Contact: Allison Matthews
STARKVILLE, Miss.--The new national officers of the 126-year-old Mississippi State University Alumni Association assume their leadership roles today [July 1].
Officially beginning one-year terms, they include:
--Jerry L. Toney of Starkville, president;
--Camille Scales Young of Madison, national first vice president;
--Tommy R. Roberson of Memphis, Tenn., national second vice president; and
--Jodi White Turner of Montgomery, Ala., national treasurer.
--Karen Dugard Lawler of Madison, Ala., continues on the board as former national president.
Founded in 1885 by the first three graduating classes of then-Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical College, the association now includes 92 alumni chapters. Last year, the organization achieved its highest enrollment, with more than 39,000 active members.
"Mississippi State proudly boasts nearly 121,000 graduates worldwide and our national alumni leaders are among the most dedicated representatives," said Jimmy Abraham. "These officers will do an outstanding job for they are committed to helping move our association forward."
Abraham is the association's executive director, and associate vice president in the Office of Development and Alumni.
Incoming national president Toney is a 1996 graduate in real estate, mortgage finance and economics. He previously was the association's national first vice president and has served as president of the Oktibbeha County Chapter. Toney is a certified financial planner and vice president of Starkville-based Cadence Bank.
Young is a 1994 communication management graduate who also holds a 1996 master's degree in agriculture and extension education. She was a board member for the association's Central Mississippi Chapter and has served on various chapter committees. Young is a government affairs representative with the Jackson law firm of Watkins Ludlam Winter and Stennis, P.A.
Roberson, a 1967 political science and history graduate, is retired after a 34-year career with Kraft Foods. He has served as president, vice president and membership officer of the Memphis Maroon Club, as well as on the board of directors' executive committee.
Turner enters her second term as national treasurer. She holds a 1997 bachelor's degree in accounting, as well as a 1999 master's degree in business administration. Turner is chief financial officer for PrimeSouth Bank in Tallassee, Ala.
Lawler is a 1982 business administration graduate who also holds a 1994 master's degree in business administration. With the Huntsville-Decatur Chapter, she has served over time as president, vice president and treasurer. Lawler is team lead for the Budget Integration and Analysis Office within the Office of the Chief Financial Officer at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center.
For more information on the MSU Alumni Association, visit www.alumni.msstate.edu.