Student Spotlight
Maggie Heath
by Abby Zupa, PR Student Intern
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.
Changing her major allowed Maggie to pursue her passion for others through advocating for those who may not be able to advocate for themselves. Heath is very involved on campus; she is an MSU Luckyday Scholar and serves on the advising committee. She serves as an ACCESS college coach, is Head of Operations for the Junction Retreat and is an active member of many other organizations. Heath’s favorite place to be on campus is walking by the gingko trees in the fall near engineering row.
When asked if she had any advice for incoming students Heath said, “I would tell students to not put limitations on themselves and to get to know their professors! Some professors have made a large impact on my life because I have taken the time to get to know them and share my story with them.”
Amy Knight, a Communication & Media Studies instructor, once told Heath during her freshman year not to worry about her future career but instead, to pay attention to her passions and figure out how she can steward her gifts into making her passions a career. Heath says this is the best piece of advice she has ever received from a professor and strives to live this advice out daily.
What is your favorite class you have taken so far? I have really enjoyed PRISM where I get to utilize what I have learned in my classes and apply it towards a real campaign and client where I can see the impact and get real-time feedback.
Have you had any internships? I have had two internships. The summer after my freshman year (2024), I was a Communications intern at Ergon, Inc., in Flowood. I conducted several research projects, including conducting market and competitor research, as well as brand visual and identity research. I reformatted and updated hundreds of boat and barge safety specification spreadsheets for Magnolia Marine Transport in Word and Excel to make them easier to read and comprehend. I also worked to contact location managers to update all Asphalt & Emulsions location information on the website.
This past summer (2025), I worked as a marketing intern at HORNE in Ridgeland. HORNE is an accounting and professional services firm, so I got to work with a variety of industry leaders. My internship was very dynamic, as I worked to create a lot of graphics and engaging videos for social media. I also wrote newsletters, proofread large documents, and performed research. I got to familiarize myself and work in new platforms such as HubSpot, Wistia, and SmartSheet.
What is your guilty pleasure show? Gilmore Girls!
What is your favorite Starkville restaurant? Oby's
Davis Wade Stadium or Dudy Noble Field? Davis Wade!
Do you drink coffee? If so, what is your coffee order? I do not like coffee, but I love a Fresca!