1960s

John Rankin (B.S. electrical engineering, ’65) has donated his career artifacts to the University of Alabama-Huntsville’s Special Collections for a temporary display. Spanning 30 years, his career as an electrical engineer included work on the Apollo program, including the moon landing. He has been included in the documentary “When We Were Apollo” and is part of the official Apollo Roll of Honor book at the Smithsonian Institute and in a special monument at Cape Canaveral. In addition to working on American space flight, he was also instrumental in international space projects, including building the International Space Station, leading to widespread career recognition throughout the world. 

1970s

Teresa “Terry” Estes (B.S. home economics, ’76)has published “Out of the Shadows: A True Story of Finding Myself and Guatemala.” Available on Amazon, the book chronicles 24 years of leading more than 30 medical missions to the Central American country. 

An older man with short gray hair wearing a dark suit, white shirt, and light blue tie poses against a plain black background.

Ray Balentine (B.S. civil engineering, ’78) was recognized by the Mississippi Senate for contributions to the engineering profession and community involvement. He served as president of the Ridgeland Chamber of Commerce. He was recognized as the Secretary Ray LaHood Man of the Year in 2024 by the Women in Transportation Seminar Mississippi Chapter. He was also recognized by the Jackson Chapter of the Mississippi Engineering Society as Engineer of the Year for 2024-25. He is vice president at Michael Baker International in Ridgeland, where he leads the Mid-South offices in Ridgeland; Ocean Springs; Mobile, Alabama; and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 

1990s

A middle-aged man with short gray hair wearing a gray suit jacket and light blue shirt, smiling in front of a dark, blurred background.

Brig. Gen. Damon Feltman (B.S. business administration, ’91) is now CEO of the Space Force Association, the premier professional organization supporting the U.S. Space Force. He has more than 30 years of senior leadership experience across military operations, space strategy and cross-sector collaboration. As CEO, he will guide the association through its next phase of growth and expand its impact as a hub for space power. 

2000s

A man with wavy brown hair and a beard is wearing a brown plaid blazer, light blue shirt, and patterned tie, standing indoors in front of a plain background.

Barry White (B.B.A. business administration, ’01, M.S. applied anthropology, ’13) will become executive director of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History following Katie Blount’s retirement this year. White has been director of the department’s Historic Preservation Division since 2020. He is also part of the leadership team for the partnership between Archives and History and MSU to turn Historic Jefferson College near Natchez into a regional hub for education, research and workforce development.

A woman with long brown hair and gray streaks, wearing a navy blue top, smiles outdoors with trees and grass in the background.

Cassie Chance (B.A. communication, ’06) graduated as a member of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce’s Boston Future Leaders Class of 2025. The 10-month leadership development experience is designed for emerging professionals poised to shape the future of the Greater Boston region. As part of the class, Chance earned a certificate in executive leadership from Harvard Business School. She is an award-winning associate director of marketing for Zoo New England, overseeing marketing and advertising strategy for Franklin Park Zoo in Boston and Stone Zoo in Stoneham, Massachusetts. She also serves the National Football League, Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as a freelance sports statistician—a skill she learned as a student worker at MSU. She previously worked in marketing and communications for the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, the Oklahoma Education Television Authority and the state of Oklahoma tourism department. 

Ross Dellenger (B.A. communication, ’06) earned 2025 National Sportswriter of the Year honors from the National Sports Media Association. The senior college football reporter for Yahoo Sports was honored during a ceremony which also recognized well-known sportscasters James Brown of CBS and the late Greg Gumbel. Dellenger, who got his start with MSU’s student newspaper, The Reflector, also contributes to On3. He previously wrote for Sports Illustrated and is the winner of numerous awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors and Football Writers Association of America.

2010s

An editor and Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for Mississippi Today, Anna Wolfe (B.A. communication, ’14) will join the staff of the newly formed Deep South Today Investigative Reporting Center, created in collaboration with The New York Times and Big Local News. She joins as an investigative reporter covering Mississippi and will remain based in the Mississippi Today newsroom. Her work will be published in Mississippi Today and The Times.

Sawyer M. Taylor (B.S. agricultural economics, ’16) is now president of the Escambia County division of Community Bank. He was first hired by Community Bank as a farm lender before being named president of the Jones County Division.

A man with short hair and a trimmed beard smiles outdoors, wearing a grey blazer and black shirt. Trees and an overcast sky are blurred in the background.

Warn Wilson Jr. (B.S. electrical engineering, ’16) has released an animated film based on his children’s book “Brown Money.” The film, “Brown Money: The Movie,” premiered in December and is available exclusively on VonduTV.com. Both the film and the book introduce children to the concepts of financial literacy, entrepreneurship and career readiness. “Brown Money: The Movie” has earned four international film festival selections including a finalist placement. It was named Best Animation Short Film at the HOME Arts and Shorts Film Festival. Wilson also is launching a national classroom outreach initiative giving teachers free access to the movie, along with activities kids designed to make money lessons relatable and inspiring.