Three Mississippi State alumni are headed to Japan as part of a highly competitive, international work exchange program. The Japan Exchange and Teaching Program, or JET, selects young professionals to experience Japanese culture while working in local schools, boards of education and government offices.

“My connection to Mississippi State University runs deep in my family,” said Margaret Shepherd, a 2022 MSU graduate. “MSU brought my mom’s family to Starkville in the 1960s when my grandfather became the first head of the Department of Biochemistry. My dad grew up near Starkville in Louisville, and, following his father’s path in forestry, attended MSU. My parents met in Starkville and were married on campus at the Chapel of Memories. No matter what was happening in our lives, being a Bulldog always brought our family together. When it came time to choose a college, the decision felt easy,” said Shepherd.

Mississippi State’s College of Arts and Sciences invites the campus community to sample something new this month with its first “book tasting” event, a creative twist that pairs books, conversation and Mississippi State flavor.