The MSU Alumni Association welcomed its officers and directors for the 2026-27 national board in July. The association’s national officers continuing in their roles are: Lynn Burwell of Gulfport, a 1980 graduate with Bachelor of Science degrees in home economics and child development, as president; Riley Nelson of Vicksburg, a 1999 Bachelor of Accountancy and 2001 Master of Taxation graduate, as vice president; and Davis “Dave” Dickson of Monticello, Arkansas, a 1987 Bachelor of Business Administration graduate, as treasurer. Terri Russell of Helena, Alabama, who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in industrial engineering in 1984 and 1986, continues as immediate past president. The association also welcomed the following returning and new directors to its national board.

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Burwell
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Nelson
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Dickson
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Russell

RETURNING BOARD MEMBERS

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Michael Criswell of Atlanta, Georgia, continues on the board as Out of State Region 3 director. A 1980 graduate in business statistics and data processing, he is a senior systems analyst with Unisys. Criswell has held numerous leadership roles in the Atlanta Alumni Chapter since 1999, including treasurer and chapter representative to the national board. He received the MSU Distinguished Service Award in 2012 and has been honored as the Atlanta Chapter’s Alumnus of the Year.

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Kim Fandel of Belden remains on the board as MS North Region 2 director. She holds a 1987 bachelor’s degree in marketing and a 1994 master’s degree in education from MSU, along with an educational specialist degree from Delta State. A retired educator, Fandel has been active in early childhood initiatives and community organizations in Lee County. She previously served multiple terms on the MSU National Alumni Board and has been a longtime volunteer with the Lee County Alumni Chapter. She is active in the Alumni Recruitment Network and was a 2017 recipient of the MSU Distinguished Alumni Award.

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Tony James of Clinton will serve a second term as MS Central 3 director.  A 1994 fitness management graduate, he is the director of wellness at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center and is active in community health initiatives and youth programs. A former MSU football player, James is an active M-Club member and Alumni Recruitment Network volunteer. He has supported Central Mississippi Alumni Chapter events for more than a decade. He was named to the MSU All-Century Football Team.

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Mary Ann Latham of Starkville continues as MS North Region 3 director. She holds both a 2008 bachelor’s and 2025 master’s in business administration from Mississippi State. She serves as a program and grant development specialist in MSU’s Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. Latham is an active member of the Oktibbeha County Alumni Chapter, having served as president and currently as secretary. She received the chapter’s Distinguished Service Award in 2021 and has enjoyed representing the National Alumni Board at local chapter events.

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James “Josh” Thompson of Meridian remains on the board as MS South Region 1 director. A 2003 finance graduate, Thompson is an agent/producer with Insurance Solutions of Mississippi and previously served as a development officer for MSU Meridian with the MSU Foundation. He began his alumni involvement with the Oktibbeha County Alumni Chapter and has been a longtime volunteer. He serves as scholarship chairman for the Lauderdale County Alumni Chapter.

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J.P. Walker of Greenwood will serve a second term as MS Central 1 director. A 2005 communication graduate, he serves as vice president and city manager for CB&S Bank and is active in the Greenwood Leflore County Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Greenwood. Walker previously served multiple terms on the National Alumni Board and led the Leflore Carroll Alumni Chapter for six years. He has been active in the Bulldog Network Mentor program and recognized with CB&S Bank’s Leadership Circle Award.

NEW BOARD MEMBERS

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James “Jimmy” Black of Montclair, New Jersey, joins the board as Out of State Region 2 director. A 2007 graduate in architecture, he is a partner at Solaris Construction Services and active in the AAIA and NCARB professional architecture associations. He serves on the board of directors for All Hallows High School and has been active in the ACE Mentor Program of Greater New York. He also volunteers with the Interfaith Food Pantry. Black is president of the New York Alumni Chapter, which has earned national recognition, and helped reestablish Mississippi Picnic in the Park in New York City. He also serves as treasurer of the Mississippi Society of New York.

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Brad Bounds of Philadelphia will join the MSU Alumni Association Board as MS Central 2 director. A 1991 graduate in real estate/mortgage finance, he is the president of Working Solutions LLC and has served on several state and local boards. Bounds is active in the Bulldog Club, the Neshoba County Alumni Chapter and the Executive Board of Bully Bloc. He is also the cochairman and cofounder of Outdoor Neshoba, a non-profit dedicated to supporting youth and special-needs individuals. He has been honored as National Deer Association Volunteer of the Year.

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Johnnie Butler of Nashville will join the board as director for the State of Tennessee. A 1983 petroleum engineering graduate, Butler has completed graduate coursework in engineering management at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and MBA studies at Mississippi College. His career includes extensive leadership roles in the energy sector and significant service across Mississippi and Tennessee through organizations such as the American Red Cross, United Way, Rotary Club, Junior Achievement and the Boy Scouts of America. Butler has been an active MSU volunteer for many years and served as president of the MSU Nashville Alumni Chapter, earning Silver Cowbell recognition for his leadership.

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Homer “Bracky” Brett of Starkville joins the board as MS North 3 director. He holds 1978 bachelor’s and 1980 master’s degrees in health and physical education and retired in 2023 after more than 20 years leading MSU’s athletic compliance office, most recently as senior deputy athletic director and interim athletic director. Brett has served on the Mississippi Association of Coaches Board and is active in Ducks Unlimited, the Starkville Rotary Club and Oktibbeha County Alumni Chapter. He has served as a speaker for the association over the past 20 years at chapter events across the state. He received the Frank Kara Leadership Award, the top national honor in athletic compliance.

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Cameron “Cammie” Bullock of Long Beach will join the board as MS South 3 director. A 2003 business administration graduate, she serves as an executive assistant and property management specialist with NAI Sawyer Real Estate. Bullock has been active in community service across Mississippi, including Relay for Life and multiple coastal non-profit and church-based initiatives. She has held numerous leadership roles in the Harrison Stone Alumni Chapter including serving as president and a key leader in reorganizing the chapter after Hurricane Katrina. She remains active in the Gulf Coast Chapter, including recruitment and mentoring initiatives. She received the MSU Alumni Association’s Distinguished Service Award in 2020.

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Tenika Carter of Jackson will join the board as the MS Central 3 director. A 1998 business administration graduate, she also holds a master’s degree in healthcare administration from Capella University and serves as a benefit program specialist with the Mississippi Division of Medicaid. Carter is active in extensive community service efforts, including health awareness initiatives, youth mentorship and volunteer leadership within her church and local organizations. She has held multiple leadership roles in the Central MS Alumni Chapter including serving as president and currently serves on the Black Alumni Advisory Council. She is also an Alumni Recruitment Network volunteer and a dedicated representative for MSU at college fairs and alumni events across the state.

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Will Griffin of Water Valley will join the board as MS North Region 1 director. A 1996 graduate in agricultural business, he also holds an MBA in marketing innovation from the University of Sioux Falls. Griffin has more than 25 years of experience in agriculture and business leadership and currently serves as row crop marketing lead for Valent USA, guiding national strategy, product development and market growth. He is active in Kappa Alpha Order, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, the Irrigation Association and multiple community organizations. He previously served on the MSU National Alumni Board and is an Eagle Scout and U.S. patent holder.

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Sonja Murphy of D’Iberville will join the board as South Region 3 director. A 1993 business administration graduate, she is a quality systems specialist with Uniphar and is active in community organizations including the Pink Hearts Fund and Like Minded Ladies. Murphy has served in leadership and mentoring roles with Pi Sigma Epsilon and has been involved in the Atlanta Alumni Chapter in various roles, including as president, and in the Mississippi Gulf Coast Alumni Chapter since returning to Mississippi. She received MSU’s Distinguished Service Award in 2015.

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Michael Moore of Orlando will join the board as director for the State of Florida. He earned 1993 bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and physics education from MSU and later completed graduate degrees from Mississippi College and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Moore is a diagnostic physicist with Orlando Health, an active member of the American Association of Physicists and has been awarded multiple teaching awards, certifications and honors. He has served as president of the Greater Orlando Alumni Chapter since 2013, strengthening MSU’s presence across Florida.

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Verlechia “Evette” Porter of Olive Branch will join the board as MS North Region 1 director. She earned a 1998 bachelor’s degree in general science from MSU and a professional degree in clinical laboratory sciences. Porter is a scientist with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and is active in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She is a former MSU Women’s Basketball standout, four-year starter, and Academic All-SEC and community service recipient. She has been active in the MSU M-Club, the Alumni Recruitment Network, and has served on the Black Alumni Weekend Executive Committee since 2020 and cochaired the event in 2026.

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Michelle Sherman of Fulton will join the MSU Alumni Association Board as MS North Region 2 director. A 2003 psychology graduate, she is vice president of human resources for IMS Legal Strategies and has held leadership roles in multiple SHRM International chapters. She has presented and served as a panelist at various professional events and seminars and holds SHRM Sr. Professional and Sr. Professional in HR certifications. Sherman served more than a decade on the Atlanta Alumni Chapter Board, including as president when the chapter earned Most Outstanding Out of State Chapter. Sherman was also a key stakeholder in establishing an MSU license plate in Georgia. She was honored with the MSU Alumni Association’s Distinguished Service Award in 2018.