Graduate Council
The Graduate Council is the executive committee of the Graduate Faculty and is responsible for the formulation of academic policy and programs related to graduate study at Mississippi State University. In addition, the Council may advise the Dean of the Graduate School on any matter they, or the Dean, feel is appropriate. The Chairperson of the Graduate Council is elected by and from the members of the Council.
The Council consists of one elected member from each of the eight academic colleges offering graduate study (programs), a graduate student association representative, and one fewer in number (seven) appointed by the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, of which at least one must represent interdisciplinary programs. Not more than two appointed faculty members may be from the same college or school. To be eligible for membership on the Council, members must hold Graduate Faculty status. The term of office is three academic years. A vacancy on the Council is filled in the same manner in which the member vacating the position was selected. In addition to the faculty, the Council has one graduate student representative who is usually the president of the Graduate Student Association. S/he is a voting member, and the term of office is one academic year.
Ex-officio members include:
- Dean of the Graduate School;
- Associate Dean of the Graduate School;
- Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs;
- Executive Vice Provost;
- Vice President for Research and Economic Development;
- Dean of University Libraries;
- Executive Director of Center for Distance Education;
- Director of International Institute;
- Chair of University Committee on Courses and Curricula;
- Associate University Registrar; and
- Director of Academic Quality, Institutional Effectiveness
Officers
Rebecca Robichaux-Davis, Ph.D., Chair
Professor, Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education
College of Education
Russell Carr, Ph.D., Vice-Chair
Associate Professor, Basic Sciences
College of Veterinary Medicine
Ex-Officio Members
Peter L. Ryan, Ph.D.
Executive Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School
W. Brien Henry, Ph.D.
Associate Dean of the Graduate School
David R. Shaw, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Dan Reynolds, Ph.D.
Assistant Vice President/Executive Director, International Institute
Lis Pankl, Ph.D.
Dean of University Libraries
Susan Seal, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Professional and Continuing Studies
Lauren Wright
Director of the International Institute
Andy Perkins, Ph.D.
Chair, University Committee on Courses and Curricula
Emily Shaw, M.S.
Associate Registrar
Dana Franz, Ph.D.
Director of Academic Quality, Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness
Elected Members
Richard Harkess, Ph.D., 2026
Professor, Plant and Soil Sciences
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Glen Fulton, M.S., 2026
Assistant Professor, Interior Design
College of Architecture, Art, and Design
Joanne Beriswill, Ph.D., 2026
Associate Professor, Instructional Systems and Workforce Development
College of Education
Kevin Armstrong, Ph.D., 2025
Associate Professor, Psychology
College of Arts and Sciences
Heidi Renninger, Ph.D., 2025
Associate Professor, Forestry
College of Forest Resources
Priscilla Hill, Ph.D., 2024
Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering
Bagley College of Engineering
Russell Carr, Ph.D., 2024, Vice-Chair
Associate Professor, Basic Sciences
College of Veterinary Medicine
Mike Highfield, Ph.D., 2025
Professor, Real Estate Finance
College of Business
Appointed Members
Larry Hanson, Ph.D., 2024
Professor, Basic Sciences
College of Veterinary Medicine
Luke Tucker, 2024
Graduate Student Association President
Adrian Sescu, Ph.D., 2024
Associate Professor, Aerospace Engineering
Bagley College of Engineering
Sandra Orozco Aleman, Ph.D., 2023
Associate Professor, Finance and Economics
College of Business
Nick Fitzkee, Ph.D., 2025
Associate Professor, Chemistry
College of Arts and Sciences
Kevin Hunt, Ph.D., 2025
Professor, Wildlife, Fisheries, & Aquaculture
College of Forest Resources
Kelly Wamsley, Ph.D., 2025
Associate Professor, Poultry Science
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Rebecca Robichaux-Davis, Chair, Ph.D., 2025
Professor, Curriculum, Instruction and Special Education
College of Education