Burwell follows in her father’s footsteps as national alumni president

For Lynn Twitty Burwell, Mississippi State University is home. Her earliest memories are steeped in maroon and white: Saturday games at Davis Wade Stadium, Thanksgiving dinners at Perry Cafeteria, and cheering on the Bulldogs in the Egg Bowl. However, this year, the tradition takes on deeper meaning as she becomes the latest national president of the MSU Alumni Association, marking the first time in university history two generations of one family have held the position.

Following in the footsteps of her late father, William “Buddy” Twitty, who served as national alumni board president in 1986, Burwell carries a legacy rooted in family, service and Bulldog pride.

“I’m beyond excited,” Burwell said. “It’s humbling, especially since I feel like I’ve grown up in the alumni association.”

Burwell was an only child until she turned 18, when her family welcomed her sister, Shelly, during Burwell’s sophomore year at Mississippi State. Shelly later attended MSU, following in her sister’s footsteps.

A woman smiling next to a quote about recruitment and making a difference, attributed to Lynn Twitty Burwell.

A proud mother of three and grandmother of five, Burwell and her family enjoy attending MSU sporting and alumni events. The kids and grandkids always loved spending time with their “MoMo” and Buddy Twitty. Continuing the family tradition, Burwell’s youngest son graduated from MSU.

Burwell always shared a particularly close bond with her father. The two were inseparable at MSU alumni and sporting events, rain or shine. Her dad’s passion for Mississippi State was infectious.

Thanksgivings when Starkville hosted the Egg Bowl hold especially fond memories for Burwell. In the mornings, the father-daughter duo would drop her mother off in Pontotoc to spend time with family, then barrel down the highway to Starkville. They would enjoy juicy cuts of turkey and heaps of dressing with white country gravy under the wooden arches of historic Perry Cafeteria. As they ate, Twitty would share MSU facts with admiration.

“I’d smile at trivia like how one out of every three meteorologists in Mississippi is an MSU alum, or the biomedical engineering program sends more students to medical school than Ole Miss,” Burwell said. “His mind was a Bulldog encyclopedia.”

After dinner, they would head to the game. Those moments together were invaluable. The yelling, cheering, and sometimes sobbing—every bit of it was special.

Two photos: On the left, an older man and a woman sit in a stadium. On the right, an older man, a woman, and a child pose in front of a wall with portraits.

Twitty’s devotion extended beyond facts and football. He believed in showing up, giving back and helping others find their place at Mississippi State.

Twitty was born in Tishomingo County in 1934. After graduating from MSU in 1957, he founded Twitty Insurance Agency in New Albany and became active in the Union County Alumni Chapter. In 1986, he became the national alumni president, a role he embraced with pride.

He was an MSU guy to his core, even in his final months.

“In his last few months, he went to Sonic and struck up a conversation with a high school student who said she wanted to attend MSU but didn’t think she could afford it,” Burwell said. “He mentored her and followed up with her counselor. She enrolled at MSU, earned a scholarship and had a 4.0 GPA her first semester.”

Two photos show people wearing maroon and white Mississippi State University apparel, posing indoors and at an event in front of university signage.

Family has always been at the heart of Lynn Twitty Burwell’s Mississippi State story. From cheering alongside her father, William “Buddy” Twitty, to sharing Bulldog traditions with her own children, the Burwell legacy reflects a bond of Maroon and White passed from one generation to the next.

Burwell began her service as a student. She joined Kappa Kappa Gamma, participated in Campus Crusade for Christ and the Baptist Student Union, served on the Omega Board, and remained active in her academic clubs until she graduated from MSU in 1980 with a degree in home economics.

After moving to the Mississippi Gulf Coast in the late 1990s, Burwell helped launch the Harrison-Hancock Alumni Chapter, now known as the Coast Chapter. The group spent its early years hosting community events, golf tournaments and scholarship fundraisers. Today, she helps coordinate events like Dining with the Dawgs and participates in service projects such as shelter supply drives and cancer awareness walks.

“I want everyone to find their niche,” she said. “Some people love roadside cleanups. Others love mentoring or visiting nursing homes. We want to make it easy for people to get involved in a way that’s meaningful to them.”

Burwell’s leadership role expanded with time. She served two terms as the Mississippi South Region 3 director, led the Coast Chapter as president and was named vice president of the national alumni board before being elected president. She also volunteers with the Alumni Recruitment Network and the Bulldog Network Mentor Program, maintaining close connections with prospective and current students.

Burwell believes in the power of personal connection through writing handwritten notes to recruits or mentoring young alumni.

“You never know who the person you recruit might become,” she said. “Maybe they’ll be an alumnus of the year or someone who makes a difference in someone else’s life. That’s how we grow this family.”

As the national president, Burwell views herself as a bridge between generations, local chapters, university leadership, and new ideas and time-honored traditions.

“I want alumni to feel like they have a place at the table, no matter their age or background,” she said. “Whether through a golf tournament, a happy hour, a 5K or a handwritten note, we all have something to give.”

Burwell also expressed deep gratitude for her predecessor and close friend, Terri Russell, whom she credits with creating unity among the board.

A collage of three family photos: a group portrait with five people, a man and girl at a table, and a man kneeling beside a small child outdoors.

Moments with her father, from being perched on his lap blowing out birthday candles, to taking early steps with his steady hand, and later gathering with her own children by his side, illustrate how Lynn Twitty Burwell’s Mississippi State journey has always been rooted in family.

“Terri has done a fabulous job. She’s made the board feel like a close-knit family,” Burwell said. “I’m grateful to have had her guidance, and I know she’ll continue to be an important part of the association.”

Looking ahead, Burwell hopes to enhance communication between chapters, launch new engagement opportunities and help alumni rediscover what makes MSU special.

“Some people don’t even realize their coworkers are Mississippi State grads,” she said. “I want to find those opportunities to connect people, whether at work, in their community or through events.”

She also envisions new programming reflecting the wide range of alumni interests. Most of all, she wants to cultivate a culture of giving financially as well as through service, encouragement and connection.

Her message to fellow alumni is simple: show up.

“You don’t have to take on a big responsibility,” she said. “Just come to dinner. Come to a happy hour. Meet someone new. Reconnect with what made Mississippi State special to you.”


By Shun Pounds, Photos Submitted