MSU Alumni Association Announces First Class of Reveille 25 Honorees

Contact: Addie Mayfield

STARKVILLE, Mississippi – The Mississippi State University Alumni Association announces 25 outstanding young graduates who are honored as the first recipients of The Reveille 25 awards program.

Launched last fall, the Réveil 25 program is designed to highlight the remarkable achievements of the growing number of young university graduates. The colloquial name is derived from MSU’s old yearbook, The Reveille, which chronicled student life throughout the institution’s history and paid homage to the university’s foundational military history.

As a result, the signature program will annually honor 25 high-achieving young graduates who “answer the call” to the university’s mission of excellence in education and inspire others through the positive impact they make in their communities and their professions.

The 25 winners, chosen from 340 applicants, will be recognized at the banquet ceremonies on March 26. This year’s Reveille 25 class includes:

—Jamel Alexander of Huntsville, Alabama. He graduated in mechanical engineering from MSU twice and received his master’s and doctorate degrees in 2013 and 2017, respectively. The New Orleans, Louisiana native also holds a bachelor’s degree from Xavier University of Louisiana and a master’s degree from the University of New Orleans. He is currently a general engineer for the United States Department of Defense.

—Morgan Alexander of Starkville. A native of Jackson, Alexander earned a bachelor’s degree in wildlife, fisheries, and aquaculture in 2020 and is now an admissions counselor at MSU for the Mississippi Delta and Jackson Public Schools regions.

—Shelby Baldwin of Starkville. The Ridgeland native graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing in 2019 and is the co-founder and COO of Rocketing Systems Inc.

—Brian Barnes of Saltillo. A native of Tremont, Barnes graduated in Mechanical Engineering in 2009. He is currently the Regional Director of Engineering for the Tennessee Valley Authority.

—Jackson’s Joseph “JoJo” Dodd. MSU’s 2016 economics major continued his studies at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, where he earned a master’s degree in biomedical science and is currently pursuing MD studies. Dodd is also chairman of the board and chief operating officer of the Jackson Free Clinic.

—Matthew Doude of Huntsville, Alabama. As a program manager for Dynetics Inc., Doude is a three-time graduate of MSU. He obtained a bachelor’s and master’s degree in mechanical engineering in 2007 and 2014, respectively, followed by a doctorate in industrial and systems engineering in 2020.

—Jeffery Ellis of Biloxi. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 2006 and holds the position of director of engineering for Ingalls Shipbuilding.

—Michael Ferril of Broomfield, Colorado. The 2012 Business Administration graduate is CEO of Rosy Rings Inc.

—Jackson’s Elliott Flaggs. He earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial and systems engineering from MSU in 2007. Flaggs later graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Law and currently serves as Vice President of Government Affairs at Cornerstone.

—Darvin Griffin from Salem, New Hampshire. The Shuqualak native earned a bachelor’s degree in biological engineering from MSU in 2009. He later earned his master’s and doctorate degrees from Cornell University and serves as director of clinical development for AbbVie Inc.

—Cody Hardin of Eupora. The 2008 aerospace engineering graduate is a manufacturing engineer for Aurora Flight Services. He also holds a master’s degree from Arkansas State University.

—Seanicaa Edwards Herron of Clarksburg, Maryland. She earned a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness in 2004 and a master’s degree in agricultural economics in 2008. The Hernando native is co-founder and executive director of Freedmen Heirs Foundation Inc.

—Ridgeland’s Whitney Lipscomb. The 2009 political science graduate serves as an assistant attorney general in the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office.

—David Macias of Vienna, Virginia. A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, he graduated in biological engineering from MSU in 2004. He received his MD from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine and is currently an orthopedic surgeon at OrthoVirginia.

—Lyndsey Miller of Starkville. She earned a bachelor’s degree in humanities in 2005 with a major in interior design, followed by a master’s degree in architecture in 2007. Miller is an associate professor in MSU’s interior design program.

—Alphaka Moore of Natchez. A Laurel native, she earned a bachelor’s degree in teacher education technology from MSU in 2009 and later earned a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Southern Mississippi. Moore is the athletic director of the Natchez Adams School District and head coach of the Natchez High School women’s basketball team.

—Matthew Priddy of Starkville. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from MSU in 2008 and 2010, respectively. The Columbus native also earned his doctorate in mechanical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Priddy is an assistant professor at MSU’s Bagley College of Engineering.

—Stephen Reichley of Starkville. He earned a doctorate in veterinary medical science from MSU in 2017. Reichley had previously earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from Findlay University and his DVM from Ohio State University. A native of Stow, Ohio, he is an assistant clinical professor and associate director of the Global Center for Aquatic Food Safety at MSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

—Alivia Roberts from Washington, D.C. In 2018, she obtained a bachelor’s degree in communication and a minor in political science. The Shannon native also holds a Masters in Public Administration from George Washington University and a Certificate in Entrepreneurial Leadership for the Global Market from Oxford University. Roberts is the Special Assistant to the Director of Public Affairs at the US Department of Justice.

—Nashlie Sephus of Atlanta, Georgia. She graduated in computer engineering from MSU in 2007, and also holds master’s and doctoral degrees in engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. The Jackson native is an AI technology evangelist for Amazon.

—Zacharie Smith of Memphis, Tennessee. The Starkville native graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biological engineering in 2010 and is an engineering project manager for Integra LifeSciences.

—Adam Telle from Washington, D.C. He double majored in 2006, earning a bachelor’s degree in computer science and communication. Telle is US Senator Bill Hagerty’s chief of staff.

—Crystal Vincent of Wylie, Texas. She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing in 2005 from MSU, followed by an MBA from the University of North Alabama. She is currently President and CEO of K Kaz Transport Inc. and Prestige Quality Consulting LLC, and Head of Product Success for ServiceNow.

—Ashley Wynne of Woodruff, South Carolina. She earned a master’s degree in chemical engineering in 2012 and an MBA in 2018. A native of Coventry, Rhode Island, she also holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Rhode Island and is the leading process and product development engineer for Sealed Air Corporation.

—Jennifer Sloan Ziegler of Ridgeland. A three-time graduate of MSU, she earned her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees in civil engineering in 2010, 2012, and 2013, respectively. Ziegler went on to earn a master’s certificate in coastal engineering from the University of New Orleans and is a project manager and engineer for Cypress Environment and Infrastructure.

To learn more about The Reveille 25 program, contact Ava Richardson, New Graduate Programs and Graduate Outreach Coordinator, MSU Alumni Association, at 662-325-3349 or [email protected] or visit www. .alumni.msstate.edu/alarm clock25. More detailed information on the individual achievements of the winners will be added to this website prior to the awards ceremony.

The MSU Alumni Association was founded in 1885 by the first three graduating classes of Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical College. The full-service organization aims to serve more than 155,000 living alumni of the university and currently includes more than 100 chapters and clubs. For more information about the association, visit www.alumni.msstate.edu.

MSU is the main university in Mississippi, available online at www.msstate.edu.