1980s

Elderly man wearing a gray flat cap, glasses, and a plaid shirt under a jacket, standing in front of a building with a red "Viking" banner.

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

A smiling older adult with short gray hair, wearing glasses, earrings, and a beige jacket stands outside.

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

A person in a suit and tie is smiling in an office setting.

Dr. Eric Zacharias (B.S. biological sciences, ‘89) is now chief medical officer for COPIC, a medical liability insurance provider. He oversees the company’s Patient Safety and Risk Management department, having previously served as director of medical education. Prior to joining COPIC, he held key leadership roles at Boulder Medical Center, Boulder Valley Care Network, the University of Colorado School of Medicine and with the Boulder Valley Care Network. He is board-certified with a medical degree from Vanderbilt University and hosts COPICS podcast “Within Normal Limits.”

1990s

A woman with long gray hair is wearing a colorful patterned top, sitting indoors. A framed painting is visible in the background.

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

Smiling man in a suit and tie against a dark background.

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

2000s

Two men in suits shake hands on stage. One man holds a blue and clear award plaque.

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

A person with short blonde hair smiles while wearing a blue shirt and a pearl necklace.

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

2010s

A man in a suit and tie stands indoors, smiling at the camera. The background shows a blurred office setting.

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

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