Alumni Spotlight
Jess Terrill
By Belle Grace Wilkinson, public relations student and departmental PR intern
For Jess Terrill, the path from Mississippi State’s Department of Communication, Media & Theatre to the courtroom wasn’t one she had planned from day one—but looking back, every step prepared
her for where she is now.
Originally from Fulton, Mississippi, Terrill graduated from MSU in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts in communication and a concentration in broadcasting. She spent countless hours in McComas Hall working on Take30 News, where she built friendships and learned the ins and outs of
storytelling and public speaking. But, it was a media law class with Professor Mark Goodman that set her future in motion.
“That class ignited my interest in the law,” Terrill recalls. “It took off from there.”
After earning her Juris Doctorate from Mississippi College School of Law, Terrill started her career in the legal world, holding roles at the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, Phelps Dunbar LLP and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office. Her work ranged from counseling law enforcement to prosecuting high-profile criminal cases—including securing a guilty verdict in a triple murder trial.
Today, Terrill serves as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama, focusing on prosecuting illegal gun and drug cases.
“No day looks the same,” she explains. “I’m part of a criminal case from the beginning of the investigation through the completion of a case. A typical day for me looks like meeting with agents, working on search warrants, drafting motions, and attending hearings.”
Her journey to this role didn’t come without challenges, and she has plenty of advice for students starting on their own career paths.
“You have to go on offense!” she says. “You cannot just apply and let your resume speak for itself—though it is very important. Network, be persistent in applying, be intentional with getting involved within the field and don't give up.”
That same persistence, she says, applies to the job search.
“‘Not yet’ doesn’t mean ‘no,’” she says. “Hard work pays off.”
Looking back on her time at MSU, Jess credits several professors—including Dr. Pete Smith, Karyn Brown, Teresa Gawrych, and the late Dr. Hank Flick—for shaping her into the communicator and professional she is today. Whether it was discussing big ideas in Mass Media & Society, learning how to engage an audience in Dr. Flick’s class or putting in late nights editing news packages, every experience added to her skill set.
Now based in Mobile, Alabama, Jess is passionate about living with purpose and striving to be better every day. And if her career proves anything, it’s that unexpected opportunities can take you far—especially when you’re willing to put in the work.