Spotlights

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Jessica Mayts McCallum

Alumni

For Jessica Mayts McCallum, the path from Mississippi State’s Department of Communication to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum wasn’t one she had planned from day one, but looking back, every step prepared her for where she is now. Originally from Tampa, Florida, McCallum graduated from Mississippi State in 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and an emphasis in Public Relations.

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Lady Cox

Alumni

Lady Rhodes Cox was hesitant to attend MSU since Starkville was her hometown. However, the welcoming spirit of the MSU community quickly outweighed the fact that campus was right in her own backyard. “After visiting other campuses, I realized Mississippi State was so much more welcoming than other places,” said Cox. “It really was home.”
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Joshua Cagle

Student

Joshua Cagle, a senior Communication major concentrating in Communication & Media Studies from Huntsville, Alabama, came to MSU to study Mechanical Engineering, but he quickly realized he did not want to sit at a desk for the rest of his life. 
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Heather Gholson

Faculty

Heather Gholson, originally from Burkburnett, Texas, received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing at Texas A&M University and her Master of Science in Strategic Communication at Arkansas State University. After graduating from Texas A&M, Gholson worked in marketing roles focused on sales and advertising before spending six years as a communications director in the nonprofit sector.

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River Neri

Student

River Grace Neri, a Macclenny, Florida native, is a junior Communication major with a concentration in public relations. Going into her senior year of high school Neri was looking at smaller, out of state schools because she wanted a sense of community and to experience something new. Neri says as soon as she stepped on MSU's campus she felt like everyone truly cared about her and wanted her to be here. 
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Amy Knight

Faculty

Amy Knight, an instructor in Communication & Media Studies, is originally from Southside, Alabama. She started her career at MSU after receiving her Bachelor of Science in Speech Communication from William Carey University and her Master of Science in Speech Communication from the University of Southern Mississippi.
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John Welsey Cochran

Student

Brandon native, John Welsey Cochran, is a senior Communication major with a concentration in Broadcast & Digital Journalism. Upon starting college, Cochran knew he wanted to pursue a career in sports broadcasting. He chose communication because he felt it would give him the best skill set and knowledge to reach his goals. 
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Cheryl Chambers

Faculty

Cheryl Chambers, an instructor in Communication & Media Studies, received her bachelor's degree in Communication with a concentration in Communication Studies. She went on to receive her master's degree in Communication Studies at the University of Alabama. Chambers returned to Mississippi State to teach in CMT and is completing her 18th year as an instructor. 
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Melanie Harris

Faculty

Melanie Morrow Harris, originally from Russellville, Alabama, received her bachelor's degree in special education and master's degree in secondary education-theatre at Mississippi State. Harris’s first job after college was working as the assistant to a brewmaster. She worked her way through college as a pharmacy technician, so she knew sterile technique and how to follow a formula.
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Kailey Redding

Alumni

After an unexpected change in major, MSU Communication alumna Kailey Redding found her passion for the art of communication. Redding graduated from MSU with a degree in Communication and a concentration in Journalism. Initially pursuing a career in art, Redding earned an associate’s degree in graphic design technology and another associate’s degree in fine art from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
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Erin Erter

Student

Erin Erter is a sophomore Communication major with a concentration in Print & Digital Journalism from Flowood. Eter currently works as the opinion director for the Reflector and also acts as an editor for The Streetcar, a student literary journal. Erter says writing about the arts is her favorite area of journalism. She hopes to one day work as an editor or writer for a music magazine interviewing artists. 
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Maggie Heath

Student

Maggie Heath is a junior communication major with a concentration in public relations from Brandon. Heath entered MSU as a Kinesiology student planning to go to physical therapy school but quickly realized that was not the path she wanted to take. After prayer, reflection and seeking guidance from professors and mentors, she decided to change her major to communication.