Contact: Sammy McDavid
Nine leaders in business, education and government, including a husband and wife team, are Mississippi State's 2000 Alumni Fellows.
Sponsored for 11 years by the university's alumni association, the fellows program brings graduates of distinction back to campus to share experiences and offer career guidance to current students and faculty members. Chosen by each college and school, they carry the title permanently.
This year's group will be on campus Oct. 12 and 13.
John V. Correro, executive director of the Mississippi State University Alumni Association, said Alumni Fellows return to campus "not only as distinguished guests, but as mentors, friends and counselors.
"Through their willingness to talk about the specific competencies, attitudes and efforts necessary for success, they enrich the experiences of our currently enrolled students. They also serve to recognize the ultimate measure of a university, the quality of its alumni."
The 2000 MSU Alumni Fellows include:
--James G. Burton of Berryville, Va., a partner in Carter+Burton Architecture PLC, School of Architecture. A 1990 graduate, he was reared in Springfield, Va.
--Fletcher T. Clark Jr. of Ruleville, managing partner of Clark II Farms, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He is a 1962 animal science graduate from Ruleville.
--Dr. Stephen A. Connell of Stilwell, Kan., product manager for bovine biologicals at American Home Products Corp.'s Fort Dodge Animal Health division, College of Veterinary Medicine. A Hazlehurst native and former Copiah County veterinarian, he graduated from the veterinary college in 1982 after completing degrees in microbiology and mechanical engineering from MSU in 1978.
--Tom L. Darden of Atlanta, Ga., United States Forest Service regional director for fisheries, wildlife and ecology, College of Forest Resources. A New Albany native, he received a bachelor's degree in forestry in 1974 and a master's in wildlife ecology in 1980.
--Donald L. and Linda M. Garrett, also of Atlanta, founders and principals of Garrett Associates Inc. executive search firm (nationwide health-care recruiting), College of Business and Industry. Both are accounting graduates; Donald in 1968, Linda in 1969. He is a native of Meridian, while she is from Corinth.
--Franklin Myers of Houston, Texas, senior vice president and president of Cooper Energy Services, College of Engineering. A 1974 industrial engineering graduate from Petal, he is a former MSU Student Association president.
--Mark C. Rohr of Baton Rouge, La., president and chief operating officer of Albemarle Corp., College of Arts and Sciences. A former Pascagoula resident, he is a 1973 chemistry graduate who completed a second bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from MSU in 1975.
--Sue A. Schmitt, dean of education at Seattle (Wash.) University, College of Education. A native of Caledonia, Minn., she received a doctorate in counselor education in 1984.