Mississippi State University Fact Book 2023

Welcome to Mississippi State University! In reviewing our latest fact book, you’ll see how MSU—a premier research institution providing a world-class education—makes an impact that matters. Our committed faculty members, including some of the most renowned researchers in their fields, are preparing students for meaningful careers while also readying them to significantly improve our state, region and world.

From groundbreaking, hands-on research initiatives to our life-changing service initiatives, we’re providing students the experience needed to become the future’s industry—and thought—leaders. Our students are part of a connected community that values learning, service, access, and intellectual and creative freedom. Visit www.msstate.edu to learn how you can partner with us in tackling today’s tough issues for a better tomorrow. You may discover your exciting future path through a collaborative research project or via a learning opportunity that fits your schedule as well as your goals.

VISITING MSU

Welcome Center

The Mississippi State University Welcome Center is located at 75 B.S. Hood Drive in the Cullis Wade Depot. Visitors may obtain maps and information at this location. Campus, historical and elementary and middle school tours are offered Monday through Friday and may be arranged by calling 662-325-5198 or emailing visit@pres.msstate.edu.

Visitors interested in undergraduate admissions or tours for prospective students should visit admissions.msstate.edu.

Chapel of Memories

The campus chapel is built from bricks of the Old Main Dormitory, which was destroyed by fire in 1959. Opened in 1967 along with the George D. Perry Tower and Carillon, the chapel is the site for numerous weddings and other events. It also is open to individual students for meditation and prayer throughout the day and evening. For booking information, please contact Event Services at 662-325-3228.

Colvard Student Union

Home to an array of activities and events, this campus-centered gathering spot offers a variety of services for students, faculty, staff, alumni and others in the MSU community. Featured on the first floor are specialty shops, the “musically themed” Dawg House and an extensive food court with many dining locations.

The Union’s second and third floors provide various venues for events such as meetings, concerts, lectures, conventions, conferences, dances and banquets. Also housed there are several administrative offices, including the Holmes Cultural Diversity Center, Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, and the Center for Student Activities, with Event Services on the first floor. Visit union.msstate.edu.

MSU Dining

MSU Dining Services offers several on-campus options to satisfy students’ appetites. Fresh Food Company is a modern concept, all-you-care-to-eat dining hall featuring chefs and fresh, made-to-order meals from several cooking stations.

Located on the south side of campus, the building includes an open-concept lounge to hang out with friends, study or relax. With Gothic arches and wood beams in this historic, cathedralstyle dining hall, The Marketplace at Perry was built in 1921. It features nine different stations of all-you-care-to-eat breakfast and lunch. Both Fresh Food Company and Marketplace at Perry offer a True Balance Station. This station addresses 8 of the top 8 most common food allergens. They also provide a variety of vegan and vegetarian offerings.

MSU Dining Services also provides restaurant locations like Moe’s Southwest Grill, Chick-fil-A, Starbucks, and more. State Fountain Bakery, an MSU tradition, is in the Colvard Student Union and provides sweet treats, cakes, dawg bone cookies, and the ability to place orders! Call 662-325-3663 or visit msucatering.com.

For additional information and to view all dining locations, visit dining.msstate.edu.

Drill Field

Located at the heart of campus, the university’s “main lawn” originally was the area where military cadets practiced formations. Today, the popular green space is a primary thoroughfare, a favorite setting for special events and a perfect place for Frisbee tosses, pick-up football games and other informal gatherings.

The Junction

A major gathering place for MSU home football games, this student-inspired outdoor space got the name from its previous unofficial label “Malfunction Junction,” a reference to the once-busy intersection where five, often-congested streets converged. Anchored by Davis Wade Stadium, Barnes & Noble Bookstore and the university’s Welcome Center, the Junction is the focal point for pre-game tailgating and a pedestrian-friendly central campus.

Engineering Row

Known for its prowess in educating the engineers of the future, MSU Bagley College of Engineering students and graduates affectionately refer to their campus corridor— flanked by more than seven buildings—as “Engineering Row.” Officially named Hardy Road, this street, with engineering facilities housing mechanical, computer, aerospace, civil, industrial programs and more, is named for the university’s third president John Crumpton Hardy. He opened the School of Engineering in 1902, which then became a college in 1963. In 2002, after 100 years of continued growth, it was named for James Worth Bagley, the late engineering executive and philanthropist who was an alumnus of the college. Visit www.bagley.msstate.edu.

U.S. Grant Presidential Library

As one of just six college campuses in the nation with a presidential library, the Ulysses S. Grant Library attracts thousands of visitors every year. Housed in the university’s Mitchell Memorial Library, the Grant Library curates the 18th president’s papers, while also preserving a vast array of memorabilia.

Adjacent to the Grant Library is the prestigious Frank J. and Virginia Williams Collection of Lincolniana. Once considered the largest privately owned Abraham Lincoln collection in America, the materials were donated by the former Rhode Island Supreme Court Chief Justice and his wife.

With hundreds of thousands of historical documents and other artifacts housed on-site, the Grant and Lincoln holdings have put Mississippi State on the map as a national center of excellence for the study of Civil War-era history. Visit www.usgrantlibrary.org and www.library.msstate.edu/ williamscollection to learn more.

Dudy Noble Field/ Polk-Dement Stadium

Dudy Noble Field is home to the 2021 College World Series national baseball champions. Regarded as the Carnegie Hall of College Baseball, the park sets the standard for on-campus baseball venues with its record-breaking crowds, legendary Left Field Lounge, and rich history of sending teams to the College World Series. A recent park renovation included design work by MSU alumna and renowned architect Janet Marie Smith, known across the country for her innovative Major League Baseball stadium designs. The update also brought the “Left Field Lofts” to the stadium, the first highrise condominiums overlooking a college baseball park. Visit www.hailstate.com.

Joe Frank Sanderson Center

The Joe Frank Sanderson Center is Mississippi State’s campus recreation facility. Providing 150,000 square feet of activity areas, Sanderson is one of the most popular student areas on campus. Accessible to persons with disabilities, it includes two gymnasiums, a 1/8-mile jogging track, racquetball courts, a 500,000-gallon indoor swimming pool, strength and conditioning areas, climbing wall, group exercise studios and conference rooms. Walkers and joggers also enjoy the onemile trail around beautiful Chadwick Lake located next door. Fishing is permitted with appropriate Mississippi and campus permits. A sand volleyball court and disc golf course are also located adjacent to the facility. For information about fees and classes, call 662-325-7529 or visit urec.msstate.edu.

MAFES Sales Store

The MAFES Sales Store, known affectionately as the MSU Cheese Store, offers artisan cheeses, ice cream, butter and milk. Cheese and dairy products are made from milk produced by the MAFES Bearden Dairy Research Center just a few miles from campus. The university’s herd produces more than 3 million pounds of milk each year, about 369,000 gallons. Dairy products are processed by the MAFES Custer Dairy Processing Plant and used throughout campus dining facilities and at numerous restaurants in Starkville. A unit of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, the store also offers butcher cuts of meat from the MAFES foundation herds, jellies and more. Discover the freshness of locally produced, natural dairy and meat products by visiting the store, open from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., Monday–Friday, and on home football game days. Call 662-325-2338 or visit msucheese.com.

The University Florist

The University Florist is a professional retail operation that serves as a working laboratory for horticulture majors in the floral management curriculum. A wide selection of floral designs and Mississippi gifts is available for pickup and delivery on campus. Operated by the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, the florist offers seasonal designs such as home game tailgate arrangements, Christmas wreaths and garlands, Valentine’s Day roses and much more. McCarty pottery and decorative items for MSU tailgating are sold here as well. For hours and more information, visit florist.msstate.edu or call 662-325-3585.

Museums/Galleries

Charles H. Templeton, Sr. Music Museum

Tells the story of the “business of music” with its collection of musical instruments, recordings and sheet music

Colvard Student Union Art Gallery

Showcases rotating exhibitions of regional and national scope union.msstate.edu/visit/art-gallery |

Cullis Wade Depot Art Gallery

Presents rotating exhibitions of contemporary art by nationally recognized artists, as well as MSU faculty and students

Cullis and Gladys Wade Clock Museum

Highlights more than 400 clocks and watches dating back as far as the early 1700s

Cully Cobb Antique Tool Collection

Features more than 350 antique tools and primitive machines

Dunn-Seiler Museum

Houses a public gallery with exhibits that focus on rocks, minerals fossils, including a cast of a real Triceratops skull geosciences.msstate.edu/dunn-seiler-museum |

Frank and Virginia Williams Collection of Lincolniana Gallery

Boasts the nation’s largest privately owned holding of Abraham Lincoln research and display material, as well as the country’s most comprehensive privately owned Lincoln and Civil War library lib.msstate.edu/williamscollection | 662-325-7668

Giles Architecture Gallery

Offers rotating architecture exhibitions of regional and national scope caad.msstate.edu/sarc/exhibits.php |

Historic Costume and Textiles Collection

Consists of textiles, clothing, accessories and footwear from the 1850s to the present

historiccostume.msstate.edu | 662-325-1293

Howell Observatory

Offers special public telescope observations for up-close views of the moon, Jupiter, Saturn, the Andromeda galaxy and more physics.msstate.edu | 662-325-4112

John Grisham Room

Displays memorabilia and materials from the writings and achievements of bestselling author, former Mississippi legislator, and MSU alumnus John Grisham

lib.msstate.edu/grisham | 662-325-6634

Louis Burns Brock, Jay Brock and Hank Brock Gallery

Showcases materials from the University Libraries and other programs and departments on campus

lib.msstate.edu/oldmain/gallery | 662-325-0105

Lois Dowdle Cobb Museum of Archaeology

Exhibits artifacts from the ancient Middle East and the Southeastern United States

662-325-3826

Martha Lipsey Art Gallery

Provides a means for Mississippians with the most severe disabilities to feel the power of self-expression through art eyart.org | 662-325-1028

Mississippi Entomological Museum

Includes the third largest insect collection in the Southeastern United States with 2 million specimens

mississippientomologicalmuseum.org.msstate.edu | 662-325-2990

MSU Archives

Houses papers, photographs and artifacts that document the history of Mississippi State University from 1878 to present lib.msstate.edu/specialcollections/collections/archives | 662-325-3935

MSU Campus Tree Trail

Exhibits common and not-so-common tree species, such as the Moon Sycamore and Melting Gingkos, found throughout the Southeastern United States

map.msstate.edu/map and click the “Tour” tab | 662-325-5198

MSU Extension Arthropod Zoo

Houses a variety of local and exotic arthropods, including insects, millipedes and centipedes, tarantulas and local spiders, and scorpions

blogs.msucares.com/entomology/arthropod-zoo | 662-325-5198

MSU Herbarium

Houses more than 30,000 sheets of dried, pressed plants dating back to the 1830s and collected by amateur and professional botanists

herbarium.biology.msstate.edu | 662-325-3120

Stennis-Montgomery Room

Presents photographs, correspondence and artifacts that document the lives and careers of Senator John C. Stennis and Congressman G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery, both Mississippi State alumni

lib.msstate.edu/museums | 662-325-7668

Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library Museum and Reading Room

Contains correspondence, photographs, paintings, engravings, statues and other artifacts relating to the life and presidency of the 18th President of the United States

usgrantlibrary.org | 662-325-4552

Visual Arts Center Gallery

Displays rotating exhibitions of artwork by visiting artists, MSU faculty and students, while encouraging hands-on art experiences for children of all ages to make their own works of art

caad.msstate.edu/wpmu/artnews/department-galleries | 662-325-2970

The Museums and Galleries Committee is a consortium of galleries and collections on campus that develops and provides cross-disciplinary exhibits and events for the public to enjoy each year. For more information, visit museums.msstate.edu or follow Mississippi State University Museums and Galleries on Facebook.

FOUNDING OF MSU

Created by the Mississippi Legislature on February 28, 1878, the university opened its doors in the fall of 1880 as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of the state of Mississippi. As one of the national land-grant colleges established after Congress passed the Morrill Act in 1862, it set out to provide training in “agriculture, horticulture and the mechanical arts . . . without excluding other scientific and classical studies, including military tactics.”

Follow-up federal legislation enabled the school to build on its mission, including the Hatch Act that provided for the establishment of the Agricultural Experiment Station in 1888, the Smith-Lever Act of 1914 that led to the creation of extension offices in all 82 counties and the Smith-Hughes Act of 1917 that provided for the training of teachers in vocational education.

By 1932, when the legislature renamed the school Mississippi State College, it consisted of the Agricultural Experiment Station (1887), College of Engineering (1902), College of Agriculture (1903), School of Industrial Pedagogy (1909),

School of General Science (1911), College of Business and Industry (1915), Mississippi Agricultural Extension Service (1915), and Division of Continuing Education (1919). In 1926, the college received its first accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

By 1958, when the legislature changed the name to Mississippi State University, the Office of Graduate Studies had been organized (1936), doctoral degree programs had begun (1951), the School of Forest Resources had been established (1954), and the College of Arts and Sciences had been created (1956). The School of Architecture admitted its first students in 1973, and the College of Veterinary Medicine began classes in 1977.

Today, Mississippi State provides access and opportunity to students from all sectors of the state, as well as from all 50 states and 83 other countries.

Enhancing its historic strengths in agriculture, natural resources, engineering, mathematics, and natural and physical sciences, Mississippi State offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate programs. These include architecture, the fine arts, business, education, the humanities, the social and behavioral sciences, and veterinary medicine.

The university embraces its role as a major contributor to the economic development of the state through targeted research and the transfer of ideas and technology to the public, supported by faculty and staff relationships with industry, community organizations and government entities.

Building on its land-grant tradition, Mississippi State strategically extends its resources and expertise throughout the state for the benefit of Mississippi’s citizens, offering access for working and place-bound adult learners through its Meridian campus, Extension Service and distance learning programs.

MSU THROUGH THE YEARS

Presidents of MSU

Stephen D. Lee (1880-99)

John Marshall Stone (1899-1900)

John Crumpton Hardy (1900-12)

George Robert Hightower (1912-16)

William Hall Smith (1916-20)

David Carlisle Hull* (1920-25)

Buz M. Walker* (1925-30)

Hugh Critz (1930-34)

George Duke Humphrey (1934-45)

Fred Tom Mitchell* (1945-53)

Benjamin F. Hilbun* (1953-60)

Dean W. Colvard (1960-66)

William L. Giles (1966-76)

James D. McComas (1976-85)

Donald W. Zacharias (1985-97)

Malcolm Portera* (1998-2001)

J. Charles Lee (2002-06)

Robert H. Foglesong (2006-08)

The Morrill Act establishes a nationwide system of colleges called the land-grant system, endowed by grants of public lands.

Mississippi A&M in Starkville is established as Mississippi’s land-grant institution.

Institution opens its doors to 354 students.

The Hatch Act establishes the agricultural experiment station system with a focus on applied research.

The Mississippi Legislature passes the experiment station act that helps lay much of the groundwork by introducing the first experiment station bill in 1885.

The state legislature appropriates funds for a “mechanical” (i.e., engineering) curriculum at Mississippi A&M.

First electric lights used on campus.

The School of Engineering is established.

The Smith-Lever Act establishes the cooperative extension system to make knowledge directly available to farmers and farm families.

The Mississippi Legislature assigns responsibility for extension work to Mississippi A&M College.

International students begin attending MSU.

Mississippi A&M College becomes Mississippi State College.

Mississippi State becomes a charter member of the Southeastern Conference.

A separate School of Forest Resources is established.

Mississippi State College becomes Mississippi State University.

Old Main, at one time thought to be the largest college dormitory in the United States, burns.

The position of vice president for the agricultural division is established.

The McIntire-Stennis Forestry Act passes, further establishing the importance of commercial forests.

1963

MSU’s all-white Bulldog basketball team makes national news by defying an unwritten state law and surreptitiously departing Mississippi to play against the integrated Loyola (Chicago) Ramblers–and its four African American starters–in the NCAA Tournament. Though MSU lost the game and Loyola went on to win the national championship, a courageous trend of defying segregation and embracing equality had begun.

1964

The Mississippi Legislature, recognizing the significance of 17 million acres of commercial forestry to the state, establishes the Forest Products Utilization Laboratory.

1965

Richard Holmes, MSU’s first AfricanAmerican student, enrolls without incident.

1972 1974 1977

Mississippi State University-Meridian is chartered as a degree-granting instructional site under the direction of the Board of Trustees, State Institutions of Higher Learning.

The Mississippi Legislature approves the establishment of the College of Veterinary Medicine.

The MSU Extension Service’s 30-minute “Farmweek” TV program debuts statewide on Mississippi public broadcasting stations. “Farmweek” is the longest-running program of its type in the nation.

1994

The Forest and Wildlife Research Center is established by the legislature.

1996 2002

MSU’s men’s basketball team advances to the NCAA Final Four Tournament for the first time in school history.

With a $25 million gift, the College of Engineering becomes the James Worth Bagley College of Engineering.

2010 2003

2011 2004

The Stuart C. Irby Jr. Studio, named for the late Mississippi businessman, philanthropist and building donor, opens as the new Jackson home for MSU’s fifth-year program in the School of Architecture.

MSU breaks into the nation’s top 25 in engineering research.

Montgomery Center for America’s Veterans, named for MSU alumnus and former U.S. Congressman G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery, opens with a mission of supporting the academic careers of veterans and assisting them with job placement at graduation.

MSU enters an agreement with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to address world hunger and poverty.

2012 2013 2014

MSU becomes one of only six universities in the nation to share the distinction of hosting a presidential library when the Ulysses S. Grant Association board of directors designates the Ulysses S. Grant Collection at Mitchell Memorial Library as the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library.

MSU’s Diamond Dawgs make school history in the 2013 College World Series by playing in the finals for the first time. It was the ninth time the Bulldogs played in the College World Series.

Donald M. “Field” Brown, an English and philosophy double-major from Vicksburg, is awarded the Rhodes Scholarship.

Mississippi State’s 2014 football team becomes the fastest squad in college football history to rise from unranked to No. 1, a spot it held for five weeks. The Bulldogs, who earned a trip to the Capital One Orange Bowl, finished the season with an impressive 10-2 record, while posting a perfect 7-0 mark at home for only the second time in school history.

The Federal Aviation Administration selects an MSU-led team to operate a new National Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems, launching a new era of commercial unmanned aircraft research, development and integration into the nation’s air space.

Inspired by an overwhelming response to “Infinite Impact”—the most successful fundraising campaign in university historyPresident Mark E. Keenum announces a historic re-targeting to raise $1 billion by 2020.

Posting its best record in school history, including a historic Final Four semifinal win snapping UCONN’s 111-game winning streak, MSU’s women’s basketball team finishes as national runner up in the

MSU celebrates its 140-year anniversary by recording the largest fall enrollment in university history at 22,201 and becomes one of only 10 percent of U.S. colleges and universities to shelter a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious academic honor society.

Construction begins on the 70,000-squarefoot Richard A. Rula Engineering and Science Complex, providing state-of-the-art facilities for the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in the James Worth Bagley College of Engineering.

For the second consecutive year, the MSU women’s basketball team finishes the season as national runner-up in the NCAA national championship game.

For the second consecutive year, the Bulldog baseball team reaches the pinnacle of the sport–the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. And, MSU completes $68 million in renovations to Dudy Noble Field, with fans labeling it the “Carnegie Hall of College Baseball.”

The university strengthens its reputation as a leader for cutting-edge computational research with the installation of the “Orion” supercomputer, the 4th fastest academic system in the U.S.

After a decade-long run, MSU’s Infinite Impact fundraising campaign closes with $1.07 billion in private gifts to advance the university, a philanthropy milestone previously never achieved by an educational institution in the state of Mississippi.

While MSU moves to online and hybrid instruction in weathering the COVID-19 crisis, the university announces a 3.4% enrollment increase—its sixth consecutive year of growth—and an 85% freshman to sophomore retention rate.

The MSU Bulldogs are NCAA Baseball National Champions, shutting out Vanderbilt 9-0 in Game 3 of the College World Series. It is the university’s first national title across all sports.

As the nation navigates a global pandemic, the university experiences a seventh year of consecutive growth with a 23,086 fall headcount, a 5.1% increase in first-time freshmen and 8% in graduate students.

MSU reports a record $280 million in research and development expenditures for FY 2020, placing MSU among the top 90 universities nationally.

The MSU family, fans, and friends mourn the death of Head Football Coach Mike Leach from a heart condition. He was a true coaching legend who gained nationwide attention as the mastermind behind the “Air Raid” offense.

A top 5 national ranking for support of free speech positions MSU among the most supportive university climates in the U.S. for student expression. Ranked No. 4 by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, MSU is the only SEC and Magnolia State school in the list’s top 20.

Teros, the largest, most sophisticated uncrewed aircraft at any U.S. academic research institution, is unveiled at MSU’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory. Globally, Raspet is the only designee as both the Federal Aviation Administration’s UAS Safety Research Facility and an official UAS Test Site for the FAA.

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS AND ADMISSIONS

A Valuable Investment

Notably, Mississippi State University consistently is recognized for its first-rate academic programs and affordability. The university’s faculty members are serious about advising students and working to help each student succeed. With a 17:1 student to faculty ratio, teachers have the opportunity to get to know their students. Undergraduates also have the opportunity to work with faculty on original research.

FIELDS OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDY

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

• Applied Science

• Applied Technology (Meridian only)

• Data Science

• University Studies (C2C)

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES

Agricultural and Biological Engineering

• Agricultural Engineering, Technology and Business

Agricultural Economics

• Agribusiness

• Environmental Economics and Sustainability

Animal and Dairy Sciences

• Animal and Dairy Sciences

Biochemistry, Mo lecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology

• Biochemistry

F ood Scie nce, Nutrition and Health Promotion

• Culinology

• Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion

Lan dscape Architecture

• Landscape Architecture

• Landscape Contracting and Management

Pla nt and Soil Sciences

• Agronomy

• Environmental Science in Agricultural Systems

• Horticulture

Po ultry Science

• Poultry Science

Sc hool of Human Sciences

• Agricultural Education, Leadership and Communications

• Agricultural Science

• Fashion Design and Merchandising

• Human Development and Family Science

COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE, ART AND DESIGN

• Architecture

• Art

• Building Construction Science

• Interior Design

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

• Economics (Arts and Sciences)

• General Liberal Arts

• General Science

• Interdisciplinary Studies

• Music

A nthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures

• Anthropology

B iological Sciences

• Biological Sciences

• Medical Technology

• Microbiology

Ch emistry

• Chemistry

Clas sical and Modern Languages and Literatures

• Foreign Language

• International Business

Co mmunication

• Communication

English

• English

Geos ciences

• Geosciences

History

• History

Mathematics and Statistics

• Mathematics

Philosophy and Religion

• Philosophy

Physics and Astronomy

• Physics

Political Science and Public Administration

• Political Science

Sociology

• Criminology

• Social Work

• Sociology

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

Business Administration

• Business Administration

Richard C. Adkerson School of Accountancy

• Accounting

Fin ance and Economics

• Business Economics

• Finance

Management and Information Systems

• Business Information Systems

• Management

Ma rketing, Quantitative Analysis and Business Law

• Marketing

• Supply Chain Logistics

Sp ecialized Programs

• Entrepreneurship

• Integrated Digital Marketing

• International Business

• PGA Golf Management

• Risk Management and Insurance

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

Counseling, Educational Psychology and Foundations

• Educational Psychology

C urriculum, Instruction and Special Education

• Elementary Education

• Secondary Education

• Special Education

In structional Systems and Workforce Development

• Industrial Technology

• Information Technology Services

Ki nesiology

• Kinesiology

M usic

• Music Education

JAMES WORTH BAGLEY COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

A erospace Engineering

• Aerospace Engineering

Ag ricultural and Biological Engineering

• Biomedical Engineering

• Biosystems Engineering

Da ve C. Swalm School of Chemical Engineering

• Chemical Engineering

• Petroleum Engineering

Richard A. Rula School of Civil and Environmental Engineering

• Civil Engineering

Co mputer Science and Engineering

• Computer Science

• Cybersecurity Operations

• Software Engineering

Ele ctrical and Computer Engineering

• Computer Engineering

• Electrical Engineering

Ind ustrial and Systems Engineering

• Industrial Engineering

Me chanical Engineering

• Mechanical Engineering

COLLEGE OF FOREST RESOURCES

Fo restry

• Forestry

• Natural Resource and Environmental Conservation

Su stainable Bioproducts

• Sustainable Bioproducts

Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture

• Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture

COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE

• Veterinary Medical Technology

Orientation

All new students (freshmen and transfers) entering the university are encouraged to confirm their intent to enroll by attending an orientation session. Orientation provides the opportunity to register for classes and so much more for both parents and students. Guests become familiar with services and programs available at MSU through panel discussions with university officials as well as interactive group sessions with Orientation Leaders. It’s a celebration that welcomes all new students and their parents into the Bulldog family! Learn more at orientation.msstate.edu.

Visits

Prospective students are invited to experience firsthand all that MSU has to offer. Several options are available including virtual and inperson visits and events. A half-day, in-person campus visit includes a meeting with an admissions counselor followed by a tour of campus with a student recruiter (Roadrunner). The meeting covers admissions, academic majors, scholarships, campus life and other aspects of being an MSU student. Optional meetings with other departments, as well as housing previews, can also be added. Virtual meetings and visits with admissions counselors and Roadrunners are available as well Open house-style events provide a broader overview of everything Maroon and White. It’s a chance to see campus with other future Bulldogs and cover every aspect of student life—academics, residence halls, student organizations and more. High school juniors and seniors are invited to attend and can choose from several dates in the fall and spring. To explore all visit options, visit campusvisit.msstate.edu.

Mississippi State’s Center for Distance Education offers more than 75 accredited online programs. Recent additions of master’s programs in professional accountancy, taxation and educational psychology are among degrees offered through six colleges.

MSU has experienced a nearly 34% increase over the last three years in the number of degree programs offered online, providing more opportunities for working adults to expand their education and improve their lives.

Bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees, as well as professional certificates, are available to students all over the world. Currently, there are students enrolled from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and 17 countries. Career advancement or changing career fields lead many students to choose online education. Other recent additions to programs include a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Master’s in Public Policy Administration, and a Master’s in Counseling Education —as well as new options for certifications such as a Certificate in Public Procurement and a Certificate in Athlete Engineering.

MSU has been offering distance programs for over 30 years, first launching the Bachelor of Science in Geosciences with a concentration in broadcast and operational meteorology. Now, the geosciences degree programs at the bachelor’s and master’s levels are still among the most popular offerings. One in three of today’s on-air broadcast meteorologists is a graduate of MSU’s nationally recognized program. Other top online programs include engineering, applied sciences, business administration and elementary education.

Mississippi State Online works closely with the university’s academic departments to identify online degree programs that are most desired by students and industry. MSU wants to ensure that students have online access to the degree that best fits their educational and career goals, with courses taught by world-class faculty from a university they can be proud of and trust. For more information, visit online.msstate.edu.

GRADUATE PROGRAM AND ADMISSIONS

The Graduate School

Dean: Peter Ryan

Comprised of eight colleges, Mississippi State University offers its 3,803 currently enrolled graduate students master’s degrees in 60 programs with 61 concentrations, an educational specialist degree with seven concentrations, doctoral degrees in 36 programs with 45 concentrations, and 20 graduate-

certification programs. Thrive in Five is a new pathway for undergraduate students to earn graduate credit in 31 accelerated programs across the university. More information on graduate degree programs is available at grad.msstate.edu/ students/graduate-programs.

As a National Science Foundation top 100 research university, MSU is home to nationally and internationally renowned faculty researchers, and many research partnerships with industry connect MSU with the global economy. Thus, graduate students at Mississippi State participate in cutting-edge research with a global impact. Mississippi State is classified by the influential Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as a “Very High Research Activity” doctoral university. This classification represents the highest level of research activity for doctorate- granting universities in the country, and MSU is one of only 131 schools to hold the designation.

Graduate Admissions

Admissions decisions are made by each department or program For information on general university requirements and deadlines for admission, prospective students can call 662-325-7400 or visit grad.msstate.edu/students/admissions. Many programs set additional specific requirements and application deadlines that supersede those set by the university. Prospective students should visit the website of their program of interest for more complete information.

Graduate Financial Support

MSU offers graduate students an array of options for financial support, including assistantships and fellowships offered through the various academic and administrative departments. Graduate students also may qualify for federal grants, loans or work-study, and Mississippi residents may qualify for state financial aid. Visit sfa.msstate.edu for more information about the numerous financial aid opportunities. Graduate students also receive subsidies to assist them in purchasing campus health insurance. Visit health.msstate. edu/healthcenter/insurance_student.php for information on the Student Injury and Sickness Insurance Plan.

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

Mississippi State’s Colleges, Departments and Programs

Mississippi State University offers the following degrees: Bachelor of Accountancy, Bachelor of Applied Science, Bachelor of Applied Technology, Bachelor of Architecture, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, Bachelor of Music Education, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Social Work, and Bachelor of University Studies. The Bachelor of Applied Science is MSU’s newest degree and is offered in partnership with the state’s community colleges to provide more options in technical education and meet workforce demands. Also, the Bachelor of Science is offered in electrical, mechanical and industrial engineering through MSU’s Engineering on the Coast program, a partnership with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. MSU and MGCCC also offer a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Science that begins at MGCCC’s George County Center, with the final two years completed at MSU.

MSU also offers the Master of Agribusiness Management, Master of Agriculture, Master of Arts, Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Arts in Teaching-Middle Level, Master of Arts in TeachingSecondary, Master of Arts in Teaching-Special Education, Master of Business Administration, Master of Engineering, Master of Landscape Architecture, Master of Music Education, Master of Physician Assistant Studies (Meridian only), Master of Professional Accountancy, Master of Public Policy and Administration, Master of Science, Master of Science in Information Systems, Master of Science in Instructional Technology, Master of Taxation, Education Specialist, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Education.

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Dean: Scott Willard

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences boasts a broad array of opportunities, offering 17 majors and 45 concentrations for undergraduate students. As a prominent college in agriculture, biological and human sciences, and environmental sustainability in the Southeast, the college is one of the oldest at Mississippi State. Students in the college are among the best in the nation, winning national competitions in floral design, landscape architecture and meat and dairy science, to name a few. Many majors boast a 100% job placement rate for graduates. Several departments house specialized research centers that have attracted large federal grants and corporate funding. The college is closely associated with the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station and Mississippi State University Extension Service to share knowledge and solutions with agricultural producers, businesses and government agencies throughout the state and beyond. Visit cals.msstate.edu.

College of Architecture, Art and Design

Dean: Angi Elsea Bourgeois

The College of Architecture, Art and Design includes the School of Architecture, Department of Art, Department of Building Construction Science and Department of Interior Design. Each is fully accredited in its respective discipline. In Mississippi, the School of Architecture is the only professional school of its kind that leads to licensure in the field. The college’s mission is to promote and engage students and faculty in the following: conceptualization, craft, media and

technology, history and theory, aesthetics, and ethical issues associated with making artifacts in the world. The development of foundational skills in a studio class environment as the basis for innovation enables students to form individual philosophies that uphold the highest standards of architecture, art, design and construction. Students graduate with a Bachelor of Architecture, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Science in Interior Design or a Bachelor of Science in Building Construction Science. Visit caad.msstate.edu.

College of Arts and Sciences

Dean: Rick Travis

The College of Arts and Sciences is the largest on campus, with more than 5,200 students and more than 325 full-time faculty members who contribute significantly to the university’s mission of teaching, research and service. As the heart and soul of MSU, the College of Arts and Sciences serves every student at the university by providing many general education courses. In addition, the college’s 14 departments offer 27 undergraduate programs, 16 master’s programs and nine doctoral degree programs 10 certificates and more than 35 minors. The college also offers six fully online undergraduate degree programs and three fully online graduate degree programs. Curricula are offered in the natural and physical sciences, social and behavioral sciences, and humanities. The curricula are designed to introduce students to the basic methods of inquiry in diverse disciplines, develop their analytical abilities, improve their skills in writing and speaking, and broaden their perspectives on humanity and culture. In addition, through the Dr. A. Randle and Marilyn W. White Health Professions Resource Center, students interested in pursuing careers in health-related professions are offered resources—from resume building to mock interviews to internship opportunities—as they navigate post-graduate options. The college also offers a Medical Humanities Certificate to help students prepare for the rigors of health professions. Pre-medical, pre-physician assistant,

pre-dental, pre-pharmacy, pre-optometry, pre-nursing, preveterinary medicine, pre-occupational therapy and pre-physical therapy preparation is available. Additional preparatory tracks include pre-law and pre-seminary, among others. The College of Arts and Sciences houses two museums and an observatory: the Dunn-Seiler Museum in the geosciences department, the Lois Dowdle Cobb Museum of Archaeology in the Cobb Institute and the Howell Observatory operated by the physics and astronomy department, all which host hundreds of school children yearly. Students within the college have won national scholarships, including the Rhodes, Fulbright, Truman, Goldwater and Boren. For more information, visit www.cas.msstate.edu.

College of Business

Dean: Sharon Oswald

As the oldest college of business in the state and among the oldest in the South, MSU’s College of Business celebrated its centennial anniversary in 2015. The college offers undergraduate programs in accounting, finance, economics, management, marketing and business information systems, all of which are fully accredited by AACSB - International. The college is also home to the internationally recognized Center for Family Enterprise Research that conducts educational programs and research in family business. The Journal of Small Business Management ranks MSU’s College of Business No. 6 in the world for the impact of its entrepreneurship research. The Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach is home to more than 100 business startups and is opening new doors to opportunities that further joint collaboration across campus and promote economic development throughout the state. Of significance is the business information systems program, considered to be among the oldest in the world. The international business concentration is a dual-degree program with foreign language and requires both study abroad and an internship, drawing students from all over the country.

The PGA golf management program is the second oldest and one of the most respected in the nation.

For the seventh consecutive year, the Online MBA program has ranked in U.S. News and World Report’s Top 100, coming in at No. 62 among Best Online Graduate MBA programs. Additionally, the Online MBA program has ranked No. 1 in the nation by Best Value Schools for 2020. The Richard C. Adkerson School of Accountancy continues to reach new heights, as it is among the Top 10 Master’s and Undergraduate Accounting Programs (for schools with 16 or fewer full-time accounting faculty) according to the 2019 Commerce Clearing House Public Accounting Report. Additionally, both programs are ranked in the Top 25 in the South Region – undergraduate, 14th, and graduate, 16th. The 2019 BYU Accounting Rankings listed MSU No. 3 in the world and No. 1 among SEC schools for Experimental Accounting Information Systems (AIS) Research. Visit business.msstate.edu.

College of Education

Dean: Teresa Jayroe

The College of Education is comprised of six academic departments, including counseling, educational psychology and foundations; curriculum, instruction and special education; music; instructional systems and workforce development; educational leadership; and kinesiology. College departments are augmented by a primary research unit, the National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision, and seven service units that include the T.K. Martin Center for Technology and Disability, Office of Clinical/ Field-Based Instruction, Licensure and Outreach, World Class Teaching Project (National Board certification preparation), Writing/ Thinking Institute (part of the National Writing Project), and Mississippi Migrant Education Service Center. Visit educ.msstate.edu.

James Worth Bagley College of Engineering

Dean: Jason Keith

As one of approximately 40 named engineering colleges in the nation, the Bagley College of Engineering offers 13 undergraduate and 24 graduate degree programs, as well as eight certificate and endorsement specialties through its eight academic departments. Each department provides a challenging curriculum and encouraging environment that is designed to allow students to achieve their full potential. Mississippi State’s second largest college highly ranks nationally in research and development expenditures according to the National Science Foundation. The Bagley College also ranks among the top 18 non-HBCU engineering colleges nationally in graduating African-American engineers, according to a report in Diverse Issues in Higher Education. The college is dedicated to providing an extraordinarily rich environment where engineering students gain skills that help them to become leaders and builders in commerce, industry and government. Visit bagley.msstate.edu.

College of Forest Resources

Dean: Wes Burger

The College of Forest Resources has an international reputation as a center for science and education programs in natural resources management and conservation. Since 1954, the college has graduated more than 4,400 forestry, sustainable bioproducts, and wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture majors. These former students now serve in leadership positions of state and federal agencies and as CEOs of forest products companies, private consultants and entrepreneurs. The College of Forest Resources is the only nationally accredited educational program in the state for educating and developing future leaders in natural resources. The college includes the departments of forestry; wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture;

and sustainable bioproducts. It offers four majors with 17 concentrations and hundreds of careers. Research and outreach for the college are managed separately by the Forest and Wildlife Research Center. Visit cfr.msstate.edu.

College of Veterinary Medicine

Dean: Kent Hoblet

The College of Veterinary Medicine was established by the Mississippi Legislature in 1974. The first class of students was admitted in fall 1977 and graduated in May 1981. The college awards Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees, master’s degrees, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. A four-year Bachelor of Science degree in veterinary medical technology also is offered. It is one of only 32 accredited colleges of veterinary medicine in the United States. Fully accredited since 1981 by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the college is committed to improving both the economic and intellectual resources of Mississippi. The professional curriculum provides courses leading to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, which is a four-year curriculum. Graduate programs of study lead to the Master of Science and doctoral degrees in selected areas of specialization, including infectious diseases, toxicology, pathology, aquatic medicine, epidemiology, avian medicine and production animal medicine. Visit vetmed.msstate.edu.

Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College

Dean: Tommy Anderson

The Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College is the largest of its kind in the state of Mississippi, with over 2,400 students currently enrolled. While honors programming has been a part of Mississippi State University for more than 50 years, Honors became a full-fledged college following a substantial donation from MSU alumnus Bobby Shackouls and his wife Judy. The Honors College is located in Griffis, Nunnelee and Hurst halls, which serve not only as residence halls but academic and honors administration buildings. Honors students embark upon rigorous curricula designed to complement individual majors with a strong liberal arts program. The college is home to the Office of Prestigious External Scholarships, which provides support to students who are competing for large national and international awards such as the Rhodes, Gates-Cambridge, Goldwater, Truman and Boren scholarships. Honors is also home to the Office of Undergraduate Research, which places undergraduate students within research opportunities on campus and beyond. Study abroad is a significant part of the Honors College’s mission and culture. Most notably, the college has a close relationship with the University of Oxford and organizes a six-week Oxford experience for MSU students each year. Information about applying to the Honors College can be found at honors.msstate.edu.

FACULTY

Upon his appointment as the first president of Mississippi Agricultural & Mechanical College, Stephen Dill Lee set out to find a capable faculty eager to implement his plan for programs of study in agriculture and engineering. While his team of educators was small and changes were frequent in the early years, those who caught Lee’s vision for a college for the “common people” would build the foundation for generations of students from all walks of life to succeed in higher education.

Today, Mississippi State University has 1,272 committed faculty members, including some of the best teachers and researchers in their fields.

William L. Giles Distinguished Professors

Richard L. BrownBiochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology

Wes Burger - Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture

Janice E. ChambersVeterinary Medicine

Keith H. CobleAgricultural Economics

James Fowler - Electrical and Computer Engineering

Mark LawrenceVeterinary Medicine

Alan I. Marcus - History

Mark Novotny - Physics and Astronomy

Daniel Peterson - Plant and Soil Sciences

Mohsen RazzaghiMathematics and Statistics

Raja Reddy - Plant and Soil Sciences

David R. Shaw - Plant and Soil Sciences

Merrill WarkentinManagement and Information Systems

Former Giles Professors

Terry L. AmburgeyForest Products

Lori Mann Bruce - Electrical and Computer Engineering

Hugh W. ColemanMechanical Engineering

Arthur G. Cosby - Sociology

Louis R. D’Abramo - Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture

Donald R. EpleyFinance & Economics

Brent Funderburk - Art

Herbert M. HandleyCurriculum & Instruction

Nancy D. Hargrove - English

Edgar E. Hartwig - MAFES

Paul E. Hedin - U.S. Department of Agriculture

B. Keith HodgeMechanical Engineering

Mark HorstemeyerMechanical Engineering (Chair, 2017-19)

D. Clayton James - History

Roger L. King - Electrical and Computer Engineering

Jeffrey V. Krans - Plant and Soil Sciences

John Marszalek - History

Edward E. Milam - Accounting

J. Elton MooreCounselor Education

James Newman, Jr.Aerospace Engineering

Allison Pearson - Management and Information Systems (Chair, 2015-2017)

David E. Pettry - Plant and Soil Sciences

Henry N. Pitre - Entomology and Plant Pathology

Roy V. Scott - History

Peter Shillingsburg - English

Ratnasingham ShivajiMathematics and Statistics

Glenn SteeleMechanical Engineering

Joe F. ThompsonAerospace Engineering

Rayford B. Vaughn, Jr.Computer Science and Engineering

David L. WhitfieldAerospace Engineering

W. William Wilson - Chemistry

Mississippi State’s Current Endowed Faculty Positions

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Luis Avila - Glover B. Triplett Mississippi Corn Promotion Professorship in Plant and Soil Sciences

Brandy Karisch - Milton Sundbeck Professorship in Animal and Dairy Science

Michael Mulvaney - Edgar & Winifred B. Hartwig Endowed Chair in Plant Breeding

College of Architecture, Art and Design

Beth Miller – Mark S. Jordan Endowed Professorship

Karen Spence – Johnny Crane Professorship in Architecture

College of Arts and Sciences

Angus Dawe - Dr. Donald Hall Professorship in Biological Sciences

College of Business

Joel Collier - Thomas B. and Terri L. Nusz Professorship in Management

James Chrisman - Julia Bennett Rouse Professorship in Management

Mike Highfield - Robert W. Warren Chair in Real Estate

Laura Marler - James and Patricia Coggin Professorship

Shawn Mauldin - Richard C. Adkerson Chair in Accountancy

Tom Miller - Jack R. Lee Chair in Financial Institutions & Consumer Finance

Kevin Rogers - Paul and Mary Jo Karre Professorship

Alvaro TaboadaBancorpSouth Professorship in Financial Services

Merrill Warkentin - Jim and Julia Rouse Endowed Professorship in Management

Bagley College of Engineering

Kari Babski-ReevesLarry Brown Professorship in Information Systems Engineering

John Ball - Robert D. Guyton Chair in Electrical Engineering

Cindy Bethel - Dr. Billie J. Ball Endowed Professorship in Engineering

Linkan Bian - Thomas B. & Terri L. Nusz Professorship in Engineering

Reuben Burch – Jack Hatcher Engineering Entrepreneur Chair

Heejin Cho - TVA Endowed Professorship in Energy Systems & Environment

Qian “Jenny” Du - Bobby Shackouls Professorship in Engineering

Bill Elmore - Deavenport/ Eastman Chair in Chemical Engineering

James E. Fowler - Dr. Billie J. Ball Endowed Professorship in Engineering

Yong Fu - TVA Endowed Professorship in Power Systems Engineering

Isaac Howard - Materials & Construction Industries Chair

Julie Jessop - Hunter Henry Chair in Chemical Engineering

Haitham El Kadiri - Jim Whiteside Chair in Mechanical Engineering & Edward P. Coleman Professorship in Mechanical Engineering

Jason Keith - Earnest W. and Mary Ann Deavenport Chair in Engineering

Samee Khan - James W. Bagley College of Engineering Chair in Electrical & Computer Engineering

Santanu KunduSouthern Ionics Chair in Chemical Engineering

Mehmet Kurum – Paul B. Jacob Chair in Electrical and Computer Engineering

David MarcumExxonMobil Alumni Endowed Professorship in Engineering

Robert MoorheadDr. Billie J. Ball Endowed Professorship in Engineering

Neeraj RaiErgon-Diversified Technology Distinguished Professorship

Adrian Sescu – Airbus Helicopter Professorship in Aerospace Engineering

Tonya Stone - Dr. Oswald Rendon-Herrero Diversity Professorship in Engineering

Lesley StrawdermanInternational Paper Company Chair in Engineering

Rani Sullivan - Bill and Carolyn Cobb Chair in Engineering

Alex ThomassonWilliam & Sherry Berry Chair in Agricultural & Biological Engineering

Hossein ToghianiThomas B. Nusz Professorship in Engineering

Stephen Torri - Mary Lyn & Niles Moseley Chair in Cybersecurity

Farshid Vahedifard - Civil & Environmental Engineering Advisory Board Professorship

College of Forest Resources

Brian Davis - James C. Kennedy Coordinator in Waterfowl and Wetlands Conservation

Steve Demarais - Taylor Endowment for Applied Big Game Research & Instruction

Bronson StricklandSt. John Family Endowed Professorship in Forestry

College of Veterinary Medicine

Todd Archer- Dr. Hugh G. Ward Chair in Veterinary Medicine

Philip Bushby - Marcia Lane Chair in Humane Ethics & Animal Welfare

Cathleen Mochal-King - Terri Nusz Equine Professorship

David Smith - Dr. P. Mikell & Mary Cheek Hall Davis Professorship in Veterinary Medicine

RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

Mississippi State is classified by the influential Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as a “Very High Research Activity” doctoral university. This classification represents the highest level of research activity for doctorategranting universities in the country, and MSU is one of only 146 schools to hold the designation. In addition to its Carnegie classification, Mississippi State is the highest ranked university in the state and a top 100 university nationally in the National Science Foundation Higher Education Research and Development Survey for fiscal year 2021. MSU’s research expenditures totaled $275 million in FY 2021, accounting for nearly half of the state’s total. With a diverse research portfolio, MSU ranks in the top 15 nationally in both agricultural sciences (11) and natural resources and conservation (13). MSU has led all Southeastern Conference universities in social sciences research funding for eight consecutive years.

MSU reported $114 million in agricultural and natural resources research funding for FY21, extending support for Mississippi’s $9.7 billion agriculture industry and

leading multiple research and outreach initiatives aimed at strengthening global food security. Building on more than 140 years of agricultural research accomplishments, the university remains at the forefront of the field as researchers harness the power of cutting-edge technology such as supercomputers and unmanned aircraft systems to drive innovation in Mississippi’s leading industry.

Mississippi State provides a wide range of research opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students. Student involvement in research is a priority across the university with funding and other resources dedicated to this effort. For example, research symposiums for undergraduate students are held in the fall, spring and summer. A symposium for graduate students is also held every spring semester. These special events are open to all students participating in facultyled research.

Adjacent to campus, the Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park—the state’s largest research park—is home to nearly 1,400 employees, 12 buildings and a diverse lineup of tenants, including private businesses, startup companies, government offices, a business incubator, and research centers and institutes. The MSU Research and Technology Corporation is responsible for day-to-day management of the park property. After two decades of steady growth, the park is in a phase of significant expansion covering an adjacent 52 acres with roads, dual-fiber capabilities and utilities. Additionally, its roadways and sidewalks are popular destinations for cycling, running and walking. MSU’s Research and Technology Corp. has turned the Cadence Bank building in downtown Starkville into The Hub, further strengthening the university’s town-and-gown relationship with the city. The facility provides additional space for expanding companies wanting to remain in the Starkville area and also helps attract start-up businesses.

MSU LIBRARIES

Dean: Lis Pankl

With creative discovery as a bold tradition and ever-evolving centerpiece of Mississippi State University’s existence, MSU Libraries have an innovation-driven presence as part of the state’s leading research institution. The libraries’ world-class research collections, technology-infused learning labs, and user-driven centers provide those hungry for knowledge and solutions the tools to take care of what matters in our state, nation, and world. And, driving MSU Libraries forward are informed and highly trained faculty and staff equipped to assist with any research and instruction needs.

Inside these exceptional libraries are quiet spaces, group study rooms, presentation areas and classrooms for use by students, faculty, staff, alumni, and visitors. Constantly evolving, these libraries are:

• Mitchell Memorial Library

• Bob And Kathy Luke Architecture Library

• College Of Veterinary Medicine Library

• Gertrude C. Ford Foundation Library (Jackson)

• Phil Hardin Foundation Libraries (Meridian)

• Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library

• Old Main Academic Center

Research-Oriented Collections of Distinction

MSU Libraries faculty and staff believe that the university’s collection of primary research materials is not only for historical preservation and reference but is central to today’s teaching and learning that guides scholarship as it moves forward. The libraries’ repositories have strengths in many collecting areas, from firstedition, rare books and extensive presidential papers to genealogical records and archives dating back to MSU’s beginning.

The MSU Libraries’ Archives and Special Collections division includes four units: Manuscripts, Mississippiana and Rare Books, University Archives and the Mississippi Political Collections. These repositories provide access to unique materials that focus on government and public policy, history, the media, and rural and agricultural life. As a whole, the collections offer researchers an opportunity to examine key facets of U.S. history from the Gilded Age to the 21st Century.

Two of the premier Manuscript collections include the John Grisham Collection and the Charles H. Templeton, Sr. Collection. John Grisham, MSU alumnus and bestselling novelist, donated his papers to the university in 1989. Many of these items, including his best-selling novels in several languages, are on display in Mitchell Memorial Library’s John Grisham Room. The Charles H. Templeton Sr. Collection includes more than 200, 19th and 20th Century music instruments, 22,000 pieces of sheet music, and 12,000 records. These are displayed in the Templeton Music Museum on the fourth floor of Mitchell Memorial Library.

MSU Libraries also house the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library and the Frank and Virginia Williams Collection of Lincolniana. The Grant Library museum and collection, one of only six presidential libraries in the nation on a university campus, includes artifacts, writings, and memorabilia chronicling and providing insight into Grant’s importance in American history. From his early life and Civil War triumphs to his presidency and later years, the collection contains copies of every known letter written by Grant and every letter written to him. The Frank and Virginia Williams Collection of Lincolniana includes manuscripts, 19th Century political pamphlets, paintings, statuaries, books, and other resources complementing Civil War-related materials in the U.S.

Offering a state-of-the-art experience in examining the lives of these American presidents, MSU Libraries are becoming well recognized as “the place” for the study of Civil War-era history.

Services to Click, Create, Collaborate

While MSU Libraries have always been where students, researchers and community members come to quietly delve into a myriad of topics, today the volume is being turned up as virtual labs, services such as color printing and wide format printing, makerspaces and collaborative learning workshops encourage creativity and innovation. The libraries’ MaxxSouth Digital Media Center provides a variety of collaborative spaces for students and faculty to utilize high-end computers and software for digital design and production; 3-D printers and scanners—including a Glowforge laser printer; sewing machines; a Cricut cutting machine; and a mixed reality lab. The mixed reality lab includes HTC Vives, Oculus Rifts and Microsoft Hololenses to explore a virtual world to assist with your learning and relaxation. The center also contains a TV production studio and an AV studio which can be used to record production quality videos. The TV studio is a digital, high definition (HD)-ready space suitable for filming/recording, editing, and producing quality digital media video projects while the AV studio provides students and faculty with a means to quickly and easily record audio or video presentations.

Interested in researching the past or exploring the future? MSU Libraries have everything you need. Check us out online at library.msstate.edu.

CAMPUS LIFE

Campus Safety

The MSU Police Department is a full-service, nationally accredited agency that is available 24 hours a day throughout the year. The department builds partnerships with the university community to provide a safe environment with such programs and services as bicycle and motorcycle patrol, police security for campus events, criminal investigations, K-9 bomb and drug detection, crime prevention and more. The department is comprised of more than 30 sworn, state-commissioned police officers and 15 full-time support personnel. MSU Police Department works closely with other law enforcement agencies in the area to enhance the safety and security of the university community. MSUPD is responsible for enforcing laws and protecting university property on campus and adjacent roadways. Additionally, MSUPD, through its Life Safety Division, oversees the university’s cameras and access control. Unique to MSU is its Maroon Alert system that is used to communicate with the campus community about emergency or advisory situations that may arise on campus. In most situations, the primary means of communication are web (emergency.msstate. edu), email, Twitter via @maroonalert and text messaging when necessary.

Dining Services

MSU Dining Services offers several on-campus options to satisfy students’ appetites. Fresh Food Company is a modern concept all-you-care-to-eat dining hall featuring chefs and fresh, made-to-order meals from several cooking stations. Located on the south side of campus, the building includes an open-concept lounge to hang out with friends, study or relax. With Gothic arches and wood beams in this historic, cathedral-style dining hall, The Marketplace at Perry was built in 1921. It features nine different stations of all-youcare-to-eat breakfast and lunch. Both Fresh Food Company and Marketplace at Perry offer a True Balance Station. This station addresses 8 of the top 8 most common food allergens. They also provide a variety of vegan and vegetarian offerings.

MSU Dining Services also provides restaurant locations like Moe’s Southwest Grill, Chick-fil-A, Starbucks, and more. State Fountain Bakery, a MSU tradition, is in the Colvard Student Union and provides sweet treats, cakes, dawg bone cookies, and the ability to place orders! For additional information and to view all dining locations, visit dining.msstate.edu.

Center for America’s Veterans

The Montgomery Center for America’s Veterans at Nusz Hall is a national leader in providing comprehensive campus-based support for veterans, service members, and other militaryconnected students. The center honors the legacy of 1943

MSU alumnus and 15-term U.S. Congressman G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery, who authored the Montgomery G.I. Bill. The Center for America’s Veterans offers a variety of student support services focused on the unique needs of today’s military veterans, service members and family members. It provides a comprehensive counseling program to help students maximize their G.I. Bill educational benefits, tuition assistance for active duty, National Guard and Reserve members as well as scholarships and a 100% waiver of out-of-state tuition.

The center has programs to help ensure a smooth transition to higher education and academic success after enrolling. Nusz Hall has a computer lab, individual study rooms, lounge with TV, kitchen area, outdoor space, and an office for the Student Veteran Association. Visit the state-of-the-art Nusz Hall or, for more information, visit veterans.msstate.edu.

Getting Around

Transit Services provides a broad range of transportation services for campus, Starkville and the Golden Triangle area. In particular, the free Starkville-MSU Area Rapid Transit, or S.M.A.R.T., features daily routes covering campus and Starkville, with free connections to the Golden Triangle Regional Airport (GTR) near Mayhew. All routes can be viewed at smart.msstate. edu. All of the shuttles meet accessibility requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. While passengers ride at no cost, children 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

Fraternity and Sorority Life

Mississippi State is home to 36 fraternity and sorority chapters that are nationally recognized organizations. They promote a balance of scholarship, leadership, service and friendship. Members are expected to maintain high grades, volunteer in the local community and become involved and be leaders in other campus organizations. Members donate thousands of dollars annually to local and national charities and perform thousands of community service hours. Membership is a lifetime commitment, and, in return, members can expect to make lasting memories and lifelong friendships. For more details, call 662-325-3917 or visit greeks.msstate.edu.

University Health Services

University Health Services meets the needs of the community through multiple departments which include Health Promotion and Wellness, Student Counseling Services and the Longest Student Health Center. All strive to identify and address health and behavioral issues that impact well-being. For more information, visit health.msstate.edu.

Holmes Cultural Diversity Center

Named for MSU’s first African American student, the Richard E. Holmes Cultural Diversity Center strives to enhance the cultural college experience of students at Mississippi State University. For more information, visit hcdc.msstate.edu.

Student Leadership and Community Engagement

The Office of Student Leadership and Community Engagement (SLCE) provides education and development within leadership, volunteerism, and community engagement. Leadership programs include the Montgomery Leadership Program (MLP), Day One Leadership, and a growing variety of leadership offerings. Community Engagement encompasses the Center for Community-Engaged Learning (CCEL) and the Maroon Volunteer Center (MVC). The Center for Community-Engaged Learning strives to instill the ideals of citizenship and service by providing faculty education, support, and development to incorporate community-engaged learning into the classroom. The MVC serves as the hub for matching volunteers with community partners through meaningful service opportunities. The MVC also develops and facilitates programs and activities that foster student learning and development through a lens of servant-leadership. More information is available at slce.msstate.edu.

Parent and Family Services

Recognizing that families are a valuable resource to each student, the Office of Parent and Family Services strives to serve as a link between families, students, and the university community. This office assists families in fully understanding and navigating the many campus resources, providing timely communications, and promoting meaningful parental involvement that allows for optimum student development and success. For more information, families are encouraged to call 662-325-3611 or visit family.msstate.edu.

University Recreation

MSU’s University Recreation offers a wide variety of recreation programs, services, and facilities to help students develop a healthy lifestyle. URec offers intramural activities for men’s, women’s, and co-recreational teams, and numerous individual and dual sports. Intramural competition is open to the entire university community (students, faculty, and staff). URec also offers swim lessons, personal training, group exercise classes, children’s birthday parties, youth summer camps, team building activities, and outdoor adventure gear rental. URec’s facilities include the Joe Frank Sanderson Center (including a sand volleyball court and low-ropes challenge course), RecPlex, Sawyer Tennis Courts, and the Chadwick Lake Disc Golf Course. For more information, please visit urec.msstate.edu.

Housing and Residence Life

Living on campus is an exciting part of the student life experience at Mississippi State. The Department of Housing and Residence Life provides a vibrant atmosphere for students to thrive in a living-learning environment. The 16 residence halls house approximately 5,000 students and offer a variety of amenity levels in new construction and traditional styles across campus. Community Directors, Graduate Residence Directors, and Resident Advisers are live-in staff who serve as a resource to the students by planning and implementing programs that assist their transition to the university. Housing and residence life staff have extensive training in multiple areas, including safety and security. All Residence halls have state-of-the-art security systems. The exterior doors to the residence halls are locked 24 hours a day, and only students living in that hall will have access with their MSU Student ID. As part of the effort to ensure students have a successful first year, MSU has a freshman residency requirement. For more information about the residency requirement and any other housing questions, please visit housing.msstate.edu. If you are an upper-division student and interested in living off-campus, College View is a partnership development that gives upper-division students the option of university-housing apartment living. To learn more about College View, please visit livecollegeview.com.

Student Organizations and Student Association

MSU boasts more than 300+ student organizations, giving students numerous ways to become involved, meet new people and make the most of their college experience. Organizations cover a wide range of interests, including academic, international, religious, ethnic, political, social, environmental, community service and recreational. The Student Association, or SA, is a student-run organization that serves as the governing body for students and is the largest organization on campus. Providing coverage of campus events and organizations is The Reflector, MSU’s award-winning student newspaper published for and by students every Wednesday during the fall and spring semesters. More specifics about all the organizations on campus can be found at one.msstate.edu or sa.msstate.edu.

TRiO Student Support Services

TRiO Student Support Services is a supportive community for first-generation and low-income students. Since 1965, TRiO programs have existed to provide and strengthen academic development and motivate students toward degree completion. For more information, visit trio.msstate.edu.

Disability Resource Center and ACCESS Program

MSU’s Disability Resource Center assists students with documented disabilities. The office provides appropriate accommodations and works with students to improve retention and graduation rates among this population. The ACCESS program provides educational access and opportunity through individual support and services for the academic and social inclusion of students with intellectual disabilities (as defined by the Higher Education Opportunity Act) who are accepted to the university as special non-degree seeking program participants.

ATHLETICS

Mississippi State University boasts a storied tradition in athletics, both on the field and in the classroom. Those who choose to become Bulldogs are rewarded with a great experience as part of one of the most respected universities in the United States.

As a charter member of the prestigious Southeastern Conference, MSU affords its student-athletes the opportunity to compete at the highest levels of collegiate athletics. MSU offers more than 350 scholarships each year in 16 varsity sports that include men’s baseball, basketball, football, golf, tennis, and track and field (indoor/outdoor), in addition to women’s basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field (indoor/outdoor) and volleyball.

More than 150 coaches and administrators work for the athletic department, all striving to field competitive teams while focusing on the future of each student athlete with a program that fosters excellence in academics. MSU also showcases some of the finest collegiate athletic facilities in the country, in which its student-athletes compete and loyal alumni and fans experience many exciting moments in Bulldog sports. MSU continues to improve those venues each year while planning for new locales in the future.

For complete information on MSU Athletics, visit HailState.com or follow the program on Twitter (@HailState).

PAST YEAR’S KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Student-athletes posted a 3.09 GPA in the spring, marking the 10th straight semester MSU recorded a 3.0 GPA or better. Nearly two-thirds of student-athletes achieved spots on the Bulldog Honor Roll.

Building projects on MSU’s premier athletic facilities included the renovation of the Humphrey Coliseum, a new softball team complex, the Templeton and Seal Performance Nutrition Centers, numerous fan experience enhancements to Davis Wade Stadium, a new baseball weight room and many others.

MSU’s football team was the only one in the country to face six teams ranked in the final College Football Playoff Top 25 and was one of four teams with three wins against teams ranked in the final poll. Mike Leach became the first Bulldog head coach, at least in the modern era, to beat three teams in one season which finished ranked in a final poll.

The Bulldogs reached a bowl game for the 12th straight season, joining Alabama, Georgia and Texas A&M as the only four SEC programs to go to a bowl each of the last 12 seasons.

Redshirt senior wide receiver Austin Williams was named the SEC’s H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete of the Year. The award is considered the highest student athlete academic honor in the conference.

Offensive tackle Charles Cross heard his name called at Caesers Forum in Las Vegas, Nevada, when he was selected by the Seattle Seahawks with the ninth overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. The Cleveland Browns selected cornerback Martin Emerson with the 68th pick.

A total of 14 MSU standouts have been selected through the first three rounds of the previous eight drafts.

Seven Bulldogs were selected in the 2022 MLB Draft. RHP Landon Sims was the 34th overall pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks, giving MSU nine first-round draft picks in the past 11 years.

Under Head Coach Chris Lemonis, the university has seen 26 student athletes picked in the MLB Draft, including five first-round selections. During his MSU tenure, Lemonis has 11 draft picks in the draft’s first five rounds.

MSU hired one of the nation’s premier bench bosses in Chris Jans as head men’s basketball coach. Jans ushered in an unprecedented run of success over the last five seasons at New Mexico State, where he guided the Aggies to a 122-32 record and three NCAA Tournament trips. He owns an impressive .765 winning percentage (143-44) through his six seasons as an NCAA Division I head men’s basketball coach. His career-win total is one of the highest for a head coach for the first six seasons in NCAA history.

One of the most respected recruiters in America and most impactful Division I assistant coaches in the country, Sam Purcell was named the ninth head coach in MSU women’s basketball history. With the University of Louisville, he made it to the NCAA Tournament every season one was held and advanced to two Final Fours, five Elite Eights and seven Sweet Sixteens. He had a 151-20 record in the last five seasons, which ranks third behind UConn and Baylor for the most wins during that span.

Soccer defeated Ole Miss to win the Magnolia Cup in back-to-back seasons. Ally Perry earned 2021 SEC AllFreshman honors. It was the second straight year a firstyear Bulldog earned the honor.

Producing its best season in school history, the softball program advanced to its first Super Regional and hosted a postseason game for the first time. The Bulldogs won four straight Tallahassee Regional elimination games, becoming the first team to advance after losing its regional opener since Texas in 2019. MSU won consecutive games against No. 2 Florida State, marking the first time a No. 1 or No. 2 national seed was eliminated in the regional round. First Team All-American Mia Davidson closed her career with 92 home runs, which is the most in SEC baseball or softball history and tied for third in NCAA softball history.

Head Volleyball Coach Julie Darty Dennis was named the 2021 SEC Coach of the Year and the American Volleyball Coaches Association South Region Coach of the Year after leading the team to its most successful season in program history. MSU rewrote the school record books, posting a 25-6 overall record and 16-2 mark in SEC play to finish second overall in the conference. The team finished one match away from a share of the SEC regular season title, but made its first NCAA Tournament appearance after earning an at-large bid.

Both the men’s and women’s golf teams reached the NCAA Tournament, and the women’s team advanced to the NCAA Championships. Ford Clegg earned First Team Academic All-American honors for the second straight season. He also earned SEC Men’s Golf Scholar Athlete of the Year status for the second consecutive year. Julia Lopez Ramirez was named an All-American by Golfweek.

In addition, Lopez Ramirez was named the SEC Freshman of the Year, earned First Team All-SEC honors and was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team.

Men’s tennis earned its 11th consecutive NCAA berth. Florian Broska and Nemanja Malesevic represented MSU on the All-SEC Men’s Tennis Team. Broska was selected as the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Southern Region Senior Player of the Year.

For the second straight year, MSU women’s tennis standout Emmanouela Antonaki earned All-SEC honors.

Track and field had eight different student athletes reach the NCAA Indoor Championships, while four Bulldogs competed in the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Navasky Anderson won a gold medal in the 800-meter event at the SEC Outdoor Championships and finished national runner-up at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

IN MEMORIAM

Mississippi State University Head Football Coach

Michael Charles “Mike” Leach died on Dec. 12, 2022 at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi, following complications from a heart condition. He was 61.

Mississippi State President Mark E. Keenum said: “Coach Mike Leach cast a tremendous shadow not just over Mississippi State University, but over the entire college football landscape. His innovative “Air Raid” offense changed the game. Mike’s keen intellect and unvarnished candor made him one of the nation’s true coaching legends.”

Leach, who was named Mississippi State’s 34th head football coach on January 9, 2020, was finishing his third season in Starkville and 21st as a head coach. The accomplishments of his 21 years as a head coach included such honors as two-time national coach of the year, threetime Power 5 conference coach of the year and the architect of the most prolific passing offense in the country, the NCAA recordsetting “Air Raid” offense.

Leach arrived in Starkville on Jan. 9, 2020, as Mississippi State’s 34th head football coach. He led the Bulldogs to a 19-17 record, including an 8-4 mark in 2022, and bowl appearances in all three seasons. Leach’s offense led the SEC passing in each of the last two seasons. The Bulldogs defeated seven AP Top 25 opponents during Leach’s MSU tenure, which tied for third most by a Bulldog head coach. Leach coached MSU to its two largest comebacks in program history in 2021. Before his MSU tenure, Leach had very successful head coaching careers at Texas Tech and Washington State.

He was a passionate educator and mentor who instilled the importance of academics in his players, as his teams routinely set records for GPA and graduation rate. A masterful storyteller, Leach authored a New York Times best-selling autobiography in 2011 titled Swing Your Sword: Leading the Charge in Football and in Life and wrote Geronimo: Leadership Strategies of an American Warrior in 2014.

UNIVERSITY FINANCES

In fiscal year 2021, Mississippi State University reported total assets of $1.68 billion. This amount represents assets in the university’s most recent financial statement, including all operations linked to its land-grant mission. It does not include the assets of foundations associated with the university. Of this $1.68 billion reported, $398 million are current assets, $1.14 billion are capital assets net of depreciation and the remaining $151 million are other non-current assets, including investments and restricted cash.

Sources of funds for FY 2021

State appropriations - 19.9%

Grants/contracts - 20.8%

Net tuition - 23.4%

Sales and services - 18.5%

Non-operating gifts/grants - 13.1%

Federal appropriations - 1.8%

Other - 2.5%

Endowment

Expenditures for FY 2021

Salaries and benefits - 62.3%

Contractual services - 15.1%

Commodities - 6.4%

Scholarships - 7.5%

Depreciation - 4.9%

Travel - 0.5%

Utilities - 2.0%

Interest and other - 1.4%

Mississippi State University’s endowment currently exceeds $698 million and is composed of nearly 1,800 separately endowed funds. Each year, a portion of the earnings from each endowment is spent in support of the university’s tri-fold mission of learning, service and research with strict adherence to donor agreements. The remainder of the earnings is reinvested to maintain each endowment’s financial impact over time. Student scholarships are the largest single component of the endowment, comprising 50.8 percent of the total; the next largest component supports various academic programs and makes up 26.5 percent of the total, followed by faculty and staff support at 14.6 percent.

For the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2021, the Mississippi State University Foundation Inc. reported total consolidated net assets of $792.5 million. Of this amount, nearly 86.4 percent has donor restrictions with the remainder unrestricted or held on behalf of related non-profit entities. Expenditures by the Mississippi State University Foundation directly or indirectly benefiting the university exceeded $33 million in FY 2021, and $59.5 million in FY 2020.

Fundraising

Fundraising at Mississippi State has exceeded $100 million annually for each of the past seven fiscal years.

FY 2016 .......................................................................... $103.1 million

FY 2017 .........................................................................$108.6 million

FY 2018 $102.5 million

FY 2019 ........................................................................... $113.1 million

FY 2020 $111.1 million

FY 2021 $120.9 million

FY 2022 ........................................................................$125.3 million

The Mississippi State University Foundation operates a comprehensive fundraising program, soliciting annual gifts, major gifts, principal gifts and estate gifts from a loyal, enthusiastic and geographically diverse base of over 157,400 living alumni.

UNIVERSITY GOVERNANCE

Mississippi State recognizes the value of diverse opinions in decision making and pursues its mission in an atmosphere of shared governance and open communication. Faculty and staff are involved in policy formulation and in implementing the learning, research and service missions of the university. Faculty and staff also recognize their shared accountability for the performance of the university in carrying out its mission.

To advance the mission of the university, the officers of the administration may appoint members of external entities to serve on councils, committees and task forces. The president has authority to administer the university, to lead the university so that its mission and goals are achieved, and to coordinate university relations with officers of the Board of Trustees.

The Board of Trustees is the constitutional governing body of the State Institutions of Higher Learning. The board operates a coordinated system of higher education, establishes prudent governance policies, employs capable chief executives, and requires legal, fiscal and programmatic accountability.

Executive Council

The Executive Council is comprised of the university’s senior leadership. Its members meet monthly to advise the president on official policies and procedures.

Mark E. Keenum, President

David Shaw, Provost and Executive Vice President

Tracey Baham, Assistant Vice President for Institutional Strategy and Effectiveness

Jason Barrett, President of the Robert Holland Faculty Senate

Zac Selmon, Director of Athletics

Keith Coble, Vice President for Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine

Leslie Corey, Chief Human Resources Officer

Lesia Ervin, Director of Internal Audit

Ra’Sheda Forbes, Vice President for Access, Diversity and Inclusion

Kennedy Guest, President of the Student Association

Regina Hyatt, Vice President for Student Affairs

Julie Jordan, Vice President for Research and Economic Development

Jim Laird, Research and Executive Support Editor

Joan Lucas, General Counsel

Steve Parrott, Chief Information Officer

Sid Salter, Chief Communications Officer

John Rush, Vice President for Development and Alumni

Anna Webb, Chair of the Staff Council

Don Zant, Vice President for Finance and Administration, Chief Financial Officer

President’s Cabinet

The President’s Cabinet is comprised of the university’s senior administrative leadership and meets weekly.

Mark E. Keenum, President

David Shaw, Provost and Executive Vice President

Zac Selmon, Director of Athletics

Keith Coble, Vice President for Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine

Ra’Sheda Forbes, Vice President for Access, Diversity and Inclusion

Regina Hyatt, Vice President for Student Affairs

Julie Jordan, Vice President for Research and Economic Development

Joan Lucas, General Counsel

John Rush, Vice President for Development and Alumni

Don Zant, Vice President for Finance and Administration, Chief Financial Officer

Commissioner of Higher Education

Alfred Rankins, Jr.

Board of Trustees

Tom Duff, President

Dr. Alfred E. McNair Jr., Vice President

Dr. Ormella Cummings

Dr. Steven Cunningham

Teresa Hubbard

Jeanne Carter Luckey

Bruce Martin

Chip Morgan

Gee Ogletree

Hal Parker

Gregg Rader

Dr. J. Walt Starr

NOTABLE ALUMNI

There are more than 150,000 living Mississippi State degree holders, including 112,029 undergraduate alumni, 22,494 graduate alumni and 16,322 dual-degree holders. MSU alumni are found in nearly 100 countries and all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Some notable alumni include:

Academic Leaders: James E. Cofer, former president of Missouri State University; Ray Hayes, former chancellor of the University of Alabama System; Mark E. Keenum, president of

Mississippi State University; Vivian Presley, former president of Coahoma Community College; and Malcolm Portera, retired chancellor of the University of Alabama System and former Mississippi State University president.

Arts and Entertainment: Authors–John Grisham, Joe Lee, Lewis Nordan, Matthew F. Jones, Gregory Keyes, Laurie

Parker, Michael Farris Smith, Neely Tucker and Brad Watson; Broadcasting Pioneer–Frank K. Spain; Meteorologists–Audrey Puente, Bill Evans, Sean McLaughlin, Kevin Benson and Alex Wallace; Comedian Jerry Clower; Magician, Mentalist, Professional Speaker–Joe M. Turner; Journalists - Eugene Butler, Turner Catledge, John Oliver Emmerich, David

Hanglord, Charlie Mitchell, Paul Ruffin, Sid Salter, Wayne

Weidie and David Langford.

Athletes and Coaches: Baseball - Jimmy Bragan, Jeff

Brantley, Will Clark, Hugh Critz, Ed Easley, Sammy Ellis, Dave “Boo” Ferriss, Alex Grammas, Kendall Graveman, Paul

Gregory, Jacob Lindgren, Paul Maholm, Jake Mangum, Mitch

Moreland, Buddy Myer, Rafael Palmeiro, Jonathan Papelbon, Jay Powell, Hunter Renfroe, Buck Showalter, Bobby Thigpen and Del Unser; Basketball - Jim Ashmore, Van Chancellor, Erick Dampier, Bailey Howell, Jeff Malone, Teaira McCowan, Matthew Mitchell, LaToya Thomas, Jarvis Varnado, Victoria

Vivians, Tan White and Richard Williams; Football - Johnthan

Banks, Ode Burrell, Johnie Cooks, Fletcher Cox, Anthony Dixon, Greg Favors, Joe Fortunato, Steve Freeman, Tom

Goode, Hoyle Granger, Michael Haddix, Mario Haggan, Walt

Harris, Kent Hull, Gabe Jackson, Kirby Jackson, Tyrone Keys, D.D. Lewis, Pernell McPhee, Eric Moulds, Tom Neville, Jackie

Parker, Dak Prescott, Darius Slay, Fred Smoot, Billy Stacy, Walter

Suggs, Greg Williams and K.J. Wright; Golf - Michael Connell, Ally McDonald, Alex Rocha, Kim Williams and Carri Wood; Softball - Chelsea Bramlett and Lyhia McMichael; Tennis - Daniel Courcol, Jackie Holden, Laurent Miquelard,

Claire Pollard and Joc Simmons; Track and Field - Erica Bougard, Pierre Brown, Festus Igbinoghene, Brandon McBride, Tiffany McWilliams and Faliltu Ogunkoya.

Business: Richard Adkerson, Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.; Jim Ashford, Case International; James Worth Bagley, Lam Research Corp.; Sebastiao Barbosa, Brazilian Agricultural Research Corp.; Bill Berry, Continental Resources; George Bishop, GeoSouthern Energy Corp.; George Bryan, Sara Lee Corp.; Fred Carl, Jr., Viking Range; Randy Cleveland, ExxonMobil Production Company; James A. Coggin, Saks Inc.; Owen Cooper, Mississippi Chemical Corp.; Earnie Deavenport, Eastman Chemical; Nutie Dowdle, Dowdle Enterprises; Tim Duncan, Talos Energy; John D. Ferguson, Corrections Corporation of America; Haley Fisackerly, Entergy Mississippi, Inc; Hassell Franklin, Franklin Corp.; Joe Gordy, Gordy Development, Inc.; Toxey Haas, Haas Outdoors, Inc. (Mossy Oak); Jack Hatcher, Robertson-Ceco Corp.; Todd Henderson, Nutramax Labs; Hunter Henry, Dow Chemical; Tom Hixon, First Choice; Mickey Holliman, Furniture Brands International; Billy Howard, Howard Industries; Malcolm Lightsey, Sr., SunTech; Carl B. Mack, National Society of Black Engineers; Bobby Martin, The Peoples Bank; E.B. “Barney” McCool, Holiday Inn franchise; Mike McDaniel, M3 Resources LLC; Lamar McKay, BP Global; Richard Mills, Tellus Operating Group LLC; James E. Newsome, New York Mercantile Exchange; Tommy Nusz, Oasis Petroleum; Ronnie Parker, Pizza Inn; Hartley Peavey, Peavey Electronics; Ron Ponder, AT&T; Jay Pryor, Chevron USA; Richard Puckett, Puckett Machinery; R.L. Qualls, Baldor Electric; J.C. Redd, Redd Pest Control; Jim Rouse, ExxonMobil Global Services Inc.; Richard Rula, Hemphill Construction; Mike Sanders, Jimmy Sanders Inc.; Joe Frank Sanderson, Sanderson Farms; Leo Seal, Hancock Holding; Nashie Sephus, Amazon; Bobby S. Shackouls, Burlington Resources; Allen Sills, NFL; Pat Spainhour, ServiceMaster;

Janet Marie Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers; Charles Stephenson, Bravo Natural Resources, LLC; Dave Swalm, Texas Olefins and Texas Petrochemicals Corp.; Lex Taylor, The Taylor Group; Doug Terreson, Energy Research, International Strategy & Investment; Al Williams, Chevron; Art Williams, A.L. Williams Corp.; and Anthony Wilson, Mississippi Power Company.

Politics and Government: U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn and U.S. Representative Michael Guest; former U.S. Senator John C. Stennis; former U.S. Representatives G.V. Sonny Montgomery and Alan Nunnelee; former Lieutenant Governor Amy Tuck; U.S. District Judges William H. Alsup, Sharion Aycock and Debra Brown; Mississippi Supreme Court Justices George C. Carlson Jr., David A. Chandler, Jess

Dickinson, Charles D. Easley and William Waller Jr.; former Mississippi Development Authority Executive Director Glenn McCullough; former Commissioner of Agriculture Jim Buck

Ross; Miss. Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney; former Highway Commissioners Dick Hall and Mike Tagert; former Public Service Commissioner Lynn Posey; former USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service Administrator Barbara Masters; former Speaker of the Miss. House of Representatives Billy McCoy; former Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Sam Hamilton and former Presidential Medal of Science winner James Flanagan.

MSU-MERIDIAN

Mississippi State University-Meridian, serving primarily eastern Mississippi and western Alabama, is large enough to offer everything a non-residential student wants, but small enough to make it personal.

With more than 900 undergraduate and graduate students at two campuses and an average class size of 15, MSU-Meridian provides both traditional and working adult students with individualized attention from committed faculty and staff.

Since its beginning in 1972, MSU-Meridian’s mission has remained constant: to produce highly educated and strongly motivated leaders in the fields of education, business, social services, the humanities and health care. The campus works closely with area corporations, local foundations, small businesses and governmental agencies to strengthen the economic stature of the region.

Offering high-quality academic experiences to students from all walks of life, the local campus has developed Partnership Pathway agreements with four Mississippi community college partners, Meridian Community College, East Central Community College, East Mississippi Community College and Jones College, and Wallace Community College in Alabama to make the transition to MSU-Meridian more convenient. Additionally, there is significant growth in the number of blended courses offered, which increases flexibility for students by combining face-to-face and online delivery.

Junior, senior and graduate-level courses enable students to complete requirements for bachelor’s, master’s and specialist degrees or to enroll in courses for professional or personal growth.

Along with 16 other traditional undergraduate degree programs in arts and sciences, business and education, MSUMeridian offers graduate-level degree programs in education and counseling, a Professional MBA program for working professionals, as well as a new Physician Assistant Studies program.

Two locations

MSU-Meridian serves students at two locations, the College Park Campus and the Riley Campus in downtown Meridian.

Encompassing a picturesque 26 acres, the College Park Campus is home to the divisions of Arts and Sciences and Education. The facility also houses administrative offices, a greenhouse, two computer labs, and the Phil Hardin Foundation Library,

along with the Kahlmus Auditorium, an 8,500-square-foot multipurpose facility used by the university and local and statewide organizations. The campus also boasts the G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Advisement and Career Center to provide students a centralized location to guide them through college and into a career. The center also has a veterans lounge, a dedicated space for student military members and families.

The Riley Campus includes the MSU-Riley Center and the Deen and Rosenbaum buildings. These adjoining structures are located between 5th and 6th streets and between 22nd and 23rd avenues in the heart of the business district.

The MSU-Riley Center includes the Grand Opera House (a performing arts center), a conference center and several exhibit halls. The multifaceted facility annually attracts 70,000-plus visitors to the downtown area for conferences, meetings and performances. The center also is envisioned as a future home of the university’s proposed digital-media production degree program.

Opened in January 2012, the Robert B. Deen Jr. Building houses the Division of Business, along with state-ofthe-art classrooms designed for face-to-face or distancebased instruction. The Deen Building features a spacious computer laboratory and two professional and fullyequipped conference rooms. Both large and small study spaces also are available for either individual or small group study sessions. In the lobby, a stock ticker allows students and faculty access to the latest financial information, as well as breaking financial news and college announcements.

Adjacent is the Alfred Rosenbaum Building which houses the state’s only publicly funded Physician Assistant program and boasts Mississippi’s first digital cadaver lab.

The three-story facility, which opened in January 2016, is equipped with high-tech classrooms, offices and multiple laboratories, as well as a second Phil Hardin Foundation Library. Located in the lobby of the building is the Bulldog Shop, which features MSU cheese and ice cream, as well as fresh sandwiches, coffee and MSU apparel.

To schedule a personalized campus tour, contact 601-4840241 or meridianinfo@meridian.msstate.edu.

MSU EXTENSION SERVICE

The Mississippi State University Extension Service, with offices in each of the state’s 82 counties, is the Magnolia State’s “classroom in the field.” Extension faculty and educators, or agents, in every county provide practical, research-based information to help individuals, businesses and communities solve problems, develop skills and build a better future.

Established by the Smith-Lever Act of 1914, the Cooperative Extension System has marked more than a century of service to diverse groups across the United States. Extension agents bring researchbased education and recommendations from the state’s land-grant universities to help people in their communities make informed decisions about agriculture, natural resources, consumer issues, community development, family life, youth development and much more.

Mississippi lays claim to the foundation of the nationwide 4-H youth development program that started in Holmes County in 1907, when the first federal dollar for youth farm programs was given to W.H. “Corn Club” Smith, who later became MSU president. Today, more than 60,000 Mississippi young people are involved in 4-H projects, including citizenship, public speaking, livestock showing, robotics, leadership and shooting sports.

Extension’s ongoing priorities include agriculture, natural resources, family and consumer education, government training and community resource development, and 4-H youth development. Extension professionals empower volunteers to teach others and extend research-based education to improve all Mississippians’ quality of life.

For more information, visit extension.msstate.edu.

Hail State (Fight Song)

Hail dear ol’ State! Fight for that victory today. Hit that line and tote that ball, Cross the goal before you fall! And then we’ll yell, yell, yell, yell!

For dear ol’ State we’ll yell like H-E-L-L!

Fight for Mis-sis-sip-pi State, Win that game today!

Maroon and White (Alma Mater)

In the heart of Mississippi, Made by none but God’s own hands,

Stately in her nat’ral splendor

Our Alma Mater proudly stands; Mississippi State we love you, Fondest mem’ries cling to thee,

Life shall bear thy spirit ever, Loyal friends we’ll always be.

Chorus:

Maroon and White! Maroon and White!

Of thee with joy we sing; Thy colors bright our souls delight, With praise our voices ring.

Words by T. Paul Haney Jr. Music by Henry E. Wamsley