Contact: Maridith Geuder
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Jimmy W. Abraham, a veteran of nearly 30 years in student affairs at Mississippi State, is being named the university's associate vice president for external affairs and executive director of the alumni association.
The Clarksdale native and 1975 MSU graduate succeeds John V. Correro, who retired earlier this month after a 36-year career in alumni affairs. Currently associate vice president for student affairs, Abraham begins his new duties Aug. 8.
Formal approval is expected by the Board of Trustees, State Institutions of Higher Learning at its monthly meeting.
"Dr. Abraham has earned the highest respect of the campus and thousands of alumni for his energy, integrity and dedication," said MSU President Charles Lee.
"This appointment, coupled with the recent appointment of an exceptional individual for athletics marketing and fund raising, provides us the opportunity to literally put a new face on the way we interact with our alumni," Lee added. "Dr. Abraham is particularly well-qualified to encourage our students to move smoothly into active alumni roles."
Abraham will serve as the key liaison between the university and its more than 100,000 living alumni around the state and across the nation. The 126-year-old land-grant institution has more than 80 alumni chapters in locations from Colorado to New York.
In his new role, Abraham will develop and implement programs to maintain lifelong connections between Mississippi State graduates and the institution and provide feedback from alumni about their concerns, said Dennis A. Prescott, vice president for external affairs.
"We are delighted to attract someone with Jimmy's breadth of knowledge, commitment to Mississippi State, and wealth of connections to alumni," Prescott said.
"I have full confidence that under his leadership the Alumni Association will find increasingly innovative ways to strengthen relationships between Mississippi State and an extensive alumni family," he added.
In his new role, Abraham will work closely with other external affairs units that include the MSU Foundation, University Relations Office, campus radio station WMSV-FM, MSU Golf Course, and the flight department.
In student affairs, Abraham has helped lead a division that includes enrollment, housing, financial aid, health services, student organizations, counseling, police, recreational sports, and other student service functions. He began his student affairs career in 1977 as a residence hall director.
"I am very thankful to have this opportunity to work with those who care so much about Mississippi State University, our alumni," Abraham said. "I welcome this new role with much enthusiasm and excitement."
As a longtime director of enrollment services at Mississippi State, Abraham headed student recruitment efforts that resulted in unprecedented growth 1979-2000. He subsequently served both as assistant and associate vice president in the division, as well as interim vice president 2002-04, overseeing the entire range of student affairs functions.
He received an undergraduate degree in marketing in 1975 and a master's degree in student personnel and counselor education in 1977, both from Mississippi State. He earned a doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Mississippi in 1985.
NEWS EDITORS: For more information, telephone Mr. Prescott at (662) 325-9306 or Dr. Abraham at 325-1741.