MSU alumna honors father, inspires future Bulldogs
When licensed professional counselor and Mississippi State alumna Julie Vence Hepp announced the creation of the Thomas J. Vence Memorial Endowed Scholarship in March 2025, it was more than a gift—it was a tribute.
The scholarship, established in loving memory of her father, honors a man known for his kindness, compassion and acceptance of others. Though Thomas J. Vence faced his own struggles with mental health, he consistently extended understanding and empathy to those around him.
Now his daughter hopes the scholarship will help students pursuing degrees in psychology or related fields, empowering them to carry forward the same spirit of care that defined her father’s life.
“Giving back to the next generation has always been one of my goals,” Hepp said. “Honoring the person who inspired my journey makes it even more meaningful.”
Hepp’s own path toward a career in mental health began at MSU—though her first visit was simply the result of a nudge from her grandfather, Lawrence “Larry” McConnell, a 1961 chemical engineering alumnus. Arriving on campus not knowing a single person, she quickly found MSU to be more than just a place to study.
“Starkville built me and changed my life,” she said. “The people, the work ethic—it was transformative.”
A member of Phi Mu and a standout student, Hepp earned her Bachelor of Science in psychology in 2017. Her academic journey was shaped by faculty members such as Dr. Michael Valentine, Dr. Cliff McKinney, Jonathan Eaton and Kristen Campbell, whose mentorship helped her refine her professional skills and her sense of purpose.
Hepp earned her Master of Arts degree at the University of Alabama in 2019 and became both a licensed professional counselor and a national certified counselor. Today, she provides mental health services in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, in her own practice working with children, teens and adults on challenges including anxiety, depression, trauma, panic disorder and college adjustment challenges. In 2024, she married Aaron Hepp, an associate director of the athletics staff at the University of Alabama.
Hepp’s MSU connection is truly a family affair—she even recruited her brother, Justin Vence, to become a Bulldog. He graduated magna cum laude in criminology in 2021, continuing the family’s proud MSU tradition.
Hepp credits her upbringing for the self-discipline and curiosity that fueled her success at MSU and in her counseling career.
“MSU gave me my start. It gave me confidence. It gave me a network of people who believed in me,” Hepp said. “Now, I want to be that encouragement for someone else.”
Through her counseling work and the endowed scholarship honoring her father, Hepp is ensuring that MSU students—especially those preparing for careers in mental health—have the resources and inspiration they need to make a difference. Her story is one of resilience, generosity and the lasting impact of a community that lifts up its own.
To learn more about supporting the Thomas J. Vence Memorial Endowed Scholarship or other giving opportunities at MSU, please contact Sara Frederic, director of development for the College of Arts and Sciences, at sfrederic@foundation.msstate.edu or 662-325-3240.
The College of Arts and Sciences includes nearly 5,000 students, more than 450 full-time faculty members, nine doctoral programs, 14 master’s programs and 27 undergraduate academic majors offered in 14 departments. Home to the university’s most diverse units for research and scholarly activity, the College of Arts and Sciences includes the natural and physical sciences, social and behavioral sciences, and the humanities. MSU holds the Carnegie Classification of “Very High Research Activity” doctoral university, the highest level of research activity in the nation, and is among only 120 institutions to earn this distinction.