MSU Office of Research and Economic Development announces 2026-27 Faculty Leadership Program cohort
Contact: Judy Middleton
STARKVILLE, Miss.—Emerging academic leaders are taking part in Mississippi State University’s Faculty Leadership Program, with the 2026-27 cohort recently launching the eight-month training.
Led by MSU’s Office of Research and Economic Development, the program supports mid-career associate and full professors from across the university interested in preparing for greater administrative and departmental responsibilities.
Cohort participants are selected from department head or director recommendations, previous leadership experience, and interest in becoming MSU administrators and/or leaders.
“The Faculty Leadership Program prepares faculty members to grow as effective academic and research leaders by strengthening the knowledge, skills and perspectives needed for leadership roles at the university,” said Interim Vice President for Research and Economic Development Scott Willard. “Through engagement with institutional leaders and leadership development opportunities, participants gain a deeper understanding of the decision-making processes, and collaborative mindset that support Mississippi State University’s mission of teaching, research and service.”
This year’s cohort includes:
—Jenna Altomonte, associate professor, Department of Art, College of Architecture, Art and Design
—James Barnes, associate professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
—Christopher “Kip” Barrett, associate professor, Hall School of Mechanical Engineering, Bagley College of Engineering
—Chris Boone, associate professor, Department of Marketing, Quantitative Analysis and Supply Chain Logistics, College of Business
—Daniel Chesser, associate professor, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Bagley College of Engineering, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
—Sandra Correa, associate professor, Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, College of Forest Resources
—Scott J. DiGiulio, associate professor, Department of Classical and Modern Languages and Literature, College of Arts and Sciences
—Steven Elder, professor and associate head, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Bagley College of Engineering, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
—Joshua Granger, associate professor, Department of Forestry, College of Forest Resources
—Patricia Hampshire, associate professor, Teacher Education and Leadership, College of Education
—Kimberly Kelly, professor and director, Department of Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences
—JuYoung Lee, associate professor, School of Human Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
—Dominic Lippillo, associate dean, College of Architecture, Art and Design
—Silvina Lopez Barrera, associate professor, School of Architecture, College of Architecture, Art and Design
—Kelly Moser, professor, Department of Classical and Modern Languages and Literature, College of Arts and Sciences
—Athena Nagel, associate teaching professor, Department of Geosciences, College of Arts and Sciences
—Anna Osterholtz, associate professor, Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures, College of Arts and Sciences
—Jessica Perkins Smih, associate professor, University Libraries
—Colleen Scott, associate professor, Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences
—Brian Smith, associate professor, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Bagley College of Engineering
—Christian Wolf, professor and department head, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, College of Arts and Sciences
—Maxwell Young, associate professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Bagley College of Engineering
Elder, Lipillo, Moser and Wolf also are current participants in the SEC Academic Leadership Development Program, established in 2008 to identify, prepare and professionally advance academic leaders within the SEC.
For more information about the MSU Faculty Leadership Program, visit www.research.msstate.edu/initiatives/faculty-leadership-development-program.
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