Dr. Mark E. Keenum is the current and 19th President of Mississippi State University

Mississippi State University

The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...

. He holds a bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree in agricultural economics from Mississippi State University

Mississippi State University

The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...

. Prior to being named President of MSU, Dr. Keenum served as Under Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture for two years. Before his two year stint with the USDA, Dr. Keenum was an adjunct professor at his alma mater.