National Officers

National President - Ms. Lynn Burwell '80

Burwell assumes the presidency following a two-year term as vice president of the MSU Alumni Association. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics and Child Development in 1980 from MSU and is a senior sales advisor for direct sales at Card Connect. Before becoming vice president, she served two terms as a director on the association’s national board for the Mississippi South Region 3. She has long been an MSU Alumni Association volunteer on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, including her role as president of the Harrison-Hancock Alumni Chapter. She now volunteers with activities for the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chapter, such as the Road Dawgs Tour, Gulf Coast Highway cleanup, and Drawdown fundraiser. Burwell also volunteers with the Alumni Recruitment Network and is a mentor for the Bulldog Network Mentor Program.

National Vice President - Riley Nelson '99, '01

Nelson assumes the vice presidency following his role as the association’s national treasurer since 2019, where he also served as a representative on the MSU Foundation Investment Committee. He previously served the association’s national board as the Mississippi Central 3 Region Director and held leadership roles, including multiple terms as chapter president with the Warren County Alumni Chapter. Nelson earned two degrees from MSU: a Bachelor of Accountancy in 1999 and a Master of Taxation in 200. He is the managing partner with May and Company LLP. He continues serving the Warren County Alumni Chapter and is a Richard C. Adkerson School of Accountancy Advisory Council member.

National Treasurer - Dave Dickson '87

Dickson, before his new role as national treasurer, served multiple terms on the association’s national board as Out of State Region 1 Director. Dickson earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in banking and finance in 1987 from MSU. He is president and CEO of Union Bank and Trust Company in Monticello, Arkansas. Dickson is active in the Southeast Arkansas Alumni Club and is a longtime Alumni Recruitment Network volunteer, encouraging students to attend MSU. He also hosts the annual Southeast Arkansas Send-off Party.

Immediate Former National President - Terri Russell '84 '86

Following a two-year term as president, Terri Russell assumes the office of immediate past president. Russell is a two-time MSU graduate, earning a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in industrial engineering in 1984 and 1986, respectively. She serves as a principal member of technical staff at AT&T Labs, Inc. She has been a longtime volunteer with the MSU Alumni Association's Birmingham, Alabama, Chapter, where she has served in various roles over the past 25 years, including eight years as chapter president. She has been instrumental in student recruiting, community service, scholarship fundraising, and coordinating events for alumni in the region. Russell also played an integral role in making MSU license plates a reality in Alabama, and she was honored with the MSU Alumni Association’s 2008 Distinguished Service Award.