Contact: Sammy McDavid
Two young alumni whose work has gained international attention in architecture and telecommunications will address Mississippi State University's spring graduates.
Janet Marie Smith of Baltimore, Md., and Kevin Ivey of Atlanta will be speakers for the May 10 commencement in Humphrey Coliseum. Some 1,600 students are candidates for degrees. The graduation processional begins at 1:15 p.m.
Smith is vice president both for sports and entertainment facilities with Ted Turner Properties and for planning and development with the Atlanta Braves. Ivey is vice president of strategic planning and advanced projects for Cable News Network (CNN).
A 1981 architecture graduate from Jackson with a minor in communication, Smith worked on the development of Atlanta's Olympic Stadium, which re-opened last week as Ted Turner Field, the Braves' new home. A wife and mother of two, she formerly was vice president for planning and development for the Baltimore Orioles and served as consulting architect for the construction of Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the highly praised stadium that opened in 1992.
Smith, who also holds a master's degree in urban planning from City College of New York, was named one of the university's outstanding alumni in 1994. Her first job in 1982 was coordinator of architecture and design for New York City's Battery Park City Authority.
Ivey, a 1984 broadcast communication graduate from Meridian, is responsible for evaluating and implementing emerging technologies related to news gathering and production. Most recently, he played key roles in the creation of CNNSI, a collaboration of CNN Sports and Sports Illustrated magazine, and CNNfn, which focuses on business and financial news.
Ivey, who also helped to launch CNN en Espanol to serve Latin America, began his network career shortly after graduation as an entry-level video journalist. A husband and father of two, he covered stories in North and Central America, Europe and the former Soviet Union.
"We are excited and honored that these dynamic young Mississippi State graduates have agreed to lead our commencement program," said President Donald Zacharias. "Having two speakers will be a departure from tradition and should make for a memorable occasion."