The 2010 Alumni Fellows returned to campus October 29-30, 2010, to be recognized and to share their specialized academic and work experience with students and faculty.
Congratulations to the 2010 class of Alumni Fellows. Thank you for your service to Mississippi State University!
The Mississippi State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has chosen Michael Hatcher as the 2010 Alumni Fellows. Hatcher, a 1982 landscape contracting graduate, is president of Michael Hatcher and Associates, Inc.
In 1974, Hatcher was selected to represent Lincoln County by the Garden Clubs of Mississippi, Inc. to attend a horticulture summer seminar at Mississippi State. This opportunity led to a passion that continued his career path in the landscape industry.
Hatcher owes much of his success to what he learned at Mississippi State, and from many professors who served as mentors during his time as a student.
“MSU provided the foundation to develop my creativity and visionary thinking, which has been a catalyst for my professional career,” he said.
He recalls countless hours spent in Montgomery Hall working on design projects with fellow students, friends and professors.
“Some of the best days were those spent in the classroom under our professor Ed Martin, and the ‘red line’ pen slashing of your design. He was constantly encouraging while demanding excellence,” he continued. “I also credit the late professor Bob Callaway with his visionary understanding of what the landscape contractor’s profession required, and his ability to push you outside your comfort zone for personal growth.”
Since founding his company in 1986, Hatcher realized the need for quality employees to provide the level of experience and expertise to develop the company. A constant relationship with the programs at Mississippi State supplied the human resource capital, which was key in the continued growth of the company.
In the last 24 years, Michael Hatcher and Associates, Inc. has provided career opportunities for literally dozens of alumni from Mississippi State. With his continued passion for the university and the green industry, Hatcher helps young alumni develop professionalism while encouraging creative thinking for the next generation of outdoor environments. Recently, Hatcher converted the company to an employee owned organization through an employee stock option plan, which recognizes the significance of the greatest asset, people.
Hatcher, a native of Brookhaven, Miss., currently serves as an advisory board member for the landscape management program at Mississippi State, as well as a board member of The Bulldog Club. He and his wife, Mary, now make their home in Olive Branch.
Robert E. “Bob” Luke has been selected as the 2010 Fellow for the Mississippi State University College of Architecture, Art and Design. Luke, of Meridian, Miss., is president of LPK Architects, P.A.
Luke, a 1980 architecture graduate, has a distinguished career that ranges from healthcare facilities to historical restorations. He is a registered architect in Mississippi and Alabama, and currently has offices in Columbus, Meridian and Topeka, Kan.
During his career, Luke has had the opportunity to serve in several leadership positions in professional organizations. One of his greatest accomplishments was serving as president of the National Council of Architectural Registration Board (NCARB). He has also been active in the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Mississippi AIA chapter, Mississippi Architectural Foundation and the MSU College of Architecture Art and Design Advisory Board, among others.
As a student, one of Luke’s greatest accomplishments was speaking to the leaders of the Mississippi Legislature about the importance of having a School of Architecture at Mississippi State.
“I truly believe the education and life experiences at MSU prepared me for a career in architecture,” he said. “I have worked across the country with some of the largest firms, and my MSU education allows me to compete at the highest level.”
One of Luke’s fondest memories at MSU was attending a Buddy Miles concert on a first date with Kathy Chester. The couple has been married for 36 years, and has three children and three grandchildren.
Cindy M. Stevens is representing the Mississippi State University College of Arts and Sciences as the 2010 Alumni Fellow. She is a 1983 graduate with a bachelor’s degree in political science.
Stevens currently serves as director of government relations for Deloitte and Touche USA LLP in Washington D.C. With over 24 years of experience in government relations, Stevens is the primary contact with members of Congress, the administration and executive branch agencies.
As a student, Stevens had the privilege of working with the John C. Stennis Institute of Government at Mississippi State.
“The political science department at MSU is one of the finest in the South,” she said. “MSU has a culture of helping individuals who demonstrate that they are serious about their education and are willing to go the extra mile to fulfill career aspirations.”
Stevens credits her father and sister, both MSU graduates, as big influences in her life. She also was honored to work with Rep. G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery upon graduation from MSU.
“To this day when I mention his name, former and current members of Congress praise him and his dedication to our country and veterans,” Stevens said.
Today, she continues her involvement with the Stennis Institute by serving as a member of the advisory board. She is also involved with community organizations such as Value in Electing Women (VIEWPAC), National Capital Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, Jefferson Island Club, Capitol Hill Club and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Stevens is a native of Louisville, Miss. She and her husband, Linwood Cotman, currently reside in Alexandria, Va.
Jackson, Miss. native C. Donald “Don” Whitmire Jr. has been selected as the 2010 Alumni Fellow for the College of Business at Mississippi State University. He currently serves as the vice president and controller for financial reporting at Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., the world’s largest publicly traded copper company.
Whitmire graduated with special distinction from Mississippi State in 1978 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He continues his support of the College of Business by participating on the alumni advisory council for the Richard C. Adkerson School of Accountancy.
While in school, Whitmire was a part of the university’s honors program, serving as president of the Student Honors Council, under the leadership of Dr. John Tilley. He believes his time at Mississippi State prepared him for a successful career in the field of accounting.
“Our professors stressed the importance of personal effort, hard work, and knowing how to work cooperatively with others,” he said. “We were just ordinary kids under great professors getting excellent life opportunities.”
During his 21-year career at Freeport-McMoRan, Whitmire has worked in the fertilizer, sulfur mining, oil and gas and copper mining divisions, including nearly four years at the company’s copper mine in Papua, Indonesia. His responsibilities have also included the corporate human resources, risk management and IT and telecommunications support functions.
Whitmire is a licensed certified public accountant in Arizona, Texas and Louisiana, and a member of the American Institute of CPAs and the Arizona Society of CPAs.
Currently, he and his wife Peggy, a Jackson native and a graduate of Mississippi University for Women, live in Scottsdale, Ariz. The couple has three sons, two fellow Bulldog graduates, and one who is a senior at MSU.
The Mississippi State University College of Education has selected East Mississippi Community College President, Dr. Rick Young, as the 2010 Alumni Fellow. Young, a native of Mathiston, Miss., holds a bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degree from Mississippi State. He also attended Wood Junior College and the University of Southern Mississippi.
Young has over 37 years of experience in education in the state of Mississippi. He began his career at Harrison Central High School in 1972, where he established a distributive education program. In 1974, he accepted a position at the Golden Triangle Campus of East Mississippi Community College and has worked in various capacities for the college over the past 35 years. Young is currently in his seventh year as president of EMCC.
Among his accomplishments, Young helped establish Mississippi’s first community college distance learning lab at EMCC in the early 1990s. Dedicated to the economic development of the Golden Triangle, he was also instrumental in establishing the first Center for Manufacturing Technology Excellence in the state. He is a charter member and current president of the Mississippi Corridor Consortium comprised of Itawamba, Northeast and Northwest Mississippi Community Colleges. The Consortium pools resources of four community colleges to enhance regional economic development.
Young credits Mississippi State with providing the knowledge base and skills needed to pursue his dreams and career goals.
“Mississippi State instilled the determination and confidence to reach beyond my original goals,” he said. “My professors served as a great influence, and their willingness to nurture and inspire encouraged me to strive for greater things.”
While at EMCC, Young has had the privilege to see unprecedented growth in the student population over the last decade. He has also worked with the faculty and staff on increasing program offerings and community interaction, as well as building projects and infrastructure improvements. Most recently, he introduced a tuition guarantee program enabling recent high school graduates to attend EMCC with their tuition guaranteed.
During his career, Young has been involved with many professional and community organizations. He currently serves on boards for the Mississippi Partnership Workforce Investment Act, the Columbus-Lowndes Development LINK, the Greater Starkville Development Partnership and the Clay County Growth Alliance. He is also a member of the advisory council for the MSU College of Education, the MSU-Meridian campus, as well as the Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle Community Advisory Board.
He and his wife Melinda, a fellow educator and MSU alumna, have two children who are also MSU alums.
The James Worth Bagley College of Engineering at Mississippi State University has selected Alfred F. “Al” Eaton as the 2010 Alumni Fellow. Eaton is a senior vice president with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, LLC.
Eaton graduated from Mississippi State in 1970 with a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering. While in school, he participated in the Air Force ROTC program, and received a full-tuition scholarship for his junior and senior years.
Upon graduation, Eaton became a pilot with the United States Air Force, flying a C-141 aircraft. He later attended the University of Tennessee, where he earned a master’s degree in aviation systems.
Eaton believes Mississippi State provided him with a solid educational background for his life’s work.
“The engineering curriculum at State taught me how to think systematically when analyzing problems or projects,” he said. “I learned a thought process that has served me well throughout all phases of my life.”
Eaton’s father attended Mississippi State prior to joining the United States Army Air Corps in World War II. In honor of his father, Eaton and his wife, Susan, set up an endowed scholarship fund for engineering students at Mississippi State.
“My parents served as two of the biggest influences in my life,” stated Eaton. “They taught me that I could accomplish anything if I just put my mind to it and applied myself. They supported my decisions and encouraged me toward my goals.”
The MSU alumnus has been in the financial consulting business for over 29 years. During his career, he has earned designations as a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), Senior Portfolio Manager, Senior Investment Management Consultant (SIMC®), a Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA®), and an Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®).
A native of Holly Bluff, Eaton and his wife now reside in Bakersfield, Calif., and maintain close ties to State.
The Mississippi State University College of Forest Resources has selected Dr. Wayne H. Smith, of Melrose, Fla., as the 2010 Alumni Fellow. The 1962 and 1965 graduate holds a master’s and doctoral degree from Mississippi State.
Smith currently serves as a professor and director emeritus in the School of Forest Resources and Conservation at the University of Florida. His extensive research has covered the areas of forest soils, nutrition and biogeochemical cycling, biomass energy, and organics composting and utilization.
As a young scientist, Smith acknowledges his time at Mississippi State as one of the most influential periods in his career. He gives particular credit to professors Dr. George Switzer and Dr. Lyle Nelson for the role they played in his education.
“Often scientists make their most significant contributions early in their careers,” he stated. “I give Switzer and Nelson credit for being transformational scientists, and, as a result, they placed me on the cusp of our area of work.”
Under the guidance of his two major professors, Smith was a part of a team that introduced the term “biomass” to the field of plant and soil science, a term that was not immediately accepted. Since then, Smith has served as the North American editor of the International journals of Biomass and Biomass and Bioenergy.
Smith, a native of Marianna, Fla., has many fond memories of his time at Mississippi State. From the academic enrichment to social engagement to the camaraderie between students and faculty, he believed that MSU prepared him extremely well for a diverse career involving teaching and research, leading three interdisciplinary program centers, and directing the UFL School of Forest Resources and Conservation.
From the launch of his career at MSU, Smith published 147 scientific and technical papers, edited 7 books, taught several courses in forest soils and ecology and mentored dozens of students.
Prior to attending MSU, Smith earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Florida. He has received several professional accolades, including Society of American Foresters Fellow and former national program chair, Florida Forestry Association Living Legend Lifetime Achievement Award, and the UFL Distinguished Service Metal. He and his wife Mitzi now reside in Melrose, Fla.
Mississippi State University has selected a husband and wife team to represent the College of Veterinary Medicine as 2010 Alumni Fellows. Drs. Jeff and Sue Pearce of Memphis, Tenn. will return to campus Oct. 28-30 to share their expertise with veterinary students.
The Pearce’s met while attending school at MSU, and were married shortly before graduation. They now own and operate Cloverleaf Animal Clinic, a multi-veterinary small animal practice in Memphis.
Sue, a native of Washington, D.C., received a bachelor’s degree in animal science prior to entering veterinary school. She also holds a master’s degree in counseling from the University of Memphis.
Jeff, of Vaiden, Miss., received his doctorate degree from Mississippi State.
As students, the Pearce’s enjoyed spending time with friends and classmates at Dudy Noble Field. They were such enthusiastic baseball fans that they attended a game following their wedding ceremony.
Both doctors believe Mississippi State adequately prepared them for careers as animal health specialists.
“Mississippi State taught me that desire, hard work and perseverance can go a long way to achieving your goals,” stated Jeff.
“I believe it gave me the confidence to take risks,” added Sue. “It made me want to help others have the opportunity to succeed as well.”
The Pearce’s are active in their local community. They are members of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association and the Memphis/Shelby County Veterinary Medical Association. They are also members and contributors to the Memphis Zoo, and active in the Church of the Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Memphis.
Dr. James W. “Jimmy” Hollingsworth has been selected to represent the Mississippi State University Meridian campus as the 2010 Alumni Fellow. Hollingsworth, a 1987 alumnus, is a practicing general dentist at Hollingsworth Dental Clinic in Newton.
After finishing his degree at MSU-Meridian, Hollingsworth graduated from the University of Mississippi Medical Center, School of Dentistry. He also attended East Central Community College, where he currently is a member of the board of trustees.
Hollingsworth was recently honored as guest speaker at the MSU-Meridian spring commencement. He credits much of his success to the help received from professors and fellow students in Meridian.
“My education from MSU allowed me to pursue my degree in dentistry,” said Hollingsworth. “I attended MSU-Meridian, so I was able to stay at home and complete my degree. I will always be grateful for the opportunities I have been afforded as a result of the education that I received at MSU.”
The Meridian alumnus currently owns his own general dentistry practice. He also serves on the medical staff of Rush Hospital, Newton Regional Hospital and Lackey Memorial Hospital.
Hollingsworth and his wife, Sharon, live in Lake with their daughter, Abby. He is active with the Newton Rotary Club, Newton Chamber of Commerce and First Baptist Church in Lake.
