Faculty Leadership Program

Sponsored by the university's Office of Research and Economic Development and Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President, the Faculty Leadership Program works to develop the next generation of campus academic leaders.

The Faculty Leadership Program builds on Mississippi State’s tradition of strong and effective leadership and helps outstanding faculty members further develop the skills needed to lead the university forward in its mission of teaching, research and service.

During the 10-month program, which begins every September, participants attend various presentations and engage in roundtable discussions with top administrators. Session topics include leadership styles, organizational change, diversity, building winning research teams, and organizational evaluation and assessment.

Please submit applications in the Infoready portal here: Faculty Leadership Program Applications

For additional information, please contact Dr. Devon Brenner dgb19@msstate.edu or Judy Middleton jhm353@msstate.edu.

2023 - 2024 Faculty Leadership Roster

*denotes members of the Academic Leadership Development Program

Rachel Allison	Associate Professor	Sociology
Shanti Bhushan	Associate Professor	Mechanical Engineering
Harish Chander	Associate Professor	Kinesiology
Ben Crider	Associate Professor	Physics and Astronomy
Joseph Emerson	Associate Professor	Chemistry
Nick Fitzkee	Professor	Chemistry
Larry Hanson	Professor and Interim Head	Comparative Biomedical Sciences
Michele Herrmann	Associate Professor	Building Construction Science
Trent Irby	Interim Associate Director and Extension Professor	Plant and Soil Sciences
Attila Karsi	Professor	Comparative Biomedical Sciences
Santanu Kundu*	Professor and Endowed Chair	Chemical Engineering
Dominic Lippillo	Interim Associate Dean and Professor	Art
Melanie Loehwing*	Associate Dean and Associate Professor	Arts and Sciences
Andrew Mercer	Professor	Geosciences
Margaret Ralston	Associate Professor	Sociology
Karen Spence*	Professor and Director	Architecture
Peter Summerlin	Associate Professor	Landscape Architecture
Gregg Twietmeyer	Associate Professor	Kinesiology
Robert West*	Professor and Department Head	Classical and Modern Languages

2021 - 2022
Donald Zacharias Class

Linkan Bian	Associate Professor	Industrial and Systems Engineering
Michael Breazeale	Associate Professor	Marketing, Quantitative Analysis & Business Law
Wen-Hsing Cheng	Professor	Food Science, Nutrition, and Health Promotion
Heejin Cho	Associate Professor	Mechanical Engineering
Mark Fincher	Associate Professor	Community College Education (MSU Meridian)
Charles Freeman	Associate Professor	Human Sciences
Cory Gallo	Professor	Landscape Architecture
Carla Huston	Professor	Pathobiology and Population Medicine (CVM)
Barbara Kaplan	Associate Professor	Comparative Biomedical Sciences (CVM)
Caleb Lemley	Associate Professor	Animal and Dairy Sciences
Paul Mickle	Associate Research Professor	Northern Gulf Institute
Sandra Orozco-Aleman	Associate Professor	Finance and Economics
Frank Owens	Associate Professor	Sustainable Bioproducts
Donna Peterson	Extension Professor	Human Sciences
John Eric Smith	Associate Professor	Kinesiology
Rooban Venkatesh K G Thirumalai	Assistant Research Professor	Institute for Imaging & Analytical Technologies (I2AT)
Shey Washburn	Interim Associate Director and Coordinator of Clinical Experiences/Assistant Clinical Professor	MSU Meridian

Spring 2021
Faculty Leadership Development Institute

Beth Baker	Assistant Extension Professor	FWRC: Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture
Leslie Burger	Assistant Extension Professor	FWRC: Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture
Amy Crumpton	Associate Professor	Architecture, Art and Design: Interior Design
LaDonne Delgado	Professor	Mississippi State University Libraries
Qian (Jenny) Du	Professor	Electrical and Computer Engineering
Kristine Evans	Assistant Professor	FWRC: Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture
Alexis Gregory	Associate Professor	Architecture, Art and Design: Architecture
Kimberly Hall	Professor	Meridian Division of Education
Alisha Hardman	Assistant Professor	Human Sciences
Julie Jessop	Professor	Swalm School of Chemical Engineering
Anne Marshall	Associate Professor	History
Lyndsey Miller	Associate Professor	Architecture, Art and Design: Interior Design
Bindu Nanduri	Associate Professor	Veterinary Medicine: Comparative Biomedical Sciences
Ginger Pizer	Associate Professor	English: Linguistics
Sorina Popescu	Associate Professor	Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Plant Pathology, and Entomology
Suzanne Powney	Associate Professor	Architecture, Art and Design: Graphic Design and Art
Heidi Renninger	Assistant Professor	FWRC: Forestry
Kathleen Sherman-Morris	Professor	Geosciences
Beth Stokes	Assistant Professor	FWRC: Sustainable Bioproducts
Tonya Stone	Associate Professor	Mechanical Engineering
Mary Love Tagert	Associate Extension Professor	Agriculture and Biological Engineering Extension
Angelle Tanner	Associate Professor	Physics and Astronomy
Carrie Vance	Assistant Research Professor	Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Plant Pathology, and Entomology
Amelia Woolums	Professor	Veterinary Medicine: Pathobiology and Population Medicine

2019 - 2020
James D. McComas Class

Linda Coats	Professor	Education Leadership
Stacy Haynes	Associate Professor	Sociology
Haitham El Kadiri	Associate Professor	Mechanical Engineering
David Lang	Professor	Plant and Soil Sciences
Matt Lavine	Associate Professor	History
Laura Marler	Associate Professor	Business
Dan Reynolds	Professor	Plant and Soil Sciences
Wes Schilling	Professor	Food Science, Nutrition & Health Promotion
Brad Trinkle	Associate Professor	Business
Jervette Ward	Associate Professor	English

2018-2019
William L. Giles Class

Todd Archer	Associate Professor	CVM Basic Science
Critz Campbell	Associate Professor	Art
Adam Knight	Associate Professor	Kinesiology
Jamie Larson	Associate Professor	Animal and Dairy Sciences
Yucheng Liu	Associate Professor	Mechanical Engineering
Julia Osman	Associate Professor	History
Mabel Okojie	Professor	Instructional Systems & Workforce Development
Brian Shoup	Associate Professor	Political Science and Public Administration
Darrell Sparks	Associate Professor and Director	Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology & Plant Pathology
Kathleen Thomas	Professor and Head	Economics

2017 – 2018
Dean W. Colvard Class

Shrinidhi Ambinakudige	Associate Professor	Geosciences
Brian Baldwin	Professor	Plant and Soil Sciences
Cindy Bethel	Associate Professor	Computer Science and Engineering
Guihong Bi	Research Professor	Plant and Soil Sciences
Stephen Brain	Associate Professor	History
Jenny Du	Professor	Electrical and Computer Engineering
David Hoffman	Associate Professor	Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures
T.J. Jankun-Kelly	Associate Professor	Computer Science and Engineering
Bindu Nanduri	Associate Professor	CVM Basic Science
Michael Seymour	Associate Professor	Landscape Architecture
Lesley Strawderman	Associate Professor	Industrial and Systems Engineering
John Wyatt	Associate Professor	Instructional Systems and Workforce Development

2016 –2017
Benjamin F. Hilbun Class

Amy Crumpton	Professor	Interior Design
Darrin Dodds	Associate Extension Professor	Plant and Soil Sciences
Deborah Eakin	Associate Professor	Psychology
Jeffrey Eels	Associate Professor	Veterinary Neuroscience and Veterinary Anatomy
Yong Fu	Associate Professor	Electrical and Computer Engineering
Jeffrey Haupt	Professor	Art
Alexandra Hui	Associate Professor	History
Melissa Moore	Department Head	Marketing, Quantitative Analysis, and Business Law
Andy Perkins	Associate Professor	Computer Science and Engineering
Edwin Webster	Professor	Chemistry

2015 –2016
Fred Tom Mitchell Class

Janet Donaldson	Associate Professor	Biological Sciences
Kimberly Hall	Associate Professor	Counseling
Dean Jousan	Associate Professor	Animal and Dairy Sciences
Deborah Lee	Professor	MSU Libraries
Shien Lu	Associate Professor, Biochemistry	Molecular Biology, and Plant Pathology
Bonnie O’Neill	Associate Professor	English
Amanda Powers	Associate Professor	Mitchell Memorial Library
Kathy Sherman-Morris	Associate Professor	Geosciences
Jack Smith	Associate Dean of Academic Affairs	Veterinary Medicine
Lisa Wallace	Associate Professor	Biological Sciences
Lakiesha Williams	Associate Professor	Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Joe Wilmoth	Associate Professor	Human Sciences

2014 – 2015
George Duke Humphrey Class

Craig Aarhus	Associate Director of Bands and Associate Professor	Music
Ashli Brown	Associate Professor, Biochemistry	Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology
Angus Catchot	Professor, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology	Entomology, and Plant Pathology
Renee Clary	Associate Professor	Geosciences
Diana Eubanks	Associate Clinical Professor and Chief of Community Veterinary Services	Veterinary Medicine
Donald Grebner	Professor	Forestry
William Hay	Associate Professor	History
Brien Henry	Research Corn Agronomist	Plant and Soil Sciences
Rocky Lemus	Associate Extension and Research Professor	Plant and Soil Sciences
Robert McMillen	Associate Professor and Associate Director	Social Science Research Center
Stephen Middleton	Director of African American Studies and Professor	History
Jane Parish	Research/Extension Professor	North Mississippi Research and Extension Center Prairie Research Unit

2013-2014
Hugh Critz Class

Tom Allen	Associate Professor	Delta Research and Extension Center
Kari Babski-Reeves	Graduate Coordinator	Industrial and Systems Engineering
Ronald Cossman	Research Professor/Research Fellow	Social Science Research Center
Michael Cox	Professor	Plant and Soil Sciences
Jeremiah Davis	Associate Professor	Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Dipangkar Dutta	Associate Professor	Physics and Astronomy
Hans Herrmann	Assistant Professor	Architecture
Mark Hersey	Associate Professor	History
Brenda Kirkland	Associate Professor	Geosciences
Yaroslav Koshka	Professor	Electrical and Computer Engineering
Rebecca Long	Associate Professor	Management and Information Systems
Michele McDonnall	Research Professor	National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision
Thomas Morris	Assistant Professor	Electrical and Computer Engineering
Zhaohua Peng	Professor	Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology
Rani Sullivan	Associate Professor	Aerospace Engineering
Kenneth Willeford	Professor	Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology
Kevin Williams	Associate Professor	Communication

2012 – 2013
Buz M. Walker Class

Sherif Abelwahed	Associate Professor	Electrical and Computer Engineering
Kimberly Kelly	Assistant Professor	Sociology
James Giesen	Associate Professor	History
Cody Coyne	Professor	CVM Basic Science
Oliver Myers	Assistant Professor	Mechanical Engineering
Colleen Sinclair	Associate Professor	Psychology
Mark Horstemeyer	Professor	Mechanical Engineering
Trisha Phillips	Associate Professor	Philosophy & Religion
Karen McNeal	Associate Professor	Geosciences
Todd French	Associate Professor	Chemical Engineering
Dana Franz	Associate Professor	Curriculum, Instruction & Special Education
Isaac Howard	Associate Professor	Civil & Environmental Engineering
Matthew Boggan	Associate Professor	Educational Leadership – MSU Meridian
Lelia Scott Kelly	Extension Professor	North MS Research and Extension Center
Angi Bourgeois	Associate Professor	Art
Andy Londo	Extension/Research Professor	Forestry
Thomas Lacy	Professor	Aerospace Engineering
Henry Wan	Associate Professor	CVM Basic Science

2011 – 2012
David Carlisle Hull

Ted Atkinson	Associate Professor	English
Yogi Dandass	Associate Professor	Computer Science and Engineering
Islam El-Adaway	Assistant Professor	College of Architecture, Art and Design and Bagley College of Engineering
Rafael Hernandez	Associate Professor	Sustainable Energy Research Center
Gregg Ibendahl	Associate Extension Professor	Agricultural Economics
John D. Kushla	Associate Extension and Research Professor	North MS Research & Extension Center
John Madsen	Associate Extension and Research Professor	Geosystems Research Institute
Jarrod Moss	Assistant Professor	Psychology
Dagmar Radin	Associate Professor	Political Science & Public Administration
Angela Robertson	Research Professor	Social Science Research Center
Rebecca Robichaux	Associate Professor	Curriculum, Instruction & Special Education
Mark W. Shankle	Research Professor	North MS Research & Extension Center
Erdem Topsakal		Electrical & Computer Engineering
John M. Usher	Professor and Head	Industrial & Systems Engineering
Keisha Walters	Associate Professor	Chemical Engineering

2010 – 2011
William Hall Smith Class

Gary R. Bachman	Professor	Coastal Research and Extension Center
Barry Barnett	Professor	Agricultural Economics
Devon Brenner	Associate Professor	Curriculum, Instruction, & Special Education
Anastasia Elder	Associate Professor	Counseling and Educational Psychology
Gary Ervin	Associate Professor	Biological Sciences
Randy Little	Professor	Agricultural Economics
Kelly Marsh	Associate Professor	English
Fred Musser	Assistant Professor	Entomology and PlantPathology
Daniel Petrolia	Assistant Professor	Agricultural Economics
Julia Porter	Associate Professor	Counselor Education and Program and Coordinator, MSU-Meridian
John Poros	Associate Professor and Director	Carl Small Town Center
Bethany Stich	Assistant Professor	Political Science and Public Administration
J. Edward Swan	Associate Professor	Computer Science and Engineering

2009 – 2010
George Robert Hightower Class

Marilyn Bowen	Associate Research Professor	Research and Curriculum Unit
Scott Crossley	Assistant Professor	English
David Dampier	Associate Professor	Computer Science & Engineering
Cathy Davis	Assistant Research Professor	Research and Curriculum Unit
James Dunne	Professor	Physics & Astronomy
Mark Janus	Associate Professor	Aerospace Engineering
Brian Jordon	Assistant Research Professor	Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems
Lester Khoo	Professor and Director	MS Aquatic Diagnostic Lab
Mark Lawrence	Professor	College of Veterinary Medicine
Leanne Long	Assistant Research Professor	Research and Curriculum Unit
Daniel Peterson	Associate Director and Associate Professor	LSBI and Plant and Soil Sciences
Nicole Rader	Assistant Professor	Sociology
Denise Sibley	Senior Research Associate	Research Curriculum Unit
Lindsey Storey	Assistant Director	Orientation & Campus Events
Mary Love Tagert	Assistant Research Professor	MS Water Resources Research Inst.
Bob Wolverton, Jr.	Associate Professor	University Library

2008 – 2009
John Crumpton Hardy Class

Sadik Artunc	Professor and Head	Landscape Architecture
Benjamin Blair	Associate Professor	Finance & Economics
Pasquale Cinnella	Professor	Aerospace Engineering
Doug Goodman	Associate Professor & Graduate Coordinator	Political Science & Public Administration
Robert Grala	Assistant Professor	Forestry
Burnette Hamil	Associate Professor	Curriculum, Instruction & Special Education
Edwin Lewis	Professor & Head	Chemistry
Jason Lueg	Associate Professor	Marketing/Quantitative Analysis/Business Law, College of Business
Andrew Mackin	Associate Professor & Service Chief	CVM Clinical Science Department
Ron McLaughlin	Professor and Head	Clinical Science
Erdogan Memili	Assistant Professor	Animal & Dairy Sciences
Robert Moorhead	Endowed Professor	Electrical & Computer Engineering
Robin Parker	Assistant Research Professor	Research and Curriculum Unit
Dan Seale	Professor	Forest Products
Juan Silva, Professor	Food Science	Nutrition and Health Promotion
Kirk Swortzel	Associate Professor & Undergraduate Coordinator	Human Sciences

2007 – 2008
Stephen D. Lee Class

Thomas Anderson	Director of Undergraduate Studies	English
Shelley Bock	Assistant Director	Research and Curriculum Unit
Lori Bruce	Associate Director for Research	GeoResources Institute and Electrical & Computer Engineering Dept.
Shane Burgess	Director	Life Science & Biotechnology Institute
Lynn Cossman	Associate Professor, Sociology	Anthropology and Social Work & Director of the Women's Studies Program
Patricia Cox	Biosafety Officer & Assistant Director	Office of Regulatory Compliance
Carlen Henington	Associate Professor	Counseling, Educational Psychology and Special Education
Lana Johns	Professor & Associate Department Head	Music
Domenico Parisi	Associate Professor	Research Fellow (SSRC), Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work Dept. and SSRC
Rubin Shmulsky	Associate Professor & Interim Department Head	Forest Resources & the Forest and Wildlife Research Center
Giselle Thibaudeau-Munn	Director	Electron Microscope Center
Ray Vaughn	Professor & Director of CSR	Computer Science & Engineering

2007 – 2008
John Marshall Stone Class

Hart Bailey	Associate Professor	College of Veterinary Medicine
Stephen Cunetto	Systems Administrator	Library
Marita Gootee	Professor	Art
Davern A. Jones	Lead Senior Industrial Hygienist	Center for Safety and Health
Gail Lindsey	Associate Director	Early Childhood Institute
Scott Maynard	Associate Director	Career Center
Masoud Rais-Rohani	Professor	Aerospace Engineering
Stanley Robertson	Director	Office of Outreach & External Affairs
Tina Sweeten	Project Director	Curriculum & Instruction
Kimberly Triplett	Field Supervisor & Training Coordinator	Curriculum & Instruction
Sheri Worthy	Associate Professor	School of Human Sciences

2023 - 2024 Faculty Leadership Roster

2021 - 2022 Donald Zacharias Class

Spring 2021 Faculty Leadership Development Institute

2019 - 2020 James D. McComas Class

2018-2019 William L. Giles Class

2017 – 2018 Dean W. Colvard Class

2016 –2017 Benjamin F. Hilbun Class

2015 –2016 Fred Tom Mitchell Class

2014 – 2015 George Duke Humphrey Class

2013-2014 Hugh Critz Class

2012 – 2013 Buz M. Walker Class

2011 – 2012 David Carlisle Hull

2010 – 2011 William Hall Smith Class

2009 – 2010 George Robert Hightower Class

2008 – 2009 John Crumpton Hardy Class

2007 – 2008 Stephen D. Lee Class

2007 – 2008 John Marshall Stone Class