Every year, Mississippi State University welcomes thousands of new graduates into its alumni community. Many quickly make a significant impact, becoming leaders in fields such as business, medicine, education, engineering and the arts. Some pioneer new developments in their industries, while others dedicate their careers to service. All embody the Mississippi State spirit—a blend of excellence, determination and generosity.
Since its fall 2021 launch, the Reveille 25 honors exceptional young alumni who reflect these core values. Selected from a highly competitive applicant pool, this esteemed award annually recognizes 25 graduates under 40 who are actively fulfilling MSU’s mission by making a meaningful and lasting impact in their careers and communities.
Named after MSU’s former yearbook, The Reveille, the program honors Bulldog traditions while envisioning the future. It highlights trailblazers and changemakers who continue to enhance MSU’s reputation nationwide and beyond.
“The Reveille 25 program is a great way to honor young alumni who are making a positive impact in their careers and communities. These inspiring individuals truly represent the best of Mississippi State University and exemplify the ongoing commitment to excellence that is at the heart of our mission,” said Orly Hardin, associate director of the MSU Alumni Association.
The 2026 honorees were recognized during a ceremony March 21.
Kelsey Barnes, raised on a family farm in Union City, Tennessee, has built a distinguished career blending agriculture, national security and public service. A 2015 graduate of Mississippi State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture science, she also earned a Master of Agriculture in International Development from Texas A&M University. Barnes serves as senior advisor to the Secretary of Agriculture at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, advising on national security, rural development, biofuels, pesticides and agricultural research. She crafts policies that link agriculture to national security and economic strength, focusing on farm security, rural prosperity and expanding market access for farmers.
Jonathan Boyd, a Pearl native now living in Birmingham, Alabama, serves as the regional manager for consumer banking in the Mid-South for Cadence Bank, which is now part of Huntington Bank. He oversees retail and small-business banking across multiple states, including Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee and parts of Mississippi and Georgia. He oversees deposit portfolios exceeding $8 billion and loan portfolios exceeding $4 billion, while also coaching, recruiting , and developing a team of more than 550 colleagues. A 2012 graduate of the College of Business, Boyd earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in management.
Jack Chope, a native of Pensacola, Florida, now residing in Royal Oak, Michigan, is a manufacturing engineer at Ford Motor Company whose work helps bring all-new vehicles to market. He earned a degree in industrial and systems engineering from the Bagley College of Engineering in 2019 and completed a Master of Engineering Management at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in 2024. At Ford, Chope is responsible for the tooling that forms the lower sheet-metal structure of an upcoming 2027 vehicle and is leading the build and launch of approximately $60 million in specialized manufacturing tools for the assembly plant.
Crista Cooper of Greenville is a community development leader whose work strengthens small-town vitality through collaboration, placemaking and strategic engagement. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from MSU in 2020 and completed a Master of Education at Mississippi College in 2021. Cooper now serves as director of Main Street and Community Development for the Cleveland-Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce, where she leads initiatives that support downtown revitalization, local business growth, student mentoring, and town-and-gown partnerships, including major community events such as Octoberfest and 50 Nights of Lights.
Demonterius Dorsey of Flora, now based in Dallas, Texas, is a principal and educational leader who transforms underperforming schools by improving culture, instruction and student achievement. He earned a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies with concentrations in education and psychology from Mississippi State University in 2018, followed by a Master of Education in educational leadership and a Doctor of Education in school leadership. As principal in Winona ISD, he leads comprehensive school improvement planning, applies research-based instructional strategies, uses data to drive decisions, and builds teacher capacity through coaching and professional development, creating safe, equitable, high-expectation learning environments that foster measurable academic growth.
Austin Flint, a Kosciusko native now residing in Huntsville, Alabama, is a geospatial analyst whose work blends scientific precision with a commitment to community impact. A two-time MSU graduate, he earned a 2015 bachelor’s degree in history and a 2017 bachelor’s degree in geosciences. He later completed a master’s in geospatial technology from Delta State University and is now pursuing an MBA in project management at Louisiana State University. At Resolution LLC, he manages and analyzes geographic data, transforming satellite imagery and complex datasets into clear, actionable insights through advanced spatial modeling and mapping.
Marissa Landon Follin, a Leakesville native, earned a bachelor’s in communication with a concentration in public relations and a minor in agriculture from Mississippi State University in 2016. Follin currently serves in a dual role as human resources manager at the Claxton Poultry Sylvania, Georgia, plant as well as corporate director of communications and human resources for the company. Prior to joining the company, she spent nearly 10 years with the nation’s third-largest poultry producer, Wayne-Sanderson Farms, as a communication specialist on the company’s award-winning corporate communications team. In that role, she developed and managed internal communication programs supporting more than 26,000 employees across 23 processing facilities.
Parker Glass, a native of Yorktown, Virginia, earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance from Mississippi State University in 2018 and an MBA in business analytics from MSU in 2022. He currently lives in Melbourne, Florida. Glass serves as a lead management and program analyst at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, supporting the Artemis program. In his current role, he works closely with the engineering teams to understand technical challenges and deliver solutions through cost, schedule, and risk integration. He delivers accurate, actionable data to Artemis program management, NASA headquarters and supports Congressional inquiries to ensure informed decision-making at all levels.
Donae Gooden, a Jackson, Tennessee, native now residing in Memphis, is a human resources leader whose career reflects a strong commitment to organizational excellence and people-centered impact. She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in management from MSU in 2012. Gooden serves as human resources manager for The J.M. Smucker Company, where she drives talent strategy, organizational development, and culture-building initiatives, including an award-winning employee retention plan that reduced turnover by 20% and helped secure the largest hourly wage increase in her site’s history.
Bree Hester, originally from Southaven, is an advancement professional based in Birmingham, Alabama, whose career centers on strengthening nonprofit impact through strategic growth and community engagement. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology at MSU before completing a Master of Social Work at Columbia University in 2021. Hester now serves as director of advancement at Mitchell’s Place, where she leads all fundraising, communications and external relations to support children with autism, driving organizational visibility and revenue through strategic development, community partnerships and mission-focused advocacy.
Dr. Emberly “Katelyn” Jackson, a Brandon native now based in New York City, is a pediatric resident physician dedicated to advancing child health through clinical care, research, and service. A 2020 graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences, she earned a bachelor’s in biological sciences as a Shackouls Honors College and Phi Beta Kappa scholar. She earned a medical degree from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine in 2024 and now trains at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine. As a pediatric resident, Jackson provides comprehensive care to infants, children and adolescents while mentoring medical students and advocating for child health policies as her program’s delegate to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Her global health work includes medical outreach in Kenya, where she supported surgical procedures, provided care to underserved communities and delivered patient education, earning the University of Mississippi Medical Center Scholars Travel Award.
Matthew Kimbrough earned a bachelor’s in agribusiness with a minor in general business administration from Mississippi State in 2008. He lives in Tupelo and serves as vice president and branch manager of the Tupelo branch of Mississippi Land Bank, ACA. In his role, he oversees branch operations and generates and manages agricultural, land and equipment loans. Under his leadership, the Tupelo branch has experienced growth in loan volume while maintaining excellent credit quality and achieving record net income.
Katie Kronk, a Franklin, Tennessee, native, is an entrepreneur and marketing leader known for her creativity, strategic vision and passion for mentoring future business owners. She earned a bachelor’s in marketing with a concentration in integrated digital marketing in 2021, followed by an MBA in 2022 from the College of Business. Founder and CEO of Ignite Digital Marketing LLC, Kronk launched the company during graduate school amid the uncertainty of COVID-19. What began as a solo venture has grown into a multistate agency serving more than 70 clients from Franklin, Tennessee, and Ridgeland. Ignite specializes in social media management, Google Ads, branding, website design, email marketing and search engine optimization for service-based businesses and private practices.
Karly McCoy, a Laurel native now residing in Madison, is a communications leader known for her expertise in storytelling, brand strategy and community engagement. A 2017 graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences, she earned a bachelor’s in communication with an emphasis in public relations. She later completed a Master of Professional Studies in design management and communication from Georgetown University in 2021. She serves as social media and public relations manager for Howard Industries, leading the company’s digital presence and communications strategy. She manages social platforms, develops integrated campaigns, writes press releases and maintains media relationships to highlight the company’s innovation and community impact.
Rachel McFalls-Brown, a native of Brandon earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in aerospace engineering in 2014 and 2016, respectively. She is a senior flight test engineer at Joby Aviation, where she serves as the Avionics Flight Test lead, overseeing the planning and execution of testing for critical aircraft systems of the new electric air taxi. In the role, she has led flight test operations at Edwards Air Force Base, coordinating daily flight activities with NASA Armstrong and U.S. Air Force partners and currently supports aircraft qualification and real-time safety monitoring in the control room while mentoring junior engineers.
Justin E. Samuels, a Bridgeport, Connecticut, native now based in Atlanta, Georgia, is a software engineer and technology entrepreneur advancing innovation while expanding inclusive pathways into the tech industry. A 2015 Bachelor of Business Administration in management information systems graduate, he pairs his early passion for technology with an entrepreneurial mindset shaped by watching his father run a business. Founder and CEO of RenderATL, an Inc 5000 Fast Growth Company, Samuels leads one of the nation’s fastest-growing developer conferences. Through strategic partnerships and community engagement, he convenes more than 10,000 technologists annually and drives over $40 million in economic impact for the Atlanta region each year, including through initiatives like Atlanta Tech Week.
Philippe Schicker, a native of Hamburg, Germany, graduated in 2021 with a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering. He previously earned associate degrees in physics and mathematics from Citrus College. In 2023, he earned a master’s in public policy, management and data analytics from Carnegie Mellon University and currently lives in New York City. Schicker serves as senior associate and team lead for power and capacity at Noreva, where he leads power market forecasting and translates energy data into insights for investors and utilities.
Ian Scroubelos of Jackson, now residing in Gulfport, is a major in the Mississippi Army National Guard whose 16-year career reflects a deep commitment to service and leadership. He enlisted in 2009 and earned a bachelor’s degree in communication studies in 2012. He was commissioned through officer candidate school prior to earning his degree, grounding his military service in strong communication and leadership skills. With a primary concentration in field artillery and as the range management authority at Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center, he oversees safe, realistic and resource-sustainable training across 138,000 acres of ranges and training areas, including restricted airspace, for training at Camp Shelby. As commander of the Mississippi Army National Guard Officer Candidate School, he leads the development of confident, disciplined and resilient officers, drawing on two overseas deployments in support of Operations Spartan Shield and Inherent Resolve.
Mari Micci Shannon, a native of Cleveland, is an assistant professor of nursing and the undergraduate program coordinator at Delta State University. She graduated in 2014 with a bachelor’s in biological sciences. She earned a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2019 and a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2022. Shannon brings extensive clinical experience to the classroom, having practiced as a registered nurse and family nurse practitioner in medical, surgical and cardiovascular settings across Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas. She now focuses on educating and mentoring the next generation of nurses and nurse practitioners.
Meme Staggers, a native of Meridian who lives in Starkville, is an assistant professor in the Applied Behavior Analysis program at Mississippi State University. She earned a bachelor’s in educational psychology in 2018, a master’s in psychometry in 2020, and a doctoral degree in school psychology in 2023. She completed a predoctoral internship at the Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Staggers teaches undergraduate and graduate courses, supervises student fieldwork and conducts research on evidence-based behavioral practices. She supervises graduate students providing behavior support services in the Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District, contributing more than 1,500 hours of support, and serves as the principal investigator on a grant that provides free services to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Mississippi.
Lee Thorne, a native of Iuka now living in Jackson, is a respected legal leader dedicated to agriculture, public service and the state. He earned a political science bachelor’s in 2010 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 2013, graduating in the top 25% of his class and joining the Order of the Barristers. Thorne serves as general counsel for First South Farm Credit, overseeing legal, regulatory, transactional and litigation matters for the agricultural lending cooperative serving Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana. He develops policies upholding integrity, acts as the standards of conduct official, and leads legislative affairs to support rural communities.
Kelly Turner, a Columbus native, has dedicated her career to improving health outcomes across Mississippi. She earned a 2011 bachelor’s in kinesiology and a 2012 master’s in food science, nutrition and health promotion. She is a registered nurse case manager with the Mississippi Department of Health, leading the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies program. She provides personalized care for at-risk mothers and infants, coordinating care teams and connecting families to vital resources. In three years with the agency, she has supported more than 100 families toward safer births and healthier development, addressing both clinical needs and social determinants of health. She also serves as nurse manager at Garden Hill Assisted Living, where she develops long-term care plans, mentors staff and ensures compliance while fostering a respectful environment for seniors.
Amoni Washington, a Tchula native now residing in Ridgeland, has built a meaningful career in health promotion and compliance, drawing on her passion for holistic wellness. She earned a 2021 kinesiology bachelor’s and a 2023 master’s in food science, nutrition and health promotion. She now serves as regional compliance coordinator for the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, overseeing compliance and operational standards for 10 mental health and rehabilitation centers across Mississippi that receive federal support through the State Opioid Response Grant.
Brooke B. Williams of Vicksburg is a strategist and community-focused entrepreneur whose work strengthens nonprofits, public service organizations, and small businesses through mission-driven marketing and brand development. A 2016 graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration, she is pursuing a Master of Public Policy and Administration and holds an MBA from Belhaven University. She is the founder and chief strategist of Creative Attitude, where she leads strategy, creative planning and execution to help organizations, particularly those serving Black communities, clarify their message and amplify their impact.
Dr. James Yates of Olive Branch, now residing in Tupelo, is an associate veterinarian at Tupelo Small Animal Hospital, where he provides comprehensive medical, surgical and preventive care for companion animals while mentoring future veterinary professionals. He earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2020. At Tupelo Small Animal Hospital, he not only cares for dogs and cats but also supervises a team of technicians, receptionists and kennel attendants and regularly teaches and mentors students who shadow in the clinic.
To learn more about The Reveille 25 program, visit www.alumni.msstate.edu/reveille25 or contact Orly Hardin at 662.325.3444 or OHardin@alumni.msstate.edu.