Jonathan
Bailey
graduated from MSU in 2021 with degrees in Political Science and
Public Relations. During his time as a John C. Stennis Scholar, Jonathan served
as Chairman of the MSU College Republicans and spearheaded efforts to host
Mississippi’s first 2019 gubernatorial primary debate on campus at MSU. He also
served two terms as Vice-Chairman of the Mississippi Federation of College
Republicans, the largest conservative student organization in the state. An MSU
Provost Scholar, Jonathan was an active member of the SA Senate, the Stennis
Montgomery Association, and Beta Upsilon Chi. He began working on political
campaigns in high school and has worked for more than a dozen candidates in
races for everything from Alderman to Governor. A native of Brandon, MS,
Jonathan is currently working as Campaign Manager for Sheriff Mike Ezell’s
Congressional Campaign in Mississippi’s 4th District.
Kerrigan Clark, a native of Columbus, Mississippi, is a graduate of The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science. She is currently a senior Charles Menifield Scholar studying Political Science. While at MSU, Kerrigan interned with the Congressional and Political Research Center researching policy and major events from the early 1990s while also transcribing Congressman Sonny Montgomery’s weekly radio show. Kerrigan has also interned at the Office of Student Leadership and Community Engagement. She produced engaging and creative content for print production using a variety of newswriting styles and techniques. Kerrigan is actively working with the nonprofit Starkville Strong to combat homelessness and food insecurity in the community. She writes for The Reflector, the MSU Student Newspaper, focusing on life and entertainment on campus. She is the social media coordinator for Fiber Arts Bulldawgs, a member of the Stennis Montgomery Association, and a barista at 929 Coffee Bar. Following graduation Kerrigan plans to attend Mississippi State University pursuing a Master of Public Policy and Administration.
Flannery
Egner is a senior John C. Stennis Scholar, Haley
Barbour Scholar, and Tip Allen Scholar who
is studying Political Science and Natural Resource Environmental Conservation
with a focus in Natural Resource Policy.
A graduate of Center Hill High School in Olive Branch, Flannery served as
President of the Interact Club, being active in projects raising autism awareness
and fighting world hunger and poverty. A Mississippi Scholar and founding member of her
school's Youth and Government club, she was also an active Student Council Representative,
member of National Honor Society, and served as Freshman and Sophomore Class
Secretary. In high school, Flannery
was named an Outstanding Senator at the
Mississippi Youth Legislature Conference. While at
Mississippi State, she has continued her involvement across campus being President of
Foundation Ambassadors, Director of Involvement Ambassadors, Vice President and
Secretary of the Stennis-Montgomery Association, and Director of Community
Service for the Panhellenic community. As
a double major, Flannery is, also, a College of Forest Resources Ambassador.
Flannery has used her academics and passion to get a head start on her career
plans by interning in Washington D.C. for Senator Roger Wicker and Congressman
Steven Palazzo. Flannery plans to
serve Mississippi after graduation as a Congressional staff member, with
intentions of one day serving in The White House as a senior staff member.
Laney Hulbert is a freshman John C. Stennis Scholar.
Chloe Jackson is a sophomore John C. Stennis Scholar.
Jessie James is a junior Marty Wiseman scholar, majoring in political science. Jessie graduated as Salutatorian from Murrah High School. While at Murrah High School, he was Congressional Debate captain of the Speech and Debate Team, a member of Mu Alpha Theta, was elected student council representative, and was a member of the National Honor Society. He is also a National Speech and Debate Association Academic All American and a three-time national qualifier. At MSU, Jessie is a member of the Bulldog Leftist Union, College Democrats, C.O.R.E., and Men of Excellence. For now, he is excited to have accepted an internship with the Demmer Scholars Program this summer. Jessie also hopes to light the path and serve as a role model for young Black men and women who want to have a career in law and politics.
Amanda Kronenberger is a junior Tip Allen Scholar.
D’Mechriea Landfair is a senior Bill Collins Scholar.
Caroline Makamson is a sophomore Jason Shelton Scholar.
Rebekah Malone is a senior Bill Collins Scholar.
Dylan Mayne is a senior Tip Allen Scholar.
Jessica Pettus is a junior Tip Allen Scholar from Belleville, IL. Jessica is double majoring in Political Science and Communications and hopes to pursue a career in Washington D.C. following graduation. On campus, Jessica is involved with the Stennis Montgomery Association and as the Assistant Director of Marketing for the New Maroon Camp Executive Board. She also serves as the co-director of Community and Governmental Relations for the Student Association. In the fall of 2021, Jessica and her co-directors were successful in registering over 200 students to vote and have another drive planned for the spring. Last summer, Jessica interned for Congressman Trent Kelly in Washington D.C. She gained experience and insight into the legislative process by completing bill memos, observing hearings, and researching legislation. She is grateful for her experience to the Allen scholarship for making it possible.
Ashton Porter is a Tip Allen alumnus who graduated in April 2021 with dual degrees in Political Science and French and a minor in International Studies. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Ashton spent her time at MSU involved in a variety of activities related to her interests in immigration, education, and interculturalism. She led international student integration efforts on campus, taught English at a women's center in Lebanon, studied abroad to improve her French language skills, and interned with an international NGO coaching migrant clients on navigating the US labor market. In her academics, Ashton researched voter education methods with Dr. Thessalia Merivaki, completed her senior Shackouls Honors College thesis on "Measuring Immigrant Integration in the United States South", and earned a recognition from the Political Science department as an Outstanding Undergraduate Student of the Year. One of Ashton's most compelling experiences in Starkville was serving on jury duty for a case that lasted almost three weeks! Following graduation, Ashton completed a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certification course which included a virtual practicum teaching adults in Costa Rica. She invested a year using this certification to teach English in primary education in Spain where she rapidly gained Spanish language skills in addition to her French. In the summer of 2023, Ashton is projected to complete a Masters degree in Global Security and Borders at Queen's University Belfast in Northern Ireland. Along with her invaluable education and experiences at MSU, she will leverage this expertise to continue to pursue her passions researching and transforming the causes, consequences, and lived experiences of forced migration. .
Ann Olivia Radicioni is a sophomore John C. Stennis Scholar from Clinton, Mississippi. During her time at Clinton High School, she was the lead guitarist of Attaché Show Choir, which consistently ranks as the number one show choir in the nation. Ann Olivia also served as President of multiple organizations, including Model United Nations Security Council, History Club, Crown Club, and Anchor Club. At Mississippi State, she has had the honor of furthering her extracurricular and academic involvement. Ann Olivia is a Presidential Endowed Scholar and effective member of the Student Association. Through student government, Ann Olivia is both a Campus Wide Senator and the Director of Health and Wellness. In the 60th session of the Student Association Senate, she singlehandedly created and passed a bill ensuring free period products in major MSU bathrooms. Furthermore, she devised a legislative plan for student mental health days. Ann Olivia’s further club involvement includes Delta Gamma Sorority, New Maroon Camp, and InterGreek Committee. She is a leader in her sorority, and she was awarded both MSU’s Panhellenic New Member of the Year Award and Delta Gamma’s Model New Member Award. Her career goals are ultimately to learn, discuss, and write about international policy for the rest of her life (hopefully in a southern academic institution), and she looks forward to growing as a John C. Stennis Scholar!
Mia Robertson is a Junior Presidential-Endowed Scholar, John C. Stennis Scholar, and Truman Scholar Finalist majoring in Political Science and Philosophy with minors in Pre-Law and Sociology. Currently, Mia works as a Speech and Debate Program Assistant for the Stennis Center for Public Service. With hopes of expanding access to Speech and Debate to underserved school districts and communities, Mia has used this position to create free guides that equip coaches to lead successful teams. She also worked as a Legal Intern with The Bail Project where she identified and bailed out Mississippians in pretrial status. Over the 2021 summer, Mia worked as a Legal Intern in the Fredericksburg, Virginia, Office of the Public Defender where she assisted with criminal cases and completed an individual research project on risk assessment tools. Mia is the Founder and President of BARS, an MSU student organization dedicated to criminal justice. In the MSU Student Association Cabinet, Mia serves as a Director of Community and Governmental Relations where she coordinates voter registration drives on MSU’s campus. Mia also serves as the President of the MSU Speech and Debate Council, a team she has participated in for three years. During her time on the collegiate Speech and Debate circuit, Mia has earned three National Championships in IPDA Debate, making her MSU’s first national champion in Speech and Debate. Mia is also a State Champion in Persuasive Speaking and a Regional Champion in Team IPDA Debate.
Jacob
Wubben is a senior John C. Stennis Scholar from Starkville High School.
A well-rounded person with diverse interests, Jacob is a National AP Scholar
with perfect scores in four subjects. His commitment to multiculturalism in
this age of globalization is reflected in his study of two foreign languages.
The CEO of the award-winning Starkville High robotics team, Jacob also served
as Section Leader of the school's "superior" marching band. He plans
to pursue a doctorate in theology and to study how local churches interact with
politics and determine what a healthy relationship between the two looks like.
Our department's John C. Stennis Scholars are named in memory of MSU alumnus John C. Stennis, who served in the United States Senate from 1947 to 1988, rising to the powerful position of President Pro Tempore of the senate and fourth in line for the presidency. Senator Stennis also served as chairman of the powerful Appropriations Committee and previously as chairman of the Armed Services Committee. He was so respected in the senate that Congress named a new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier after him, which was commissioned into service before the carrier honoring former president Harry Truman. Because John Stennis inspired Mississippians to be active in public affairs, we include our department's Bill Collins (the founding director of the Stennis Institute of Government) and Haley Barbour (our two-term governor and a formidable Stennis challenger in 1982) scholars on this webpage.
The Haley Barbour Scholars are named after a distinguished public servant and native of Yazoo City who rose to the position of Chair of the Republican National Committee. As RNC Chairman, Haley Barbour inaugurated an aggressive fundraising, public relations, and candidate assistance program that led the GOP in 1994 to majority control of both houses of Congress for the first time in 40 years. Barbour was elected Governor in the 2003 state elections, when for the first time Republicans won half of Mississippi's statewide executive offices as well as historically high percentages of state house and state senate seats. When Barbour was re-elected governor four years later, he swept his party to control of every statewide elected office with one exception.
The Bill Collins Scholars are named after a distinguished educational leader, who was the first Director of the John C. Stennis Institute of Government at Mississippi State University. A Bill Collins Speakership series was established in his honor in the MSU Library.
The Tip Allen Scholars are named after retired (now deceased) professor Tip H. Allen Jr., whose decades of teaching political science at MSU helped so many of our students that he was awarded the department's outstanding teaching award on two occasions. One student whom he mentored went on to become an MSU President (Dr. Malcolm Portera, who then became the Chancellor of The University of Alabama System).
The Marty Wiseman Scholars are named after retired professor Marty Wiseman, a Mississippi native who earned four degrees at MSU and who directed the Stennis Institute of Government for two decades.
The Charles Menifield Scholars are named after former professor Charles Menifield, a Mississippi native who earned a BA in political science and an MPPA degree from MSU, and who rose to the position of academic Dean at Rutgers University.
The Jason L. Shelton Scholars are named after the former mayor of Tupelo Mississippi, who earned a B.A. in political science at MSU and was a John C. Stennis Scholar.