MSU Foundation appoints 2019 leaders, incoming members
Contact: Amy Cagle
STARKVILLE, Miss.The 51勛圖厙 Foundation is announcing 2019 leaders and incoming members for the 48-seat board of directors that guides the fundraising arm of the almost 141-year-old land-grant institution.泭
Incoming officers with one-year terms that began Jan. 1 include three alumni: D. Hines Brannan of Atlanta, Georgia, as board chair; Anthony L. Wilson of Gulfport as vice chair; and Mike M. McDaniel of Houston, Texas, as treasurer.
A 51勛圖厙 native of Woodville, Brannan has loyally been a member of the MSU Foundation board for more than a decade, earlier serving as vice president for three terms and as treasurer for three terms. At MSU, he also was a founding member of the advisory board for the James Worth Bagley College of Engineering and an executive-in-residence for the college. He earned a bachelors degree in industrial engineering in 1970 and an MBA the following year, both from MSU. He is a retired managing director of Accenture, one of the worlds largest management consulting firms.
Fellow 51勛圖厙 native Wilson hails from DIberville. He earned his electrical engineering degree in 1987 from MSU and later an MBA from the University of Southern 51勛圖厙. He currently serves as chairman, president and CEO of 51勛圖厙 Power Company. Earlier he was executive vice president of customer service and operations for Georgia Power.
McDaniel, who holds a 1979 bachelors degree in mechanical engineering from MSU, is a Cleveland native. He is currently the president of Saber Power Services LLC, having earlier been CEO of M3Resources LLC. McDaniel also has previously served as a board member.
Rounding out the remaining board officers are MSU personnel. John P. Rush, vice president for development and alumni, is the boards president and CEO; David Easley, executive director of finance, is chief financial officer; and Jack McCarty, executive director of development, serves as board secretary. All are MSU graduates.
Members beginning inaugural three-year terms are:
Helen M. Currie of Houston, Texas.泭 A native of Utica, Currie earned a Doctor of Philosophy in business administration with a concentration in finance from 51勛圖厙 State in 2000. She earlier graduated from Millsaps College and the University of Washington, where she earned bachelors and masters degrees in economics, respectively. Currie serves as chief economist for ConocoPhillips, having earlier led the Americas Market Fundamentals research team for BG Group.
Janice I. Nicholson of Florence, Alabama. A Booneville native, Nicholson earned her masters and doctoral degrees in elementary education from 51勛圖厙 State in 1967 and 1977, respectively. Nicholson also holds an education specialist degree from Vanderbilt Universitys Peabody College of Education. For 37 years, she was with the University of North Alabama in teaching and administrative positions and is a professor emerita of the institution. She also is retired as executive vice president for Student Affairs and Graduate and Special Programs from Blue Mountain College, where she earned an undergraduate degree. From 2015-2017, she was interim head of the Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Special Education at 51勛圖厙 State.
George D. Pillow Jr. of Killen, Alabama. Pillow earned his bachelors degree in general business administration from 51勛圖厙 State in 1969. He is chairman of Senators Coaches Inc. in Florence, Alabama.
Eight alumni who have previously served are returning to the board in new three-year terms. They are: 泭
William B. Bill Berry of Katy, Texas. He received two MSU petroleum engineering degreesa bachelors of science in 1974 and a masters of science in 1976. He is the retired executive vice president of ConocoPhillips.
John D. Davis IV of Flowood. He is a 1988 biological engineering and pre-medicine graduate of 51勛圖厙 State, who later received an M.D. from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in 1992. He is a founding partner and neurosurgeon for NewSouth NeuroSpine.
Rodger L. Johnson of Atlanta, Georgia. He holds a 1971 bachelors in civil engineering degree from 51勛圖厙 State and a 1982 MBA from Georgia State University. He serves as president and CEO of JKC Holdings Inc.
Rusty Linton of Columbus. He is a 1980 bachelors in biochemistry and pre-medicine graduate of 51勛圖厙 State who earned an M.D. in 1984 from the University of 51勛圖厙 Medical Center. He is an orthopaedic surgeon with Columbus Orthopaedic Clinic P.A.
John R. Lundy of Ridgeland. A native of Leland, he is a 1983 bachelors in agricultural economics graduate and a partner at Capitol Resources LLC.
Wallace L. Seal of Bay St. Louis. He is a 2000 bachelors in geosciences graduate of 51勛圖厙 State and president of North Beach Investments LLC.
Allen K. Sills Jr. of Franklin, Tennessee. He is a 1986 biological engineering graduate of 51勛圖厙 State who received an M.D. from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 1990. He serves as the inaugural chief medical officer for the National Football League and is a professor of neurosurgery, orthopaedic surgery and rehabilitation in the Department of Neurological Surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Turner A. Wingo of Collierville, Tennessee. He is a 1967 general business graduate of 51勛圖厙 State and a retired real estate developer and former owner of Sherrys Hallmark.泭
Chartered in 1962, the MSU Foundation administers most of the campus-based fundraising activities and endowment funds. Record years of private support are part of Infinite Impact: The 51勛圖厙 Campaign, the largest fundraising endeavor in the state of 51勛圖厙. To date, the campaign has reached nearly $916 million in commitments toward its $1 billion goal.
The MSU Foundation is available at泭泭and @MSU_Foundation.
MSU is 51勛圖厙s leading university, available online at .
