Contact: Harriet Laird
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Wesley P. "Wes" Gordon and Perry King "P.K." Thomas IV recently began fundraising roles with Mississippi State University for the areas of student affairs and engineering, respectively.
"Wes and P.K. bring valuable fundraising experience to their positions, and we believe they can provide alumni and philanthropy leadership within their units as they work to secure private gifts for the institution," said John P. Rush, vice president for development and alumni and chief executive officer of the MSU Foundation.
Gordon, a Columbus native, began his new duties as director of development for the Division of Students Affairs in mid-October. The division is a major university unit responsible for enrollment services, housing, financial aid, health services, student organizations, counseling, police, recreational sports, and other student service functions.
A 2004 MSU physical education graduate, Gordon earned a master of science degree in sport administration from the university the following year. Most recently, Gordon was director of development for the University of West Alabama based in Livingston, Ala., where he oversaw the day-to-day operations of the institution's UWA Foundation.
Also joining Mississippi State as a fundraiser is Thomas, who serves as assistant director of development for the James Worth Bagley College of Engineering. He assists Bennett Evans, the college's development director, with fundraising activities. He began his official duties Oct. 15.
The James Worth Bagley College of Engineering, one of MSU's two oldest academic programs, enrolls nearly 3,000 undergraduate and graduate majors. In addition to being among some 20 named U.S. engineering colleges, it is listed in the top 10 percent for overall engineering research expenditures--a rank above most other Southeastern Conference schools.
A Tupelo native, Thomas holds a 2003 communication degree from MSU and earned a master's in physical education and sport administration in 2008. For the past two years, he resided in Corinth and worked as a district executive for Yocona Area Council of Boy Scouts of America. Prior to that, he served for two years as an admissions counselor for Mississippi State.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.
NEWS EDITORS/DIRECTORS: For more information on MSU's fundraising activities, contact Rush at 662-325-9306 or rush@devalumni.msstate.edu.