Fran Burkett

Fran Burkett

Fran Burkett

By Krissy Carter

While she credits Mississippi State University for many fun memories such as enjoying MSU ice cream during the summer semesters that she spent in Starkville taking classes, MSU alumna Fran Burkett also gives credit to MSU for keeping her informed on new teaching styles, which she utilized throughout her career.

Burkett received her Master of Science in physics at MSU in 1971, and she spent her professional career as a physics teacher. Throughout her teaching career, she taught at Central High School in Jackson, Mississippi, then went on to teach at St. Andrew's Episcopal School for four years.

 After leaving St. Andrew’s, Burkett continued her teaching career. “I returned to public schools and spent my last 25 years at Forest Hill High School in Jackson. In addition to teaching there, I also taught some classes at Mississippi College, the University of Southern Mississippi, Jackson State University and Hinds Community College,” states Burkett.

Burkett believes that the College of Arts and Sciences helped prepare her for her teaching career and that she was a better high school teacher because of her academic career at MSU. During her teaching days, Burkett enjoyed bringing students up to MSU for the physics competition and showing them around MSU’s campus. She retired from teaching in 2007.

In Brandon, Mississippi, where Burkett currently resides, she is surrounded by many MSU alumni, including one of her sons. “My sons love State as well even though only one became a bulldog,” states Burkett. Burkett’s son graduated from MSU with an electrical engineering degree in 2001.

 Burkett advises current MSU students to “Have fun and make friends. The friendships will last a lifetime. Study hard. Your education will take you to places hard to imagine now. Eat ice cream and cheer all teams to victory,” said Burkett.

Now that she is retired, she enjoys spending her free time trying out different restaurants with her husband, watching basketball games, and working in her garden.

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