MSU announces 2025-26 Faculty Leadership Program cohort

MSU Office of Research and Economic Development

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Two dozen 51�Թ�� State faculty members are sharpening their leadership skills as members of the university’s 2025-26 Faculty Leadership Program cohort.

The program provides participants with leadership and management training to prepare them for higher-level administrative and project leadership roles. The program is sponsored by MSU’s Office of Research and Economic Development and Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President.

“The outstanding faculty on campus have strong leadership potential, and this program teaches the traits and knowledge that will help them lead the university forward as their individual careers progress,” said MSU Vice President for Research and Economic Development Julie Jordan. “I am excited to welcome a new cohort and see how their skills grow this year and beyond.”

Participants in the eight-month program meet and engage with top administrators and attend presentations designed to hone their leadership skills. Session topics include leadership styles, communication strategies, organizational change, building winning research teams, strategic budgeting, university structure and funding.

The 2025-26 cohort participants and respective departments include:

—Peter Allen, associate professor, Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture

—Kenny Anthony, department head, Teacher Education and Leadership

—Christy Bratcher, department head, Animal and Dairy Sciences

—Kayla Carr, associate professor, School of Nursing, MSU-Meridian

—Qiana Cutts, associate professor, Counseling, Higher Education Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations

—Steven R. Gwaltney, associate professor, Chemistry

—Gretchen Hardwick, associate clinical professor, Pathobiology and Population Medicine

—Ben Harvey, associate professor, Art

—Chuo Li, associate professor, Landscape Architecture and Environmental Design

—Junfeng Ma, associate professor, Industrial and Systems Engineering

—Kent Marett, associate professor, Management and Information Systems

—Qingmin Meng, associate professor, Geosciences

—Michael Nadorff, associate professor, Psychology

—Julius Nukpezah, associate professor, Political Science and Public Administration

—Alicia Olivier, associate dean, College of Veterinary Medicine

—Andy Perkins, interim department head, Computer Science and Engineering

—Lora Petrie-Hanson, associate professor, Comparative Biomedical Sciences

—Matthew Priddy, associate professor, Hall School of Mechanical Engineering

—Saeed Rokooei, associate professor, Building Construction Science

—Ryan Semmes, associate professor, MSU Libraries

—Courtney Siegert, associate professor, Forestry

—Courtney Thompson, associate professor, History

—Benjamin Tkach, associate professor, Political Science and Public Administration

—Te Ming “Paul” Tseng, associate professor, Plant and Soil Sciences

ORED will open applications for the 2026-27 Faculty Leadership Program in the spring. For more information, visit .

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