MSU Alumni Association celebrates 2025 Alumni Fellows
Contact: Shun Pounds
STARKVILLE, Miss.—The Mississippi State University Alumni Association is honoring a new class of distinguished Bulldogs as 2025 Alumni Fellows on Sept. 18-20 during the Northern Illinois game weekend.
Spanning three days, this year’s honorees will participate in various activities both on and off campus, reconnect with their alma mater and provide current MSU students with valuable professional insights. Their visit will culminate with special recognition during the Sept. 20 football game.
“The MSU Alumni Association is proud to bring exceptional alumni from eight of the university’s academic colleges back to our campus to share their experience and wisdom with our students,” said Jeff Davis, MSU Alumni Association executive director. “Since it began in 1989, more than 300 alumni have participated in the unique Alumni Fellows program, and every year, the class, their accomplishments and the impact they have on our students are truly remarkable.”
The legacy of the Alumni Fellows program, underscored by the lifelong title conferred on honorees, further amplifies the spirit and pride of more than 169,000 living MSU alumni worldwide.
This year’s distinguished honoree for the College of Education is Jim Hemphill of Starkville.
Hemphill is a lifelong educator, strategic consultant and proud four-time graduate of MSU. A native of Jackson, Hemphill earned his Bachelor of Science in physical education in 1968, his Master of Education in physical education in 1969, an Educational Specialist degree in school administration in 1976 and his Doctor of Education in 1984.
He began his career in the Starkville Separate School District, where he taught, coached and served as middle school principal during the early years of integration. Those formative years instilled in him the importance of resilience, relationship-building and inclusive leadership.
Hemphill went on to serve in senior advancement roles at MSU, the University of Pittsburgh, Converse College and Erskine College before becoming special assistant and spokesperson for the Mississippi Department of Education. During this time, he served as MDE’s lobbyist to the Mississippi Legislature, advocating for key legislative initiatives and funding for educational programs.
He also spent a decade in corporate management and marketing in the student lending and servicing industry in Knoxville, Tennessee, and Little Rock, Arkansas. In 1998, Hemphill founded The Victor Group Inc., an independent consulting cooperative focused on strategic planning, executive placement and public relations for municipalities, nonprofits and educational institutions.
Beyond his professional achievements, Hemphill honors the legacy of his father and all World War II prisoners of war as secretary of the board for The Kriegie Foundation. His decade-long research and involvement in an ARTE-TV documentary reflect his passion for preserving history and educating future generations.
An active Bulldog, Hemphill served as president of the MSU Education Alumni Association, faculty advisor to Kappa Alpha Order and member of the M-Club. He and wife Pam share a deep love for family, with two children, four granddaughters and two great-grandchildren.
Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.