Central Mississippi Chapter

Serving alumni, friends and prospective students in Hinds, Madison and Rankin counties.

Upcoming Events

2025 Chapter Volunteer Team

Do not solicit for any reason. Contact information is provided for chapter purposes only.

President – La’Kitha Bledsoe Hughes, Ph.D., ’00, ‘03
Vice President – Casonja Thompson ‘04
Secretary – Jacqueline Quinn, Ph.D., ‘17
Treasurer (Interim) – Casonja Thompson ‘04
Past President - La’Tesha Roby ‘03

Committee Chairs
Community Service –
Game-Watch Gatherings –
Membership –
Publicity/Social Media –
Send-off Party –
Scholarship –
Student Recruiting –
Young Alumni – Isabel Davis '23

Board Members
Jacqueline Brackett
Mecca Lawhorn Butler
Tenika Carter
William Drake
Dr. Melody Fortune
Dwanda Moore
Carl Nichols
Trayce Thomas

If you would like to volunteer with the chapter as an officer, committee chair or board member, please contact the chapter at msucentralmsalumni@gmail.com or contact Janet Downey, Coordinator of Volunteer Engagement, at 662-325-8515 or jdowney@alumni.msstate.edu.

Chapter Membership Information

If you’re an alumnus or friend of MSU who lives in Hinds, Madison or Rankin County (based on your mailing address with the Alumni Association), you’re automatically a member of this chapter. An annual gift to Mississippi State made through the MSU Foundation makes you an active member of the MSU Alumni Association and the Central Mississippi Chapter.

Supporting the Chapter and Scholarship Fund

Financial Support of individuals and businesses is also important to the success of the Central Mississippi Chapter. There are two ways to support through the MSU Foundation.

Chapter Scholarship

The Central Mississippi Chapter has established an endowed and annual scholarship fund through the MSU Foundation to be given to entering freshmen and transfer students from the tri-county area. Help us grow these funds by making a tax-deductible gift, in any amount.
Support the Central Mississippi MSU Alumni Chapter Endowed Scholarship Fund

Support the Carlie Nichols Annual Scholarship Fund.

Advancement Fund

The Central Mississippi Chapter Advancement Fund supports the chapter's goals and initiatives. Gifts to this fund help pay for activities and events hosted by the chapter, which ultimately supports the chapter scholarship.
Support the Central Mississippi Chapter Fund.

To use a check, make checks payable to MSU Foundation and send to:
MSU Foundation, P.O. Box 6149, Mississippi State, MS 39762
You can also call (662) 325-7000.

Gifts designated to one of our chapter funds help students from our area become Bulldogs and graduate from Mississippi State.

Student Recruiting and Scholarship

MSU Undergraduate Admissions (Student Recruitment)
Central Mississippi Staff

Isabel Davis, Admissions Counselor for Hinds, Madison, Adams, Amite, Claiborne, Copiah, Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, Pike, Warren, Wilkinson counties, and part of Yazoo County.
601-769-3277 • id176@msstate.edu

Catherine “Cat” Mansell, Admissions Counselor for Rankin, Jasper, Lawrence, Newton, Scott, Simpson, Smith, and Walthall counties.
601-988-3992 • cat.mansell@msstate.edu

Ty Tolbert, Admissions Counselor for Jackson Public Schools and Mississippi Delta.
601-624-0622 • tt1421@msstate.edu

Emily Reeves, Assistant Director of Recruitment and Events for Central and South Mississippi, assists in Hinds, Madison and Rankin counties.
769-229-4044 • etc59@msstate.edu

Hannah Pierce, Assistant Director of Transfer Recruitment, Central Mississippi.
662-418-1866 • h.pierce@msstate.edu

If you have any questions about student recruiting in Hinds, Madison and Rankin County, please contact any of the counselors. Our Admissions Counselors visit area high schools and community colleges, participate in college and career fairs, talk to students and parents and work full time to recruit students to become Mississippi State Bulldogs!

Alumni and friends are encouraged to assist with student recruiting. If you would like to join the volunteer Alumni Recruitment Network, please contact the Alumni Association to sign up with the  Alumni Recruitment Network.

Central Mississippi Chapter Scholarship

Applications for scholarships are available through the student application for admission after receiving admittance to MSU.  Students who complete the general scholarship application after admittance to Mississippi State will automatically be considered if the criteria are met.

The University Scholarship Committee administers the scholarship program at Mississippi State University. Financial need may be used as consideration in selection. Any scholarships will be awarded on a year-to-year basis.

Awards will be based on funds available.  Funds will not be given directly to the recipients; rather, the university business office will credit the recipients' tuition and fees expenses each semester.