Carrie-Beth McNeal Randall
Carrie-Beth McNeal Randall
B.A. Communication, 1999
“I have been a lifelong Bulldog and always wanted to attend Mississippi State University,” said 1999 MSU graduate Carrie-Beth Randall. “However, my decision to pursue a degree within the College of Arts and Sciences came about only after I changed from my initial major, architecture. I had a couple of dear friends majoring in communication, and as I learned more about the degree, specifically public relations, I thought it would be a good fit for me.”
Randall still remembers one of the most difficult courses in public relations as her favorite class.
“My favorite class was ‘organizations,’ the capstone course for communication and public relations majors. Dr. John Forde taught it, and it was one of those rare classes that truly pulled everything together, allowing us to put all our learning into real practice. We also learned a lot from one another, and that type of collaboration made every day fresh and full of energy.”
It was not all about academics, though, as she built memories surrounding tradition, the mighty cowbell, and celebrating decades past. She reminisced about her favorite memory, a student organization activity hosted by the Roadrunners.
“One I especially remember was when Roadrunners hosted a ‘dance of the decades’ held at the old YMCA building. From hippies to rock bands, everyone embraced their decade. It was one of those simple, joy filled nights that stays with you.”
Randall began her professional career at the MSU Office of Enrollment Services after she graduated in 1999. She served several years as an enrollment counselor before eventually joining her father’s financial planning practice.
In 2010, she earned the “Certified Financial Planner” practitioner designation.
“My degree has served me well in my career since so much of my job is relationship-oriented and relies heavily on communication, whether it be with clients or prospective clients, members of my team, and other financial professionals. It’s been invaluable.”
She is most proud of qualifying for the Ameriprise Financial LLC’s Circle of Success annual recognition program, an achievement given to high-performing practitioners. She credits her education in the College of Arts and Sciences.
“CAS gave me a broad foundation that helped me learn to understand people, ask good questions, and approach problems from different angles. Whether I’m leading my team or helping clients make big decisions, I can trace so much of that back to what I learned at Mississippi State/CAS. It prepared me not just for a career, but for real life—being adaptable, curious, and people focused.”
Randall maintains a strong connection with the Starkville community, serving on the Starkville Community Foundation board, the Starkville Rotary Club, and Financial Planning Association of Mississippi board.
She and her husband, an MSU alumnus, live in Starkville with their two daughters, one of whom is a current student at MSU and the other will be a Bulldog soon.
Her main piece of advice for Mississippi State students is, “The ability to use technology to its fullest advantage is quite valuable. But don’t let it be your exclusive means to interact with others. Strive for authentic connection and communication with people, without distraction. Don’t miss people and opportunities right in front of you because you didn’t take the time to be intentional.”
Her College of Arts and Sciences experience can be summarized with one word: “Engaging.”
“The instructors and professors were interested not only in teaching the material but in engaging and connecting with students. They truly took an interest in students and helped create an energetic environment for learning.”