Alumni
Featured Alumni
Dr. Mark Keenum
Dr. Mark Keenum is the President of Mississippi State University and has all three of his degrees (BS, MAg, and Ph.D) from the Department of Agricultural Economics at Mississippi State. After finishing his Ph.D. in 1988, Dr. Keenum became an assistant professor in the agricultural economics department at MSU, where his research and extension work focused on the production and marketing of catfish, specialty crops, and forestry. In 1989, Dr. Keenum joined U.S. Senator Thad Cochran's staff as his primary agricultural advisor. He became Senator Cochran's Chief of Staff in 1996 and served in that role until 2006 when he became the Under Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture with direct oversight of the Farm Service Agency, the Foreign Agricultural Service, and the Risk Management Agency. Dr. Keenum was heavily involved in the legislative construction of the 1990, 1996, and 2002 Farm Bills and, through his appointment at the USDA, responsible for implementing portions of the 2007 Farm Bill.
In January, 2009, he became the 19th President of Mississippi State University.
Alumni Contact Information
Giving Opportunities
Named Scholarships
The Agricultural Economics Department offers unique scholarship opportunities to students enrolled in our undergraduate or graduate degree programs. Through the generosity of both individuals and business entities, scholarships provide $10,000 to $12,000 annually in student financial support for Fall & Spring semester expenses. Please take a moment to peruse our benefactors listed below in recognition of their financial gifts to our students and programs.
- The Allan and Barbara Tucker Endowed Scholarship
- Paul T. Blair Memorial Scholarship
- William Edwin Christian Endowed Scholarship
- Farmers Grain Terminal Scholarship
- Warren and Dorothy Garrard Endowed and Annual Scholarships
- Rupert Johnson Scholarship Endowment
- Bryce D. and Jean Jordan Endowed Scholarship
- Mark & Rhonda Keenum Annual Scholarship in Ag Econ
- Dr. Ying-Nan Lin Memorial Scholarship
- Wayne Malone Annual Scholarship
- Walter Moore, Jr. Scholarship
- Pace Scholarship
- D.W. Parvin Memorial Scholarship
- Charles F. Reynolds Annual Award Endowment Fund
- Dr. David Trammell Jr. Memorial Scholarship
- John E. Waldrop Jr. Scholarship
- Travis Denton Phillips, Sr. Endowed Scholarship
Agricultural Economics Advancement Fund
The Agricultural Economics Department maintains an Advancement Fund which is sourced from monetary gifts from our Alumni and other generous supporters of our students and programs. The Advancement Fund provides dollars for our Fall Welcome Back BBQ and Spring Banquet events, in addition to providing travel support for students that compete in our Quiz Bowl and National Agri-Marketing Association competitive events and present invited papers at professional meetings.
Lloyd-Ricks Renovation
As many of you may know, the Agricultural Economics Department has traditionally been housed in the historic circa 1929 Lloyd Ricks Building. The Lloyd Ricks building was selected for renovation that is now underway, and we expect to take occupancy in December 2010. Mississippi State University Foundation offers additional information on the progress and financial needs associated with this grand renovation effort.
Please contact Dr. Steve Turner to arrange a personal consultation to further review any of these unique giving opportunities.
