STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State University is honoring Janice I. Nicholson of Florence, Ala., a long-time educator and administrator as 2021 National Alumna, the university’s highest alumni honor. At the awards event May 13, Nicholson will become the first female to receive the university’s highest alumni honor; and a host of other outstanding alumni are to be recognized by the MSU Alumni Association. Nicholson received her master’s and doctoral degrees in elementary education from MSU in 1967 and 1977, respectively. Over a 50-year career, she was with the University of North Alabama for 37 years, and retired from Blue Mountain College. At MSU, she was recognized as the College of Education’s Alumnus of the Year in 2018. From 2015-2017, the Booneville, Miss., native also served as interim head of the MSU Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Special Education. Individual academic college selections for alumni of the year (by residence) are:
*College of Arts and Sciences - Robert L. Barnes Jr. of Byram, Miss. A 1972 sociology graduate, Barnes is a retired logistics and human resources executive and retired Army colonel.
*College of Forest Resources - Russell W. “Rusty” Booker Jr. Of Grove Hill, Ala. The 1991 forestry graduate is president of Scotch Land Management.
*College of Veterinary Medicine - Ruth Francis-Floyd of Gainesville, Fla. The 1985 veterinary medicine graduate is a professor and extension specialist for aquatic medicine at the University of Florida.
*Bagley College of Engineering - Joffrey R. “Jay” Pryor of Houston, Texas. A 1979 petroleum engineering graduate, he is VP for business development for Chevron Corp.
*College of Business - J. Michael “Mike” McIlwain of Kildeer, Ill. The 1987 accounting graduate recently retired as president/CEO from PSAV, a global event technology company.
*College of Education - Margaret Dodd Taylor of Louisville, Miss. The former special education teacher is a three-time MSU graduate, earning bachelor’s, master’s and education specialist degrees in 1982, 1983 and 1985, respectively.
*College of Architecture, Art and Design - Daria F. Pizzetta of NYC. A 1983 architecture graduate, she is a principal at the architecture firm, H3, the cultural design studio of Arquitectonica.
*College of Agriculture and Life Sciences - John R. Lundy of Ridgeland, Miss. Partner for Capitol Resources LLC, he is a 1983 agricultural economics graduate.
The association also salutes the university’s Outstanding Young Alumnus/Alumna. Receiving this honor is Paul M. Minor of Houston, Texas. Senior energy management consultant at The Carnrite Group, he earned a bachelor’s degree in geology from MSU in 2011. Additionally, three alumni will be presented awards for their distinguished service to the MSU Alumni Association. (Source: MSU 02/24/21) Nicholson honored as MSU’s National Alumna of the Year | Mississippi State University (msstate.edu)
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