being

president is fun but it pushes you.

It gives you an outlet and helps you feel like you’re making a difference outside of work, but it keeps you on your toes.”

Part of the Atlanta Chapter’s goals is to make sure the group engages alumni of all ages and interests. The group not only hosts watch parties for football but basketball, tennis and other Bulldog sports as well. There are also a variety of activities and committees area alumni can participate in to meet their fellow MSU graduates, L-R: BLAIRE WILS ON, MICHELLE SH help recruit future students or ERMAN AND DR . CARA ROBINSON volunteer in the community.

If someone starts attending events and One of the chapter’s growing events is shows a desire to do more, they have the its Bulldog Benefit. Now in its third year, opportunity to get involved in planning, the annual event helps raise money for then leading a committee before the chapter’s scholarship fund, which has ultimately joining the officer ranks. grown from one $500 award to a total of “It’s really great to see our volunteer $3,000 in scholarship funds. base expanding as more people come to “An important part of being alumni events and want to become involved,” is supporting our people,” Robinson Robinson, a Forrest City, Arkansas native, said. “We want to help them get to said. “It’s allowing us to create traditions, MSU then be here when they graduate yearly events that people look forward to help them get started and know the to and can then expand even more.”

Bulldog family is here for them.” n

S

ince 2013, the Atlanta Chapter of the Mississippi State Alumni Association has partnered with the Georgia English Bulldog Rescue, a non-profit organization that works to protect the well-being of its namesake canines.

Michelle Sherman helped formally establish the partnership when she was young alumni director for the chapter.

“I found out about the organization after attending Paws in the Park one year,” Sherman explained. “We were eager to volunteer and found other alumni who were interested, plus several alumni who were already involved.

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A

s a child, Joe M. Turner wore out the pages of his favorite magic book. As an adult, he wrote his own.

The 1992 Mississippi State graduate from the College of Education is known as “America’s corporate conjurer” for his unique blend of business-know-how and showmanship. A full-time magician and speaker since 2000, Turner has performed all around the world, billing himself as the “Chief Improbability Officer.”

“I’m not precisely just a speaker or just an entertainer,” Turner explained. “Sometimes I’m a speaker who is also entertaining, sometimes an entertainer who happens to drop in a little wisdom. It’s whatever fits the need for the client. It’s still me, I just kind of turn up the dial that they need on my personality.”

A native of Brandon, Turner said he never planned to make a career out of magic. In fact, other than the occasional party trick, he largely let the childhood hobby fall by the wayside when he entered his teen years. It was a turn leading children’s worship at church that brought him back to the practice as an adult.

“To entertain them I used whatever tools I had and those were the coins in my pocket,” Turner recalled. “Suddenly I had their attention and things went pretty smoothly from there. The next time my parents visited I asked them to bring my old footlocker full of magic stuff.”

Though he was still working fulltime as a management consultant, he soon became

involved in local magic clubs and began to learn about the industry.

When Turner’s employer asked him to transfer to another state, he took that as an opportunity to explore turning his hobby into a career.

“I was fortunate to start with a spouse, parents and in-laws who were willing to be supportive of this wild thing,” Turner explained with a laugh. “Then I had to find a way to differentiate myself.”

He got that opportunity about a year later when Coca-Cola sought proposals for an upcoming Harry Potter-themed reading initiative. The company wanted an educational magic show that could be performed by 17 traveling companies across the country.

“I’m confident my proposal looked very different from the others because I’m sure I started the planning differently,” Turner said.

“My proposal went all the way from show development and performer training to how to liquidate the props when it was over. It was beginning to end how we were going to manage the show.”

While Turner said he doesn’t necessarily consider that his big break, he said it did prove that he could turn magic into a career. He also learned a valuable lesson.

“I woefully undercharged,” he said. “I just didn’t know at the time how much I undercharged for the work I did.”

Turner said he has grown a lot since his first paid gig. In addition to numerous awards, he has served as international president of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, during which time he published a book of his own magic creations. He was also elected to membership in The Magic Circle in London, where he delivered a lecture in 2015. He has performed many times at the famed Magic Castle in Hollywood and in dozens of countries across six continents.

“The truth is, I’m never going to be able to build a building on Mississippi State’s campus or endow a scholarship, but I’ve been able to see a lot of the world through magic,” Turner said. “The bottom line is, I’m enormously proud to be a Bulldog and to represent the university as an ambassador being good at what I do and spreading the gospel of MSU everywhere I go.” n

Bulldogs helping bulldogs, it’s a natural partnership.”

The Atlanta Chapter has since provided volunteer and financial support for many GEBR initiatives including toy drives and special events. Chapter members also participate in the annual Bully Ball, which has had the last three generations of Mississippi State’s own Bully as special guests over the years. The black-tie, dog-friendly event raises money for neglected and abused bulldogs across the Southeast.

“Since GEBR was founded, it has helped

more than 600 dogs,” Sherman explained.

“We provide an alternative to shelters for owners faced with the already difficult decision of finding a new home for their bulldogs.

We educate the public about the proper care of this breed and rescue these dogs regardless of medical condition.”

Sherman said the relationship with GEBR has to be mutually beneficial with the rescue participating in the chapter’s annual events Mississippi in the Park and Bulldog Benefit, a scholarship fundraiser. However, she said one of the most rewarding elements of the partnership

for MSU Bulldogs is the opportunity to provide foster homes for bulldogs in need.

Since joining the organization, Sherman and her husband Brian, 2003 graduates in psychology and accountancy, respectively, have fostered seven English bulldogs as they find “furever” homes.

“We were eager to volunteer with GEBR, so as soon as we moved into our house, we started to foster,” Sherman explained. “We were ready to take a break after the sudden death of our sixth foster, Lewey, but then Simon arrived on the scene. Brian couldn’t resist.” n

JOE TURNER

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MSU is an AA/EEO university.

Alumnus_Winter-2018_Half_Calendar2019_v2.indd 1

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3719_USSP_NCAA_MIssStAlumniProgramAd_FINAL.indd 1

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Enjoy beautiful pictures of familiar campus scenes that bring back special memories of your time at Mississippi State. The official State calendar has become a Bulldog tradition. With pictures by MSU’s own award-winning photographers, it’s truly a one-of-a-kind treasure. Order online today at msufoundation.com or call 662-325-7000.

11/8/18 4:42 PM

9/28/15 3:22 PM

The MSU Alumni Association will The MSU Alumni Association host tailgates, presented by hosted tailgates, Renasant Bank, for presented alumni and

by Renasant Bank, home for alumni friends prior to every game and friends prior to every during the 2018 football season.

home game during the

Tailgates located in The 2018 are football season.

Junction under two big-top tents in Tailgatesfront wereoflocated in The the Junction under big-top tents Leo Sealtwo M-Club.

in front of the Leo Seal M-Club.

For additional information about For additional information about MSU Alumni Tailgates, please visit MSUalumni.msstate.edu.

Alumni Tailgates, please

visit alumni.msstate.edu.

TAILGATE WITH YOUR BULLDOG

ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

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Our PEOPLE

Travel with Bulldog style Plan an incredible adventure with the Mississippi State University Alumni Association. For nearly 30 years, the MSU Traveling Bulldogs program has taken alumni and friends around the world to exotic and thrilling locations.

Adventurers will have the experience of a lifetime by exploring locations such as Venice, Italy and Berlin, Germany. Hand-picked and arranged by six of MSU’s travel partners, exciting destinations await in the U.S. and abroad for wanderers and explorers.

Trips include historical walking tours and lectures, tours of some of the most amazing architecture and views of breathtaking landscapes and coastlines. With 16 travel packages, our 2019 trips are sure to bring out the adventurer in you.

Join the Traveling Bulldogs on one of our exhilarating trips around the world. Discover cities of old and enjoy the companionship of fellow alumni and friends, as well as opportunities to explore on your own. Whether your adventure awaits you at a sandy island shore or holiday marketplace, the MSU Traveling Bulldogs program is bound to have the adventure for you.

What some Traveling Bulldogs are saying about the trips: “What I find most inspiring is the esprit de corps among our travelers. You really do find the three degrees of separation with the MSU family. In addition to their love of MSU, there is always a connection. There is always a story. Someone always knows someone who knows someone.”

Armando and Ruth de la Cruz “Great cruise; best itinerary listed as three separate cruises in my bucket list: Cuba, Panama Canal and Mexican Riviera. Oceania Cruises’ Regatta offered first-class small-ship quality: superb cuisine, well-appointed staterooms, adequate entertainment, excellent facilities and services. We congratulate the MSU Alumni Association for sponsoring and arranging such an enjoyable and satisfactory travel experience.”

Libba Andrews Sharon Fanning-Otis and Larry Otis “The Great Journey through Europe was fantastic! The canal ride through Amsterdam, the serenity of the castles on the Rhine River, the cathedrals and European history, the beauty of the countryside and Lake Lucerne, and the magnificent Swiss Alps…these special memories will last a lifetime, as well as the friendships with our Bulldog family and the many other wonderful people we met along the way!

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“A first-class trip with an amazing itinerary, the Great Journey through Europe provided excellent accommodations and majestic scenery that was made even more enjoyable getting to experience in the company of other MSU Bulldogs.”

Jeff Davis, executive director, MSU Alumni Association

Embark on an

ADVENTURE with the MSU Alumni Association

2019 Destinations* February

• Singapore, Thailand and Angkor Wat, featuring the Eastern Oriental Express march

• Great Trains and Grand Canyons april

• The Masters • Dutch Waterways: Amsterdam to Antwerp • Normandy to Honfleur: 75th Anniversary of D-Day • Meditterranean Collage: Barcelona to Rome may

• Southwest National Parks june

• Baltic and Scandinavian Ballads: Stockholm to Copenhagen • Route of Royalty: Copenhagen to Stockholm juLY

• Canadian Rockies: Parks and Resorts • Glacial Adventures of Alaska AUGUST

• Mediterranean Pathways: Rome to Venice September

• Banff to Vancouver by Rail • Cape Cod & the Islands • Great Pacific Northwest: Portland to Clarkson • Paris Noir: The African-American Experience

alumni.msstate.edu/travel *All trips and dates subject to change.

Visit our website for the most current information.

The MSU Alumni Association annually sponsors trips across the globe through the Traveling Bulldogs program. Itineraries are booked through 2019. Explore our website for more information at alumni.msstate.edu/travel or contact Jordan Ramsey at 662.325.3479 or jramsey@alumni.msstate.edu.

ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

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Infinite IMPACT

ALUMNUS HONORS FATHER WITH MILITARY SCHOLARSHIP

By Addie Mayfield

M

ississippi State University was born with a strong military tradition steeped into its foundation. As early ROTC cadet students practiced marching drills each morning and evening, their footsteps were hallmarking the iconic heart of campus.

Although some 140 years have passed since the Drill Field first earned its name, MSU continues to uphold its longstanding commitment to supporting military members and their families.

Many alumni and friends, like Brian and Angie Hutson, are also helping to uphold that commitment. The Frisco, Texas, couple recently established an endowed scholarship for veterans and military-connected students at MSU in honor of Brian’s father, retired Lt. Col. Bobby N. Hutson.

The elder Hutson, of Brandon, attended MSU in the late 1950s before joining the Air Force as a pilot. He later joined the Mississippi Army National Guard and flew helicopters.

Upon retirement, he had completed over 40 years of combined military service.

While growing up and attending Brandon High School, Brian embraced his school’s Bulldog mascot. However, it was his father that taught him how to be an MSU Bulldog.

“I was brought up to be a Mississippi State Bulldog, going to football games with my mom and dad,” Brian said. “I can remember dad and me at the 6-3 win over Alabama in 1980.”

Brian attended MSU on a football scholarship from 1983-86 and graduated in 1987 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. In 1997, he opened BHC Office Solutions, which he continues to serve as president. The Addison, Texasbased business specializes in corporate office interiors and services nationwide.

Despite no longer living in Mississippi, Brian continues to share his passion for MSU. With a history of continuous support for Bulldog athletics, it seemed fitting that the inspiration for the Hutsons’ scholarship gift came from one of Brian’s former MSU football teammates whose father died last year.

“I thought it was nice that they already had a scholarship endowment set up in his

Sarah and Bobby Hutson (center) flanked by grandson Brandon Hutson (left), president of the Dallas Alumni chapter, and Brian Hutson (right) Established in 2006, the Montgomery name so people could donate to something Center is now recognized as a national leader he loved,” said Brian, who realized he wanted in providing comprehensive support through to do something similar for his own father. “I a university-based veteran resource center. wanted my dad to select what area he wanted The services and assistance provided by the the scholarship to support. He decided on Montgomery Center, joined by the generous helping veterans and members of military support of alumni and friends like the families, and I love that he got to choose Hutsons, extend Mississippi State’s outreach. instead of me guessing.”

These collective efforts also have helped The Bobby N. Hutson Endowed MSU earn consecutive top 50 rankings as a Scholarship, established within the G.V. university for veterans and the 2018 Military “Sonny” Montgomery Center for America’s Friendly Schools Gold Medal for veteranVeterans, will assist honorably discharged oriented campus culture. veterans of the U.S. military armed forces, The Hutsons’ endowed scholarship active service members or members of the pays tribute not only to Lt. Col. Bobby National Guard who are enrolled as fullHutson but also to MSU’s deep-rooted time students at MSU. Recipients must also military traditions. Additionally, perpetual maintain a 3.0 GPA. support from the award will provide greater “I always knew my dad was proud of me, opportunities for ambitious, militarybut I wanted to let him know how proud I connected students to achieve their goals at am of him and all of his accomplishments MSU and beyond. and this scholarship says that,” Brian said. “I “My wife and I are so blessed and love hope students receiving this in the many years to give back to help others, especially at ahead ask about Lt. Col. Bobby Hutson and Mississippi State,” Brian said. “You get to a then raise their cowbells and ring them for point where you figure out that a university dad. His scholarship and name will live on relies so much on its alumni and friends to long after I’m gone, and I think that is just help make it a better place for everyone.” really cool.”

For more information on supporting The inaugural recipient of the award for the Montgomery Center or establishing fall 2018 is Joseph “Paxton” Aaron East, a a scholarship in honor of someone, sophomore mechanical engineering major contact Casey McGee, assistant director of from Daphne, Alabama. As a member of the development for the Division of Student Air Force Reserves, he is one of over 2,500 Affairs, at 662.325.9129 or cmcgee@ students at MSU who benefit from the Montgomery Center. foundation.msstate.edu. n ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

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Infinite IMPACT WEYERHAEUSER C OMPANY creates Weyerhaeuser is continuing its tradition of supporting Mississippi State University with a new scholarship for student populations that are traditionally underrepresented in the forest industry. The scholarship will support future recipients in the university’s College of Forest Resources through education and hands-on experience.

Weyerhaeuser was founded in 1900 and today is one of the world’s largest owners of timberlands with nearly 13 million acres in the U.S. From its inception, the company has been a leader in sustainable forest management, and 100 percent of its timberlands are certified to sustainable forestry standards. The company also operates 35 wood products manufacturing facilities across North America and employs more than 9,000 people.

The inaugural Weyerhaeuser Scholarship recipient will receive the award for the 2018-19 academic year. This is a full scholarship that gifts the cost of attending MSU for one year.

Through Mississippi State, the Weyerhaeuser Scholarship will further the company’s commitment to forestry and support students beyond tuition assistance.

Recipients of the scholarship also will be provided a paid,

forestry scholarship

full-time summer intern position corresponding with the years the scholarship is held.

“We’re excited to offer this scholarship to help attract more students to pursue college degrees in forestryrelated fields at Mississippi State,” says Xan McCallum, vice president of talent, communications and culture at Weyerhaeuser. “Many of our employees are graduates of MSU, and we’re looking forward to working with the university to make this program successful.”

Weyerhaeuser is an invaluable partner for the university’s College of Forest Resources.

“Scholarships are so important to our students, and we appreciate the support provided by Weyerhaeuser Company,” said George Hopper, college dean. “The company also partners with our college on a spring golf tournament with funds generated supporting student scholarships. We are so grateful for their generosity and partnership.”

More about Weyerhaeuser can be found online at www.wy.com. For more on gifting scholarships for the College of Forest Resources, contact Jeff Little, director of development, at 662.325.8151 or jlittle@foudation. msstate.edu. n

Click. Plan.

Change a life.

It’s easy to change the life of a Mississippi State University student with a simple commitment made in your will.

• It costs you nothing today.

• It can be changed down the road.

• It’s free of federal and estate tax.

To plan your will or trust, request our free Estate Planning Guide by visiting msugiftplanning.org.

Or, if you’ve already included Mississippi State in your plans, please let us know.

MSU is an AA/EEO university.

Wes Gordon, Director of Planned Giving (662) 325-3707 | wgordon@foundation.msstate.edu

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RIDE WITH

PRIDE

MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY CAR TAGS ARE AVAILABLE IN AL, DC, GA, MS, TN AND TX. There is no better way to show your loyalty and pride in Mississippi State than by owning an official university license plate.

Displaying an MSU tag will let everyone know, wherever you drive, that Mississippi State University is your institution of choice. For more information, visit ALUMNI.MSSTATE.EDU/CARTAG.

ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

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Infinite IMPACT

JUNCTION BRICKS, pavers bring Compass Scholarship support

By Abby Ready Rushing | Photo by Beth Wynn

T

he Compass Scholars Walk at Mississippi State University gives members of the Bulldog family a chance to leave their permanent mark in The Junction while making a positive difference in the lives of students. By securing bricks and pavers to be placed on the newly paved walkway, located south of Davis Wade Stadium, alumni and friends can link their names with the university and collectively support Compass Scholarships.

Among nearly 5,000 donors who support the Compass Scholarship Program is the Young family of Eupora. Alumnus Fred Rickey “Rick” Young honors his family’s commitment to education with a Compass Scholars Walk black granite paver,

“The four of us combined have proudly earned 10 degrees from MSU, which have enabled each of us to have rewarding careers and enjoy a satisfying quality of life.” ~ Rick Young committing $7,500 over five years to support the scholarship program. The Young family paver displays their names, class years and the message, “Hail State!” Over time, similar messages will flank those of the Youngs as the parade grounds around The Junction become filled with bricks and pavers.

Gifts for the Compass Scholarship Program through the Compass Scholars Walk will help MSU recruit solidly academic performing students and ensure as many applicants as possible receive assistance. The university seeks at least $500,000 yearly for the scholarship program through annual giving. Once achieved, MSU will match that amount, annually doubling the impact of donor gifts.

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L-R: Russell Young, Melinda Young, Rick Young and Jean Young “The Compass Scholarship Program targets deserving students who have the ability and dedication necessary to transform our world, thus furthering MSU’s legacy of excellence while inspiring future generations of Bulldogs,” Young said. “With scholarships, financial obstacles are removed, enabling access to higher education for students who might otherwise be denied. Affording these students an education is important.”

The Young family knows firsthand the value of an MSU education.

“The four of us combined have proudly earned 10 degrees from MSU, which have enabled each of us to have rewarding careers and enjoy a satisfying quality of life,” Young said.

Young and his wife, Melinda Love Young, each hold three MSU degrees. He is president emeritus of East Mississippi Community College and she is a retired high school teacher with the Millsaps Career and Technology Center in the Starkville Oktibbeha School District. Their two children, Fred Russell Young and Jean Margaret Young, earned two degrees each from MSU.

Since inception, nearly 1,700 students, representing all eight academic colleges at Mississippi State, have received a scholarship through the Compass Scholarship Program.

“The scholarships awarded through this program assist the overall enrollment at Mississippi State,” said Georgia Carter, the university’s annual giving director.

Many constituents become part of Compass Scholars Walk to honor a family member, graduating senior or even a faculty member that made a positive difference in their lives. Compass Scholars Walk options include 8-by-4 inch bricks for $500 each and 8-by-8 inch bricks for $750 each.

Additionally, 16-by-16 inch black granite pavers require pledges for the program of $1,500 or more annually for five years.

Installation of Compass Walk bricks and pavers takes place twice annually, and contributors receive a replica brick. Alumni and friends who wish to secure a place in the Compass Scholars Walk should visit msufoundation.com/compasswalk or contact Carter at 662.325.5975. n

MADISON CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

continues impact

By Addie Mayfield

S

ince 2009, the Madison Charitable Foundation has contributed more than $500,000 to help make the inclusive educational environment at Mississippi State University accessible to even more ambitious students. Investments from the Houston, Texas-based organization have directly impacted numerous students through scholarships, the MSU Promise Program and MSU ACCESS. Today, the Madison Charitable Foundation is extending its outstanding support and opening new doors for Bulldog students with a $25,000 gift for the Madison Charitable Foundation World Food Prize Mississippi Youth Institute Fund.

Founded in 1986 by Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, the World Food Prize serves as the foremost international award recognizing the achievement of individuals who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world. In 1994, the World Food Prize Youth Institute was created to increase awareness and involvement of youth in the mission to fight hunger and poverty in a meaningful way.

Similarly, the Mississippi Youth Institute is a partnership program with the World Food Prize that gives the state’s high school students a firsthand understanding of the work currently taking place in Mississippi to address such issues. As a leading land-grant research institution trained in improving food production for a growing population, MSU is home to the life-changing experience.

To participate, ninth through 12th-grade students, assisted by teachers or mentors, conduct research on global challenges they care about and write an essay proposing innovative solutions. They are then invited to attend an exciting, daylong event, hosted by the MSU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences each spring, to present and discuss their findings as an official Borlaug Scholar.

The Borlaug Scholars recognition pays tribute to the World Food Prize’s founder, who understood the importance of engaging young people in efforts to feed the world.

“If you are striving to solve global problems at 16, you’ll likely be doing the

MSYI participants same at 60,” said Keegan Kautzky, director of national education programs for the World Food Prize. “The goal of this program is to empower passionate and promising youth to see how they might help feed the world.”

Borlaug Scholars are eligible for $500 scholarships to MSU. Their participation in MSYI also qualifies them for internships, paid fellowships and additional scholarship opportunities. Top students are competitively selected by the World Food Prize Board of Reviewers to represent the state of Mississippi as delegates at the annual World Food Prize International Symposium held in Des Moines, Iowa.

The second annual MSYI welcomed more than a dozen high school students to the MSU campus in March. During the event, participants gained leadership skills and professional experience by connecting with other student leaders and taking part in educational sessions and interactive tours.

Furthermore, as students engage with their peers, research and industry experts, state and community leaders, and MSU faculty, they build a valuable network and become more familiar with the MSU campus.

To help increase the significance of the MSYI experience for students and educators who attend, the Madison Charitable Foundation World Food Prize Mississippi Youth Institute Fund was established earlier this year by the organization. The gift will help to defray costs of MSYI including promotional materials, literature and educational resources, meals and transportation, as well as scholarship support for MSYI Borlaug Scholars and stipends

for a faculty or staff member to oversee the program. Additionally, a portion of the contribution will be used as a challenge gift to leverage other benefactors to join in supporting MSYI. “The generous support from the Madison Charitable Foundation for this valuable program is an outstanding demonstration of their commitment to preparing Mississippi’s future leaders who will help overcome challenges in global food security,” said Scott Willard, associate dean and professor for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and state coordinator for MSYI. “Their contribution not only furthers the outreach of the program but also encourages others to invest in this transformative opportunity for our state’s youth.”

The Madison Charitable Foundation was created by Wiley Hatcher in 2007 to benefit Mississippi charities and higher education.

Hatcher, a Mississippi native, resided in Port Gibson for more than 25 years before relocating to Houston, Texas.

Private support from alumni and friends of the university, including the Madison Charitable Foundation, is critical to providing influential opportunities and topnotch learning experiences. Such investments directly impact students, empowering them with the knowledge and skills needed to be the innovative leaders and difference-makers of tomorrow. For more information on how to support beneficial programs such as MSYI, contact Jud Skelton, director of development for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, at 662.325.0643 or jud.skelton@ foundation.msstate.edu. n ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

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distance.msstate.edu/alumnus

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Alumni Association partners with Mossy Oak Golf Club Alumni Association partners with Mossy Golf Club The MSU Alumni Association and Mossy Mossy Oak Golf Club is the official home element Oak heightens the golfer’s awareness Oak Golf Club in West Point are giving MSU alumni an opportunity to experience the world-class course at a discounted rate.

“We are thrilled to begin what we hope will be a longtime partnership with Mossy Oak Golf Club as the Official Golf Course of the MSU Alumni Association,” said Jeff Davis, association executive director.

“This partnership will give our alumni the opportunity to play a superb course at a urse of the significant savings.”

By referencing the discount, MSU alumni can enjoy 25 percent off the public the rate every Monday-Thursday for carts and greens. Mossy Oak will also provide tournament opportunities for MSU Alumni Association reunion and special event groups, as well as support for association programs and initiatives.

for the practice facility of MSU men’s and women’s golf teams. The facility includes a in five-green driving range, short-game training olf is putting green home areas, and sa 16,000-square-foot for the p of ississippi shaped as the state of Mississippi. n and Mossy Oak Golf Club has garnered a he fa series ran of accolades, including being named and a Golf Digest’s #3 Best New Course inshaped the as U.S. (2017), and recognition as one of the state Golfweek’s Top-100 Modern Courses in the pen to the U.S. (2018). The course opened in fall 2016 to that critical acclaim. immerses in the Mossy Oak Golf Club provides a fullentplayers and sensory golf experience that immerses in the outdoors while adhering to a mindful and sustainable approach to golf course development and management. The course follows the natural contours of the landscape and preserves the local habitat. Each design

of the outdoors and accentuates the area’s natural in h tra th natural resources, delivering a natural purity an start to fin in how golfers travel through and interact full partnership deatails with nature from start to finish.and for more i Visit www.mossyoakgolf.com/MSUAA www.mossyoakgolf.com/MSUAA and learn more.

318 H owa rd St reet • G ree nwood, M i s s i s s i p p i • 662 . 4 5 3 . 2114 • t h ea l l uv i a n .co m

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PAID ADVERTISEMENT

AROUND CAMPUS

STATE ments For his development of a Cumberland Gap Civil War driving tour, doctoral student Lucas Wilder is being honored with the 2018 Bearss Fellowship Award from the National Park Service. The annual award is presented to a scholar researching American history.

Steve Parrott, a Mississippi State alumnus with 34 years of information technology experience, is the university’s new chief information officer.

Dominic Lippillo, an associate professor in the university’s Department of Art, is among nine visual artists from around the region receiving a $5,000 State Fellowship from Atlanta, Georgia-based nonprofit South Arts.

Senior Celebration

Dennis Smith, professor and head of the Department of Chemistry, has been named director of the university’s Marvin B. Dow Advanced Composites Institute, which is located at the Raspet Flight Research Laboratory in Starkville. He will continue to serve as head of the Department of Chemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Catherine N. Patriquin, a senior music education/ instrumental major from Ocean Springs, was honored with the 2018 Keyone Docher Student Achievement Award during MSU Libraries’ 12th annual Charles H. Templeton Ragtime and Jazz Festival.

U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran announced a $7 million federal transportation grant for Mississippi State University to develop an approximately two-mile multimodal corridor on Hightower Road. The 2017 Transportation Investment Generating

Each April, the MSU Alumni Association and the MSU Alumni Delegates host a Senior Celebration to honor Mississippi State University seniors as they prepare for spring graduation. The 2018 party

Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant was approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Senior art/graphic design major Lori L. Nesbitt of Winona is one of only four university students selected by an international panel of jurors to receive a Certificate of Excellence in the Fine Art-Student category of Creative Quarterly: The Journal of Art and Design.

Brian S. Locke, a retired lieutenant colonel, was named director of the G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Center for America’s Veterans at Mississippi State. The Montgomery Center is based in Nusz Hall, a world-class facility that opened in 2016 and provides 7,500 square feet dedicated to the university’s veteran community.

was held in April at the Hunter Henry Center.

Graduates received their first alumni T-shirt as a free gift. A crawfish boil, ice cream, soft drinks, and live entertainment highlighted the occasion.

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STATE ments Jennifer B. Easley, business manager of the Bagley College of Engineering, recently was selected to become president-elect of the EASLEY Society of Research Administrators International/ Southern Section with membership representing 14 states from Virginia to Texas, HYCHE plus Puerto Rico.

Easley currently is serving as president of the Alabama-Mississippi Chapter, and her MSU colleague Stephanie Hyche, associate director of the Office of Sponsored Projects and leader of the new Proposal Services Office, also has been chosen to serve this year as presidentelect of the chapter.

A distinguished faculty member in Mississippi State’s Bagley College of Engineering will advance her research in Australia after being named a Fulbright U.S. Senior Scholar.

Cindy Bethel, an associate professor in MSU’s Department of Computer Science and Engineering, will continue researching therapeutic robots at the University of Technology Sydney during the 2018-19 academic year.

Brent Funderburk, a longtime faculty member and retired head of the MSU College of Architecture, Art and Design’s Department of Art, received a “Judge’s Recognition Award” in the 11th Biennial National Art Exhibit at the Visual Arts Center in Punta Gorda, Florida.

A $1.8 million federal grant announced

by Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and former U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran will help fund a new research facility at Mississippi State. The Economic Development

Administration award will provide a new building for MSU’s Institute for Imaging and Analytical Technologies, also known as I2AT. EDA operates within the U.S. Department of Commerce to promote innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy.

Faculty and students in Mississippi State’s College of Forest Resources took top honors at the 41st annual meeting of the Southeastern Deer Study Group, marking the first time in the conference’s four-decade history that one school has swept the competition. MSU graduate students in MSU’s Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture took first, second and third place in the annual student oral presentation competition. Steve Demarais, the Dale H. Arner Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Management, received the prestigious Deer Management Career Achievement award, which was established in 1995 to recognize outstanding contributions to white-tailed deer ecology and management.

More than 100 startups at MSU have a CEO under age 22.

They need mentors like you.

Share your experience with student entrepreneurs building companies at the MSU Entrepreneurship Center. Visit msuceo.com/mentor

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Picnics bring

BULLDOGS TOGETHER Summertime provides the perfect atmosphere for gathering family and friends and strengthening their Mississippi State University connections. The MSU Alumni Association and several of its chapters have a long tradition of hosting summer picnics that not only bring together Bulldogs of all ages, but also celebrate the university’s beloved home state of Mississippi.

The Mississippi Society of Washington, D.C., gathered for its annual picnic on the National Mall in June. In its 28th year, the event featured live music, a catfish dinner and lots of Southern hospitality.

Also, in June, the Greater Atlanta Chapter gathered for a multi-day celebration in Georgia, consisting of a “Mississippi Night” with the Atlanta Braves followed by the ninth annual Mississippi in the Park picnic at Chastain Memorial Park in Buckhead. The MSU Alumni Association hosted a tent for the picnic, and “Bully” the mascot made a special appearance.

For more information on MSU alumni events in your area, please visit alumni.msstate.edu.

Photo by Phillip Waller

Assistant Professor Rachel Allison is receiving an Early Career Gender Scholar Award by Sociologists for Women in Society–South. The award is presented to a junior researcher who has authored groundbreaking work advancing the scholarship of gender and has received a doctoral degree within the last six years.

A tropical cyclone authority at Mississippi State, Kimberly Wood, an assistant professor, is a new selection for the American Meteorological Society’s Early Career Leadership Academy.

For the fourth time in seven years, a Mississippi State student has received the highly coveted Barry Goldwater Scholarship. Nicholas A. “Nic” Ezzell, a senior physics major from Laurel, is the landgrant institution’s newest recipient of the prestigious award and the only Mississippian to receive the honor this year. Ezzell, who has accumulated significant research experience as an undergraduate student, is a member of MSU’s Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College.

Faculty Award Recipients Three esteemed MSU faculty members earned special recognition from the Alumni Association as part of the university’s 2018 Faculty Awards and Recognition Program. Pictured with Jeff Davis, the association’s executive director, are (left to right): • Associate Professor Santia Yarahmadian, faculty member in the College of Arts and Sciences, recipient of the MSU Alumni Association’s Outstanding Graduate Student Mentor Award; • Professor Brian Baldwin, faculty member in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, recipient of the MSU Alumni Association’s Graduate Teaching Excellence Award; and • Assistant Professor Michael Breazeale, faculty member in the College of Business, recipient of the MSU Alumni Association’s Early Career Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award.

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STATE ments Two faculty members in Mississippi State’s College of Business are being recognized for their publication of leading research in the prestigious journal Family Business Review. Daniel T. Holt and Kincy Madison, faculty members in MSU’s Department of Management and Information Systems, along with the University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s Franz Kellermanns, are winners of the 2018 Family Business Review Best Article Award.

A senior communication major at Mississippi State represented her university, state and country in July at the prestigious Hansen Summer Institute on Leadership and International Cooperation. Elise Moore, a Madison native, is the first Mississippian to participate in the institute, which brings students from around the world together every year at the University of San Diego. Moore is a member of the Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College and holds the Steve and Melody Golding Presidential Endowed Scholarship at MSU. The NSF is recognizing Neeraj Rai, an assistant professor in MSU’s Dave C. Swalm School of Chemical Engineering, with the nationally renowned Faculty Career Development Award for his work in developing efficient catalysts and processes that convert biomass into chemicals, fuels and other sustainable materials. The honor includes more than $500,000 in funding to support research expenses over a five-year period from the Catalysis program in the National Science Foundation’s Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems division.

Spring Ring Ceremony The MSU Alumni Association hosted The Ring at MSU, a commemorative ceremony for the presentation of the university’s official class rings. The historic Chapel of Memories was the setting for the May event for all MSU students and alumni who purchased their official class rings during ring days this spring. With family and friends in attendance, MSU Vice President for Division of Development and Alumni John Rush presented the recipients with their rings.

The MSU Alumni Association serves as caretaker of the ring program. The campus ceremony is conducted twice annually. For more information on rings, visit alumni.msstate.edu.

Klaire Miller

Miller joins annual giving team The Mississippi State University Foundation has welcomed Klaire Miller of Vicksburg as assistant director of annual giving. Through annual giving, donors are provided an avenue to support any area of the university including colleges, schools and programs.

Miller joined the MSU Office of Annual Giving team directed by Georgia Luann Carter in May. In particular, Miller oversees the Bulldog Calling Center that employs some 20 MSU students to make telephone solicitations year-round. Callers also update database records of alumni and friends. Mississippi State has nearly 142,000 living alumni.

Miller holds a 2017 bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Mississippi State.

While enrolled at MSU, she previously worked in the university’s life skills department, an NCAA-sponsored unit that bridges the gap between college and professional life for student-athletes.

Additionally, as a student, Miller interned with the Bulldog Club, MSU’s athletic fundraising arm, and with Bulldog Suites, where she also served as an ambassador and floor captain.

Miller is housed in the Hunter Henry Center and may be contacted at kmiller@foundation.msstate.edu or (662) 325-4046. More on annual giving is available at www.msufoundation.com.

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STATE ments

Association bids fond farewell to Andrews, Hudson

F

Libba Andrews

Karen Hudson

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or over two decades, two alumnae were stellar constants in the Mississippi State University Alumni Association. Libba Andrews and Karen Hudson retired from their respective roles as associate director and programs assistant at the close of June. During their tenure, the pair witnessed incredible growth of the university and the association.

“It is hard to separate the success of the association from the university and Libba Andrews and Karen Hudson set an example of heartfelt dedication and unwavering loyalty for all incoming staff to follow,” said Jeff Davis, executive director of the Alumni Association.

“We congratulate them and express our appreciation for their superb and tireless work on behalf of our association and MSU.” In her 28-year MSU career, Libba Andrews made a significant impact on the Alumni Association and its programs as she enthusiastically worked with alumni, students, friends of MSU and alumni professionals across the country.

“What gives me great joy and a deep sense of personal satisfaction is that the mission of the Alumni Association is as relevant today as it was at its founding 133 years ago,” Andrews said.

“Although the way the association conducts daily business has changed, at the end of the day it is the spirit of MSU that will always ring true.”

Andrews received a bachelor’s degree in communication from Mississippi State.

Graduating in 1983, the Columbus native embarked on a career in local radio, serving as general manager of a Starkville station before joining the MSU Alumni Association as marketing coordinator in 1990. She was promoted to business administrator in 1992 and to associate director in 1994.

As longtime associate director, Andrews maintained responsibility for revenue and affinity programs that produced millions of dollars in support of MSU, steered alumni travel programs, class reunions, homecoming activities, faculty and staff recognition, and impacted hundreds of students as a leader and mentor of the Alumni Delegates. Her endeavors brought added value to the lives of thousands of alumni and students.

Andrews amassed a wealth of knowledge and history, both of MSU and alumni relations

as she loyally served alongside four executive directors—Steve Grafton, John Correro, Jimmy Abraham and presently Jeff Davis. This experience helped her represent MSU with the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), the nation’s leading organization for education professionals working in the areas of alumni relations, communications and development. Her association with CASE included appointments as both chair and treasurer for District III. One of the highlights of Andrews’ career was serving as adviser for the Alumni Delegates student organization. Over time, these delegates have yielded a legacy as they became educators, entrepreneurs, surgeons, occupational therapists, physical therapists, missionaries, pastors, attorneys, public servants and business leaders.

“I’m thankful for the opportunity to have been a part of these students’ lives. It is rewarding to have watched them grow and become clear in their convictions as they challenged each other and held each other accountable as true maroon students preparing to be alumni leaders. The years I spent as adviser will forever hold a special place in my heart,” she said.

Fellow alumna Karen Hudson assisted Andrews with many responsibilities for alumni programs. Hudson received a bachelor’s degree in marketing from MSU in 1980. She joined the association staff in 1988 initially to provide administrative support for chapter programs before becoming alumni programs assistant.

Hudson helped create program pieces as she assisted with the planning and coordination of special events and other association endeavors.

Before joining MSU, Hudson worked with the United Way and the Girl Scouts Council in Schenectady, New York.

In their alumni roles, Hudson and Andrews enjoyed a long relationship with many areas across the university. In particular, they worked with academic colleges in formally honoring hundreds of outstanding graduates through the College Alumni of the Year program and the Alumni Fellows program.

Following retirement, Andrews maintains her maroon and white ties in Starkville with her husband, Andy, a fellow Bulldog graduate.

Hudson and her husband, John, follow the Bulldogs from their home in Columbus. n

AROUND CAMPUS

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION WELCOMES NEW LEADERS, STAFF A host of fresh faces are part of the Mississippi State University Alumni Association. The new staff are engaging in the day-to-day operations of the association as it serves the university’s more than 142,000 living alumni.

Starkville native Jordan Ramsey joins the association as associate director. She shares responsibilities for strategic planning and alumni engagement efforts, and oversees affinity partner programs, including the Traveling Bulldogs and the MSU Ring Tradition, among others. Ramsey will also serve as a liaison with college and school alumni programs for the university and oversee the MSU Alumni Association Career Network. Additionally, she will advise the Alumni Delegates.

Ramsey is a 2006 magna cum laude graduate of MSU’s dual-degree international business program, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration with an emphasis in marketing and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish.

She also holds a certificate in international business and culture and has studied abroad at the University of Costa Rica. She earned an MBA from MSU in 2015, graduating summa cum laude.

Ramsey joins the Alumni Association from the MSU Office of Internal Audit, where she has served as associate director of internal audit since August 2012 and earlier as audit manager. Before joining MSU, she worked in internal audit at FedEx Services, from mid2005 until 2011. Throughout her professional career, she has traveled to over 18 countries.

Working with Ramsey will be Orly Hardin as she transitions into a new role as assistant director of engagement and recruitment programs. For the past 12 years, Hardin has served as administrative assistant and provided invaluable support for the association. She now oversees and plans all Alumni Association campus-based events, reunion activities and the association’s annual awards banquet.

She will also lead the Alumni Recruitment Network, the Legacy Program and alumni recruiting initiatives.

Before joining the association in mid-

Front L-R: Orly Hardin, Brady Sistruck, Sykes Zimmerman and Janet Downey. Back L-R: Jordan Ramsey, Jeff Davis and Michael Richardson 2007, Hardin spent eight years with MSU’s Office of Admissions and Scholarships in various positions, including assistant director for marketing and publications. She joined Mississippi State in 1998 as an accounting assistant in the Office of the Comptroller and Treasurer. She holds a degree in psychology from Emory University.

Starkville native Brady Sistrunk joins the association as assistant coordinator for alumni chapter and young alumni programs.

In his role, Sistrunk will implement and coordinate programs for the association to engage alumni of ages 35 and under and provide support for chapter programs with guidance and advice for chapters and their leaders, while also furthering the association’s outreach efforts on behalf of MSU. He rounds out the longtime team of fellow MSU alumni Michael Richardson, assistant director of chapter and volunteer programs, and Janet Downey, coordinator of chapter and volunteer programs.

Sistrunk received his bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing from Mississippi State in 2015. He joins the MSU Alumni Association from the State of

Mississippi Treasurer’s office in Jackson, where he served as a marketing specialist. Sistrunk earlier was a consumer marketing coordinator for NASCAR in Birmingham, Alabama.

Another incoming staff member is Sykes Zimmerman as an administrative assistant for Jeff Davis, executive director of the alumni association. In her new role, Zimmerman serves as primary point of operational and administrative contact, oversees special projects and provides support for the National Alumni board of directors and the association’s advisory councils.

Zimmerman comes to the association from the College of Veterinary Medicine, having worked in the dean’s office since late 2015. Before joining MSU, she spent a decade in administrative, management and customer service including time as a financial service representative for Cadence Bank and a financial coordinator for McReynolds Orthodontics. She attended Mississippi State University and Mercer University.

The MSU Alumni Association is available at alumni.msstate.edu and on Twitter @ MSStateAlumni. The association has 101 chapters and clubs worldwide. n ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

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1940s At 95 years old, Leonard S. “Sam” Baker (B.S. civil engineering, ‘43) of Scottsdale, Arizona, has published his first book, “The Silly Adventures of Petunia and Herman the Worm,” a children’s book based on his vivid imagination and the large green worms he watched in his family’s garden as a child in Clarksdale. An Eagle Scout, he joined the Marine Corps following his graduation from MSU. He served in the South Pacific during WWII. He later worked with what is now the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration before joining Brookhaven National Laboratories and, following his retirement, becoming one of the world’s first GPS salesmen.

1970s James Trimble Jr. (B.S. petroleum engineering, ‘72) was appointed chairman of the board of directors at Crestone Peak Resources in Denver, Colorado. He joined the board in 2016 and has more than 45 years of experience in the oil and gas industry.

He previously served as interim CEO and president of Stone Energy, as well as a member of its board of directors. He was also president and CEO of PDC Energy Inc. Merle Smith (B.S. electrical engineering, ’75) has been named to the board of Alabama Veterans Memorial Park.

He serves as volunteer coordinator for its annual veteran recognition events and work projects.

Smith retired from Alabama Power in 2015 with 39 years of service as a supervisor in the Power Delivery Distribution Department.

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Mississippi State Sen. Fredie Videt Carmichael (B.S. social studies education, ‘79; M.Ed., school administration, ‘85) was awarded the Conservation Legislator of the Year award 2017, by Don Underwood of the Mississippi Association of Conservation Districts for his efforts at promoting healthy land use and assisting the district to get out its message of land conservation and wise land usage.

William A. “Lex” Taylor III (B.S. business administration, ‘77) and Anthony Wilson (B.S. electrical engineering, ‘87) have been elected to the Mississippi Economic Council’s board of directors.

Taylor, who is the president and chairman of the board for The Taylor Group Inc., will serve as MEC’s 2019-20 chair. He is also chairman of the board for the Business and Industry Political Education Committee and a board member of the Mississippi Manufacturers Association, the MSU College of Business Advisory Board, Winston Medical Foundation and the Mississippi State University Foundation, which he serves as treasurer.

Wilson, who is chairman, president and CEO of Mississippi Power, will serve as MEC’s 2020-21 chair. He serves as chairman of MEC’s M.B. Swayze Foundation. He is also vice chair of the Gulf Coast Business Council board of directors and a director of the boards for the Mississippi Energy Institute and the Mississippi State University Foundation.

1980s Christopher Cox (B.S. civil engineering, ’81) is now senior project manager for the Tulsa, Oklahoma, office of Dewberry, a

professional services firm. He works with the transportation group with a focus on municipal roadway and utility projects. He previously spent 25 years with the City of Tulsa, most recently serving as transportation rehabilitation manager.

The son of legendary MSU basketball head coach Kermit Davis Sr. and a former Bulldog basketball standout Kermit Davis Jr. (B.S. business administration, ’82) is now head coach of the Ole Miss men’s basketball program. A native of Leakesville, he previously served as head coach at Middle Tennessee, leading the Blue Raiders to conference championships and NCAA Tournament runs.

Bruce Blaise (BBA, ‘83) is now CEO of The Kenan Advantage Group.

Based in Canton, Ohio, it is North America’s largest bulk transportation and logistics company serving the petroleum, chemicals, food and industrial gases industries.

Travis B. Moore (B.S. ag economics, ‘84, BBA banking and finance, ’84; M.Agr., ag economics, ’86) has been appointed to serve on the advisory board of Virginia College in Biloxi. The regional president of the Citizens Bank in Biloxi, he also serves on the boards of directors for the Mississippi Better Business Bureau and the Kiwanis LaMsTn District Foundation, is a deacon at First Baptist Church of Gulfport, and was selected as one of the “Leaders in Finance” by the Mississippi Business Journal in 2015.

John Hill (BPA accounting, ‘86) was named to the Forbes 2018 Best-In-State Wealth Advisors List, which highlights more than

Know a Bulldog who has news or a recent promotion? Send an email to alumnus@msstate.edu.

2,000 top-performing professionals across the country. He is founder and managing partner of WealthPartners in Ridgeland. He is a certified financial planner and member of the MSU Finance and Economic Advisory Board.

Jo Ann Streiff Herold (B.A. communication, ’87) was recognized by the American Marketing Association of Atlanta for exceptional marketing and community efforts at the American Marketing Association awards. She is chief marketing officer for the Honey Baked Ham Co. and previously held executive positions for Arby’s Restaurant Group and Interface Inc.

Tyrone Keys of Tampa, Florida, is pictured with Senator John Horhn and Key’s mother, Johnnie Ruth Keys of Jackson.

Former Chicago Bears defensive lineman Tyrone Keys (attended), a member of the Super Bowl XX winning Bears who clenched the victory following the 1985 NFL season, was honored by the Mississippi Senate with the presentation of Senate Concurrent Resolution 574 at the Mississippi Capitol for his community benevolence and football success. Keys played six seasons with Chicago and later with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Diego Chargers. In high school Keys was a member of the Callaway High School Chargers in Jackson, who in 1975 won all 12 of their regular season games and won the Big 8 Conference Championship. Keys was a standout defensive tackle at Mississippi State for four years and made a last-minute tackle in 1980 of Alabama’s quarterback that caused a fumble, giving Mississippi State a 6-3 victory over then No. 1 ranked Alabama.

1990s Damon S. Feltman (BBA business information systems, ’91) was promoted to brigadier general at a ceremony at Mississippi State’s Center for America’s Veterans. The deputy director of training programs management in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs at the Pentagon, he manages training and education policy affecting 1.1 million guardsmen and reservists. He received his commission through MSU’s Air Force ROTC and throughout his military career has earned the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters and the Joint Meritorious Unit Award.

Debra Lynn Milne (B.S. home economics, ’94; M.S. food science, nutrition and health promotion, ‘12) of Greenville, South Carolina, earned gold in her age bracket at the USA Cycling National Championships in Augusta, Georgia. A boardcertified sports dietitian, she is part of the Papa John’s Trek Racing team and has accumulated more than 180 wins, including four Masters National Championship Road titles.

Timothy Duncan (B.S. petroleum engineering, ‘95) rang the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange May 30.

He is president and CEO of Talos Energy Inc., an independent oil and gas company based in Houston Texas. He is a member of the Mississippi State University Foundation board of directors.

Kenneth Graham (M.S. geoscience, ‘95) was named head of the National Hurricane Center in Miami. He had led the National Weather Service’s

CLASS NOTES

office serving New Orleans and Baton Rouge. In that position, he helped establish two command centers after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 and led efforts in forecasting impacts of hurricanes Gustav, Ike and Isaac in 2017.

He previously led Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts as the systems operations division chief at the service’s Southern Region headquarters in Texas. He began his career as a broadcast meteorologist with WCBI in Columbus.

Robert D. “Bob” Miller (M.S. physical education, ’98) was promoted to director, budgets, in the Office of the Vice President for Strategic Enrollment at the University of Texas at San Antonio. In this new role, he oversees financial and business operations for the Division of Strategic Enrollment.

2000s Joshua R. Moore (B.S. poultry science, ‘00) was named vice president of operations at Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. He will oversee all of the company’s production and processing facilities in Ohio and Kentucky.

Gov. Phil Bryant appointed Brittney Rye (B.S., M.S. elementary education, ’00, ‘02) to the Mississippi State Board of Education. A kindergarten teacher at Suddeth Elementary, she will serve as a school teacher representative on the board.

Her nine-year appointment began July 1.

John Mark Cain (B.S. elementary education, ’02; M.A. history, ’06) was named superintendent of the Lauderdale County School District. With 15 years of education experience, he previously served as deputy superintendent for Scott County. He holds a doctoral degree in educational leadership from the University of Mississippi.

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STATE ments

Know a Bulldog who has news or a recent promotion? Send an email to alumnus@msstate.edu.

2000s cont.

Kimberly Neal (B.A. English, political science, ’02) was elected to the board of directors for the Baltimore chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel. She is general counsel and grant relations officer for the Children’s Guild, a nonprofit dedicated to transforming how America educates and cares for children. She previously worked as a business litigator in Maryland and the District of Columbia and currently serves on the BBB Maryland Foundation board and the Junior League of Baltimore’s Community Resource Board.

Peter C. Smiley Jr. (Ph.D. forest resources, ’02) and Christian Lenhart edited “Ecological Restoration in the Midwest: Past, Present, and Future” from Bur Oak Books. He is a research ecologist for the USDA-ARS soil drainage research unit in Columbus, Ohio, and is co-founder, past president and at-large representative of the Midwest-Great Lakes Chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration.

Gary McKenzie (MBA, ‘03) is now regional vice president of GEICO’s Southeast operations in Macon, Georgia.

He previously served as assistant vice president of underwriting at the company’s Fredericksburg, Virginia, regional office. He is the first graduate of GEICO’s Emerging Leaders Program to be named a regional vice president.

Michelle Johnston (Ph.D. community college leadership, ‘06) is now president of the College of Coastal Georgia. Since 2014, she had served as president of the University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College in Ohio. She also has 10 years of faculty experience and 20 years as an administrator at the University of Montevallo (Alabama), University of Louisiana-Monroe and Mississippi State.

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Austin Golding (B.S. physical education, ’09) was named to the “40 Under 40” by Waterways Journal Weekly. A third-generation mariner, he is president of Golding Barge Line having started working onboard the company’s vessels immediately following his graduation from Mississippi State. He is a member of the board for the American Waterways Operators and is a member of the Warren County/Vicksburg Port Commission. He has also served as a member of the board of directors for the Vicksburg Chamber of Commerce.

Jason Hurst (Ph.D. community college leadership, ‘09) is now president of Cleveland Community College in North Carolina. He previously served as senior director of workforce development for the Alabama Community College System.

2010s

Nathan Upchurch (B.A. political science, ‘11) was named chief of staff for Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann. The Kosciusko native previously served as Hosemann’s legislative director.

Tommy Payne (BBA risk management, insurance, financial planning, ’12; BBA management of construction and land development, ’12) earned the Certified Commercial Investment Member designation from the CCIM Institute during a ceremony in Tampa, Florida. He currently serves as president of the Mississippi Commercial Association of Realtors and is a member of the 2018 class of Leadership Mississippi Association of Realtors.

Joanna King (B.S. agribusiness, ‘15) was recognized with the President’s

CLASS NOTES

Volunteer Service Award from Winrock International. She was recognized for more than 120 hours of volunteer work in Senegal with the Farmer-to-Farmer for Agriculture Education and Training Program and a Senegalese association of farmers.

Danielle Alexandra Phillips (B.S. interdisciplinary studies, ‘15) became the first African-American student honored in Washington, D.C., by the Baronial Order of the Magna Charta, who are descendants of 24 Barons of England connected to the original Magna Carta of 1215. Recipients of this scholarship are chosen annually based on their achievement of the highest constitutional law scores at a top American law school. She is a second-year law student at Washington & Lee Law School in Virginia. She serves as vice chair of her school’s Executive Moot Court Board and competed in the Hispanic National Bar Association Moot Court Competition in San Francisco where she won first place for oral advocacy over students from 29 other schools.

Fluent in Spanish, she will study abroad as a law intern in the U.S. territory of Guam.

Anna Warren (B.S. educational psychology, ’15) has received a Fulbright U.S. Student Program award to Senegal from the U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.

Beginning this fall she will spend nine months in Senegal to teach English as part of the Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship.

Marleigh McCrimmon (MBA ‘17) was appointed event coordinator at Reunion Golf and Country Club in Madison. A native of Greenwood, she previously served as marketing and community liaison for Whole Foods Market and was assistant catering director for Jackson’s Manship Wood Fired Kitchen.

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT Jagger Allen Clayton, April 23 to Kevin Clayton (’06) and Alison Clayton (’15) of New Albany.

Forever MAROON Bythella Lee Bryant Andrews (M.S. ag and extension education; retired Extension agent) 88, Magnolia – She earned a bachelor’s in home economics from Alcorn State University and began her career as a teacher at Dublin Junior High before transitioning to Liberty and ultimately becoming the home economics teacher for the Mississippi State Extension Service in Pike County. She was a member of the Mississippi Home Economics Association, the Federated Women’s Association, American Homemaking Association and Extension Agent Association. An active member of the community, she was a Cub Scout den mother, chairman of the District IV Family Planning Council, member of the Community Development Council and dean of the Mississippi Youth Christian Baptist Association. She also founded and was chairman of the Pike County Sunday School Convention Scholarship fund committee. – March 27, 2018 Winifred Barbara Griffis Bellamy (retired Extension agent) 84, Gautier – A native of Beaumont, she attended Mississippi Southern College, now the University of Southern Mississippi, before joining the Extension Service. – May 28, 2018 Harold Burnett Blalock (B.S. agriculture, ’54) 86, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – He played basketball as a student at State.

He served in the U.S. Army and retired from the Army Reserves as a lieutenant colonel. He worked for the Farmers Home Administration and retired as a community loan specialist. – April 3, 2018 Scotchie Cochran (B.S. sociology, ’60) 75, Atlanta, Georgia – At Mississippi State he was vice president of the junior class and was active in campus affairs. He had a varied career ranging from management positions in the textile industry to real estate investment and marketing. – Aug. 6, 2016 Hugh Wayne Coleman (B.S. mechanical engineering, ’69; former faculty) 71, Huntsville, Alabama – Following his graduation from Mississippi State, he went on to receive master’s and doctoral degrees in mechanical engineering from Stanford

University. He returned to Starkville in 1978 to begin a career on the Mississippi State faculty that saw him rise through the ranks from assistant to distinguished professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. In 1991 he moved to the University of Alabama, Huntsville where he served as a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering until his retirement in 2011. At Mississippi State, he was a Giles Distinguished Professor and held the Eminent Scholar Chair in Propulsion at UAH for two terms. He co-authored, with MSU’s Glenn Steele, a respected textbook now in its fourth edition and conducted more than 100 related workshops. He is also the author and co-author of another textbook and numerous journal articles, technical papers and book chapters. He was a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, as well as a member of Tau Beta Pi, Pi Tau Sigma, Phi Kappa Phi and Sigma Xi. – May 15, 2018 David Anthony Coode (B.S. landscape architecture, landscape contracting; ’88) 56, Nashville, Tennessee – He was a principal and senior vice president of Lose Associates before joining Kimley-Horn where he led the land-planning team in the Nashville office. He was an assistant scoutmaster for his son’s Boy Scouts of America troop and volunteered with the Real Life Players. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, a registered landscape architect and was certified through the American Institute of Certified Planners. – April 22, 2018 Kenneth L. Cook (M.S. ag and extension education, ’72) 84, Starkville – He retired from the Extension Service as interim state leader for 4-H Youth Development and went on to serve six years as the Oktibbeha County District Four election commissioner.

He volunteered with Habitat for Humanity.

He also served in the National Guard. – May 26, 2018 Stephanie Bell Flynt (B.A. communication, ’84) 55, Brandon – She was a member of Delta Gamma Sorority and served as an MSU cheerleader. Following her graduation,

she moved to Jackson and began a career in broadcast journalism that most recently included an anchor position with WLBT. She received many awards including a yearlong fellowship from the Association of Health Care Journalists and induction into the Mississippi Associated Press Broadcasters Hall of Fame. She helped raise thousands of dollars for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and was honored by the American Cancer Society and American Heart Association for work with their Power of Pink and Red Dress campaigns, respectively.

– June 6, 2018 Larry Owen Futch (attended) 66, Bradenton, Florida – Having attended Berkeley Preparatory School in Tampa, Florida, and then Mississippi State, he embarked on a varied career. Most recently he served as president of Direct Corporate Solutions Inc. – June 3, 2018 Alec Gary Harthcock (BBA, ’87) 60, Newton – After college, he worked as a pipeline surveyor before joining the Mississippi Department of Employment Security for 25 years. He loved the outdoors and spent much of his time gardening, fishing and golfing. – March 15, 2018 Thomas B. Harthcock Sr. (B.S. finance, ’57) 88, Newton – Before graduating from Mississippi State he served with the Air Force. He spent his career in the insurance and real estate business, serving as president of Harthcock Insurance Agency and past president of the Independent Insurance Agents of Mississippi. He was also on the board of directors of Independent Insurance Agents of Mississippi. He spent 27 years as an alderman for Newton and was a director on the Newton County Bank board for 46 years. – March 12, 2018 Martha B. Irby (M.S. secondary education, ’78; assistant professor emerita) 85, Starkville – She began her 23 years of service to the university in 1957 as a temporary assistant reference librarian, ultimately becoming an assistant professor and interlibrary loan librarian. Throughout her time at MSU, she assisted many researchers and students on their roads to academic success. – March 11, 2018 ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

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Forever MAROON William F. Jones (B.S. agronomy, ’53; Ph.D. agriculture and life sciences, ’77; emeritus professor) 86, Starkville – Following his graduation from MSU, he spent 40 years on the faculty, where he not only served as a classroom instructor but also participated in field crop research. He was a charter member of Emmanuel Baptist Church where he served as a Sunday school teacher and director, and deacon. – Jan. 17, 2018 Harold Glen Lewis (B.S. agriculture and extension education, ’55) 84, Philadelphia – He served in the Mississippi National Guard and the U.S. Army. He worked in banking and finance in Clarksdale before moving back to Philadelphia to help open Peoples Bank of Mississippi where he served as branch president. He later worked with W.W. Dungan where they were partners in oil exploration, timber, land development and home building. He was a member of the Lions Club, president of the Neshoba County Forestry Association and member of the board of the Mississippi Business Finance Corporation and Mississippi Development Bank. – May 8, 2018 Capt. Frederick R. Lickfold III (B.S. business administration, mechanical engineering; ’59; M.S. international relations, ’72) 81, Roswell, Georgia – He spent 26 years in the U.S. Navy, rising to the rank of captain. His career included two combat deployments in Vietnam flying P-3 Orion aircraft and three command tours. – March 4, 2018 Dorothy Jean Mann Thomas (friend) 82, Starkville – She co-owned Thomas’ Ladies’ Apparel with her husband Earl Thomas in Starkville. She served as president of the Downtown Business Association and was an active member of the Starkville Chamber of Commerce. She was chairman of the finance committee and was on many additional committees at First Baptist Church of Starkville, where she also taught Sunday school. – March 9, 2018 Harold A. Mayo (B.S. dairy science, ’58) 85, Table Rock Lake, Branson West, Missouri – While at State he was a member of Alpha Zeta Honorary Agricultural Fraternity and

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the dairy judging team, earning a spot on the 1958 list of Outstanding Young Men of America. He worked with Kraft Foods for 32 years, receiving the J.L. Kraft Ring for outstanding service. He earned a master’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, served in the Army and was an ordained deacon in the First Baptist Church of Tucker, Georgia. – Oct. 6, 2017 Rebecca S. McKittrick (B.S. art, ’82) 64, Batesville – She taught art in Starkville and Oxford public schools for 27 years, earning Teacher of the Year honors at both town’s high schools. She loved working outside and animals, and early in her married life, she and her husband ran a group home for abused and neglected children in Jackson. – May 5, 2018 Joseph Thomas Mosley (B.S. marketing, ’50) 90, Starkville – He served in the Navy at the end of WWII before returning to his lifelong hometown of Starkville. – March 14, 2018 Hettie Louree “Missy” Lancaster Mullen (attended) 61, Winona – She attended both Mississippi State and Delta State University as an education major and dedicated her life to helping children reach their full potential.

– March 10, 2018 Lewis “Buzz” Nolan (B.A. English, history; ’66) 75, Memphis, Tennessee – He served in the Marines where one of his duties was newspaper editor at the Marine Corps Base Quantico. He began his professional journalism career while in school at State as a reporter for the Commercial Appeal in Columbus, where he covered the civil rights movement and other news in the Golden Triangle for the regional paper. He later moved to the Memphis office where he spent 15 years, rising to business editor. He then joined Schering-Plough, now known as Merck & Co., where he was vice president of communications. Following his retirement, he joined Guardsmark as an executive and consultant before he retired for a second, and final, time. He was active in the Memphis Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club, the National Ornamental Metal Museum and as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board at Mississippi State. – May 7, 2018

Rick Lynn Noffsinger (M.S. agricultural and extension education, ’10; retired staff) 63, Starkville – A native of Princeton, Kentucky, he worked in the newspaper industry for 20 years. From 1977-97, he was the publisher of eight newspapers in West Virginia, Indiana, Virginia, Colorado and Mississippi, where he put out the Starkville Daily News. He then transitioned into the digital world as director of information for East Mississippi Community College and then web producer for Mississippi State’s Office of Agricultural Communication.

– March 1, 2018 James Cooke Robertson (B.S. horticulture, ’47) 94, Indianola – His time at State was interrupted by service in WWII. He graduated from the Officer’s Candidate School at Ft. Benning and was assigned to the Infantry under Gen. George Patton’s command. He landed on Omaha Beach with his division in 1944 and they moved across Europe participating in the Battle of the Bulge. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, French Legion of Honor and the Combat Infantry Medal. He was recalled to active duty during the Korean conflict where he served as an aide to Gen. Galla Paxton.

He then returned to Holly Ridge where he joined the family farming business. He was a lifelong and active member of the Indianola First United Methodist Church. He served as president of Indianola Academy and on the boards of First Savings and Loan, Farmer’s Grain Terminal and the Delta Council.

He was president of the Sunflower County Farm Bureau, Indianola Rotary Club and a director of the FMH Water Association. – March 27, 2018 Jo Ann Sharbrough (B.S. horticulture, ’85) 59, Vicksburg – She began her college career at the University of Southern Mississippi where she chaired Earth Day activities in Hattiesburg. She was invited to help with a program designed to introduce Jackson-area sixth-graders to vegetable gardening. She then transferred to Mississippi State where, as a horticulture major, she was in charge of interiorscaping, maintaining the indoor plants on campus. Following her graduation, she worked for several years at a national nursery in Portland, Oregon. She then moved to Colorado and became town clerk

Know someone who should be remembered in Forever Maroon? Send an email to alumnus@msstate.edu.

of Nederland before becoming secretary of the public defender’s office in Boulder.

– April 1, 2018

IN MEMORY OF ALEX WILCOX

Carlene Taylor Strowd (attended) 92, Clinton – A native of Crystal Springs, she received MSU’s Distinguished Service Award in 1988 and, along with her husband, has two bricks on the Walk of Honor leading to the Eternal Flame Monument on campus. She retired from Mississippi Power and Light after 39 years and was hostess for many charitable events including golf tournaments to support the Ronald McDonald House. – March 16, 2018 Larry M. Tate (B.S. business information systems, ’62) 77, Starkville – A native of Clarksdale, he served in the U.S. Army.

He was retired owner of Alloy Metals and Products Inc. and served as a scout leader and youth league baseball coach. – March 17, 2018 Robert “Harold” Terreson Jr. (B.S. industrial management, ’58) 87, Pascagoula – A veteran of the U.S. Navy who served in the Korean War, he was an industrial engineer with Ingalls Shipbuilding. – May 29, 2017 Ernest Vetrano (B.S. agricultural engineering, ’55) 85, Ridgeland – An insurance sales professional until he retired in 1999, he was a passionate tennis player and elected to the Mississippi Tennis Hall of Fame in 2008. – March 23, 2018

Alex Wilcox, who inspired the Bulldog family with her brave fight against cancer, died June 25 at the age of 18.

Her No. 8 softball jersey was retired in a halftime ceremony at Mississippi State’s second home football game of 2018. An on-campus memorial service was held the next day. She is the first female studentathlete in university history to have her jersey retired.

A native of Alabama, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2015.

She continued to play softball for Brantley High School throughout her treatments and helped lead her team to multiple state championships.

As a freshman at Mississippi State, she continued to undergo chemotherapy treatments while balancing a full academic course load and her spot on the Bulldogs’ softball team—eventually earning a spot

on the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

Her courage, determination and unfaltering positive outlook, inspired athletes and fans across the country.

Mississippi State rallied around her and worked to bring awareness to ovarian cancer through MSU’s “No One Fights Alone” campaign, for which the softball team and home crowd wore teal to midweek games.

This message was adopted throughout the conference and surrounding area as other teams held moments of silence for victims or displayed “Wilcox” or the campaign slogan on their gear. Among those, the University of Central Arkansas softball team donned special jerseys emblazoned with Wilcox across the back during a March game against the Bulldogs. Those special uniforms were later auctioned to help cover her medical bills.

Remembering Dora Herring Emerita Professor Dora Herring, a trailblazer who helped build Mississippi State’s nationally recognized Richard C. Adkerson School of Accountancy in the College of Business, died May 2. She was 89.

Herring earned an associate’s degree from Bowling Green University before coming to Mississippi State where she would complete three degrees after becoming the university’s first female accounting student. She earned bachelor’s and master’s in 1963 and 1964, respectively, and in 1968, she became the first person in the state—male or female—to earn

a doctoral degree in the discipline. She then became the first woman to teach accounting in MSU’s College of Business and the first in the college to specialize in what is now called accounting information systems.

During her career, she was involved in the planning of McCool Hall, home of the College of Business. Named head of the Department of Accountancy in 1988, Herring helped transition the unit to an endowed school and served as its director until her retirement. She was also the first woman to serve as president of the Mississippi Society

of Certified Public Accountants.

An active member of the First Baptist Church of Starkville, she was instrumental in the development of its new children’s building. She was also a longtime member of the Starkville Rotary Club and the Starkville Planning and Zoning Commission.

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Back STORY

Back STORY Alumnus Summer 2018 RESPONSES |

EXTON R. “BUCK” JOHNSON (B.S. business, ’63) I remember vividly in the summer of 1959, my sweetheart and I were in summer school at State. I came to school in a 1939 Ford, which was painted bright yellow. One Monday, I’m standing in line to buy stamps at the post office. The older gentleman working behind the counter happened to be married to a distant relative of mine. He recognized me and decided to have a little fun. When I got to the front of the line, he said in a rather loud voice where everybody could hear, “I saw you in your car yesterday.

Looked like you were having a problem with your steering. There was a little blonde sitting real close helping you steer it.”

Laughs broke out all around.

That old car made a lot of trips to the “W.” I charged 25 cents for passengers. Gas was about 30 cents a gallon.

In this photo from the University Archives, students dance during an event at Perry Cafeteria. Help us learn more about this photo or share memories of your experiences at Perry by contacting our office. Please include your major(s) and graduation year(s) as some responses may be published in print or online with the next issue. alumnus@msstate.edu

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