Contact: Maridith Geuder
Photo by: Kristen Hines Baker
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Amy Tuck, special assistant to the president at Mississippi State University, is among 50 professionals in the 2009 "Leading Business Women in Mississippi" program.
Sponsored by the Mississippi Business Journal, the annual honor recognizes individuals with significant professional and personal accomplishments, as well as major levels of influence.
Tuck, a former District 15 state senator and two-term lieutenant governor, assumed current duties at her alma mater in 2008. She officially receives the MBJ honor Thursday [Aug. 13] in ceremonies at Eagle Ridge Conference Center in Raymond.
An Oktibbeha County native and 1985 political science graduate, Tuck also holds a 1994 MSU master's degree in public policy and administration, as well as 1989 law degree from Mississippi College. Her public roles also have included service as secretary of the Mississippi Senate.
As lieutenant governor, she was a strong advocate for all levels of public education. She also led in promoting economic development, health care, protection for senior citizens, public safety, and civil justice reforms.
Last year, she was appointed by President George W. Bush to the President's Commission on White House Fellowships, a bi-partisan body that selects young leaders for fellowships at the highest level of federal government.
At MSU, Tuck continues to promote state economic development activities. She provides consultation on public policy issues and interacts with a wide variety of local, state and federal officials to ensure that the land-grant institution continues to be aligned with public needs.
In addition to membership on the MSU President's Commission on the Status of Women and the university's representative for Women in Higher Education in Mississippi, she is chairing the committee charged with planning the Oct. 16 investiture of President Mark Keenum.
Tuck is a member of the board of the Greater Starkville Development Partnership and Oktibbeha County Chapter of the American Red Cross, and heads the community service committee of the Starkville Rotary Club.
In 2007, she was named alumna of the year for MSU's College of Arts and Sciences, and, in 2006, was the university's fall commencement speaker.
MBJ's "Leading Business Women" recognition was begun in 1997.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.