Each fall, Mississippi State University selects eight distinguished alumni as Alumni Fellows in recognition of their professional achievement and impact. Sponsored by the MSU Alumni Association, the colleges, and the Office of the Provost, the program honors alumni who exemplify excellence in their fields.
Alumni Fellows are invited back to campus to engage with students and faculty through classroom visits and informal discussions, sharing professional insights and real-world experience.
2025 A&S Alumni Fellow
Michelle Barlow Richardson resides in Alexandria, Virginia, but proudly maintains that she is “always from Clinton, Mississippi.” She earned her Bachelor of Arts in political science from MSU in 1997, graduating magna cum laude. Richardson is the executive vice president at Elevate Government Affairs. She spent more than 25 years serving U.S. Senator Roger Wicker. As Wicker’s chief of staff, she secured legislative wins, including expanding JROTC units and securing funding for rare diseases. Richardson remains active with MSU, having joined a local alumni chapter immediately after moving to Washington, D.C., following graduation. She continues to welcome new alumni with the same warmth she received and serves as a Maroon Mail Writer for the Alumni Recruitment Network. She credits MSU for providing mentors, including Rick Travis, Steve Shaffer and Rex Buffington, who helped her start her career in Washington, D.C. She also thanks the university for the academic background, robust extracurricular activities and leadership qualities that helped her thrive. She credits her family with raising her as a Bulldog, and her sisters and husband with supporting every aspect of her career.
Past Fellows
- 1990 L. Burton Barnes, III, '70, '74
- 1991 Dr. David H. Irwin, Jr., '72
- 1992 Lewis E. Nolan, '67
- 1993 Dr. Ralph W. Alewine, III, '68
- 1994 Henry E. "Hank" Johnston, '65
- 1995 Cecilia Reese Bullock, '69, '94
- 1996 Dr. Susan Brown-Skrobot, '78, '80, '83
- 1997 Newton F. Hamlin, '64
- 1998 William "Bill" C. Mattox, '72, '73
- 1999 Kevin T. Ivey, '84
- 2000 Mark C. Rohr, '73, '75
- 2001 Judge William Alsup, '67
- 2002 Sidney L. Salter, '88
- 2003 Dr. Larry R. Grillot, '68
- 2004 Dr. Ronald Greeley, '62
- 2005 Marion Harris, '91, '93
- 2006 Mary Catherine Di Nunzio, '90
- 2007 Kevin Robinson, '01
- 2008 Adrienne Pakis-Gillon, '80 and William Gillon, '80
- 2009 Mark Worthey, ‘84
- 2010 Cindy Stevens, ‘83
- 2011 Dr. Randy White, ‘66
- 2012 Dr. David Wigley, ‘79
- 2013 Dr. Fred Corley, ‘68
- 2014 Dr. M. Diane Roberts, ’63, ‘64
- 2015 Laurie R. Williams, '79
- 2016 Tommie Cardin, '83
- 2017 Debbie Rabinowitz, '69
- 2018 Greg Barker, '88
- 2019, Dr. David Seago, '97
- 2021, Bruce Thomas
- 2022, Myna Dickerson Sowell, '91
- 2023, White Jee
- 2024, Dr. Katrina Poe-Johnson, '92
- 2025, Dr. Paul J. (PJ) Moore III, '02