Mississippi State University alumni recognized as 2025 Bagley College of Engineering Distinguished Fellows, Emerging Leader

(L-R) 1st Row: Dax Alexander, Sustin D. Anderson, Kathleen Ash, Jack Ode Burrell, Georgetta Y. Carr;
2nd Row: Jonathan Hollingshead, Shane Allen McCullough, Bob Morrison, Burt Nabors, Jeffrey M. Noe

STARKVILLE, Miss.— The Bagley College of Engineering recognized Mississippi State alumni from various industries for their accomplishments and commitment to the engineering field at the 2025 Distinguished Engineering Recognition Banquet.

Ten alumni were selected as Distinguished Fellows, while one alumnus was chosen as the sixth recipient of the college’s Emerging Leader award. The awardees are as follows.

Matthew Waldrop

2025 Emerging Leader Matthew Waldrop

Matthew Waldrop was selected as this year’s recipient of the college’s Emerging Leader Award. A 2013 and 2017 MSU graduate, Waldrop received his bachelor’s in mechanical engineering and went on to gain an MBA four years later. After spending his first two years post-graduation as a design engineer at Viking Range, he is currently an engineer at Milwaukee Tool. In his time with Milwaukee, he successfully led multiple systems implementations as well as standing up three facilities to deliver best-in-class turn times for the power tools space. He developed an Industry 4.0 strategy utilizing data and visualizations that transformed the facilities into world-class operations within the company and was seen as a benchmark within Milwaukee Tool. This type of work helped him receive recognition as an Emerging Leader at Milwaukee Tool. During this period, he grew professionally from roles leading engineering, quality, data science, and operations to prepare him for his role as Vice President of Operations, having accountability for 3 locations.

Outside of work, Waldrop owns an old-school butcher shop, Mississippi Meat Company, in Greenwood, as well as a rental property business. He is actively involved in the community and has served on multiple local boards. He also volunteers at Delta Streets Academy to run their charity golf tournament. Waldrop also serves on the MSU mechanical engineering advisory board. He is married to Sarah Barnes Waldrop. They live in Greenwood, MS and enjoy playing golf and spending time with their two children, Ellie and Banks.

Dax Alexander

Dax Alexander, a civil engineer and BCoE alumnus, has served as President of Brown, Mitchell & Alexander, Inc. since 2008. A seventh-generation South Mississippian, he earned a civil engineering degree from MSU in 1994. He joined BMA after graduation, starting as a survey crew member and rising to resident project representative, design engineer, and project manager.

BMA has played a key role in the development of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, with notable projects including Jones Park Improvements, Bert Jones Yacht Basin, Downtown Streetscape Enhancements, Chemour Silos in Gulfport, Division Street Widening, MGM Park, and the expansions of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum & Convention Center in Biloxi, as well as the Bay St. Louis Harbor.

A native of Wiggins, Mississippi, Dax credits his success to his father, Gene Alexander, and Bill Mitchell. Gene, a 1966 MSU graduate in forestry, instilled a strong work ethic, while Bill Mitchell, a 1975 MSU graduate in civil engineering and 1987 master's graduate in Public Policy & Administration, taught him valuable consulting engineering and collaborative skills.

Dax is married to Mary Werby Alexander, and they have three daughters. He is actively involved in St. James Catholic Church, the Gulfport Yacht Club, and other local organizations. Dax remains committed to the development of the region, balancing his professional and community responsibilities.

Sustin D. Anderson

Sustin Anderson, a Brentwood, Tennessee resident, is a healthcare executive with over 25 years of experience in leading physician enterprises and improving healthcare operations. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Mississippi State University and an MBA from the University of New Orleans. His career has focused on enhancing healthcare organizations' financial performance, patient access, and operational efficiency.

Anderson began his career as an Industrial Engineer at Baxter International's Cleveland, Mississippi plant, then transitioned to healthcare at Ochsner Clinic in New Orleans. He became Administrative Director of Surgery, managing operations, workforce planning, and finances. He later joined Premier, Inc. as a Senior Consultant, advising hospitals on operational improvements.

At Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Anderson expanded clinics beyond the main campus and centralized scheduling and registration. He served as Vice President of Strategy and Analytics at DigiChart, developing analytics tools for decision-making. At Lifepoint Health, he led efforts to optimize physician services, and at Meharry Medical Group, he improved patient outcomes and strengthened partnerships.

Currently, Anderson is the Administrative Director at Nashville Fertility Center, overseeing business operations and strategic planning. He is also a member of the advisory board for the Industrial and Systems Engineering department at MSU. Anderson is married to Anne Finney Anderson, MD, and they have two children. He is dedicated to advancing healthcare innovation and leadership development in the evolving healthcare landscape.

Kathleen Ash

After graduating from Mississippi State with a degree in chemical engineering, Kathleen Ash has spent the last 19 years at ExxonMobil. She is currently serving as President and CEO of Denbury and General Manager of US Conventional Upstream operations. Ash assumed this role after leading the merger and integration of Denbury in November 2023. Throughout her extensive career, she has held numerous senior management roles across the commercial, financial, and operational disciplines, spanning the breadth of the oil and gas value chain both domestically and internationally.

In addition to her operations leadership roles, Ash has also managed safety and operations integrity implementation. She has held membership chair positions advocating on behalf of the industry with associations such as the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Association and the Western States Petroleum Association. Additionally, Ash served on the board of directors for Aera Energy from 2020 through their 2022 sale to IKAV Energy Inc.

Ash believes that the lessons and skills she learned at MSU have been critical to her success and is excited to continue supporting future students through the John & Kathleen Excellence Fund, which promotes student activities and awareness of the oil and gas industry and its career paths.

She is married to fellow MSU graduate John Ash, and together they have two children, Jacob and Matthew Ash.  She has served on the student advisory board for the Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Department for over ten years and has recently joined the Engineering Dean’s Advisory Council.

Jack Ode Burrell

Jack Burrell, a 1987 graduate of MSU in aerospace engineering, works full-time at Leidos-Dynetics as a Senior Principal Aerospace Engineer. He designs, analyzes, and tests various aerospace hardware for the Department of Defense and the U.S. Armed Forces. His expertise in hypersonics is highly sought after. While at MSU, Burrell was a track team member, competing primarily in the 100M and 200M sprints and earning a place in the MSU Engineering Student Hall of Fame Fame.

Burrell has served on the Fairhope City Council since 2012 and was elected mayor pro tem by his fellow council members in the same year. He was subsequently re-elected three additional times, most recently in 2024. As Chairman of the Eastern Shore Metropolitan Planning Organization, he worked with local and state policymakers to create a new plan for the $3 billion Mobile Bay Bridge and Bayway, which will begin construction later this year.

Burrell was named by the City of Fairhope as its “Volunteer of the Year” in 2009 and is an active member of many of the city’s organizations. He has also been known to speak to undergraduate engineering students at MSU, providing insights into what students can expect from a career in engineering. He and his wife of 30 years, Patti, have two adult children, Lauren and Jack Jr. They are all avid MSU fans and regularly attend MSU football, basketball and baseball games.

Georgetta Y. Carr

Born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, Georgetta Carr earned her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Mississippi State University in 1992. She began her career as a mechanical engineer at Southern Company Services before advancing to project and engineering management roles at Southwire Company. She later moved to Memphis, Tennessee and earned her MBA in finance at the University of Memphis while taking on leadership roles at Buckeye Technologies, now Georgia-Pacific.

In 2009, Carr joined Medtronic as senior director. Her ability to lead large global teams, drive operational excellence, and implement best practices in quality assurance earned her the prestigious Medtronic Global Function Excellence Award in 2020.

Beyond her professional achievements, Carr is a dedicated mentor and advocate for STEM. She has mentored over 30 professionals at Medtronic, supporting career development. She serves on advisory councils at Mississippi State University and the University of Memphis, shaping the future of engineering education. As the former Executive Sponsor for the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) at Medtronic and current co-sponsor for the Medtronic Women’s Network (MWN), she actively provides support for women in technology.

Carr’s leadership extends beyond the corporate world into her community, where she is a Life Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and an alumna of the Leadership Memphis Executive Program. Her dedication to mentorship, advocacy, and quality leadership continues to inspire the next generation of engineers and leaders. She currently resides in Memphis, Tennessee, with her husband, Driscoll, and their two daughters.

Jonathan Hollingshead

Laurel native Jonathan Hollingshead graduated from Mississippi State University in 1992 with a double major in mathematics and computer Science. He earned his MBA from Mississippi College in 2001. Hollingshead spent two decades in IT and technology consulting, working with major companies like BellSouth, Cisco, and EMC, now part of Dell. He later transitioned to Business Communications, Inc., a leader in cybersecurity and technology services in the Southeast, where he became president and eventually purchased the company. Under his leadership, BCI has tripled its employees, revenue, and customer base and has won numerous awards, including Best Place to Work, #1 IT Company, Fortinet Partner of the Year, APC Partner of the Year, Top 100 Security Firm in the US, and Top 150 MSP in the US.

Recognized by the Mississippi Business Journal as a Top in Tech and Top CEO, Hollingshead has served on various technology advisory boards, including Dell, Cisco, GoTo, Fortinet, APC, and Tech Data. He also consults for a hedge fund on technology and security. Additionally, Hollingshead is on the Mississippi College alumni board and the Board of Directors at Southern AgCredit.  Hollingshead was appointed and commissioned as an Arkansas Traveler to serve as an Ambassador of Good Will by the Arkansas Governor in 2024.

Hollingshead is married to Suzanne Farris. They have three children—Carney, Anna Claire, and Carter—and one grandchild. The family resides in Flora and attends Broadmoor Baptist Church.

Shane Allen McCullough

Shane Allen McCullough, a native of Mississippi, is the President and founder of McCullough Engineering Services, Inc. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Mississippi State University in 1992, McCullough began his career in the marine electrical engineering industry. With over 30 years of experience, he has developed extensive expertise in shipboard power management systems, machinery automation control systems, and electric drive propulsion. Throughout his career, he has worked in government and commercial marine sectors. McCullough is also a licensed Professional Engineer in Mississippi, highlighting his professional qualifications.

McCullough's career has taken him across the United States and internationally. He started with a small switchgear manufacturer along the Gulf Coast before spending six years in Europe working in the cruise ship construction industry. Upon returning to the U.S., he founded McCullough Engineering Services and contributed to constructing various vessels, including large deck amphibious ships, icebreakers, and commercial dredges.

McCullough is a proud second-generation Bulldog. His father and brother are both graduates of Mississippi State University's Bagley College of Engineering. His two daughters are also current engineering students at Mississippi State.

McCullough lives in Hurley, MS, but also spends time at his properties in Starkville, Mississippi, and Gulf Shores, Alabama. In his free time, he enjoys watching rugby, attending Mississippi State football and baseball games, traveling domestically and internationally with his two wonderful daughters, supporting his church community, and dining at his restaurant in Mobile, Alabama.

Bob Morrison

After earning his degree in nuclear engineering in 1965, he moved to Nashville to pursue his love of music. He has written or co-written over 350 songs, including songs for Johnny Lee, The Carpenters, Barbara Mandrell, Reba McEntire, Olivia Newton-John, Sammy Davis Jr. and Conway Twitty. His song “You Decorated My Life” for Kenny Rogers won him a Grammy and became a number one hit on the Billboard Country Singles chart. He won ASCAP’s Country Songwriter of the Year multiple years and the Nashville Songwriters Association International’s Songwriter of the Year in 1980. This fellow was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2016. He also released an album of his own called “Home Again.”

Burt Nabors

After graduating from MSU in 1985 with his biological engineering degree, Columbus, MS native Dr. Burt Nabors received his medical degree in 1991 from the University of Tennessee in Memphis College of Medicine. Following an internship at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD, he served on active duty with the United States Navy as a Flight Surgeon from 1992 to 1995. He completed a residency in Neurology at UAB in 1998 and a fellowship in Neuro-oncology in 1999. He joined the Neuro-Oncology Program in 1999 as an Assistant Professor and assumed the position of Program Leader in 2005. He is board-certified in Neurology.

Currently, Dr. Nabors is Professor and Vice-Chair for Research of Neurology and Neurosurgery at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He serves as co-leader of the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center Neuro-oncology Program. His clinical practice provides comprehensive neuro-oncology care for primary and metastatic brain cancer patients. His research focuses on better understanding and treating cancer that originates in the nervous system. His laboratory examines the role of RNA-binding proteins in neurological disease, particularly cancer, with an emphasis on therapeutic development.

Dr. Nabors is married to Mary Leigh (Coker) Nabors, an MSU engineering alumnus. They met at the Tau Beta Pi initiation during their junior year at State. Dr. Nabors and Mary Leigh are parishioners at Our Lady of Sorrow Catholic Church in Birmingham, and they have four children.

Jeffrey M. Noe

After graduating with his bachelor’s in petroleum engineering from Mississippi State University in December 1979, Jeffrey M. Noe spent 18 years in various completion and production engineering positions with Mobil Oil Company.  While there, Noe spent six years working on Central and Western Gulf of Mexico projects, three years in the Dallas Technical Center supporting US and International projects, and eight years in Saudi Arabia supporting Saudi Aramco’s world-class gas development projects.

In 1997, he joined Saudi Aramco, supporting their gas development projects. In 2002, Noe returned to North America and worked as a Completions Consultant with APA Petroleum Engineering in Houston, Texas. Noe joined Shell in 2005, where he supported its US onshore exploration and production program, with an emphasis on unconventional oil and gas. He was appointed Shell’s Global Principal Technical Expert for Hydraulic Fracturing Operations in 2008, a position which he held until 2019. Noe retired in September 2021 after 42 years of contribution to the oil and gas industry in the US and globally.

Noe said when he left MSU, he never thought in his wildest dreams that he would see and experience the world in the way he has, much of which he attributes to his education at MSU, the skills learned, and the opportunities presented.

Noe has been married to Jane Morris Noe for 45 years. They have three children and five grandchildren. Jane is also an MSU graduate. After spending the first four years of retirement traveling full-time in a motorhome in the United States, they recently moved back to Mississippi after being away for 45 years.