2019-2020 INFLUENCE

Alumni Newsletter COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE & LIFE SCIENCES MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY INFLUENCE 2019-2020

Alumni Newsletter College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Mississippi State University

Mark E. Keenum MSU President

Reuben Moore Interim Vice President, DAFVM What’s Inside Scott Willard Interim Dean

DEPARTMENT HEADS 03 Letter from the Dean Alex Thomasson Agricultural & Biological Engineering Keith Coble Agricultural Economics 04 Outstanding Alumni John Blanton Animal & Dairy Sciences Jef Dean Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology 05 A Legacy of Leadership & Plant Pathology Will Evans Food Science, Nutrition & Health Promotion 08 Distinguished Fellows Michael Newman School of Human Sciences Sadik Artunc Landscape Architecture 12 Feeding a Hungry World Darrin Dodds Plant & Soil Sciences Mary Beck Poultry Science 14 On the Front Lines

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Karen Brasher 20 A Legacy of Service

ASSOCIATE EDITOR 22 Fashion Goes Green Vanessa Beeson 24 Leaders in Agriculture DESIGN David Ammon 31 It’s a Sibling Thing

WRITERS 34 Development Amy Cagle Reagan Poston Vanessa Beeson Georgia Sisson Karen Brasher Taylor Vollin 40 Department News

51 Alumni News

PHOTOGRAPHY David Ammon Kevin Hudson 54 Alumni Breakfast Megan Bean Logan Kirkland Karen Brasher Beth Wynn April Garon

On the cover: Biochemistry undergraduate student Urita Agana and The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is a unit in the Division of her father, George Awuni, plant and soil sciences assistant research Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University. professor, look over soybean at the R. R. Foil Plant Science Research Center. (photo by David Ammon) Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, Reference to commercial products or trade names within information provided by genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status protected the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences does not constitute an endorsement by applicable law is prohibited. Questions about equal opportunity programs by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Mississippi State University, and or compliance should be directed to the Ofice of Compliance and Integrity, does not imply discrimination against other similar products. 56 Morgan Avenue, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, (662) 325-5839.

2 INFLUENCE 2016 Letter from the Interim Dean

HAT A DIFFERENCE a year makes. as we closed 2019 and moved into 2020, our former dean, Dr. George W Hopper, announced his retirement. Shortly thereafter, as we began the transition of duties from one dean to the next, the COVID-19 pandemic reached the U.S. and spread rapidly. Immediately following spring break, instruction moved online for the remainder of the semester.Tis was a big endeavor by our faculty and the frst of many obstacles that have come our way during these unprecedented times. And while we have continually found ourselves in challenging times, one thing Mississippi State from Texas A&M. Alex previously worked is clear: our bulldog spirit is unwavering. Faculty, staf, and at the U.S. Cotton Ginning Laboratory in Stoneville and alumni have risen to the occasion. From fnancial support to served on the ABE faculty from 1997 to 2004. We are excited designing courses online during spring, summer, and many this to have Alex back home. fall, our faculty, staf, and supporters have worked diligently We also have a new director of development. Mr. Will to take care of our students. I am honored to serve alongside Staggers moved into the position of director while Mr. Jud so many who truly care about our students and their future. Skelton moved to a new position with the MSU Foundation in When Dr. Hopper retired on June 30, I was asked to serve as Real Estate Giving.We appreciate their extraordinary eforts in interim dean.Tis role is not unfamiliar to me as I have served as raising funds for our college and most importantly, we appre- associate dean for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences since ciate all our alumni and friends who continue to support us. 2013. Prior to that, I was the Department Head for Biochemistry, Your support allowed us to award 576 scholarships for the Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology and a 2019-20 school year. Te college raised over $19 million in former faculty member in the Department of Animal and FY2019 and FY2020, combined. Your gift makes an infnite Dairy Sciences. I have been at Mississippi State since 1999. impact on the lives of students, supporting scholarships and During my time as interim dean, I plan to continue to professional development, along with many other college ini- support the development of our students. I, like Dr. Hopper, tiatives. Tank you for your continued support. believe we are here to ensure the success of our students. I am I hope you enjoy reading this issue of Infuence and discov- excited to work with you all to increase opportunities for our ering the incredible impact our alumni and students make each future leaders in agriculture and life sciences. day.Tere are several interesting features including our alumni Our college continues to grow, and we were all thrilled to see who serve as medical professionals, on the front lines during students return this fall after fve months of virtual connections. the pandemic. We also feature several prominent alumni in In fall of 2019, we had 2,559 students enrolled in the College this issue, including our MSU president, Dr. Mark Keenum. of Agriculture and Life Sciences, a three percent increase I look forward to the time when we can meet, hopefully over 2018.While our 2020 enrollment information will not be soon. Hail State! published until later this year, we expect enrollment growth. We are pleased to welcome new students to the CALS family. While the landscape this fall has been diferent, faculty are ofering face-to-face instruction as well as online lectures to accommodate students that are unable to attend in person. And we continue to attend to all of the projects and tasks set before us. Tis year, we welcomed a new department head in Agricultural Scott Willard and Biological Engineering. Alex Tomasson returned to Interim Dean

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES CALS 3 OUTSTANDING ALUMNI

2019 Alumnus of the Year 2019 Alumni Fellow

Samuel D. “Sammy” Duda Becky Murphy

A 1985 agricultural economics graduate from Starkville native Becky Murphy earned her Oviedo, Florida, Duda is senior vice president of national Bachelor of Science degree in home economics from MSU operations of Duda Farm Fresh Foods Inc. A fourth-gen - in 1983. Her parents were longtime MSU employees, Alice eration company leader, he oversees the business’s harvest Essig and the late Werner Essig. After graduation, Murphy and vegetable production in the cities of Salinas and began her career in the technology feld with IBM and Oxnard in California and in Yuma, Arizona. He also held several leadership roles in sales over the next 20 years. oversees growing and harvesting operations in Florida and For the last six years of her time there, she serviced one Michigan and for the company’s international partner- of IBM’s top partners, Sirius Computer Solutions Inc. By ships in Australia, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Duda 2007, Murphy joined the Sirius company, where she pro- serves numerous boards including the Western Growers gressed to senior vice president of sales for the Southwest Association, which he chaired in 2017. Earlier, he was board region before her retirement. A longtime resident of president for Yuma Vegetable Shippers and held a seat on Dallas, Texas, she has been actively involved in the com - the California Leafy Greens Research Advisory Board. munity and has a passion for helping at-risk children.

4 INFLUENCE 2019-2020 CALS.MSSTATE.EDU PROFILE: GEORGE HOPPER

A LEGACY OF LeadershipCALS Dean bids fond farewell

BY KAREN BRASHER

FTER SERVING a of two units and director decade as dean of two separately funded of the College of research units, always Agriculture and ensuring that everyone Life Sciences and understood his mantra that Adirector of the Mississippi student success comes frst. Agricultural and Forestry “I truly believe that we are Experiment Station, DR. all here for a purpose and GEORGE HOPPER retired that purpose, for our univer- June 30, 2020. sity, is to impact the lives of His role as dean and our students,” Hopper said. director for CALS and His drive to improve MAFES were not expected student outcomes resulted when he returned to his alma in enrollment growth from mater to assume a role in leadership. and departments, and any other measure 1,556 students in 2009 to 2,559 students After spending over two decades at the that would save funds. It was a difcult in 2019. Degrees awarded went up 56 University of Tennessee, an opportunity time for our university.” percent, and new undergraduate majors, presented itself to become dean of the At the request of Dr. Mark Keenum, online graduate programs, and certif- College of Forest Resources and director Hopper took the helm of the College of cate programs were added to fll needs of the Forest and Wildlife Research Agriculture and Life Sciences and the in emerging felds. Center. Hopper jumped at the chance Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Hopper also expanded participation to come home and make a diference for Experiment Station, or MAFES, frst in in programs such as study abroad and the university that he loved. However, an interim role and then as permanent professional experience. He initiated the position turned into more than he dean and director. the Undergraduate Research Scholars originally planned. “Early in my presidency, during a time Program and increased scholarship After just three years as dean and of austerity and budget cuts in all state funding by 60 percent. Te develop- director of the College of Forest Resources institutions, George was Dean of the ment portfolio in the college grew by 133 and the Forest and Wildlife Research College of Forest Resources and agreed percent during his administration. Center, respectively, the fnancial crisis to take on the additional role of Dean Hopper made numerous upgrades to of 2008 changed Hopper’s course. of the College of Agriculture and Life facilities on- and of-campus. MAFES “We were exploring every avenue to Sciences. I will be forever indebted to him includes 16 of-campus branch exper- save money,” Hopper said. “Our state for serving his alma mater in that manner,” iment stations. Te MAFES repairs funding was cut by 25 percent, and there said MSU President Mark E. Keenum. and renovations program, aptly named were discussions about merging colleges Hopper embraced his role as dean Operation Facelift, saw an injection of

CALS.MSSTATE.EDU 2019-2020 INFLUENCE 5 PROFILE: GEORGE HOPPER

6 INFLUENCE 2019-2020 CALS.MSSTATE.EDU PROFILE: GEORGE HOPPER

LEFT: Agronomy major Anna Gaudin, Dr. George Hopper, and former agronomy graduate student Salah Jumaa talk about sesame at the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station’s Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Research Unit. (photo by April Garon)

BOTTOM LEFT: Drs. George and Missy Hopper at the 2019 CALS homecoming breakfast. (photo by Karen Brasher)

BOTTOM LEFT: Dr. George Hopper (right) and Dr. Reuben Moore serve ice cream at the MAFES Sales Store to celebrate National Ice Cream Month. (photo by Megan Bean)

LEFT: Dr. George Hopper at the opening of the Community Garden. (photo by Megan Bean)

$6.5 million during his tenure. Included ESS Excellence in Leadership Award. his tenure at Mississippi State. in Operation Facelift was the addition of His leadership in the College of “I am so appreciative to the faculty, the West Farm and the National Center Agriculture and Life Sciences and MAFES staf, alumni, and advisory boards for for Alluvial Aquifer Research at the has propelled the college and research partnering with me to strengthen and Delta Research and Extension Center unit as among the best in the nation. build our programs in the College of in Stoneville. Also upgrades to the four And while the opportunity was unex- Agriculture and Life Sciences and the Research and Extension Centers occurred pected, it proved to be benefcial to the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry during his tenure. university, colleges, and research units. Experiment Station,” Hopper said. “I am On campus, Hopper led the new animal In all of his accomplishments, grateful to all of the individuals that have science complex with construction of Hopper is quick to acknowledge all helped along the way and honored to have the Meat Science and Muscle Biology of the support he received throughout led these incredible organizations.” ∏ Laboratory and the Animal and Dairy Sciences building. Te Poultry Science A LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE building is slated for completion in October 2020. Also, under his leadership, the Custer Dairy Plant, Herzer Building, and both IN HONOR of Dr. George Interim Dean Scott numerous graduate assis - farms saw upgrades, including an irriga- Hopper’s legacy of lead - Willard established the fund tantships, Willard added. tion systems project at North Farm and ership, an endowed fund to honor Hopper’s legacy and “It is fitting to establish the Blackbelt Branch Experiment Station. has been established his main passion, students. this endowed scholarship in He has also made an impact on the in the Mississippi State “Dr. Hopper was a mentor Dr. Hopper’s name, to ensure national stage, assuming leadership roles University Foundation to and friend as I served him as student success well into at the state and national level. He has support students. The Dr. associate dean,” Willard said. the future,” Willard added. served as chair of the Experiment Station George Hopper Student “I have heard him say so Those interested in Committee on Organization and Policy, Development Fund for many times that ‘we are here contributing to the Dr. the governing body of the Experiment Excellence may be used to for the students.’ His driving George Hopper Student Station Section of the Association of support student travel to force was the success of Development Fund Public and Land-grant Universities attend conferences or com- our students, at all levels.” for Excellence should Commission on Food, Environment, petitions, student awards, In fact, that driving contact Will Staggers and Renewable Resources. He was student support for books force led to the addition of at 662.325.2837 or by honored for his leadership in 2017, with and tuition, and other student programs for undergrad- email at wstaggers@ receipt of the Southern Association of development opportunities. uates and the funding of foundation.msstate.edu. Agricultural Experiment Station Directors

CALS.MSSTATE.EDU 2019-2020 INFLUENCE 7 DISTINGUISHED FELLOWS

2019 DISTINGUISHED

FELLOWSIN 2018, THE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES developed the Distinguished Fellows award program to recognize outstanding alumni in its nine departments. Distinguished Fellows are alumni who have exhibited significant professional accomplishments and also shown a personal commitment to Mississippi State. Each year, the departments choose Distinguished Fellows from amongst their alumni who have demonstrated qualities and traits we work to instill in our current students. These alumni visit with faculty, students, administrators, and advisory boards to provide direction for the future of our departments and college. The Distinguished Fellows program is an oppor- tunity to recognize outstanding alumni in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and expose students to the rich tradition of service and dedication found within our alumni base.

8 INFLUENCE 2019-2020 CALS.MSSTATE.EDU DISTINGUISHED FELLOWS

Tyrone Williams Paige Manning Ernie Barnes DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL & DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL & DAIRY SCIENCES BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING ECONOMICS Ernie Barnes (Bachelor of Science Colonel Tyrone A. Williams (Bachelor Paige Manning (Bachelor of Science in in Animal Science 1974) is industry of Science in Agricultural Engineering Agricultural Economics and Master of services director for the National Technology and Business 1988) is the Science in Agribusiness Management, 2001, Pork Board, serving pork producers department head for the Raymond High 2002) is director of market development and state associations nationwide. School Air Force Junior Reserve Ofcer and public relations for the Mississippi Barnes was involved in a highly com- Training Corps. Department of Agriculture and Commerce. petitive livestock judging team before Prior to that, Colonel Williams served Manning, who grew up on a row taking of in his professional career. He as maintenance operations squadron com- crop and cattle farm, always had a frst worked with Bryan Foods and Te mander for the Mississippi Air National passion for agriculture, which led her Upjohn Company prior to fnding his Guard. He has commanded the Air to attend MSU. Following graduation, real passion of working with pork pro- National Guard’s frst Air Education and she joined the MSU Extension Service ducers as the frst full-time southeastern Training Command C-17 Field Training in Community Resource Development feld representative for the American Detachment; organized, stafed, directed, where she administered programs Yorkshire Club. From there, he has worked coordinated, and budgeted resources to assist community water systems. to make the industry better by helping to meet operations; and overseen air- Manning has been with the Missis- pork producers for over 40 years. Barnes crafts and facilities valued at $3.5 billion. sippi Department of Agriculture and helped develop the frst World Pork Colonel Williams served as seminar Commerce for ffteen years, serving Expo in 1988, an event that he is still leader at National Defense University’s in her current position since 2012. Te involved with today; initiated the Pork College of International Security Afairs, market development division adminis- Alliance, the National Pork Producers Reserve Component National Security ters programs that provide domestic and Council’s allied industry program; and Course at Fort McNair in Washington international marketing opportunities for created the Pork Action Group or PAG. D.C. He is a veteran of several military producers and agribusinesses, operates the Throughout the years, Barnes operations including Desert Shield and Mississippi Farmers Market, and pub- has formed grassroots organizations, Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom, and lishes the Mississippi Market Bulletin. encouraged Pork Checkoff involve- Iraqi Freedom. He earned his master’s In 2018, her team rolled out the state’s ment, assisted with legislative issues, degree in military operational arts new branding program, Genuine MS®, introduced new production techniques, and science from Air University’s Air designed to promote Mississippi products. and coordinated educational events. Command and Staf College in 2009. Manning is second vice president of the “At least once a week, throughout my He completed his doctorate in public North American Agricultural Marketing career, I’ve met someone and started administration at Jackson State University Ofcials, on the operations committee a conversation that related back to in 2020. He is past president of Jackson’s for the Southern United States Trade my livestock judging team at MSU,” Capital Club Board of Governors and Association, and on the board of the he said. For that reason, he gives has served on the CALS Dean’s Advisory Mississippi Women for Agriculture. She back, having ofciated at more than Council at MSU. He is a former member is active in the Mississippi District Export 100 livestock judging contests to date. of the Mentoring to Manhood (M2M) Council and the Mississippi Agricultural Te New Albany, Mississippi native Advisory Board, alumnus of Leadership Economics Association, and enjoys giving and his wife, Paula, have two children Rankin, and life member of Phi Beta back through the Junior League of Jackson. and fve grandchildren. Tey live on a Sigma Fraternity, Inc., the National Te Brownsville, Tennessee native small farm in Earlham, Iowa where they Guard Association of the United States, and her husband, Ron, have one son and built and manage Barnes’ Place, an event and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. currently reside in Madison, Mississippi. barn that hosts about 50 weddings a year.

CALS.MSSTATE.EDU 2019-2020 INFLUENCE 9 DISTINGUISHED FELLOWS

Dee Boykin Camille Scales Young Fernando Palacios DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY, SCHOOL OF HUMAN SCIENCES DEPARTMENT OF FOOD SCIENCE, NUTRITION MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, ENTOMOLOGY & & HEALTH PROMOTION PLANT PATHOLOGY Camille Scales Young (Master of Science in Agriculture and Extension Education Fernando Palacios (Bachelor of Science Dee Boykin (Bachelor of Science in 1996) is principal and director of in Food Science, Master of Science in Agricultural Entomology 1981) has Cornerstone Government Afairs. She also Dairy Science 1983, 1985) spent his career served Mississippi Delta producers as earned her bachelor’s in communication managing supply chains for Fortune an independent agricultural consul- management at Mississippi State.Young 100 consumer products companies. tant for nearly 40 years. For almost a helps clients navigate policies, create and Upon graduation, he joined Kraft decade, in addition to his ag consultant drive efective advocacy campaigns, utilize General Foods as a food technologist business, he has owned and operated business and development opportunities, and progressed through several posi- Southern Soils Lab, a soil and plant tissue and craft successful public afairs eforts. tions before being promoted to plant testing lab in Yazoo City, Mississippi. Prior to joining Cornerstone, Young manager in Buena Park, California. He Boykin credits the diverse curriculum served as a government afairs repre- then joined Pillsbury where he ultimately at MSU for giving him the educational sentative with one of the state’s leading led the Haagen-Dazs worldwide supply foundation which has allowed him to law frms, Watkins Ludlum Winter chain. He continued his career at KPMG enjoy serving his customers throughout & Stennis, P.A. She was also with as food and beverage consulting director, the course of his career. He still maintains Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation then served at Land O’Lakes as supply relationships with and depends on various in positions including communications chain executive vice president, at Land MSU Extension Service personnel to assist specialist, director of media relations, and O’Lakes Purina Feed as chief operating him with consulting as well as providing government relations specialist where ofcer and executive vice president, and current results from the agricultural lab. she spent time on Capitol Hill providing at Miller Coors as chief integrated supply In addition to his education, Boykin support for the agricultural community. chain ofcer until his retirement in 2019. credits the Mississippi Agricultural Young has been an alumni leader Palacios’s expertise in optimizing Consultants Association, or MACA, for at MSU and in the broader commu- supply chain processes across global allowing him to continue to improve his nity. She has been president of MSU locations has resulted in superior customer service through continuing educational National Alumni Association and served service, signifcant cost reductions, and opportunities as well as following the on the board for organizations such 4-H cross functional alignment. He has led guidelines set forth by the founders of Foundation of Mississippi, BankFirst, and organizations of more than $4.5 billion the association focused on responsible and Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership, in cost of goods sold and over 5,000 ethical principles. Boykin remains active just to name a few. She was named team members across multiple coun- in MACA having served as president and a Woman of Distinction by the Girl tries. He enjoys developing talent, chal- chairing many committees over the years. Scout Council of Middle Mississippi lenging the status quo, and aligning While working as an agricultural and Alumnus of the Year by the Central diverse cultures toward a common goal. consultant, Boykin has also enjoyed Mississippi Chapter of the MSU Alumni Palacios has served on numerous the opportunity to employ and infu- Association. She was also a member advisory boards and multiple joint venture ence numerous high school and college of the 2017 inaugural class of Top 50 boards in Asia and the United States. students. He always encourages them Most Infuential People in Mississippi. The Venezuelan native resides in to explore educational opportunities in Te Shannon, Mississippi native and her St. Petersburg, Florida with his wife agriculture and highlights the need for husband, Keith, live in rural Madison County. Marianne (MSU class of 1985). independent consultants.

10 INFLUENCE 2019-2020 CALS.MSSTATE.EDU DISTINGUISHED FELLOWS

Mike Bogan Melodee Fraser Steve McLaurin DEPARTMENT OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE DEPARTMENT OF PLANT AND SOIL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT OF POULTRY SCIENCE Michael Bogan (Bachelor of Landscape Dr. Melodee Fraser (Bachelor of Steven McLaurin (Bachelor of Science Architecture 1987) is CEO of LandCare Science and Master of Science Turfgrass in Poultry Science 1979) is live operations USA, in San Diego, California. Bogan Management, 1985, 1987) is the director manager for the PecoFoods complex in began his career in the Maryland/ of research for the eastern division of Sebastopol, Mississippi. McLaurin has Washington, D.C. area with Davis Pure-Seed Testing, Inc. spent 40 years in the poultry industry. Landscape Contractors. In 1989, he joined Fraser grew up on a golf course in He has been in his current position for Te Brickman Group, a commercial land- southern Indiana, where her father was the last 15 years, overseeing live opera- scape business, as a project director, and superintendent. After summers spent tions from pullets to production. Tis moved on to subsequent roles including working on the course and playing golf, includes oversight of breeders, the branch manager, regional vice president, a desire to become a golf course super- hatchery, broilers and grow-out oper- and divisional vice president across the intendent and play the sport led Fraser ations, and the feed mill. Prior to this U.S. while he grew his career as an inspi- to MSU, where she was a member of position, he served as division manager rational, value centric leader. He forged the women’s golf team from 1981-83. She for Sanderson Farms and live operations expansion into new markets, built strong became the frst woman to graduate from manager for BC Rogers before that. teams, grew revenue, and led mergers MSU’s turfgrass management program. McLaurin grew up on his family’s farm and acquisitions as Brickman became After fnishing her master’s in the same in Moselle, Mississippi, just outside of an industry leader. Bogan returned to program, she earned a Ph.D. in turfgrass Laurel. His upbringing inspired a love Maryland and joined Brickman’s lead- breeding from Rutgers University in 1991. of agriculture and he notes the tremen- ership team as executive vice president Upon graduation, Dr. Fraser was hired dous opportunity of the poultry science in 2006, where he served until 2012. to start a new research facility for Pure- industry as what attracted him to the feld. Bogan formed a consultancy in 2013 Seed Testing, Inc. An Oregon-based leader McLaurin has been an active leader and joined LandCare USA in 2014, as in cool-season turfgrass breeding, PST in the Mississippi Poultry Association CEO, where he helmed a turnaround sought a full-time breeder at a site in the for the last twenty-fve years. In January and rebranding of the commercial land- transition zone, in order to improve cool- 2020, he was elected as chairman of the scape services business. In 2019, he led a season turfgrasses for persistence in warm- board for the organization. In 2014, buyout of the company from its private humid climates and develop warm season McLaurin served as vice-chairman. He equity owners. Today, the $200 million turfgrass turf cultivars. Fraser established has overseen the organization’s annual company employs 4,000 team members the research farm in Rolesville, North auction, which raises money for scholar- with ofces in 23 states. He is most proud Carolina, where her primary responsi- ships for poultry science students in the of the core values and purpose driven bility has been the development of tall state. McLaurin is also active with his culture that has created fulflling careers fescue cultivars with improved summer alma mater serving as guest lecturer for for so many landscape professionals. disease resistance and heat tolerance. the poultry science department for the Te Memphis, Tennessee native Secondary research responsibilities are past seven years. In 2013, he and his wife lives with his wife of 34 years, Rebecca developing seeded bermudagrass and started a landscape architecture schol- Bowen Bogan (MSU class of 1987), in zoysiagrass cultivars. arship fund in memory of family friend Del Mar, California. Fraser and her husband reside near and fellow bulldog, Henry J. Bustin. ∏ Rolesville.

CALS.MSSTATE.EDU 2019-2020 INFLUENCE 11 PROFILE: URITA AGANA AND GEORGE AWUNI

FEEDING A HUNGRY WORLD CALS alumnus and MSU research professor feeds farmers, inspires family

BY VANESSA BEESON

OMETIMES FEEDING HUNGRY PEOPLE Soybean Innovation Lab at the University work ethic and ingenuity were both tre- in your local community takes you of Illinois, focused on providing Ghanaian mendous assets to the team. S nearly 6,000 miles from home. At farmers insight into growing soybeans. “It has truly been a blessing having least, that was the case for DR. GEORGE Awuni interviewed for and accepted the George on this project. While we may AWUNI, now an assistant research pro- position, at the time as a post doctorate. have given structure and plans for the fessor in the Department of Plant and Soil While he has since moved into his current program, Dr. Awuni has given it life and Sciences in MSU’s College of Agriculture role as an assistant research professor, he function. Without his eforts I do not and Life Sciences. stills serves on the project where, alongside believe the program would have been as Born and raised in Northern Ghana, Reynolds, he has established demonstra- successful as it is today,” Reynolds said. Awuni has always been passionate about tion farms aimed at providing soybean Awuni said his favorite part of the food security for his nation.Tat drive pro- farmers in Africa with the tools they work is giving back. pelled him to work for Ghana’s ministry need to increase yield in an impactful way. “I enjoy helping change lives for of agriculture for 10 years and pursue “Soybean is an important cash crop the better in terms of nutrition and a bachelor’s in natural resources man- and provides sustenance for smallholder income,” he said, noting the team has agement in 2003. It’s what led him to farmers in Africa and increased yield partnered with local educators to see the United States—frst to Tuskegee means better income and nutrition for how soybeans can be used to provide University where he earned a plant and households,” Awuni said. milk for school nutrition programs there. soil sciences master’s degree in 2009, and Since the project’s inception in 2014, He said a combination of hard work, then to MSU where he earned a doctoral the work has expanded from Ghana into determination, and luck brought him to degree in entomology in 2013. Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, and the place he is today. When it was time to graduate from the Zambia, where researchers have provided “I would encourage anyone to work land-grant, his wife and two daughters resources and best management practices hard and believe in themselves,” he said. traveled from Ghana to MSU to see him to a total of approximately 6,000 soybean “I tell my family, ‘You have to trust and walk across the stage of the Humphrey farmers across Sub-Saharan Africa. believe in yourself and once you do, work Coliseum. His two sons, both older, stayed Reynolds, who is now interim asso- hard and be good to others. Tat is the home in Ghana for their own studies.After ciate vice president and director of MSU’s only way to success.’” the ceremony, Awuni traveled to New York International Institute, said Awuni brings Awuni’s words of wisdom have been with plans to see his family of to Ghana. a unique perspective because he’s from taken to heart by his four children, During the trip, a phone call from Ghana and went to school an hour’s drive including his eldest daughter, URITA an MSU professor opened the door to from where the frst demonstration farm AGANA,who as a young girl watched her an opportunity for Awuni to continue was created. father receive his doctorate from MSU. working at MSU, but this time with a focus “Dr. Awuni knows the local practices Agana has followed in his footsteps and on feeding farmers from his home country. and culture, which has been invaluable in attends her dad’s alma mater as a senior “Dr. Dan Reynolds called and said he was understanding the challenges of soybean biochemistry major in the Department looking for someone to apply for a project production in Africa and has provided of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, in Ghana and asked if I would be inter- unique insights into how to approach Entomology and Plant Pathology also in ested in applying,” Awuni remembered. workable solutions,” Reynolds said. the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Te project, funded through the USAID Reynolds also pointed out that Awuni’s While food security drives Awuni,

12 INFLUENCE 2019-2020 CALS.MSSTATE.EDU PROFILE: URITA AGANA AND GEORGE AWUNI

Urita Agana and George Awuni in a soybean field at the MAFES R. R. Foil Plant Science Research Center. (photo by David Ammon)

a passion for human health propels Agana pointed out that practices to microorganisms in crop plants is an his daughter. mitigate taproot decline in soybeans environmentally safe and efective way “Coming from Ghana, I’ve grown might be doing more harm than good. of reducing or mitigating disease and up around illnesses including malaria, “Currently,taproot decline is managed minimizing yield loss through the use which turned me to science. I want through no-till or conservation tillage of natural enemies.” to work in a health-related feld, con- practices, which are not efective to While she irons out plans for a master’s ducting research and finding solu- stop the spread. Since the fungus was degree, Agana said she thinks she’ll ulti- tions for certain diseases,” she said. found to overwinter on root stubble mately wind up studying human health While Agana hopes to study human of soybean and other crops used in a at some point. health one day, a research opportunity rotation program, current management “I told my dad a while ago even if I studying disease in soybeans brought her practices may actually be contributing end up getting a master’s studying plant closer to the work her father does. Under to the widespread occurrence of taproot health, I might switch to human health the direction of Dr. Sorina Popescu, an decline in Mississippi,” she said. for my Ph.D.,” she said. associate professor in the department, Agana hopes to help fnd a biological In the meantime, she welcomes a chance Agana is studying taproot decline, a control that stops the disease. to collaborate on research with her dad. prominent disease found in soybeans. “Te main goal of this project is to “It would be cool if we ended up “If I can fgure out what’s wrong with explore the potential of benefcial micro- working together on a soybean research certain plants and we depend on plants to eat, organisms isolated from the plant rhi- project. If that happens, hopefully I can then I’m still working toward human health zosphere to control the disease,” she teach him something he doesn’t know even though it’s based on plants,” she said. said. “Biological control of pathogenic and vice versa,” she said. ∏

CALS.MSSTATE.EDU 2019-2020 INFLUENCE 13 ON THE FRONT LINES

ON THE FRONT LINES COVID-19 from the eyes of those in the medical feld BY VANESSA BEESON AND REAGAN POSTON

EDICAL PROFESSIONALS train for worst-case scenarios as they are often required to make life-or-death decisions on a daily basis.While all healthcare professionals know that Mserving on the front lines, working long hours, and helping people in their hour of need simply comes with the territory, the medical feld post- COVID-19 is an altered landscape. Navigating the fuid situation of global pandemic and enduring public health crisis requires a cool and collected disposition under pressure, a big heart, and a fghting bulldog spirit. We checked in with four CALS alumni who are serving on the front lines to see how they’ve handled the day-in, day-out of practicing medicine amid COVID-19 with poise and grace.

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Dr. Tameka Hairston. (photo submitted)

DR. TAMEKA HAIRSTON

Resident Family Medicine Doctor; The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa Family Medicine Residency Program

HAILING FROM PACHUTA, a Mississippi community with a population of less than 300 people, DR. TAMEKA HAIRSTON found her passion for serving the underserved at a young age. “I grew up seeing frsthand the health- care disparity in rural areas. With these places often also being the poorest com- munities, some people have to make the decision between suffering the fnancial burden of driving to a faraway doctor’s office or suffering through their illness. I thought, if there were more rural doctors, then the decision might be easier, and it was that notion infrastructure, including a shortage of the potential to be,” Hairston said. of being able to actually help commu- health professionals for primary care, Hairston, however, frmly believes nities that are often overlooked that led and older populations with higher in the power of optimism and sees me to the medical feld,” Hairston said. rates of chronic disease are some of the this as the pandemic’s silver lining. Te road to residency, however, was factors that can make rural commu- “It’s difcult to think long-term when winding for Hairston. An internship nities more susceptible to the disease. every day is so unpredictable, but I think working for a local physician as a medical Tough COVID-19 has had such far- healthcare is changing for the better in scribe made her realize that she didn’t reaching impacts on rural communities light of the pandemic. Doctors are insisting want to be documenting someone else’s like Hairston’s hometown, it has been an on even higher standards of care, patients medical career; she wanted to have her own. especially formative experience for the are taking their health more seriously, Te 2013 Mississippi State University 29-year-old resident, who still has the vast and medical help is increasingly more biochemistry grad went on to earn majority of her medical career ahead of her. accessible. Tat’s especially true for the her medical degree at the University “Before this pandemic, medicine, for care in rural communities,” Hairston said. of Mississippi Medical Center and is me, was clear-cut. A patient came in with Hairston shared that, for those in now in her second year of residency at symptoms, and we knew exactly what rural communities, one of the largest Te University of Alabama Tuscaloosa to do and how to treat it. But because inhibitors for receiving healthcare is Family Medicine Residency Program, COVID-19 is unprecedented both in terms transportation. With telehealth revo- where she practices under the guidance of what the medical feld has seen before lutionizing the way that patients and of seasoned attending physicians. and the overwhelming scale of it, there’s doctors are able to interact, a previ- In the midst of COVID-19, rural com- a layer of uncertainty. It’s caused me to ously daunting hurdle for rural patients munities have a heightened need for be much more critically-minded when suddenly seems more manageable. well-equipped and accessible healthcare planning the best course of treatment for “Telehealth has been an option for providers such as Hairston. According a patient. Sending someone home with a a long time. It wasn’t until COVID-19 to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control false-negative strep test probably wouldn’t turned virtual practice into a neces- and Prevention, a lack of healthcare be life-threatening, but COVID-19 has sity, however, that the major insurance

CALS.MSSTATE.EDU 2019-2020 INFLUENCE 15 ON THE FRONT LINES

companies began to cover this type of visit, care of patients and seeing his making it a viable option for those who role in the community inspired might not be able to aford transportation me to want to do something or to take a full day of work. It’s not an like that,” Harris remembered. all-encompassing solution, but telehealth Harris’s bulldog roots run consultations now being covered by more deep. When it came time for insurance companies mean that we’re one college, he knew MSU would step closer to health equity,” Hairston said. be the frst stop on his journey She said that, upon completion to med school. His dad,Wayne of her residency, she hopes to one Harris, an All American, played day return to her community and MSU football from 1979 to continue the effort for accessible 1982 and was inducted into the health care by starting her own practice. M-Club Hall of Fame in 1998, “Family medicine physicians, especially so the family was maroon and in rural communities, are expected to be white through and through. able to treat anything. You might see us Harris met his wife, Jennifer, working in emergency rooms or nursing in an organic chemistry lab at homes or traditional clinics. For me, coming . She became a nurse and MSU Dr. Ashley Harris (photo submitted) from and planning to one day return to the couple now has two girls, Pachuta, the ability to serve a community, Kenzie and Ella, who Harris whatever the need, is important,” she said. says are being raised to love MSU, too. Master of Health Administration from While Hairston is certainly aware of After Mississippi State, Harris earned the University of Alabama at Birmingham. the impact one individual can have on a medical degree at the University of Now, he is the associate chief medical a community, she also notes the impor- Mississippi School of Medicine in Jackson ofcer of Baptist Memorial Hospital- tance of a combined communal efort in 2007, then completed his internship and Memphis. In that role, Harris is a key in the broad scope of the pandemic. residency at the North Mississippi Family liaison between the medical staf and “To beat this, it’s going to require a Medicine Residency Program in Tupelo. A hospital administration. Prior to that united efort. I’m extremely grateful and geriatric medicine fellowship took him to position, which began in May 2020, he blessed to be able to do my part, but Harvard University, where he served as an served as chief medical ofcer for Baptist everyone has a role to play in stopping associate faculty member from 2010 to 2011. Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle. the spread of COVID-19.We all have to As time went on, the trajectory of his Harris helps lead a medical team of do the little things that have been stated career has shifted from hometown doctor more than 2,000 doctors, nurses, and by multiple physicians and healthcare staf. to hospital administration.While Harris ancillary staf. He describes his role as Stay home. Wear your mask,” she said. has always possessed a physician’s heart a bridge between the administrative “I know the big push has been to thank for healing the sick, that passion led side of the hospital and the medical essential workers, and while they deserve him on the path to administration, to staf. His goal is to work with admin- that acknowledgment for all they do, every help people he felt called to serve at the istrators to get medical staf all they single person is essential in this pandemic.” system level. Harris was inspired by his need to care for patients, both those mentor—a fellowship-trained geriatri- who may be sick with COVID-19 and cian who was chief medical ofcer at the those who are there for other reasons. hospital where he completed his residency. “While much of our day may be DR. ASHLEY HARRIS “My training during residency opened devoted to addressing COVID-19, my eyes to the fact that so much of our we all have the same goal and that’s Associate Chief Medical Oficer healthcare system isn’t necessarily tailored to provide excellent care for all of our Baptist Memorial to the care of older patients.While I ended patients, whether that care is related Hospital-Memphis up working as a clinician serving older to COVID-19 or not,” Harris said. patients in the hospital and nursing homes, He said the team has taken every- DR. ASHLEY HARRIS,’04 biochem- I recognized that to signifcantly impact thing in stride and stepped up istry alumnus, grew up in Water Valley, healthcare delivery for this population to the unprecedented occasion. Mississippi, and knew he wanted to be I needed to be involved at the adminis- “Tis pandemic highlights the fact that a doctor around age ten. trative level where policies are enacted by far the signifcant majority of people “My great uncle was a family medicine and decisions are made that can impact who go into healthcare do it because they physician in my hometown and I grew up the type of care we provide,” he said. genuinely have a heart for caring for others with him as a mentor.Watching him take After his fellowship, Harris earned a and healing sick people. I think that’s

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highlighted by what I’ve seen in the midst Harris said while overall challenges his future pursuit toward medicine. of the turmoil surrounding COVID-19 as abound in a pandemic of this scope and “My comfort is this profession. For our healthcare providers face challenges size, he’s honored to be a part of a team me, medicine isn’t a job. It’s who you at work and then go home and deal with that provides care on the front lines. are 24 hours a day, seven days a week, disruption in their own lives,” Harris said. “I’m very proud of our physicians, nurses, 365 days a year,” said Looney, who earned He continued, “Our teams have and staf because I’ve seen more teamwork his medical degree at the Kentucky responded with a collaborative sense in these last four months than I’ve seen College of Osteopathic Medicine and that if we work together we can manage in all the time I’ve worked in healthcare.” completed his residency at Brookwood this crisis much more efciently than if Baptist Health in Birmingham, Alabama. we work in silos. I think that as adminis- For the past four years, Looney—board trators we support our physicians, nurses, certifed in internal medicine—has been and staf by acknowledging all they do and one of the staf physicians at the MSU by making sure they have the tools and DR. RYAN LOONEY John C. Longest Student Health Center, resources they need to continue to provide serving students, faculty, and staf alike. excellent care and protection for them- Staf Physician for MSU John C. “People forget that MSU is like a little selves as they take care of sick patients.” Longest Student Health Center; city when the students are here on campus. Harris is board certifed in family Doctor for Mississippi State We have more than 20,000 students medicine and geriatric medicine and Bulldogs plus faculty and staf. On a game day is a certifed hospice medical director. weekend, we might have 100,000 people His expertise, specifically in geri- FOR DR. RYAN LOONEY, ’07 biochem- in Starkville,” Looney said. “We have a atric medicine, ofers a unique lens istry major, a career as a physician was very diverse, condensed community and I for better understanding COVID-19 second nature. might see everything from a runny nose to as it relates to older Americans. Te Kennett, Missouri native grew diagnosing cancer all within a given day.” “So much of what we do in healthcare up along the banks of the Mississippi Looney said while the core mission is caring for older patients and that’s cer- River and remembers spending of the center hasn’t changed, the global tainly truer in the middle of this pandemic, long hours at the local hospital pandemic of COVID-19 has shifted the which disproportionately impacts elderly as a kid alongside his twin sister. way the facility operates on a daily basis. patients from the direct impacts such as “I was raised by a single mom who was a “Prior to the pandemic, trafc in the higher mortality rates and higher acuity microbiologist at the local hospital and if clinic fowed with a little more fex- of illness to the indirect impacts of social she was on call at night or on the weekends, ibility. Now, we have checkpoints isolation,” Harris said. “I think of my she’d bring us to the hospital,” Looney said. and safeguards at various intervals to own grandmothers who are largely at Whether it was coloring in a ensure greater safety,”Looney explained. home because of this and the impact of corner of the lab or walking the halls Looney said the center has estab- social isolation on their long-term mental of Twin Rivers Regional Medical lished a separate wing to treat possible and physical health. I think for me it’s Center, Looney remembers the place COVID-19 cases and currently, possible important to think about those individuals fondly as something that inspired cases and well visits are staggered so sick and communities that are signifcantly more vulnerable, while also considering the overall impact of this pandemic.” He emphasized the importance of reaching out to those populations while heeding the advice of healthcare profes- sionals on preventing the spread of the virus. “We are all tired of this pandemic. While we want the virus to go away, we have to be realistic. We have to adopt the practices advised by our infectious disease experts,” he said.“Wear our masks. Socially distance. Leverage technology, so we can still be connected even when we’re apart. Obviously, that’s challenging for some of our older population but we can be intentional and go out of our way to make sure there is still that connection.” Dr. Ryan Looney. (photo by David Ammon)

CALS.MSSTATE.EDU 2019-2020 INFLUENCE 17 ON THE FRONT LINES

and healthy patients enter the clinic at head physicians for the university’s and introducing several mitigation factors diferent times. He also said patients are football team, said MSU Athletics to decrease the risk of transmission. screened prior to and upon arrival,which have implemented layers of safeguards “Slowdown has become our motto includes answering a set of COVID-19 to keep student athletes, coaches, staf, and I take extra time with every single screening questions and temperature and the greater student population safe. patient. Even when someone has no check at entry. Social distancing measures “We address everything as a public symptoms, we still have to be dressed have also been adopted and personal health situation whether it’s in the clinic, in varying degrees of PPE like masks, protective equipment, including masks an athletic facility, or the campus as a gloves, and eye protection because we are required of patients and medical staf whole.With athletics, for instance, it’s not have to have personal protection while alike. Te team has also increased the just keeping the student athletes healthy seeing every single patient but also be availability of telemedicine visits, which so they can play and be successful on continuously protecting every single many patients have opted for as a viable and of the feld. It’s also about keeping patient, even if they aren’t being seen alternative to coming into the clinic. them healthy so we can help keep the specifcally for COVID-19,” he said. “Everything is a lot more regimented, student population healthy as a whole,” While he said the pandemic brought deliberate, and slower,” he said. “If we Looney explained. plenty of changes to the clinic and have to stop at a checkpoint, we stop Looney, a former student athlete throughout the MSU campus, he said and wait until we can move forward.” himself who ran track for MSU, said the hardest part centers on the family. Looney noted that the more mitigation going forward MSU student athletes “Our families are the true frontline factors implemented in any given situation, will serve as an example for all students. heroes. My wife, my kids, and the families the easier it will be to keep people healthy. “Tere is more at play here and the of other clinicians, nurses, respiratory “Reducing risk through social distancing, student athletes have become a focal point therapists, lab technicians, people who the use of masks, meeting together in for the MSU community’s public health work our front desk, the people that clean smaller groups over shorter periods of in general,” Looney said. “For instance, the clinics and campus buildings are the time, and meeting outdoors or in well-ven- for MSU football players engaging in true heroes behind all this and the chal- tilated indoor spaces will help keep workouts, we have protocols and strict lenge is that we keep our families safe yourself and others healthy,” he explained. regulations in place that have been laid but also keep our families sane,” he said. He encouraged people to remember out by MSU, the SEC, and the NCAA to He continued,“Our families are really the that while the virus can be fatal to make sure it is as safe as possible.” backbone behind this because they’re taking some, it can also be incredibly chal- He said COVID-19 has been unlike on as much risk as us and they are keeping lenging to those who survive it. anything he’s experienced before as a us safe and without them, we wouldn’t “It’s not just the mortality of this physician. be able to do what we’re doing,” he said. virus, it’s the morbidity. People with “While we train for things like mass Looney emphasized the impor- COVID-19 might feel terrible for two or casualties, biohazard risks, and emergency tance of the bulldog family stepping three weeks while others might have six medical life support, a pandemic of this up to take care of each other as well to eight week recoveries. Since it’s such size and scope is truly unprecedented,” as stewards of one another’s health. a new virus, we’re also just learning that Looney said. “During my residency, I “Everything done on campus, whether some patients might have permanent worked on a tuberculous wing and have it’s in our clinic, athletics, or the campus damage,” said Looney, who noted that been around highly infectious diseases, as a whole, it’s all done from a public just because someone has a mild case of so it wasn’t foreign to me to wear PPE health perspective. Everyone needs to the virus doesn’t mean the person they but that was a patient at a time or an know we adopt measures like wearing give it to will have the same outcome. hour at a time. Now, it’s all day, every day.” masks and social distancing not just for Looney, who also serves as a doctor He emphasized the importance of ourselves but for others,” Looney said. for MSU athletics and is one of the slowing down, ramping up communication, He continued,“Tis is a public health

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situation and that’s why it’s important that’s proven especially useful, as of late.” to come back if they get worse,” Moses said. for everyone to make these sacrifces so As an emergency physician, Moses and Moses’s optimistic diagnosis is closely that everyone as a whole can be healthy. If his team see their fair share of patients who related to the collaborative attitude of one of us is well, then we can all be well.” are presenting COVID-19 symptoms. Te his medical peers. He shared that the task remains the same: fgure out what’s hospital’s staf holds weekly meetings wrong and determine the best course of care. to discuss the diferent policies sur- Though there are alternatives to rounding the pandemic, and that, while DR. JEFF MOSES the ER for those who are presenting the policies are continuing to evolve, symptoms, such as walk-in testing clinics it’s because they’re becoming more Emergency Services Physician and screening centers around Greenwood, efcient and efective at managing it. Greenwood Leflore Hospital the emergency room staf serves as the “As we go along, we continue to fgure gatekeepers of the hospital. Moses out better ways to minimize the spread of BORN AND RAISED in Greenwood, and his fellow physicians determine COVID-19 and maximize the resources Mississippi, DR. JEFF MOSES, 1980 bio- if a patient needs to be admitted and we have. I think one thing that is par- chemistry alumnus, followed in the foot- provides reassurance for those who don’t. ticularly encouraging about how we’re steps of his brother not only to Mississippi “Te global scope of the pandemic is adapting to the circumstances is that State but to medical school as well. what can be boggling, but in the bubble none of our seven ER doctors have had “I don’t remember ever wanting to of the ER, we’re doing what we’ve always the virus, even with daily exposure in the be anything other than a doctor, so I done by striving for the best possible care months since the frst infected patient trained in internal medicine and moved for our patients. Now, we just wear more arrived in our hospital,” Moses said. to Greenwood to build a practice with my personal protective equipment,” Moses said. For Moses, the key to COVID-19 is brother. When I got here, Greenwood He also said that the most challenging remaining steadfast. Leflore Hospital was looking for a aspects of COVID-19 have been a lack “The best thing anyone can do director of emergency services, and of available bed space and stafng def- is stay diligent. Keep wearing your I initially took the position to help ciencies, both of which they’ve managed masks over your mouth and nose. pay off student loans,” Moses said. by upholding the caregiving attitude Keep washing your hands. Keep your His professional stint in emer- that is intrinsic to medical professionals. distance. Keep your spirits up, if at all gency services was only supposed “Hospitals have always tried to help one possible. Tere’s no doubt in my mind to last a year. Now, 33 years later, he another in any way they can, but we have that we’re going to get through this, but can’t imagine himself anywhere else. all become a lifeline for each other during it’s just going to take a little while.” ∏ “Spending three decades with the same the pandemic. If a patient comes in and institution has allowed me not only to our beds are full but the individual needs learn from the incredible doctors and staf to be admitted, we are able to transfer the here but also to help it grow,” Moses said. patient to other area hospitals that have Tough Moses began his involve- available space. If other hospitals don’t ment with Greenwood Lefore Hospital have space, then we keep calling until we as the director of emergency services, fnd it,” Moses said. “Te same goes for he added that, now, the seven fulltime our nursing staf. It’s uncommon to share emergency room physicians on staf nurses between hospitals, but so many at the hospital share the responsibility of those on-staf here are going above of the role. Tis includes everything and beyond, both in terms of their hours from hospital-wide disaster-response and in their investment to the patients.” training to direct patient care in the ER. While this investment to the patients “Working in the emergency room has is certainly applicable to those who are been very fulflling for me. It’s an honor admitted, Moses also underscored the to be able to care for people and for importance of reassuring the ones who aren’t. them to put their trust in me, especially “Tere’s a lot of anxiety and fear sur- in times of emergency,” Moses said. “In rounding this pandemic because it’s a given night, we might be dealing with something we as a society have never a heart attack, a gunshot wound, and a experienced before, but the reality is that, car wreck back to back. Adaptability is as scary as it is, the vast majority of COVID something you develop quickly working patients will recover.We try to remind our in emergency services, and it’s something patients of that, even though we tell them Dr. Jef Moses. (photo Submitted)

CALS.MSSTATE.EDU 2019-2020 INFLUENCE 19 PROFILE: BOB WILLIAMS

A LEGACY OF SERVICE MSU alumnus retires with nearly six decades of service

BY VANESSA BEESON

R. BOB WILLIAMS has spent the better economist with the MSU Extension MSU Extension Service, Williams was part of the last sixty years on the Service, retiring in 1995. His second act hired as an Extension economist and D MSU campus in Starkville. When came that same year when he returned as a retired as state program leader for agri- he arrived as a transfer student in 1959, part-time project coordinator working for culture and natural resources. During Howell was the northern-most building Dr. Rodney Foil, who was vice president those years, he collaborated on a large on campus aside from a red livestock of the Division of Agriculture, Forestry, multistate project with the Tennessee barn that stood where the Humphrey and Veterinary Medicine at the time. Valley Authority that spanned decades, Coliseum is today. As he retired in “My frst project for Dr. Foil was helping leading him to receive a distinguished the summer of 2020 after 56 years of coordinate a retirement reception for Jim service award from the Tennessee service, his most recent role has involved Buck Ross, a CALS alumnus who served Valley Farm Family Association. He shaping MSU’s campus for the future. for 28 years as Mississippi’s ag commis- authored several publications on the eco- Contributing to the MSU campus sioner,” said Williams, who noted that nomics of production and marketing of of tomorrow is all in a day’s work for a the event garnered around $100,000 in various row-crop commodities. In 1980, numbers guy who grew up working on a scholarship funds. Williams served on Mississippi Governor cotton farm near Alligator, Mississippi. Williams went on to organize other William Winter’s economic task force “Alligator is in Bolivar County, heading events and special projects throughout the and in 1982, he testifed before the U.S. north on Highway 61 from Cleveland to years. Most recently, one of his favorite House of Representatives Agricultural Memphis. You won’t go through it. You’ll aspects of the position has been helping Subcommittee on behalf of the MSU go by it,” said Williams, who always assist on several construction projects for Extension Service. He spent fve years in had his sights on an agricultural career. the division, having a hand in how future leadership in the Mississippi Association Williams has experienced considerable students will experience the campus of County Agricultural Agents, serving change both on campus and in agriculture. where he’s spent so much of his life. as president and has been honored by the “When I came here, there were maybe Over the last fve years, Williams has MSU Alumni Association. 4,800 students total,” he remembered, assisted on the planning and construction “During my time with Extension, I pointing out that last year’s enrollment process for both the new poultry science got to know all the agricultural agents alone topped 22,000. and animal and dairy sciences buildings. in the state and was invited to speak all He talked about advancements in He has been involved in initial discussions over the area including the Memphis agriculture as well. to obtain funding approval through the Ag Club, which for someone who grew “Changes in equipment and farming Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real up in Alligator was a pretty big honor practices have been tremendous. In Property Management and the Mississippi since they represented the pinnacle of high school, I drove a high boy that Institutions of Higher Learning through mid-south agriculture for me,” he said. sprayed insecticides in cotton four rows to facility openings and serving as liaison Williams began his collegiate journey at at a time, now a high boy sprayer might for DAFVM administration in the process. Sunfower Junior College, now Mississippi spray 16 or 24 rows,” he said. “Similarly, “I attended meetings on behalf of Delta Community College, and trans- I remember in the 1980s, we thought the vice president and helped commu- ferred to MSU after two years. From there, 25 bushels of soybeans per acre was a nicate the division’s needs and vision he worked toward his bachelor’s, which good crop. Now, 50 bushels per acre for a particular building. MAFES was not without its challenges. He said he is considered a decent yield,” he said. Engineer, David Howell, is the key even considered leaving MSU at one time, Troughout the years, he’s kept his person in this entire process and he but a professor helped him see it through. fnger on the pulse of agriculture, serving tends to keep us all on track,” he said. “I struggled my first semester at more than 32 years as an agricultural As for his earlier career with the Mississippi State and considered leaving

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Dr. Bob Williams stands in the connector that joins the Animal and Dairy Sciences and Poultry Science buildings. (photo by David Ammon)

to join the army, but Professor Felix people aspect is really neat. I will miss stay in college. Tat may have been his Edwards in the ag engineering depart- that,” he said. favorite meal, but I bet he would’ve liked ment pulled me aside and said, ‘Don’t His proudest accomplishment, perhaps, a little meat, maybe dessert, or a drink. leave. I’ll try to get you a job and we’ll has been the people he’s helped—MSU Tat left a lasting impression on me to do our best to get you through the next students—through his work to establish six help students who have that kind of three semesters.’ I followed his advice scholarships. One scholarship, the Robert dedication to get a degree at Mississippi and stayed, and I give him a lot of credit L. Williams Endowed Scholarship in the State,” he said. for helping me fnish,” Williams said. College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, In 2019, an endowment was estab- After the momentum of earning a was established in 2007 and bears his name. lished by former vice president for agri- bachelor’s degree was behind him, a “Tat was both a tremendous honor and culture, forestry, and veterinary medicine, master’s degree seemed possible. Te a big surprise,” Williams remembered. Dr. Gregory A. Bohach, naming the Dr. Department of Agricultural Economics Williams said he and his wife, Nancy, Robert L. Williams DAFVM Stellar Staf had graduate assistantships, so Williams have been blessed so they’re happy to pay Awards in his honor. applied. He was accepted into the program it forward to current MSU students who Dr. Reuben Moore, interim vice presi- and, with Dr. Verner Hurt’s help, gradu- could use a helping hand. One chance dent of the Division of Agriculture, Forestry, ated in May of 1963. When he was hired encounter with a member of the Bulldog and Veterinary Medicine, said Williams fulltime by the MSU Extension Service, family sticks out in particular to Williams has contributed a lasting legacy of service Williams slowly worked toward earning as motivation to make giving a priority. to the division and Mississippi agriculture. his doctoral degree, which he received in He recalled being in line behind a “Dr. Williams has been a valued 1977. He also served six months active young student in Perry Cafeteria one part of the DAFVM administration. duty in the Army National Guard and day many years ago. Troughout the years, he took on many left as a captain after 13 years of service. “Tis was back when Perry Cafeteria difcult assignments and never com- Williams said his favorite aspect of was the main place on campus to eat. Te plained,” Moore said. “While much of his career has been the people he’s met young man put turnip greens, black-eyed his work was behind the scenes, I sought along the way. peas, a piece of cornbread and a glass his advice often because of his experience “We have some good folks in the ag of water on his tray. It seemed like that and devotion to MSU. His calm demeanor division and at Mississippi State and the youngster was sacrifcing something to and wise counsel will be missed.” ∏

CALS.MSSTATE.EDU 2019-2020 INFLUENCE 21 PROFILE: LAUREN ANN COOPER

Fashion Goes

Small business owner spreads the spirit of Starkville throughout the Southeast

BY REAGAN POSTON

ROM AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD SELLING moved to a storefront on Main Street not service in both herself and her employees. her handmade goods at Greenlee’s long after, and we’ve been there ever since.” Tis means everything from helping cus- Shoprite, the grocery store her Since opening shop in 2011, the business tomers pick out personalized gifts for family has owned for nearly 60 has been a proud supporter of both the loved ones to readying a patron’s dressing years, to a 24-year-old setting out T.K. Martin Center on campus and the room ahead of their arrival with styled Fwith her own wholesale jewelry line, to Junior Auxiliary of Starkville, among other outfts in the correct size. now being the successful founder of the causes. Cooper and her management “I have a servant’s heart. If I can make high-scale apparel boutique, L.A. Green, team are all active members of their local someone’s day or make them feel good LAUREN ANN COOPER has always pos- community, where Cooper serves on the about themselves, then I’ve accomplished sessed an entrepreneurial spirit. Starkville Main Street Board through the my goal,” Cooper said. Now, the ’08 College of Agriculture Starkville Partnership. She also teaches With L.A. Green’s inventory being and Life Sciences’ alumna has expanded Sunday school and volunteers regularly geared towards trendy yet classic women, her small business into a franchise in within her church. She shared that this the service aspect of the boutique also markets across the South. She credits hands-on involvement with the commu- includes a conscientious eye towards her success to determination and nity has allowed them the ability to form the apparel’s quality, both in terms of lessons learned in the School of Human more permanent bonds alongside the fair-pay origin and well-made longevity. Sciences’ fashion design and merchan- customer-turnover that’s to be expected When COVID-19 arrived in the U.S., dising major, formerly the apparels, from a college town. For Cooper, this Cooper had to change her purchasing textiles, and merchandising program. two-way dedication between business decisions. “It was challenging starting my own and customer has been the driving force “When the pandemic started hap- business, even though I was well-prepared behind the boutique’s continued success. pening in America, we weren’t getting after having worked closely with the faculty “Sometimes, you hear horror stories our shipments as expected because a lot at MSU. I was so young when I started about businesses that grow and fail just of our inventory might have a button or L.A.Green, and that made it difcult for as quickly. Within our frst year, I had threads from China, and they were dealing me to be taken seriously,” Cooper said. several people ofer to buy the store, but with their own pandemic. Production Despite the uncertainties that come with I wanted to get my roots set in Starkville signifcantly slowed, which was frus- entrepreneurship, once L.A. Green had before I tried to grow further. It was really trating because our customers were still a physical location, a shop on Starkville’s important to me to build a loyal customer shopping, but we couldn’t get our normal Russell Street, the business’s popularity base, and I’m so glad that I did. My cus- selections out on the foor,” Cooper said. only grew. Cooper shared—with no small tomers and my community really are a Still, never one to give up, Cooper amount of gratefulness—how hard it family to me.Tey’ve never let me down, decided to double down with her was for them to keep items on the shelf. and I work hard to make sure that I never domestic suppliers and promote the “We were selling things out of the back let them down in return,” Cooper said. products that were American-made and room before I’d even had a chance to put In order to provide the best retail had a lower chance of being delayed in them on display,” Cooper said.“Tat was experience possible for her customers, production. Cooper shared that, even when I knew we needed more space.We Cooper maintains a high standard of in light of COVID-19, customers have

22 INFLUENCE 2019-2020 CALS.MSSTATE.EDU PROFILE: LAUREN ANN COOPER

continued to support L.A. Green. about the sports. It’s about the spirit.” Southeast and is always on the look-out “We were concerned that requesting Cooper also went on to say that, while for potential franchising partners. patrons to wear masks would turn them each of the boutique’s branches were “With our continued expansion, away, but our customers have taken it holding fast to the ideals that made it we’re striving to reach a large number all in stride.Tey pull on a mask, come L.A. Green, they have also developed of people while still keeping true to in, say hello, and carry on with their something of their own personalities. who we are as a small business and shopping like normal,” Cooper shared. “As each location caters to its own maintaining the high level of trust With this unfinching dedication to customers, the product line-up is and cooperation between myself the L.A. Green name, it’s no surprise modifed depending on the store.Te and my franchisees,” Cooper shared. that Cooper has successfully fran- owners of each franchise do a great For Cooper, it’s all about main- chised the store to three additional job at engaging with their individual taining the sense of community that locations:Tupelo, Nashville, and Atlanta, communities, getting a sense of what comes with small business ownership. each owned and operated by an MSU their customers are looking for, and “At the end of the day, I want to be able graduate who worked directly with communicating that to me so that we to help people, whether that’s through Cooper during their time in Starkville. can order the styles we know they’ll retail or through philanthropy or just “Each of our stores remains very true like. For instance, the Tupelo store is by being a good community member,” to the Starkville L.A. Green standard downtown and tends to see a more Cooper said.“I love L.A. Green because of service, in part, I feel, because they’re classical line, while the Nashville and it gives me the opportunity to do all of run by MSU graduates. It was some- Atlanta stores get more young-profes- those things, and that’s what it takes to thing of a coincidence, but it’s become sional and college-aged customers, so make a small business successful. You a point of pride for me that the people the stock is very trendy,” Cooper said. have to love it, even when it’s hard.” ∏ who are upholding the boutique’s name In addition to the existing Starkville, are people who bleed maroon and Tupelo, Nashville, and Atlanta loca- L.A. Green can be found online at white, just like me,” Cooper shared. tions, Cooper hopes to one day open shoplagreen.com or on Instagram @shoplagreen “Bleeding maroon and white is not only more franchise locations across the and @la_lagreen.

Lauren Ann Cooper at L.A. Green in Starkville, MS. (photo by David Ammon)

CALS.MSSTATE.EDU 2019-2020 INFLUENCE 23 LEADERS IN AG

LEADERS IN Agriculture CALS ALUMNI HELP FEED, CLOTHE, AND CARE FOR THE WORLD BY VANESSA BEESON AND REAGON POSTON ➌

ACH YEAR, we feature CALS alumni who are leaders in their respective fields, doing their part to help feed, clothe, and care for the world. Leaders in agriculture extend far beyond the farm and the scope of private industry. We refer to them Eas Leaders in Ag, as they all have a degree from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. This year’s Leaders in Ag serve in various capacities from helming an institution of higher learning and leading the charge for research to fight global food insecurity to conducting important work for an international agency serving global humanitarian efforts to leading an association that supports the state’s livestock producers to growing a crop that offsets the effects of environmental disasters. This year, our Leaders in Ag are DR. MARK E. KEENUM, president of Mississippi State University; DR. PETER KLINCK, who served as an agronomist and seed specialist for the International Committee of the Red Cross; SAMMY BLOSSOM, seasoned cattleman who spent decades as executive director of the Mississippi Cattlemen’s Association; and GABRIELA BRASHER, longtime farmer who grows a value-added crop to help mitigate oil spills.

24 INFLUENCE 2019-2020 CALS.MSSTATE.EDU LEADERS IN AG

1. Gabriela Brasher, a farmer who grows a specialty crop to mitigate oil spills. 2. Peter cleaning apple cider wine bottles with his son, Duncan. The Klinck family ➋ maintains 150 wild apple trees used for sweet cider and sparkling cider wine. 3. Sammy Blossom, cattleman and former executive director of the Mississippi Cattlemen’s Association. 4. Dr. Mark E. Keenum, Mississippi State University president.

➊ ➍

CALS.MSSTATE.EDU 2019-2020 INFLUENCE 25 LEADERS IN AG

MARK E. KEENUM

ROM PROVIDING CRITICAL INSIGHT went on to work for the senator for 18 soybeans, rice, wheat, and peanuts that for Mississippi’s fedging catfsh years, eventually becoming his Chief had been put up as collateral for market- F industry in the 1980s to molding of Staf and noted that his service in ing assistant loans to farmers. Keenum MSU into the globally-relevant research this position, in particular, molded him and his team devised a way to trade engine it is today, DR. MARK E. KEENUM into the leader he is today more than these commodities for fnished food is passionate about feeding the world. anything else. products, the frst transaction of which Te Starkville native, who grew up in “I watched Senator Cochran make included trading tons of raw peanuts Corinth, earned three agricultural eco- decisions in good times and bad, working for thousands of jars of peanut butter. nomics degrees in MSU’s College of with him through 9/11 and Hurricane “Te response was overwhelming.We Agriculture and Life Sciences, graduat- Katrina, and other major economic crises were able to create a barter system where ing with bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral in our country,” Keenum said.“He kept we swapped the raw commodity for a degrees in 1983, 84, and 88, respectively. an even keel, and listened to and treated processed fnished product that could Keenum, who grew up in an ag family people with respect and dignity always. be delivered directly to a USDA food with a dad who worked for the U.S. Depart- I admired his ability to manage and distribution center,” he said. ment of Agriculture for 30-plus years, orig- lead and it was a real blessing to get to Te Stocks-for-Food Initiative worked inally sought to earn an accounting degree spend as much time with him as I did.” so well, $120 million in bulk commodities but chose another major a few classes in. While working with Senator Cochran were traded for fnished food products “A friend told me about the agricul- helped hone his leadership skills, Keenum’s the frst year. Eighty percent of the food tural business major in the agricultural time as Undersecretary of the U.S. Depart- was distributed domestically through the economics department, which intrigued ment of Agriculture, under President USDA while 20 percent was dispersed me because it married my dual interests George W. Bush, ignited his passion for internationally through the McGov- of agriculture and business,” Keenum said. global food security. ern-Dole Food for Education Program. Te switch proved auspicious as he “My role included oversight of the “I’ve very proud of the Stocks-for- would continue on earning his master’s Foreign Agricultural Service and its Food Initiative.Tey say necessity is the and doctoral degrees in the subject while humanitarian feeding programs, so I mother of innovation.Tere was a need working as a marketing specialist for the traveled to developing countries and saw and we fgured out how to meet that MSU Extension Service and a research how our work fed people who, in some need through a unique method that had associate for the Mississippi Agricul- cases, would not have survived had it not never been done before,” said Keenum, tural and Forestry Experiment Station. been for the support of our U.S. citizens who received America’s Second Harvest’s For his master’s and doctoral degrees, and the programs we were adminis- highest honor, Hunger’s Hope for distin- Keenum studied the economics of aqua- tering. Tat created in me a burning guished public service, in 2008 because of culture, specifcally, Mississippi’s catfsh passion to do more to feed people and help his involvement initiating the program. industry, which was just taking of at them feed themselves globally,” he said. As MSU president for the past 12 years, that time. One program Keenum spearheaded in Keenum continues to make global food “My dissertation resulted in two that position was the Stocks-for-Food security a major priority for himself and publications on Mississippi’s catfsh Initiative administered by USDA’s Food for the land-grant institution he helms. industry, including an extensive cash fow and Nutrition Service and the Farm In 2010, Keenum helped create a part- analysis.We published 20,000 copies of Service Agency. Te Secretary of Agri- nership between the United Nation’s that analysis because there was a huge culture at the time asked Keenum to fnd Food and Agriculture Organization, or demand for economic information a way to help California migrant workers FAO, and MSU. For the past decade, the about the catfsh industry,” Keenum said. who were displaced by a severe drought. collaboration has addressed animal and Upon fnishing his doctorate, he joined Since Keenum was also in charge veterinary public health, plant health, the agricultural economics department of the Farm Service Agency, which fsh health, food safety, and nutrition as a faculty member until a role as an manages domestic agricultural programs, programs while providing the oppor- advisor for U.S. Senator Tad Cochran he oversaw stores of government-owned tunity for MSU students to engage in took him to Washington, D.C. Keenum commodities including corn, cotton, FAO-sponsored programs around the

26 INFLUENCE 2019-2020 CALS.MSSTATE.EDU LEADERS IN AG

Dr. Mark E. Keenum (photo by Megan Bean)

world. In 2014, FAO recognized MSU Currently, Keenum serves as chairman technology, and medicine, they will as a Center of Knowledge and a member of both the Foundation for Food and also see the world change and evolve,” of the Global Aquaculture Advancement Agriculture Research and the Board said Keenum, noting that the world Partnership. In 2018, the university was of International Food and Agricultural population is expected to increase selected to be a Candidate FAO Ref- Development. from 7.5 billion to 10 billion by 2050. erence Center on Aquaculture Bios- “It is a real labor of love for me to be “We have a hard time feeding everyone ecurity and Antimicrobial Resistance. involved in working in innovative felds of on our planet in 2020. How we feed MSU is also engaged in meaningful work science focused on how we can produce another three billion people that will with the U.S. Agency for International more agricultural products, including be coming to our global dinner table Development, or USAID, which selected row crops, livestock, and aquaculture in in the span of three short decades is MSU to lead the Feed the Future Inno- a more efcient and efective way so that going to be a huge challenge for these vation Lab for Fish that same year. For we can feed the world,” Keenum said. young people. This is their future several years, the university has been As he continues to help lead the fght and what they’ll be challenged with.” an important partner of USAID’s Feed in global food security, Keenum says there Keenum said agriculture will continue the Future Innovation Lab for Soybean is still more to do. to be a key aspect in solving that challenge. Value Chain Research at the University “When I talk to high school and college “Research our world class scien- of Illinois and is engaged in the Feed students today who are products of the tists are doing right here at MSU will the Future Innovation Lab for Livestock 21st century, I tell them while they’ll help advance agricultural production Systems at the University of Florida. see many exciting advances in science, to meet these growing needs,” he said.

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SAMMY BLOSSOM

EING A CATTLEMAN is a world SAMMY BLOSSOM has always known. Te B 1970 animal science alumnus who grew up on a small cattle and sheep farm in Scott County,Mississippi,would end up serving the state’s cattlemen for 16 years as executive director of the Mississippi Cattlemen’s Association. As executive director, Blossom was in charge of the day-to-day operations of both the Mississippi Cattlemen’s Association and the Mississippi Beef Council.Te association addresses local, state, and federal issues that impact the long-term viability of Mississippi cat- tlemen while the council administers programs of beef promotion, education, research, and consumer and industry information. Blossom said his favorite part of the role was the chance to meet with cattle Mr. Sammy Blossom (photo by Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation) farmers regularly. “With about 14,000 cattlemen and women throughout Mississippi, I had funded. Earnings from that endowment “Te high point of my years at MSU a chance to meet a lot of them over the allow us to award about $65,000 in schol- were my experiences on the livestock years. I loved visiting farms and seeing arships annually that goes to about 50 judging team. Te friends I made there what the operations were like,” he said. students each year,” Blossom said. and the trip to the national judging Blossom’s work included lobbying Prior to his time with the Mississippi contest in Chicago are my best memories for issues important to cattlemen at Cattlemen’s Association, Blossom of college,” he said. “Te judging team the state and federal level and helping managed cooperative supply stores is a great way for people to learn new the 60-plus county cattlemen’s associa- in Louisiana and Mississippi for 22 skills, not just judging cattle, but public tions be successful.Te team organized years, spending 11 of those years at the speaking, decision-making, and how annual meetings and events, published a Lowndes County Co-op in Columbus. to defend your ideas. I got a lot out of monthly magazine, and ran the Beef Barn It was there that his journey to exec- it and I still have friends today that concession stand at the Dixie National utive director began when he volun- I met during my time on the team.” Livestock Show and Rodeo and the teered to reenergize his local county Both FFA and livestock judging left such Mississippi State Fair. Blossom retired cattlemen’s association in the late 1980s. an impression on Blossom, that he con- in 2016 and received the Distinguished “We moved back to Lowndes County in tinues to pay it forward, mentoring youth Service Award from the Mississippi 1987. Joe Love was our county agent with throughout his life, serving on the 4-H Farm Bureau Federation, the organi- the MSU Extension Service and he and I Foundation Board during his tenure with zation’s highest honor, that same year. revived the cattlemen’s association in our the Mississippi Cattlemen’s Association, He considers his work with the area. I went on to stay involved and was and still helping with FFA to this day. Mississippi Cattlemen’s Foundation as one an area vice president and then served as “It’s important for young people to be of his proudest accomplishments. In 2000, state president.In 1998,I joined the staf.” involved in these programs.Tey build a Blossom helped the organization fund a Blossom, who managed cattle opera- lot of life and leadership skills and gain scholarship for the children and grandchil- tions in Mississippi and Kentucky early a knowledge of hard work and dedica- dren of the state’s cattlemen and women. in his career, has always kept cows. His tion.With livestock programs they have “Trough the Mississippi Cattlemen’s participation in the FFA kicked of his to be responsible every day for the care, Foundation, money generated from the journey to Mississippi State, where his feeding, and grooming of those animals. Mississippi cattlemen’s car tag goes into time on the MSU Livestock Judging It does something to build skills you can an endowment that several people have Team is what he remembers most fondly. carry throughout your whole life,” he said.

28 INFLUENCE 2019-2020 CALS.MSSTATE.EDU LEADERS IN AG

GABRIELA BRASHER

ABRIELA BRASHER, a 1985 Mississippi and a pioneer’s spirit, one that was met in sediment. Brasher shared that, though State soil science graduate and the stride by her husband, Brent, a fellow MSU the majority of their customers use G proud co-owner of the kenaf-based alum who she met at a cotton short course. the fber product as an environmen- business, Kengro, relocated more than “Farmers are entrepreneurs. Even tally-friendly way to mitigate commer- 4,000 miles to follow her passion for before we met, Brent and I were both cial oil spills it can also be used for oil agriculture. looking for alternative crops that could cleanup in the garage. No matter the use, Brasher grew up in Rmlang, be used to better the environment Kengro’s products are entirely organic. Switzerland, next-door to a small dairy and set us apart in the agricultural “I think what sets us apart from other farm, where she got her frst glimpse market. When we were introduced to companies with similar products is the fact of farm life, and as she grew, so too kenaf, we were amazed,” Brasher said. that kenaf is both environmentally neu- did her desire to cultivate the land. Kenaf is a tall-growing, value-added tralizing and is a renewable resource. Other “Switzerland is very small, about a crop related to cotton and okra. Brasher businesses might sell products that have third of the area of Mississippi; there’s shared that, with processing, the product to be mined or products that aren’t bio- limited farmlands, so if you want to farm, is able to break down the hydrocarbons degradable, but when we started Kengro, you pretty much have to immigrate. My in oil spills and remain fully organic we were very conscientious about being father and I both wanted to farm, so when and compostable, making it a perfect as ecofriendly as possible,” Brasher said. he saw a newspaper advertisement for choice for the environmentally-conscious. Tere are challenges, however, with farmlands near Minter City, Mississippi, Of course, the success they have being in the oil clean-up industry, even he came to visit. Within the year, my with kenaf didn’t come without with an ecofriendly product produced father owned the property,” Brasher said. a great deal of trial and error. by Kengro. With COVID driving the Tough her father now owned the farm, “When we first started working price of oil to record-lows, there is less it would be another two years before with the crop, we partnered with MSU business for Brasher and her family. Brasher could fnish high school and begin on research. Te university did a lot “We’re in a bit of a dilemma at the to forage her own path to Mississippi. In of research on kenaf, but they were a moment,” Brasher said. “We’ve got a April of 1982, Brasher had the oppor- great help to us with the agronomics lot of overstock because of the unpre- tunity to spend the season with family research, specifcally. Tey helped us dictable market this season, and we’ve friends in Bruce, who were also farmers, fgure out what to do to optimize the got all the kenaf we planted last and by January of 1983, she was enrolled growth of the plants, how best to fer- year when the market was normal.” at Mississippi State to study soil science. tilize, how to control pests,” Brasher said. Tough the future is unpredictable for Brasher graduated in 1987 both with her Once they understood the intrica- Brasher, she maintains the intrepid spirit master’s degree in composite agronomy cies of kenaf growing, the Brashers set that brought her across the ocean to live out to start their the American agriculturalist’s dream. company, Kengro. Beyond maintaining that spirit herself, Tey’ve since opened she has passed it onto her children as well. a two-location oper- “All three of our children have contrib- ation that includes uted their strengths to Kengro. Our oldest their 450-acre farm in daughter helped with supply chain and Tallahatchie County operational management, our youngest and a separation daughter whipped our online representa- plant in Charleston, tion and social media presence into shape, Mississippi, where and our son is very much hands-on with they separate the the farming. He’s the only one I see con- core fber from the tinuing with the agricultural world, but bark. Te core fber our daughters are out striking their own is processed into oil paths in the business world,” Brasher said. absorption and biore- “If either of them decides to come back mediation products, to agriculture, there’s plenty of opportu- and the bark is made nities out there for determined women. into mats that protect It’s lonely sometimes, but I’ve always had against soil erosion all the help and support in Mississippi Mrs. Gabriela Brasher (photo submitted) and can control State that I needed to reach my goals.”

CALS.MSSTATE.EDU 2019-2020 INFLUENCE 29 LEADERS IN AG

PETER KLINCK

HETHER CULTIVATING seeds in war-torn nations or reaping the W harvest on his own Vermont farm, PETER KLINCK, a ’90 agronomy alumnus, has spent a lifetime committed to restoring and strengthening the integrity of local agriculture. Te Norwich, Vermont native began his humanitarian journey by volunteering for the United States Peace Corps in 1984. His frst assignment was an agricul- tural development project in Niger, where Klinck collaborated with the country’s ministry of agriculture in one of their fve seed multiplication centers, giving Peter walking with his field oficers, Mamadou and Edgar Mena, also with the Red Cross, to meet village elders to discuss technical advice on a project designed by agriculture assistance in the Paoua region of the Central African Republic in 2009. (photo submitted) MSU. It was there that he crossed paths with Drs. James C.“Curt” Delouche and crops that rebuild the biodiversity toward the former Soviet Union Republics Warren Couvillion, former professors of pre-war levels,” Klinck said. of Georgia, Abkhazia, Armenia, and seed technology and agricultural eco- Klinck explained that the Red Cross— Azerbaijan, where the seed program he nomics, respectively, working as consul- the frst international humanitarian agency developed in Sierra Leone was again tants on the national cereal seed program. established in the world—is present in employed. Each country he visited saw Tey encouraged Klinck to look into a any given confict zone to protect and Klinck investing in the economy and master’s program studying seed tech- assist victims of armed confict while the community, which in turn, allowed nology at Mississippi State. remaining impartial, politically neutral, their populations to gain back some After serving in the Peace Corps, Klinck and independent. Over the course of purchasing power and reestablish the took their advice and went on to earn his 16 years as a dedicated ICRC seed produce marketing structure. a master’s degree in agronomy focusing technologist, Klinck made an impact on Tough Klinck has since retired from on seed technology from MSU. twelve countries and territories, where he the International Committee of the Red By 1994, Klinck had returned to inter- honed the practice of seed distribution. Cross, his dedication both to local ecology national humanitarian eforts in war-torn In Sierra Leone, his team distributed and food sustainability has remained countries. He spent two years partnering 1,200 metric tons of rice seed varieties to steadfast. He now owns and operates a with various non-governmental agencies 40,000 households on two separate occa- 77-acre farmstead in Tunbridge,Vermont, working towards food sustainability sions.What made the endeavor so special where he maintains nearly 150 wild apple in Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and was that the rice seed distributed were trees used for sweet cider and sparkling Tanzania, before being recruited by the local varieties that Klinck had specifcally cider wine. He also participates in the International Committee of the Red procured from adjacent communities current land use forest management Cross for his seed technology back- and quality-tested to ensure that they program through the state of Vermont, ground. He was sent to Sierra Leone to could be sustainably farmed in the future. where he manages the forests on his aid in the local seed procurement and “Te efort to reinstate the local bio- property following a local forester’s con- distribution program. diversity of crop species is important sultant plan for species management and “Other delegate agronomists employed not only ecologically but also from a production, which includes wildlife habitat, by the Red Cross may not have seed tech- food sustainability standpoint.Te vari- wetland protection, and clean water. nology training and often end up with eties that grow native or were developed “My plan,specifcally,is for the manage- seed varieties whose microecology doesn’t over generations on the land are those ment of hardwoods, which are important always correspond to the targeted climate with which local farmers have the most to the economy and ecology. It’s a gradual zone, resulting in poor harvests.Te seed knowledge and experience. Providing plan over time, but hopefully one that can technology degree I earned from MSU a high-quality variety means the com- make a lasting impact for future harvests allowed me to create onsite quality control munities are more able to continue of mature timber,” Klinck said.“It’s not a seed selection and processing programs, cultivating in the future,” Klinck said. big-business farm, but it’s as sustainable and reintroduce locally-obtained cereal Klinck also invested his eforts in or self-sufcient as one could hope.” ∏

30 INFLUENCE 2019-2020 CALS.MSSTATE.EDU IT'S A SIBLING THING

IT’S A SIBLING THING CALS alumni siblings share passion for landscape architecture

BY TAYLOR VOLLIN

SIBLING IS LIKE a built-in best friend. fguring out the specifcs of an airport As a current doctoral student of Tey are a shoulder to cry on, a con- design, land development, food pro- urban planning and public policy at the A fdant, a partner in mischief, and a tection, hydrology or hydraulics, Tariq University of Texas at Arlington, staying teacher. Aside from the occasional fghts said he is always up for a challenge. stateside ofers Tariq the ability to accom- and bickering, having a sibling ofers a “My passion is site grading and addressing plish goals he has for himself professionally friendship difcult to fnd in anyone else. the physical challenges of the sites, which so he can continue to best serve his clients. Te luckiest of pairs have a connecting is exciting for me because I enjoy fguring “My goal is to keep obtaining knowl- factor aside from the genes they share, out ways to solve problems,” Tariq said. edge about our profession and stay such as a passion that shapes their lives. Two groups of siblings discovered their shared passion in landscape architecture. TARIQ, YAZAN, and AMER MAHADIN, three brothers from Amman, Jordan, have a deeply rooted passion for outdoor design. In 1987, their father, Professor Kamel O. Mahadin, a fellow in the American Society of Landscape Architects, founded Jordan’s leading landscape architectural frm, MK Associates. While the two younger brothers have found their way back to the family business, Tariq is blazing another trail in the Lone Star State. The 2011 MSU graduate received his master’s in landscape architecture and is currently a project manager with CEI Engineering Associates, Inc., a Dallas-based frm providing services around the country. Whether it’s Yazan, Tariq, and Amer Mahadin (photo submitted)

CALS.MSSTATE.EDU 2019-2020 INFLUENCE 31 IT'S A SIBLING THING

up to date with new technologies and a sports center and its community, capital city, where the feld is less known. solutions that help reduce the cost of where the center contributes to social “Landscape architecture is still a feld construction for my clients,”Tariq said. infrastructure, as well as health. Tis that we need to explore and consider more Back home in Jordan, Yazan serves was refected in the project by consid- in our region in the Middle East. My goal as CEO of the frm their father founded. ering how the urban settings resemble is to expand our frm and educate people After receiving his bachelor’s degree the human body. The sports center about landscape architecture,” he said. from Cairo University in Egypt, Yazan design is intended to maintain and pursued his master’s degree in land- improve the human body, while also BUILDING BRIDGES scape architecture at MSU, where he improving human health,” Yazan said. SOME 700 MILES APART, siblings KATIE graduated in 2015. He said his passion For Yazan and Amer, being able to (BULLMAN) BELLENO and MARK BULLMAN is using landscape architecture as a compete and win together in an inter- maintain their connection through phone means to mitigate climate change. national competition fostered a deeper calls and the common ground of land- “My motto is to use landscape archi- connection within a family passion that scape architecture.Te Starkville natives tecture for survival,” Yazan said. “For is unique to the pair. In the third-place and MSU alumni both have had an years, I’ve been an advocate in promoting idea, Amer was excited for his team, interest in the feld from an early age. landscape architecture to protect and comprised of students and engineers In their backyard, Katie and Mark’s enhance the environment, so my goal is from their frm, to place in the top three, parents—LaDonna and Mark Sr.—built to continue using my feld to advocate utilizing a concept that connected the a greenhouse to nurture their children’s and create new ways to save the envi- multiple architectural styles in Manhattan. interest in plants. Aside from the pair’s ronment from our current climate crisis.” “Te site is situated on Madison Avenue, daily competitions to name the most plants Yazan’s drive to address climate change which encompasses traditional, mixed, correctly, days growing up in the Bullman through landscape design began when he gothic, utilitarian, and contemporary household were spent propagating vegeta- was working on his degree at Mississippi architectural styles.We sought to connect tion as a family, growing not only an array State. He was a member of the team that the styles surrounding the site by utilizing of plants but also a love of horticulture. created a design for a green infrastruc- an iconic yet context friendly design. “Our parents played a large part once ture and training demonstration site on Our approach was to create a contem- they saw that we were both interested in the MSU campus, resulting in a second porary design using elements from the the subject. Building us a greenhouse and place fnish in the 2013 EPA Rainworks early 20th century, when Manhatten nurturing those interests was something Challenge. He was also a team member experienced its largest growth, to special they wanted to do for us. Tey in the 2015 Come Alive outside chal- remind us of the bygone era,” Amer said. were a big part in helping us develop those lenge, a national challenge to inspire Amer’s landscape architecture journey interests, and they still are,” Katie said. children to spend more time outdoors. began with a computer science degree from Te pair went on to enroll in a voca- Tis team designed a school garden for the University of Jordan in Amman. After tional program at Starkville High School, Memphis Catholic School in Memphis, taking a year to work at MK Associates, in which they studied horticulture. For Tennessee, which was built in 2016. and with inspiration from his father and Katie, the 2011 MSU landscape architecture Yazan also competed with his brother brothers, he made the decision to follow major, studying horticulture opened the Amer in two designs for Archicontest—a in the family footsteps and pursue a door for a future in landscape architecture. place where designers from all over the master’s in landscape architecture. Amer “I have always been a plant nerd and world are invited to develop their ideas in graduated from MSU in 2016 with the love learning the different types of the context of an international competition. degree before returning to MK Associates. species,” Katie said. “My interest devel- Te brothers, along with other designers Now, the landscape architect works oped as we went through those classes, at MK Associates, submitted two designs with his brother,Yazan, and father special- and I wanted to know what I could do for a sport center in New York, gar- izing in architectural, planning, and engi- in the feld. I wanted to make something nering frst and third place fnishes.Teir neering designing on a variety of projects beautiful through it, and horticulture winning idea was inspired by the relation- including urban plazas, roof terraces, res- was the steppingstone for landscape ship between sports and the community. idential communities, parks, and resorts. architecture and landscape contracting.” “Our frst-place design was inspired Amer is driven to put the family practice Katie now lives in Libertyville, Illinois by the important relationship between to use by changing landscapes in their an hour north of Chicago working as

32 INFLUENCE 2019-2020 CALS.MSSTATE.EDU IT'S A SIBLING THING

Mark Bullman and Katie Bullman Belleno (photo submitted)

an associate landscape architect at between their work, since Mark has paving,deck building,water features,to Rosborough Partners, Inc. Tough remained in Starkville. Mark, older by building complete residential outdoor she primarily focuses on commercial three and a half years, started at East kitchen areas, Mark has enjoyed every design, Katie said she is ecstatic to get Mississippi Community College and minute of his hands-on, outdoor career. to dive into more residential design as then moved on to MSU where he grad- “I’ve come to really enjoy the hard- well. Since her start with Rosborough uated with his bachelor’s degree in land- scaping, which would be jobs like brick Partners, Inc. in 2016, Katie has tran- scape contracting in 2008.With the same paving, but I also enjoy when we work sitioned from Mississippi techniques start in the feld, pursuing this degree was on big, residential, outdoor kitchens. and practices, to those unique to Illinois. something he said he knew he would do, We have gotten to transform back- “Te climates and zones for plant considering he felt it came easy to him. yards just by adding retaining walls, material in Illinois are very diferent “It was something I always thought water features, or other elements,” than in Mississippi. For example, we I had an eye for, and thought I was Mark said. “It’s hard to have one plan for cold weather here compared to good at it. When you enjoy doing favorite project or one I’m most proud Mississippi, so we build walls, structures, something, it also makes it easier to of because I have enjoyed them all.” and elements preparing for a freeze. I learn more about it, and I’ve always Along with his work, the siblings stay also had to learn a new palette of plants enjoyed landscaping,” Mark said. connected, calling as often as possible, that grow here, as opposed to those Te owner of Bullman Yardworks, bonding over their love of the feld. that do well in the South,” Katie said. Mark said his company handles any “I have always thought it was neat that Katie and Mark enjoy being able to project including lawn maintenance, we shared this feld because we could relate explore and compare the diferences landscaping, and irrigation. From brick about work and projects,” Mark said. ∏

CALS.MSSTATE.EDU 2019-2020 INFLUENCE 33 DEVELOPMENT

Development Georgia couple’s gifts create scholarships at MSU

Georgia couple make lasting impact on students By Amy Cagle

GENEROUS SUPPORT from Mississippi State alumni couple Fred and MariAnna Brown of Roswell, Georgia honors their commitment to higher education at the largest university in their home state. A recently established deferred gift from the couple will further their support of the land-grant institution, primarily through student scholarships. Te Browns earned degrees from Mississippi State with the assistance of MariAnna and Fred Brown. (photo submitted) student loans and through their philan- thropy hope to help make an education Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology. along their paths toward future careers possible for future students.Te couple’s Recipients must have a 3.0 GPA, demon- with our scholarships as incentives,”said gift will create three academic-based strate fnancial need, and meet estab- MariAnna Brown. endowed scholarships and provide support lished criteria. Fred Brown shares the goal of their for the university’s music department. “Scholarships truly make a positive deferred gift. In the College of Agriculture and impact and give people a better life. A “Education is important to the quality Life Sciences, the MariAnna and Fred student either can be hindered by his or of life for everyone, and we want students Brown Endowed Scholarship will beneft her personal hardships or use hardships who hold our scholarships to work hard students following in Fred Brown’s as the motivation to reach for success.We and be rewarded with a clean slate after academic footprint by studying in the want to encourage future recipients to graduation, free from the fnancial burdens Department of Biochemistry, Molecular meet challenges in their lives and succeed of education,” he said.

34 INFLUENCE 2019-2020 CALS.MSSTATE.EDU DEVELOPMENT

@CALSDevelopment @MSU Properties @BulldogForest

MSU’s Staggers honored for achievements

National Agricultural Alumni Development Association honors William “Will” Staggers. (photo by Beth Wynn) Staggers I’m really honored to have been selected,” Sciences, as well as MSU Extension, and Staggers said. I’m fortunate to be behind the wheel now.” By Georgia Sisson Te Starkville native graduated from McCarty and Weatherly each had a MSU in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in tenure as the primary fundraiser for CALS. MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY Foundation kinesiology from the College of Education. Today, McCarty is executive director of fundraiser William “Will” Staggers Staggers then worked as a physical science development for the MSU Foundation of Starkville is being recognized by teacher and football coach at Quitman and Weatherly is the college’s senior the National Agricultural Alumni High School, later returning to Starkville director of development emeritus. Development Association for his early and working in commercial insurance. He Staggers continued, “I also can’t say career success and leadership. began his career at MSU as an accounts enough about what our alumni and friends Staggers is receiving the organiza- payable specialist in the Department of the college do to help us on an annual tion’s Up and Coming Award, which of Procurement and Contracts prior to and perpetual basis to further opportu- honors individuals with two to fve years joining the MSU Foundation. nities. Teir loyalty is unwavering and of experience in agricultural advance- Prior to his director role, Staggers that’s what makes this college and our ment professions. Staggers joined the served as assistant director for CALS, university so special.” MSU Foundation in 2015 and serves Extension and MAFES. He succeeds NAADA has provided education, as director of development for MSU’s Jud Skelton, who has the new role of support, and recognition to professionals College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, senior director of development for real and volunteers dedicated to advancing MSU Extension, and the Mississippi estate services for the MSU Foundation. agriculture and related disciplines through Agriculture and Forestry Experiment Regarding his recent award, Staggers land-grant and other colleges of agricul- Station. Both Extension and MAFES said he owes his success to those who tural sciences and partner programs for serve all of Mississippi’s 82 counties. have helped him along the way. more than 40 years. For more informa- “For a long time, NAADA has been “I think largely this award has as much tion, visit www.naada.org. the lead organization for professionals to do with Jack McCarty, Jud Skelton, who work in development and alumni and Charlie Weatherly as it does me,” To learn more about how to support MSU’s tracks at land-grant institutions and agri- Staggers said. “Tese guys paved the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, MSU cultural circles here in the U.S., so to be way to create the level of philanthropy Extension, or MAFES, contact Staggers at 662- recognized in that arena is fattering, and in the College of Agriculture and Life 325-2837 or [email protected].

CALS.MSSTATE.EDU 2019-2020 INFLUENCE 35 DEVELOPMENT

student who might not have the fnan- assembly was relatively simple, the process cial means to attend a fower show of became exponentially more extravagant Horticulture that scope and size. Tis new intern- as layers of exotic forals were added. ship—funded by Watson and the Watson said that Waters ft his target Jackson County Master Gardeners— student entirely. alum ofers included airfare, meals, housing and “I chose Lauren for several reasons. miscellaneous expenses for the full week. I could see from her resume and from “It’s the breadth and location of the speaking to her that she’d already taken inaugural internship that really make it special.Tere it upon herself to seek continuing educa- are so many opportunities in the Northeast tion opportunities from previous intern- that are available to newly-minted and ships she’d had. Her mind seemed to internship adventurous horticulturists.Tis intern- be open to a variety of specifc careers ship covers as many of them as we could within her feld of study, and she had a possibly ft into a week,” Watson said. clear vision about what she would like Watson and Jackson Watson’s inaugural intern, Lauren to get out of her internship and how Waters of Dothan, Alabama, had a week it might help her career,” Watson said. County Master full of professional enrichment oppor- Waters is a senior horticulture major Gardeners fund once in tunities. In her time with Watson, she who worked on a handful of other mean- was able to shadow him as he judged ingful internships before being ofered the a lifetime opportunity the largest horticultural event in the chance to work with Watson.Waters said to work world’s largest world and throughout his live broad- she applied for the same reason Watson cast of QVC’s Garden Event Day, giving created the internship: she wanted to seize indoor fower show her a valuable glimpse into the life of the opportunity for greatness. a horticulturist in the entertainment “I was lucky enough to have had a By Reagan Poston industry. Waters’s primary duty while previous internship at Longwood taking part in the internship, however, Gardens where I worked in the conser- AN MSU ALUMNUS provided an opportunity was helping forist Barbara King design vatory, and I wanted the opportunity for a horticulture major to participate in and assemble the show’s main entryway. to visit again and rekindle connections the largest indoor fower show in the world. Waters was in charge of cleaning and I made the frst time. Not to mention Phillip Watson, graduate of MSU’s storing flowers to be incorporated that experiencing the Philadelphia horticulture program, established an into the entrance design and shared Flower Show in person is a once-in- internship for a Mississippi State that, although the actual mechanical a-lifetime opportunity,” Waters said. horticulture major to spend a week in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to work alongside him at the world-re- nowned Philadelphia Flower Show. Watson, a 2019 CALS distinguished alumnus, is a long-time ally of the university, from serving on the faculty advisory board for the plant and soil sciences department, to serving as a guest lecturer on numerous occa- sions, to his most recent contribution: creating an internship in the hopes of giving up-and-coming horticulturists the opportunities they need to succeed. “We didn’t have internships that I was aware of when I went to MSU, so I learned through mentors and by trial and error, but there was so much more knowledge I sought. I want to contribute to this next generation by providing chances to learn that knowledge,” Watson said. Watson established the intern- ship to create an opportunity for a Phillip Watson and inaugural intern Lauren Waters. (photo submitted)

36 INFLUENCE 2019-2020 CALS.MSSTATE.EDU DEVELOPMENT

Gita and Sonny Ramaswamy. (photo submitted) Ramaswamys honor family through student scholarship government as chief engineer for All In 1997, the Ramaswamys left MSU India Radio. Her mother, Padmavathi when they were recruited by Kansas Narasimhan, was instrumental in Gita’s State University. Sonny became head Former faculty/alum education in the United States. She and distinguished professor of the make infnite impact motivated Gita to achieve her Ph.D. Department of Entomology, and Gita in toxicology from Mississippi State, served as professor and interim head By Amy Cagle after she earned her Bachelor of Science of the university’s Apparel, Textiles, with honors in zoology from Bangalore and Interior Design Department. DRS. SONNY AND GITA RAMASWAMY will University and Master of Science in From there, they held administra- always hold Mississippi State University entomology from the University tive leadership positions at Purdue in high regard. Although they make of Agricultural Sciences, both from University and Oregon State University. their home in Redmond, Washington, India, and a Master of Science in Gita is the recipient of several awards for a time their life centered around textiles from Michigan State University. and honors for her research and teaching Mississippi’s largest research univer- At MSU, recipients of the Padmavathi eforts, and she’s the author of numerous sity. A new endowed student scholar- and P.R. Narasimhan Endowed research articles. Sonny has published ship now connects them in perpetuity Scholarship will be students studying a book, book chapters, and over 150 with MSU, where they spent the early in a wide array of felds. Preference will journal articles, and he also holds a patent. years of their distinguished careers. be given to students from underrepre- For his accomplishments, Sonny is Originally from India, the couple sented backgrounds with fnancial need. the recipient of a number of awards has been married almost 40 years. Te “Mississippi State University is a phe- and honors. Like Gita, Sonny earned Ramaswamys came to the United States nomenal institution that places focus two of his degrees in India—Bachelor to study for their doctorates; Sonny in on helping change the human condi- of Science in agriculture and Master of 1976 and Gita in 1978. Tey moved to tion through education, through dis- Science in entomology, both from the Starkville in 1982 for faculty positions at covery, and through the application University of Agricultural Sciences in MSU. In the years that followed, they of knowledge that positively changes Bangalore. His doctorate is in ento- held numerous roles over some 15 years lives,” said Gita. “We are very pleased to mology from Rutgers University. in the College of Agriculture and Life ofer this scholarship at the university.” Following roles in academia, the couple Sciences. Sonny was a professor of ento- Sonny echoed her sentiment in moved to the Washington, D.C., area in mology, and Gita was a professor of citing why the couple wanted to estab- 2012, where Sonny served for six years as human environment and design. lish the scholarship. then President Barack Obama’s appointee Te Ramaswamys are strong propo- “A Mississippi State University edu- as the director of the U.S. Department nents of education and longtime fnancial cation is important. We hope the recip- of Agriculture’s National Institute of supporters of educational institutions ients of our scholarship will use their Food and Agriculture. Since 2018, he in the United States and India. Teir education from the university to change has been the president of the Northwest most recent gift at MSU establishes the human condition for the better and Commission on Colleges and Universities. the Padmavathi and P.R. Narasimhan impact the world around them,” he said. Following her distinguished career Endowed Scholarship in the College of Over their careers, the Ramaswamys in academia, Gita served as a senior Agriculture and Life Sciences in tribute have mentored numerous students, advisor to the U.S. Department of to Gita’s late parents. along with many colleagues. They Agriculture’s Chief Scientist in then In India, P.R. Narasimhan, Gita’s enjoy helping others seek knowl- President Barack Obama’s administra- father, had a long career with his country’s edge that can create global impact. tion. In 2015, she retired professionally.

CALS.MSSTATE.EDU 2019-2020 INFLUENCE 37 DEVELOPMENT

Kipp Brown honored by longtime mentor

Talented students beneft from Livestock Judging Endowed Scholarship

By Amy Cagle

MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY has a then fnd ample scholarship opportuni- people want to engage with our judging rich history in 4-H Youth Development, ties at senior colleges outside the state.” teams because of their solid skill sets.” and an endowed scholarship will continue Able lives in Miami, Oklahoma, and Te MSU judging team is open to the impact of students who are part returns to MSU often to visit with former students in any major. It is an important of livestock judging teams. Te Kipp colleagues. He was a professor at Kansas milestone in the lives of student members Brown Livestock Judging Endowed State University and later director of who invest nearly three-quarters of their Scholarship honors its namesake, an that institution’s International Meat and weekends traveling across the country each MSU agriculture and life sciences alumnus Livestock Program where he coached KSU year to hone their skills during compe- and Extension Livestock Coordinator to six national championships. Along with titions where they evaluate, select, place, who recently retired from MSU. his MSU master’s degree, Able earned a and learn the various livestock species – Te scholarship was born from a bachelor’s from Oklahoma State and a beef cattle, goats, sheep, and swine. passionate desire to ensure the legacy Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky. Future recipients of the Kipp Brown of livestock judging at the land-grant His career roles also include executive Livestock Judging Endowed Scholarship institution that dates back to the 1920s. secretary for the American International in the College of Agriculture and Life Te benefactor is Bill Able, who was Charolais Association and Vice President Sciences must be Mississippi residents and head of the Department of Animal of Academic Afairs at Northeastern active members of the Animal Sciences and Dairy Sciences at MSU from Oklahoma A&M College. Today, he Senior Livestock Judging Team who 1991 to 1996. Over time, Able hopes oversees Able Publishing Company. have fnished in the top 10 at a National members of the Extension commu- For Brown, the scholarship has special 4-H or Future Farmers of America live nity and fellow alumni will help grow meaning because it was created by Able, animal evaluation contest. Priority will the scholarship endowment for Brown his longtime mentor who has judged be given to students who meet estab- which is the frst at MSU specifcally every livestock competition in the nation. lished criteria and who are enrolled in the for talented livestock judging students. Brown recalls trying to mold and pattern Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences. “By establishing the scholarship, I himself after Able as he developed “It is an honor to work at something I wanted to salute Kipp for his interest his own style in the ring at livestock love and be recognized with this scholar- and encouragement of young people shows. In his career, Brown has amassed ship that can help continue to grow the in Mississippi and give him credit over 30 years of experience judging all university’s livestock judging program,” for his longtime efforts of infusing species of livestock at all show levels. Brown said. “Te MSU program would energy and passion into the judging “Judging is the foundation of any 4-H not be possible without the support of program,” said Able. “The scholar- livestock project, and MSU wants young past and present faculty, staf, coaches, ship will help MSU recruit high-cal- people to judge livestock to learn account- alumni, livestock producers, and students. iber students in Mississippi who often ability and life skills,” said Brown.“Our I believe strongly in this program and initially enroll at junior colleges and university has a heritage of this success,and appreciate the benefts it can provide

38 INFLUENCE 2019-2020 CALS.MSSTATE.EDU DEVELOPMENT

Bill Able (left) and Kipp Brown. (photo by Beth Wynn)

to our participants and the livestock in 2013. He has worked with the Dixie department head. “Judging programs industry as a whole.” National Collegiate Beef Judging are critical for the development of A native of Winona, Mississippi, Contest, the most prominent all beef future leaders in agriculture, and schol- Brown worked with the USDA, the contest in the nation, since 1989. He has arships increase the accessibility of Mississippi Department of Agriculture, been an integral team member of the these programs to more students.” ∏ and the Mississippi Cattlemen’s Mississippi Junior Livestock Program Association prior to joining MSU’s and the Livestock Judging Program Gifts to grow the scholarship endowment may Department of Animal and Dairy throughout the years. be made online at www.msufoundation.com. Sciences in 1993 as an assistant live- “Te Kipp Brown Livestock Judging For gift planning, contact Will Staggers, direc- stock judging coach. He then spent 15 Endowed Scholarship opens new tor of development for the College Agriculture years as an area agent before becoming opportunities for students,” said John and Life Sciences, at wstaggers@foundation. extension livestock judging coordinator Blanton, animal and dairy sciences msstate.edu or 662.325.2837.

CALS.MSSTATE.EDU 2019-2020 INFLUENCE 39 DEPARTMENT NEWS

Department News AGRICULTURAL AND BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING Thomasson returns to MSU as agricultural and biological engineering head

A PRECISION AGRICULTURE and cotton ginning expert is the new head of Mississippi State’s Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering. DR. J. ALEX THOMASSON took the reins of the MSU department efective July 1. A 15-year veteran LaShan Simpson and former endowed chair- holder in Cotton Engineering, honored for diversity Ginning and Mechanization in Texas A&M’s Department DR. LASHAN SIMPSON was honored for of Biological and Agricultural her impact in advancing diversity and Engineering, Thomasson encouraging understanding and respect. returned to Mississippi State, where he in the university’s Delta Research and Te honor was presented during the worked early in his career. Tomasson Extension Center. Upon completion Mississippi Board of Trustees of State served as an agricultural engineer and of his Ph.D. from the University of Institutions of Higher Learning’s annual research scientist in the U.S. Cotton Kentucky, he then moved to Starkville Diversity Awards program on February Ginning Laboratory for the USDA where he served on the faculty in 20, 2020. She was also the 2019 recip- Agricultural Research Service in MSU’s Department of Agricultural and ient of the Outstanding Faculty Award Stoneville, working closely with faculty Biological Engineering from 1997-2004. from the MSU President’s Commission on the Status of Women. Simpson is a researcher in the university’s Mississippi NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station with interests in tissue engi- KIMBERLY YOUNG, 2019 MSU Graduate Sciences and Engineering neering, cardiovascular disease, osteogen- business coordinator, Student Research Doctoral Students esis, biomineralization, animal models, earned the 2019 CALS/ Symposium winners. Oral Presentation and cell culture, histology, and cell and gene MAFES Outstanding Cowick earned first in Sheng earned third in therapy. She also is focused on diversity Support Staf Award. the Life and Biomedical the Life and Biomedical and K-12 STEM education. As an ag Sciences and Engineering Sciences and Engineering and bioengineering faculty member, she Graduate students Master’s Students Doctoral Students Poster is involved in both MSU’s College of CAITLYN A. COWICK, Poster Competition. Competition. Agriculture and Life Sciences and the SAMAN FATEMI, and Fatemi earned first in Bagley College of Engineering. She also QUIGYU SHENG were the Life and Biomedical serves as diversity coordinator for the university’s Shackoul’s Honor College.

40 INFLUENCE 2019-2020 CALS.MSSTATE.EDU DEPARTMENT NEWS

AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS

NOTABLE MSU’s ag econ ACHIEVEMENTS department DR. RANDY LITTLE, professor, received the head honored for 2020 CALS Excellence in Teaching Award, Upper lifetime achievement Undergraduate Level.

A MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY DR. DAN PETROLIA, department head and leading agricul- professor and MAFES tural economics expert is being honored scientist received the for his longstanding contributions to 2020 CALS Excellence in DR. KEITH COBLE agriculture. , pro- Teaching Award, Graduate Level. fessor and head of MSU’s Department of Agricultural Economics, is a selection DR. XIAOFEI LI, assistant for the Southern Agricultural Economics professor and MAFES Association Lifetime Achievement award. scientist, received the According to its website, the mission of recognition at its annual meeting in 2019 CALS Excellence in the Southern Agricultural Economics Louisville, Kentucky, on Feb. 4, 2020. Teaching Award at the Graduate Level. Association, or SAEA, is to foster the Te honor recognizes individuals who study and understanding of agricul- have made signifcant contributions to DEBRA PRICE, administrative tural economics and its applications to scholarship and public service in southern assistant, received the 2019 Zacharias address problems in the southern U.S. agricultural economics over the course Distinguished Staf Award. Coble received the association’s highest of a career spanning 25 years or more.

ANIMAL AND DAIRY SCIENCES

MSU faculty, administrators celebrate completion of Animal and Dairy Sciences Building

THE 34,500-SQUARE-FOOT NEW ANIMAL and Dairy Sciences Building was unveiled and dedicated in fall 2019.Te building is part of a complex at the corner of Blackjack Road and Hail State Boulevard, Administrators and partners involved in making the Animal and Dairy Sciences Building a reality were on hand to commemorate the which also includes the newly constructed, opening of the building with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Sept. 30, 2019. Pictured left to right: David Howell, Mississippi Agricultural 15,000-square-foot Meat Science and and Forestry Experiment Station engineer; David Shaw, MSU provost and executive vice president; Gary Jackson, director of the MSU Extension Service; Amy Tuck, former vice president of MSU Campus Services; George Hopper, former dean of the Muscle Biology Laboratory that opened College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and former MAFES director; MSU President Mark E. Keenum; Reuben Moore, interim last fall. A 27,300-square-foot Poultry vice president of the Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine; Colin Maloney, president and CEO of Century Construction; Justin Harrington, architect at McCarty Architects; and John Blanton, animal and dairy sciences department head Science Building is anticipated for com- and interim associate director of MAFES. (photo by David Ammon) pletion in fall 2020.Te Animal and Dairy Sciences Building serves the department’s members and staf. Te space includes been named by the Mississippi State growing student body, which includes classrooms, laboratories, faculty ofces, Equine Association. A 5,000-square-foot approximately 430 undergraduates and conference rooms, and a graduate assis- connector building between the Animal 30 graduate students. Te facility also tant suite. A food retail space on the frst and Dairy Sciences Building and the houses the department’s some 40 faculty foor, adjacent to the main lobby, has Poultry Building also is under construction.

CALS.MSSTATE.EDU 2019-2020 INFLUENCE 41 DEPARTMENT NEWS

BIOCHEMISTRY, MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, ENTOMOLOGY ANIMAL AND DAIRY SCIENCES AND PLANT PATHOLOGY

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS One-of-a-kind toad born through MSU DR. THU DINH earned the 2019 pioneering technology MAFES Outstanding that’s saving Publication Award for his article “Efects of USDA threatened species quality grade and cooking on water- soluble precursors of beef A MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY partner- flavor.” ship with the Fort Worth Zoo has hatched the frst of more than 30 metamorphosed DR. CALEB LEMLEY toadlets produced through in vitro fertil- was honored with ization. It is a one-of-a-kind toad, born the 2019 through MSU pioneering technology Mississippi Land that’s saving threatened species. MSU is Bank- sponsored also home to the country’s only National MAFES Excellence in Research Amphibian Genome Bank, a repository Faculty Award. of cryopreserved sperm from approx- imately 10 of the world’s most threat- DR. RACHEL HENDRIX, who ened and endangered amphibian species. earned her doctorate in May A Puerto Rican crested toad named 2020, received the 2019 North Olaf, hatched at the Fort Worth Zoo in American Colleges and Teachers 2019, is what one might call a work of art. Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Ento- of Agriculture Graduate Student ART, or assisted reproductive technologies, mology and Plant Pathology, co-leads Teaching Award. developed by scientists in the university’s the project with DR. ANDY KOUBA, pro- Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry fessor and head of the Department of THE MISSISSIPPI STATE Experiment Station and the Forest Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture EQUESTRIAN TEAM ended the and Wildlife Research Center, helps in MSU’s College of Forest Resources 2019 Western regular season amphibians like the Puerto Rican crested and scientist in the Forest and Wildlife by winning two High Point toad, considered a threatened species Research Center.Tey’ve been working Team awards. Individual awards by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. together for more than 20 years developing went to HART DANIELS in Open DR. CARRIE VANCE, assistant research innovative reproductive technologies Horsemanship and Reining, professor in the Department of for threatened and endangered species. SAVANNAH YONGE in Intermediate II Horsemanship, ASHLEY ACKERMAN in Intermediate II MSU biochemistry program earns prestigious accreditation Horsemanship, TAYLOR PERRY in Intermediate II Horsemanship, MSU BECAME THE THIRD SEC university graduating seniors and former graduates and SAVANNA BLACKBURN in and one of only 85 universities nationwide to sit for the ASBMB comprehensive Beginner Horsemanship. to gain accreditation from the American accreditation exam. Tose who pass it Society for Biochemistry and Molecular will have an advantage for admission into COURTNEY HEATON, MAURÍCIO Biology. Accreditation provides indepen- competitive research programs and other XAVIER, and KATE PARSONS dent assurance that the curriculum and advanced training opportunities. Even received the 2019 ADS education ofered in the department meet students who do not sit for the certifca- outstanding doctoral student, the high standards set by ASBMB, the tion exam will beneft by merely attending master’s student, and senior leading professional society for biochem- an ASBMB-accredited university, as award, respectively. istry and molecular biology. Additionally, potential employers recognize the quality this designation allows the program’s of education from accredited universities.

42 INFLUENCE 2019-2020 CALS.MSSTATE.EDU DEPARTMENT NEWS

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

DR. ASHLI DR. DARRELL BROWN SPARKS, JOHNSON, received the state chemist 2019 CALS/ and professor MAFES Out - with the Mississippi State standing Faculty Service Chemical Lab, is among Award. the newest fellows of the Association of Public Entomology master’s Land-Grant Universities’ student BEVERLY Food Systems Leadership CATCHOT was awarded Institute. the Outstanding Graduate Student Award DR. JEFFREY at the 2019 MSU Row GORE, an Crop Short Course. entomologist with the Mis - Senior biochemistry and sissippi Agri - microbiology double cultural and Forestry major AUSTIN DRURY Experiment Station and was awarded the 2019 MSU Extension Service, MAFES Excellence in is a newly appointed Research Award in the member to the Environ- Undergraduate Category. mental Protection MSU’s newest Agency’s Farm, Ranch, Research Associate and Rural Communities RYAN WHITEHOUSE was Goldwater Scholar Committee. U.S. EPA honored with the 2019 recipient passionate Administrator Andrew MAFES Outstanding Wheeler and U.S. Sen. Research Staf Award. about finding cure for Cindy Hyde-Smith cancer (R- Miss.) announced in AURIANNA TUCKER, bio - June 2020 the appoint - chemistry major in the A MISSISSIPPI STATE student ment of Jefrey Gore, one pre -veterinary concen- with a growing interest in cancer of 33 new committee tration, was the 2019 research has been selected to members. recipient of the Tri- receive the prestigious Barry State Soybean Forum Goldwater Scholarship. Junior DR. JOHN Scholarship. biochemistry major HANNAH RIGGINS, L. SCHEAFFER of Ruston, received the REAGAN MOAK and Louisiana, is among nearly Regions - STANLEY BLACKMON, JR. 400 students from across the Division of 2020 biochemistry grad - country receiving the highly Agriculture, Forestry and uates, received the 2019 coveted undergraduate award a minor in French. Scheafer Veterinary Medicine Spirit of State Awards. that encourages pursuit of is also one of 56 scholarships Superior Faculty research careers in the natural being presented to the ASF’s International Award. sciences, engineering, and math- 2020 Astronaut Scholars Class, ematics. Scheafer is pursuing which includes students from a concentration in science and 41 universities across the nation.

CALS.MSSTATE.EDU 2019-2020 INFLUENCE 43 DEPARTMENT NEWS

FOOD SCIENCE, NUTRITION AND HEALTH PROMOTION

Professor designated as Associate Vice President for Academic Afairs

DR. BRENT FOUNTAIN is the new asso- ciate vice president for Academic Afairs, focusing on faculty and student afairs. A longtime faculty member in the Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion, Fountain pre- viously has worked in the Ofce of the Provost and Vice President, and he most recently served as interim director of Career Services and associate vice president intern.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS MSU faculty designated fellow of national aging DR. WES SCHILLING was organization honored with the 2019 MAFES Most Impactful A MISSISSIPPI STATE associate pro- Publication Award. fessor is being honored as a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America. DR. DAVID BUYS, associate professor in MSU’s Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion and state health specialist with the MSU Extension Service, is one of 33 individuals approved by the GSA’s board of direc- tors for fellow status within the society. The Community Health Internship Inaugural Leadership Team and partic - ipants were awarded the 2019 CALS/ MSU professor presents at international listeria symposium MAFES Diversity Award. The team includes (from left) JE’KYLYNN STEEN, IN 2019, one of on Andalusian Listeria Outbreak was JASMINE HARRIS-SPEIGHT, DR. DAVID the largest out- held January 23-24, 2020. BUYS, REAGAN MOAK and ANN breaks of listeria DR. JUAN SILVA, food science, nutri- SANSING. occurred in tion and health promotion professor; Andalusia, Spain. MAFES scientist; MSU Extension NICOLE K. REEDER, a food science, Regional health specialist; and leading listeria expert, nutrition and health promotion authorities acted presented at the symposium and dis- doctoral student from Columbus, MS, swiftly reducing cussed current U.S. regulatory eforts was one of two MSU students selected the impact to as a possible model for Spain to for the Robert Smith, M.D. Graduate humans. Teir eforts culminated in consider when assessing better ways to Scholars Program, part of the Jackson an international symposium focused protect against future listeria outbreaks. Heart Study Graduate Training and on evaluating eforts and determining “Information exchange is critical for Education Center at the University of best ways to move forward to prevent our research to have a global impact as Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. another such event from happening in part of an international conversation the future.Te International Symposium about food safety,” Silva said.

44 INFLUENCE 2019-2020 CALS.MSSTATE.EDU DEPARTMENT NEWS

HUMAN SCIENCES

MSU School of Human Sciences now ofers retail certification

MISSISSIPPI STATE FASHION DESIGN are able to do the same and merchandising students in the uni- and market their mer- versity’s School of Human Sciences now chandise more broadly. can earn a retail certifcate, also available “It’s because we are to all majors. living in a world of Te state’s retail industry is one of the online shopping that MSU fashion design and merchandising senior Ty’Yonna McCalphia of Newton largest in terms of employment, with 254,562 it is important to know adjusts a display at Barnes and Noble Bookstore. (photo by Beth Wynn) working directly for retail and another about the ‘ins and 94,000 with jobs supported by retail. DR. outs’ of retail, where operations hidden many classes comprising the certifcate CAROLINE KOBIA, MSU assistant professor behind a screen are, ultimately, more are ofered online, and program advo- of fashion design and merchandising, complicated and complex,” Lee said. cates are working toward creating an pointed out that many careers, including While the internet promises more entirely online option, hopefully making buyers, analysts, allocators, planners, changes to come, Lee said it also provides it available for non-traditional students managers, product developers, designers and a distinctive opportunity. Currently, already working in the retail industry. more, all utilize skills that may be learned through this retail certifcate program. NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Kobia and DR. JUYOUNG LEE are spear- heading this efort within the univer- sity’s College of Agriculture and Life RILEY BAKER, fashion endeavors. was appointed a fellow Sciences. To ensure the best preparation design and merchandising of the U.S. Department of possible for students looking to better junior, was awarded the 2019 DR. CARLEY Agriculture Ofice of Civil position themselves in the feld, these Regent ’s University London MORRISON, Rights. She is the recip - faculty members have developed MSU’s Will Conrad Scholarship for assistant pro - ient of several awards program from a model program created fashion design. fessor in agricul - including a Distinguished by the world’s largest retail trade asso- tural education, leadership and Research Poster award from ciation, the National Retail Federation. DR. CHARLES communications, received the the American Association “Te certifcate was created to fll a void FREEMAN, asso - 2020 CALS Teacher of the Year for Agricultural Education, in the state,” Kobia said. “It will help our ciate professor in and New Faculty Award. Dr. and a Distinguished Poster students break into difcult areas of the the School of Morrison was also faculty award from the American retail industry, and we’re proud to be the Human Sciences, was a recipient of the 2020 Wesley A. Association for Agricultural only university in Mississippi to ofer it.” recent graduate of the Ammon Outstanding New Education. The latter Kobia also said the certifcation is an national LEAD21 leadership Academic Advisor Award. poster included co -authors important part of remaining successful development program. ABBIGAIL PETERSEN, under- in the feld once a job has been secured. Administered by the DR. JULIE graduate research scholar, “Retail is an industry of change.Tings are Committees on Policy of the PARKER, asso - and DR. CARLA JAGGER, always shifting—market trends, platforming Associations of the Public and ciate professor in former assistant professor. techniques,needs of the consumer—all of Land-grant Universities and human develop - Russell was also elected for it. Trough the process of earning this its strategic partners, the ment and family science, was a third term as Region 3 Vice certifcate, our students will learn how LEAD21 curriculum is awarded the 2019 CALS President of MANRRS. to adapt with the shifting tides,” she said. designed specifically for Excellence in Teaching Award at One of the most rapidly evolving areas faculty and staf of member the Upper Undergraduate Level. TRACY WILCOX received the within the industry is online shopping. institutions who strive to 2019 Louis and Doris Wise Retailers are losing face-to-face inter- improve their leadership Agricultural and Extension Support Staf Award in the actions and opportunities to promote capabilities both in their Education doctoral student, secretarial/clerical category. their merchandise. However, Lee said as present roles and future CHRISTIEN RUSSELL, online shoppers scour the internet, retailers

CALS.MSSTATE.EDU 2019-2020 INFLUENCE 45 DEPARTMENT NEWS

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

Award for Sustainability. Student collaboration in MSU Te 8,000-square-foot Community Garden bears garden, designed and built from 2015 to 2018, is located first fruits in the landscape architec- ture complex of Stone A STUDENT AND FACULTY COLLABORA- Blvd. and is a research tion is blossoming into national and state lab, classroom and com- awards for Mississippi State’s Community munity center. Landscape Garden design team. architecture students led Te MSU Community Garden has the garden project, while received the 2019 Award of Excellence for students in architec- Student Collaboration from the American ture, graphic design, and Society of Landscape Architects, the building construction Students from Professor Robert Brzuszek’s landscape architecture design 2 course till soil in a raised garden bed at the MSU Community Garden. highest honor in its category. science also played sig- (photo by David Ammon) In addition to ASLA’s national award, nifcant roles. Teir col- the garden also was recently recognized as lective work resulted in part of the annual Mississippi Celebrates 17 standard, raised beds, eight acces- stair entrance were all designed and built Architecture. Hosted by the Mississippi sible beds and the installation of two by students in their respective courses. Chapter of the American Institute of farming robots, called “Farmbots” across More than 50 MSU students, faculty Architects, the garden received an AIA four terraced levels.Two garden sheds, a and staf rent garden beds in groups on an Design Merit Award in the sustain- 2,000-gallon rainwater cistern, a system annual basis. Additionally, the space serves ability category, and the U.S. Green capturing rainwater from another building, as an outdoor laboratory for sustainable/ Building Council Mississippi Chapter a gateway arbor,demonstration area,and healthy food courses on campus and as a research site for the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS In addition to the MSU landscape architecture and art departments and SADIK ARTUNÇ, MELISSA ANNE TAZE FULFORD, associate the School of Architecture, university faculty CURRIE, an professor, was named collaborators include the departments of member and assistant pro - 2019 CALS Teacher of the plant and soil sciences and food science, head of MSU’s fessor in the Year. He was also honored nutrition and health promotion.Te MSU Department of Landscape Department of Landscape with the 2019 Excellence Student Association in conjunction with Architecture, is the newly Architecture and co -author, in Teaching Award at the Students for a Sustainable campus played elected president of the JANNI SORENSEN, an assis - Lower Undergraduate a signifcant role in helping secure funding Council of Educators in tant professor in the Level. and promotion. Administrative units Landscape Architecture, a Department of Geography include the Ofce of Planning Design global group striving to and Earth Sciences at UNC The Alumni and Construction Administration and the further education in land- Charlotte, have been Association’s Department of Health Promotion and scape architecture specifi- selected as the recipient of Early Career Wellness. MSU Facilities Management cally related to teaching, the 2020 Best Article in the Undergraduate Teaching and the Mississippi Agricultural and research/scholarly works, Journal of Urban Afairs Excellence Award was Forestry Experiment Station volun- and service. Award for their article, given to PETER teered time and expertise while the MSU “Repackaged ‘Urban SUMMERLIN, associate Extension Service contributed funds. Renewal’: Issues of Spatial professor. To learn more about the national Equity and Environmental award from the ASLA, visit www.asla. Justice in New Construction, JASON WALKER, associate org/2019studentawards and scroll to the Suburban Neighborhoods, professor, won the 2020 student collaboration category. and Urban Islands of Infill.” CALS/MAFES Diversity For more information, visit communi- Award. tygarden.msstate.edu or instagram.com/ msucommunitygarden.

46 INFLUENCE 2019-2020 CALS.MSSTATE.EDU DEPARTMENT NEWS

Revitalizing Africatown: MSU unearthed the Clotilda. Te students’ and cultural signifcance,” Brzuszek said. faculty, students honored for work really has painted the picture for Students met with Africatown repre- what Africatown is trying to do,” said sentatives in community meetings and creativity, preserving the past BOB BRZUSZEK, MSU landscape archi- focus groups, visited the community and tecture professor, who has overseen the toured the site before forming three teams MISSISSIPPI STATE LANDSCAPE ARCHI- university’s involvement with CHUO LI, to work on diferent areas of the town’s tecture students and faculty are being associate professor and co-instructor of river access. Te student plans had to recognized for their role in the design the Urban Design Studio class. meld into one seamless design. of recreational areas within historic Brzuszek recently accepted the Isaiah J. Te opportunity also provided students Africatown, Alabama. Whitley Founder Mobile County Training with hands-on experience in creating a Development of the Mobile County School Legacy Award on behalf of the sense of place, Brzuszek said. site,where the last African individuals in university for its involvement with “Sense of place communicates the the Atlantic slave trade landed in 1866 on building the Blueway. Te award, given historical and cultural signifcance of the schooner Clotilda, has seen a resur- by the Africatown school’s alumni asso- a location through landscape design. It gence since the ship’s discovery in 2019 in ciation, is named for the principal who also accounts for the issues and values Mobile Bay. Hurricane Katrina destroyed served from 1910 to 1923. within the culture,” Brzuszek said.“Te much of the town’s infrastructure. An opportunity to introduce students to students had to dig deep in this project— Students enrolled in both MSU urban the rigors of real-life design and problem they couldn’t just apply a surface design. design and planting design courses have, solving in a service-learning environment It had to come from the heart.” for the past two years, conceptualized was the motivation behind Brzuszek’s and Te students’ conceptual plan did just plans for the Africatown Connections Li’s initial involvement in the project, with that and has provided the community Blueway and for landscaping at the site’s the two also wanting students to honor with a vision for what the area could community center.Te Blueway, a water the history and culture of Aftricatown. look like. As a result, Africatown is now and walking trail network, includes 14 Adding to the signifcance of creating hosting a national design competition, points of interest, fve of which the design plans for the Blueway’s points with one of the MSU urban design National Park Service asked the land- of interest and the community center’s students participating. scape architecture students to design.Te landscaping was that freed slaves who Landscape Architecture magazine, service’s Rivers,Trails and Conservation had been passengers aboard the Clotilda Design Alabama, and National Park Assistance Program has funded the project. purchased Africatown and traveled the Service magazine have featured the “It has been an exciting project for local waterways, using them for suste- students’ work, while Brzuszek has con- the students to be part of as they were nance and recreation. tinued to work with the community to honored with their plans being sent to “Tis assignment has been good for see that some of the students’ solutions the City of Mobile planning ofce, the students because it is an actual site with are refned and implemented. Alabama State Legislature, and several unique conditions and provides the human “It is an honor for our department agencies in Washington, D.C., including element of working with clients.It’s not an and the university to be recognized by the Smithsonian Institution, a sponsor academic, hypothetical project. It involves the community for this service-learning of several dives into Mobile Bay that real problems in an area of historical project,” Brzuszek said.“For me, receiving the Legacy Award is one of the best awards because you’re helping people.Te Africatown community is a great group to be involved with because the people are proactively working to pay tribute to their heritage and culture.” Mississippi State’s landscape architec- ture major is the only accredited Bachelor of Landscape Architecture program in the three-state region of Alabama, Students enrolled in both MSU urban design and planting design courses have conceptualized plans for the Mississippi, and Tennessee. For more Africatown Connections Blueway and for landscaping at the site’s community center. The Blueway, a water and information on the landscape architec- walking trail network, includes 14 points of interest, five of which the National Park Service asked the landscape ture major, visit www.lalc.msstate.edu architecture students to design. (photo submitted)

CALS.MSSTATE.EDU 2019-2020 INFLUENCE 47 DEPARTMENT NEWS

PLANT AND SOIL SCIENCES Cotton professor appointed to lead MSU department

DR. DARRIN DODDS, a Mississippi State cotton agronomist is the new head of the university’s Department of Plant and Soil Sciences. A native of Rushville, Illinois, Dodds is well respected throughout the Midsouth for his teaching, research, and outreach programs in cotton phys- iology. In 2016, he was awarded the Dr. J. Tom Cothren Outstanding Young dozen graduate students. Te pro- Purdue University in botany and plant Physiologist Award by the National fessor performs more than 100 cotton pathology, and his doctoral degree Cotton Council and its partners. extension and research trials each year. in agricultural science from MSU. An MSU alumnus, Dodds has Dodds earned his bachelor’s degree He is also a recent graduate of garnered nearly $6 million in from Western Illinois University the national LEAD21 Leadership research funding and mentored a in agriculture, a master’s degree at Development program.

MSU faculty, have made in the weed science Canada for outstanding students honored discipline across the U.S. research-related presenta- DR. JOHN BYRD, exten- tions and proposals. by Weed Science sion and research professor ANDREW NUSS, an MSU Society of America also in the Department of agronomy senior from Plant and Soil Sciences, is Hartselle, Alabama, is one FACULTY AND STUDENTS in the society’s Outstanding of nine students receiving a Mississippi State’s College of Extension Award recipient. $2,000 John Jachetta Under- Agriculture and Life Sciences Tis is given to an individual graduate Research Award are receiving various acco- who develops creative, innova- to fund his project investi- lades from the Weed Science tive, and efective weed science gating the use of weed-sup- Society of America. extension programs that infu- pressive sweet potato and DR. DAN REYNOLDS, a ence growers or ranchers cover crops for weed man- longtime MSU weed science to adopt new practices. agement and for increased professor, is a new WSSA Byrd provides weed man- proftability of organic sweet fellow, the society’s highest agement outreach related to potato production. honor. Reynolds also is serving forages, rights of way, home Additionally, JUSTIN the university as interim and commercial gardens, CALHOUN, a weed science associate vice president for lawns, and landscapes. His doctoral student from Star international programs and expertise includes exotic City, Arkansas, won frst place executive director of the uni- and invasive weeds, as well for his Ph.D. oral presenta- versity’s International Insti- as weeds that impact natural tion, and HAYDEN QUICK, a tute. Fellows are honored areas and cropping systems. weed science master’s student for their signifcant contri- WSSA also is recognizing from Brighton, Tennessee, butions to the society itself nearly three dozen univer- tied for third place for his and the advancements they sity students in the U.S. and M.S. oral presentation. Dan Reynolds (top) and John Byrd.

48 INFLUENCE 2019-2020 CALS.MSSTATE.EDU DEPARTMENT NEWS

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

DR. JASON DR. K. RAJA CALYN ADAMS, won the JENNY RYALS, a doctoral SWATI SHRESTHA, KRUTZ, REDDY, undergraduate poster student, received first master ’s student, director of began his competition in 2019 from place for her presen- received the 2019 the term as MAS the Southern Branch of tation at the 2019 IPPS Outstanding Master ’s Mississippi president on the American Society of Southern Region meeting. Research Assistant Water Resources July 1, 2020. Reddy Agronomy. Ryals also received Award from the MSU Research Institute and recently received the the MS Association of Graduate School. plant and soil sciences organization’ s 2019 LUCAS FRANCA, Conservation Districts professor, received the Outstanding Contribution doctoral student, placed Jack H. Winstead SHANDREA D. 2019 Regions -Division of to Science Award. Reddy first and SAVANA DAVIS, Scholarship, as well as STALLWORTH, doctoral Agriculture, Forestry, and also won the MAFES master’ s student, placed being the first place student, was chosen as Veterinary Medicine Outstanding Publication third in the poster presen- winner in the 2019 the 2019 Grand Champion superior faculty research Award in 2020 and was tation awards at the 2019 Southern Nursery in the Three -Minute award. named the 2019 SEC Southern Weed Science Association Bryson L. Thesis Competition. Faculty Achievement Society annual meeting. James Student Research Stallworth was also DR. Award winner. Competition. elected graduate pres - COLEMAN EDUARDO S. GARAY, ident of national MANRRS. ETHEREDGE, DR. MARK plant and soil sciences JAY SEALE, agronomy assistant SHANKLE, graduate student, has student, placed second AURIANA TUCKER professor, research been named a 2019 for his master ’-s oral pre received the received the 2020 CALS professor, Kirchner Food Fellow. sentation at the 2019 Undergraduate Research Excellence in Teaching received the Southern Weed Science Award at the 2019 Weed Award, Lower 2020 Mississippi Land Society meeting. DYLAN HOLLOWELL, Science Society of Undergraduate Level. Bank- sponsored MAFES agronomy major, was America meeting. Excellence in Research selected as a 2019 out- BHUPINDER SINGH, Faculty Award. DR. standing senior by the doctoral candidate, was CHARLES “HUNT” TONGYIN LI, American Society of awarded the 2019 MAFES WALNE, doctoral student, assistant DR. Agronomy, Crop Science Excellence in Research was one of 18 graduate professor, TE-MING Society of America, and Award in the graduate students chosen as a received the PAUL the Soil Science Society category. Singh was also recipient of the Future 2020 MAFES Most TSENG, of America. inducted into MSU’ s Leader in Science award, Impactful Publication assistant Graduate Student Hall of an honor bestowed by Award. professor, received the Fame Scholars. Agronomy doctoral the agronomy tri-so - 2020 CALS/MAFES student JACOB MCNEAL cieties—the American Outstanding Faculty DR. JESSE was awarded the BROOKLYN Society of Agronomy, Service Award and the MORRISON, Outstanding Graduate SCHUMAKER won Crop Science Society of Outstanding Reviewer assistant Student Award at the second place in the America and Soil Science Award from the Weed professor, 2019 MSU Row Crop master ’s oral presen- Society of America. Science Society of received the Short Course. tation contest at the America. American Forage and 2019 Southern Region ISABEL WERLE placed Grassland Council ’s Early American Society of MICHAEL NATTRESS first at the 2019 North Career Award. BRAD BURGESS, Horticultural Science received the 2020 MAFES American Weed Science director of variety testing, meeting. Schumaker Excellence in Research Contest for the under- received the 2020 MAFES along with doctoral DANIEL Award, Graduate graduate herbicide Outstanding Research student SHANDREA PETERSON Category. symptomology and third was named Staf Award. STALLWORTH, and overall in the undergrad - a William L. undergraduate AURIANA uate division. Giles WAYNE PHILLEY, senior TUCKER, won first place in their oral divisions Distinguished Professor. research technician, was AMY WILBER, Plant and at the 2019 Mississippi Peterson teaches in the honored with the 2019 Soil Sciences graduate Academy of Sciences. Department of Plant and Zacharias Distinguished student, placed first for Soil Sciences and serves Staf Award. her poster at the 2019 as director of MSU’ s Crop Science Society Institute for Genomics, of America C-5 Division Biocomputing and competition. Biotechnology.

CALS.MSSTATE.EDU 2019-2020 INFLUENCE 49 DEPARTMENT NEWS

POULTRY SCIENCE

MSU professor named Poultry distinction and made signifcant contri- and teaching in an industry that’s valued Science Association fellow butions to the feld. at $3.2 billion dollars for our state alone.” MARY BECK, professor and head of the A scientist with the Mississippi Department of Poultry Science, said the Agricultural and Forestry Experiment A MISSISSIPPI STATE designation is a testament to Peebles’s dedi- Station, Peebles’ research focuses on nutri- poultry science faculty cation to a lifelong career in poultry science. ents and vaccine in ovo, or in egg, injec- member was named a “Dr. Peebles collaborates with organi- tion, and hatching egg incubation, eggshell fellow of the Poultry zations like the USDA to solve pressing quality and embryogenesis. He has trained Science Association. issues for the poultry industry, such as 26 master’s and nine doctoral students DR. DAVID PEEBLES, his work studying a bacterial pathogen, and has served on 53 graduate committees. professor, received the Mycoplasma gallisepticum, which costs Currently, he is the major professor for association’s highest recognition during its the industry more than $780 million a one master’s and two doctoral students. annual meeting July 15-18, 2019 in Montreal, year. Additionally, he teaches genetics to Peebles has had 513 career publications Québec, Canada. approximately 500 students each year,” and was the most published author in Te elected honor is reserved for indi- Beck said. “Tis honor further under- Poultry Science and the Journal of Applied viduals who have achieved professional scores his commitment to both research Poultry Research combined from 2014-2016.

MSU and Alcorn partner to to prepare even more professionals and ofer poultry science dual- leaders for one of our state’s most important industries,” Keenum said. “Mississippi degree program State ofers one of only six poultry science programs in the nation, and our graduates MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY and have a 100 percent job placement rate, with Alcorn State University are partnering many of them considering multiple ofers.” to launch a dual-degree program Lee said this partnership is a great that will prepare more leaders for opportunity for both institutions. the state’s top agricultural industry. “I am delighted about the partnership,” Alcorn State University Interim President Dr. Donzell Lee, On Feb. 21, 2019, MSU President DR. Lee said. “Working together, ASU and seated from left, and MSU President Dr. Mark E. Keenum MARK E. KEENUM signed a memorandum of understanding on Feb. 21, 2019, and ASU Interim MSU will have a great impact on one of the to establish a program that will allow students to earn bachelor’s degrees from both universities. Looking on are President Dr. Donzell Lee signed a mem- largest industries in the state by creating ASU Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Afairs orandum of understanding to establish the a pipeline of competent individuals who Dr. John Igwebuike and former MSU Provost and Executive program that will allow students to earn can jump right into leadership positions.” Vice President Dr. Judy Bonner. (photo submitted) bachelor’s degrees from both universities. Students can complete 91 hours NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS toward an ASU Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Science with a focus in animal science and then transfer to Mississippi DR. JESSICA competition and placed Oral Presentation Award, State to complete the remaining 31 WELLS is the third as a team. respectively. hours in coursework for an MSU newest Bachelor of Science in Poultry Science. recipient of Poultry science NEIL SMITH, poultry Upon completion of the MSU course- the Poultry students JOSIE GAMBLE science major, placed first work, students will graduate from Science Association and LAUREN LINDSEY overall in the 2019 annual both institutions with dual degrees. recruitment award. were honored at the national collegiate poultry Keenum said the new program will International Poultry judging competition. provide a range of benefts for both Students from the Scientific Forum, with students and the poultry industry, the Department of Poultry the Don R. Sloan state’s largest agricultural enterprise Science competed in the Undergraduate Research topping $3 billion in value last year alone. 54th annual national col- Poster Presentation Award “Tis is an opportunity for two leading legiate poultry judging and the Don R. Sloan land-grant institutions to work together

50 INFLUENCE 2019-2020 CALS.MSSTATE.EDU ALUMNI NEWS

Alumni News

BENNY GRAVES (B.S., M.S., Alumni Achievement Award. CEO of the family business, He is a small grains specialist plant pathology, ’77, ’79) is the Walker is CEO for Heart- A.C. Riley Cotton Company. for the University of Tennessee author of a new book,“Dancing land Catfsh. Walker was also Agriculture Extension Service. with Trees: A Family Journal.” named one of the Mississippi BRANDON GIBSON (B.S., agri- The book is a collection of Business Journal’s CEOs of the business, ’96; MABM, agribusi- PHILLIP L. VINES (B.S., agronomy, photographs and stories that Year for 2019, an honor that rec- ness, ’97) has been appointed ’12; M.S., agricultural life sciences, explore a Mississippi family’s ognizes high performing chief the Chief Operating Ofcer for ’16) has received from the Musser journey through life under the executives from companies of the State of Tennessee. Gibson International Turfgrass Founda- watchful eyes of individual trees. all sizes throughout Mississippi. had previously been serving as tion the Musser Award of Excel- Senior Advisor to the Governor. lence, which is given to outstanding CRAIG SHIDELER (B.S., agricul- JOHNNY RAY (B.S., agricultural eco- doctoral candidates who, in the tural economics, ’77) president nomics,’86) was elected chairman BOB SCOTT (Ph.D., weed science, fnal phase of their studies, demon- and chief executive ofcer of the of the Mississippi Council on ’97) has been named director of strate overall excellence through Mississippi Land Bank received Economic Education board of direc- Arkansas’ Cooperative Extension their turfgrass research program. the Alumni Achievement Award. tors. He has more than 33 years of Service, the organization that banking experience and is exec- delivers the education outreach BRIAN HOWELL, RLA (B.L.A., STEVE MCLAURIN (B.S., poultry utive vice president and Jackson portion of the University of landscape architecture, ’15) com- science,‘79) was elected Chairman regional president for BankFirst. Arkansas System Division of pleted the requirements to become of the Mississippi Poultry Associ- Agriculture’s land-grant mission. a Registered Landscape Architect, ation Board of Directors for 2020. TOM KENDALL (B.S., agricultural including a two-year apprentice- economics,’89) was named pres- JOHN G. CAMPBELL (B.S., ag ship and passing the Landscape PAUL HARDIN (B.S., agricul- ident of the Meridian market by pest management, ’01) is the Architectural Registration Exam- tural engineering technology and Trustmark. He previously served new State Director for USDA ination. He apprenticed with HRC, business,’83) is the 2019 president as president of the Vicksburg Rural Development in Mississippi. a civil engineering, landscape archi- of the Mississippi Coalition of market and has more than 17 Campbell will administer USDA tecture, land surveying and con- Appraisers. He previously served years of banking experience. Rural Development programs struction administration frm in as vice president and director. He and set priorities particular to Douglasville, Georgia, under fellow is the owner of pH Real Estate GAYLE FORTENBERRY, (B.S., the rural needs of Mississippi. MSU alumnus Darryl D. Ray. Services Inc. in Madison, which agricultural communications,’93; provides real estate services, B.S., agricultural education, ’94) HANNAH BECKER (B.S., animal WHIT KENDALL (B.S., agricul- as well as commercial, indus- was named the Agriculture Work- and dairy science, ’10) joined tural engineering technology trial, and agricultural appraisals. force Development Coordinator the Military Family Advisory and business, ’16) was named for the Mississippi Department Network Advisory board in Wash- the Senior Counsel and Leg- JEROME GODDARD (Ph.D., of Agriculture and Commerce. ington, D.C. She is the digital islative Policy Coordinator for entomology, ’84) has a new creative director for Becker the Mississippi Department book available from Livingston KENT BLOODWORTH, (B.S., Digital, a veteran-owned mar- of Agriculture and Commerce. Press. “Soul Traveler” is a sci- agronomy, ’95; M.S., weed keting and public relations entifc thriller about traumatic science,’99) received an Alumni agency in Florida. MFAN is a SARAH BYRD (B.S., agronomy, memories and how they can Achievement Award. Kent is national nonproft organization ’19) placed in the fnal four in infect other people and even General Counsel for the Mis- that partners with government America’s Young Farmers & are purposely moved from one sissippi Farm Bureau Federation agencies and private industry Ranchers competition sponsored person to another by an uneth- to support military families and by Farm Bureau. Byrd is a research ical scientist. It is the sequel to his RILEY JAMES (B.S., agricultural increase community awareness. agronomist with Indigo Ag. previous work “Living Memories.” economics, ’95) was sworn in as the newest member of the Mis- TYSON RAPER (M.S., agricul- CIARRA SMITH (B.S., bio- DANNY WALKER (B.S., agri- sissippi River Commission. Te ture, ’11) was named the 2019 chemistry, ’19) received a cultural engineering technology seventh generation of his family Cotton Specialist of the Year at prestigious National Science and business, ’84) received an involved in farming, James is the Beltwide Cotton Conference. Graduate Research Fellowship.

CALS.MSSTATE.EDU 2019-2020 INFLUENCE 51 ALUMNI NEWS

OBITUARIES

LEE A. BENOIST (B.S., M.S., company’s print, electronic, and mentored people through the as secretary for many years. He agricultural economics, ’81, ’84) online publications and commu- Boy Scouts and First Baptist also served many terms as assis- 61, Jackson—He was employed nications. He received numerous Church of Rolling Fork, where tant governor and deputy assis- with Stone Wealth Management awards for news, photojournal- he taught Sunday School and tant governor.–December 26, 2019 in Ridgeland and was vice presi- ism, editorial, and column writing was a lifetime deacon. He was dent of the Private Client Group, during the course of his career. a member of the Yazoo Mis- JAMES BUD DILLARD (B.S., M.S., Sterne Agee Inc. He was a member sissippi Delta Water Manage- Ph.D.,agricultural economics,’62, of the MSU Alumni Association, MARTIN L. BRIDGES (B.S., ment District and a former board ’63, ’72) 82, Muscle Shoals, Ala- serving on the national board from agronomy, ’53) 89, Swainsboro, member with Farmers Grain bama—A native of Winfeld, 2004-09. He also served on the Georgia—A native of Wesson, Terminal and Farmers Inc and Alabama, he became an agricul- Central Mississippi Chapter’s he was an Air Force veteran of served as a commissioner on the tural economist with the Ten- scholarship board, received the the Korean War. He received Mississippi Levee Board. He was nessee Valley Authority in 1963. 2010 Distinguished Service Award the UDC Cross of Military named the Mississippi Farmer of He later returned to Mississippi and contributed to the annual Service and later joined the Army the Year in 2005.–March 13, 2019 State as part of the Extension “Evening in Maroon” banquet. A Reserves. He was a member and Service and the Mississippi Agri- lover of the outdoors, he co-hosted past master of the Masonic Lodge DAVIS RAY CLARK (M.S., hor- cultural and Forestry Experiment the call-in radio program and received his 50-year award ticulture, ’72) 76, Leland—He Station with economic research “Outdoors with Uncle Lee and from Te Grand Lodge of Georgia. earned a bachelor’s from Missis- that supported Mississippi’s beef Bobby C” on WFMN Supertalk He retired from the U.S. Depart- sippi College and, following his cattle industry. He would return to from 1999-2003.–June 21, 2019 ment of Agriculture as a soil and graduation from MSU, did post TVA once more before ultimately water conservationist. An active graduate work at North Carolina joining MSU’s Department of HEMBREE BRANDON (friend) member of his community he was State University. He worked at Agricultural Economics and 82, Starkville—A native of New a part of the Swainsboro Exchange Morson Sterling Oil Company expanding his research to include Albany, Miss., he was public Club, the choir of Swainsboro and the Delta Branch Experiment the catfsh industry.–May 5, 2019 relations manager for the state First Baptist Church, and was Station as a member of the MSU Highway Department’s Northern an Eagle Scout.–May 27, 2019 Extension Service. Active in the ROBERT “BOB” FYE (retired District (1956-61) and editor of the First Baptist Church in Leland, faculty) 95, Starkville—He Winona (Miss.) Times (1963-1973). LAURANCE WATSON CARTER he was a deacon and served on served in the U.S. Army during For more than 45 years, he held (B.S., general agriculture, ’52) 88, numerous committees. He also WWII, earning the rank of various editorial positions with Rolling Fork—He served as a worked for Habitat for Humanity master sergeant. He earned a Farm Press Publications, Clarks- pilot with the U.S. Army from 1952 helping to build, wire, and fnish bachelor’s degree at Iowa State, a dale, Miss., ending his career until 1956, including 16 months many homes. He was a member of master’s at Washington State and there as editorial director for the in Korea. A lifelong farmer, he the Leland Rotary Club, serving a doctoral degree in entomology at

52 INFLUENCE 2019-2020 CALS.MSSTATE.EDU ALUMNI NEWS

the University of Wisconsin. He Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Services Inc., a soil- 52, Salt Lake City, Utah—A began his career at New Mexico Natural Resources Conserva- testing and plant analysis labora- native of Starkville, she moved State University as an assistant tion Service, where he was a ded- tory in 1973, and he worked there to Utah with her husband in entomologist, but soon joined icated and enthusiastic federal until his retirement.–May 21, 2019 2018 to follow professional aspi- the U.S. Department of Agricul- employee until his retirement, rations.Tere she began exploring, ture where he spent 28 years as serving farmers and landowners ANDREW M. RATCLIFF (B.S., hiking, and camping at the many a research entomologist. During in the Mississippi communi- animal science,’50) 94, Natchez— national and state parks in the that time, he enjoyed sabbatical ties of Greenwood, Yazoo City, He served in the U.S. Navy’s 7th area. A four-time cancer survivor, work in Canada and Australia Forest, Corinth, and Marks Fleet in the Pacifc where he was she began running full and half before coming to Mississippi State before his fnal USDA assign- wounded in action during the marathons at the age of 50 and as a member of the faculty. He ments in Humphreys and Sun- invasion of the Philippines. After was a fnisher of the Chicago was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, fower counties.–June 20, 2019 graduating from MSU, he began Marathon in 2018.–January 9, 2019 Sigma Xi, Phi Sigma, Gamma a 45-year career with Interna- Sigma Delta, American Men of JIMMY C. MCLAIN (B.S., general tional Paper Company. During LEON WEIR WILLIAMS (B.S., Science and was awarded a USDA agriculture, ’64) 78, Senatobia— that time, he was treasurer of general agriculture, ’50; M.S., Certifcate of Merit.–July 12, 2019 He had a passion for and com- the Old South Federal Credit animal science,’54) 91, Newton— mitment to the youth, farmers, Union. He continued to serve He was honorably discharged DUDLEY RUSSELL JONES (B.S., and cattlemen he served as a 4-H on its board of directors after from the U.S. Army in 1952 and horticulture, ’79) 66, Cleveland, youth agent and county agent. He his retirement and was inducted enrolled at Mississippi State. He Georgia—A native of Bir- was inducted into the Mississippi to the Mississippi Credit Union worked as an assistant county mingham, Alabama, he joined the Cattlemen’s Association Hall of System Hall of Fame.–July 4, 2019 agent for the Mississippi State U.S.Marine Corps and served in Fame in 1997.–January 14, 2019 Extension Service in Bolivar Vietnam. After earning his degree, JAMES SIMPSON JR. (B.S., agri- County before joining the MSU he began working in the feld of JOE V. PETTIET (Ph.D., agronomy, cultural economics, ’53; retired faculty where he taught and con- viticulture. He helped establish the ’64) 87, Leland—He served in faculty) 87, Longview—He was ducted research until 1962. He vineyards of Habersham Winery the U.S. Army before moving a retired professor of agricul- then earned a pharmacy degree in Georgia and worked as a wine- to Arkansas to pursue bache- tural economics and a longtime from the University of Missis- maker there.–December 23, 2018 lor’s and master’s degrees from member of Longview Baptist sippi and bought a half-interest the University of Arkansas. After Church.–January 9, 2019 in McMullan’s Drug Store, which CHARLES EVERETT KEENUM earning a doctoral degree from was renamed Williams Drugs (B.S., agricultural science, ’62) MSU, he joined the Delta Branch REBECCA HOWELL TREVINO after he acquired full ownership. 83, Belzoni—Keenum had a dis- Experiment Station in Stoneville. (BLA, landscape contracting, He operated the pharmacy with tinguished career with the U.S. He and wife, Iris, opened Pettiet landscape architecture, ’89, ’90) his wife until 1991.–July 22, 2019

CALS.MSSTATE.EDU 2019-2020 INFLUENCE 53 ALUMNI BREAKFAST

Super Bulldog Weekend April 13, 2019

1. CALS Ambassadors. ➊ 2. Governor Tate Reeves, (then lieutenant governor) addresses the breakfast crowd.

3. Richard Taylor (B.S., general business, ‘73), of MS Seedmen’s Association, receives an alumni achievement award from DAFVM interim vice-president Reuben Moore and former CALS Dean George Hopper.

4. Brandon Gibson (B.S., agribusiness, ‘96; MABM ‘97), ➋ ➌ chief executive oficer for the State of Tennessee, receives an alumni achievement award from DAFVM interim vice-president Reuben Moore and former CALS Dean George Hopper.

5. John Gordon Campbell (B.S., ag pest management, ‘01), State Director for USDA Rural ➍ ➎ Development in Mississippi, receives an alumni achievement award from former CALS Dean George Hopper and DAFVM interim vice- president Reuben Moore.

54 INFLUENCE 2019-2020 PHOTOS BY KAREN BRASHER ALUMNI BREAKFAST

Homecoming November 23, 2019

1. Kent Bloodworth (B.S., agronomy, ‘95, ➊ ➋ M.S., weed science, ‘99), general counsel for the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, receives the Dean’s Award from former CALS Dean George Hopper and MSU President Mark E. Keenum.

2. MSU President Mark E. Keenum congratulates Mississippi Farm Bureau President ➌ ➍ Mike McCormick as an honorary bulldog.

3. Craig B. Shideler (B.S., ag economics, ‘77), chief executive oficer of Mississippi Land Bank, receives an alumni achievement award from former CALS Dean George Hopper and MSU President Mark E. Keenum.

4. Danny G. Walker (B.S., ag engineering ➎ technology and business, ‘84), chief executive oficer of Heartland Catfish receives an alumni achievement award from former CALS Dean George Hopper and MSU President Mark E. Keenum.

5. MSU President Mark E. Keenum poses with the Homecoming Court.

PHOTOS BY KAREN BRASHER 2019-2020 INFLUENCE 55 NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID MISSISSIPPI STATE 39762 COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES PERMIT NO. 81 P.O. Box 9760 Mississippi State, MS 39762

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PHOTO: Foaling season at the MAFES H. H. Leveck Animal Research Center. (photo by David Ammon)