Rivers Rester Hughey received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations in 2010 from Mississippi State University. Hughey grew up in Starkville, Miss., and she now resides in Baton Rouge, LA., where she works as a digital media consultant.
Phillips Harbarger received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations in 2010 from Mississippi State University. Harbarger grew up in Huntsville, Ala., and he now resides in Nashville where he works as Senior Account Executive for 4Wall Entertainment.
Dr. John Forde was born in Laurel, Miss., grew up in Omak, Wash., and has been a member of MSU’s Department of Communication faculty since 1987. Forde received an associate of arts from Jones County Junior College, a bachelor’s degree in communication with a concentration in public relations from MSU, a master's in public relations with a minor in marketing from the University of Southern Mississippi, and a doctorate in communication with a minor in educational administration from the USM.
Rylee Jones is a junior from McKinney, Texas, majoring in communication with a concentration in public relations and minoring in Spanish. Jones is the chaplain of Delta Delta Delta sorority, and she is a member of both the Public Relations Student Society of America and the Public Relations Association of Mississippi.
Chase Crawford is a senior communication major from Madison, Miss., majoring in communication with a concentration in Broadcast & Digital Journalism. Crawford currently works with MSU’s Athletic Creative Video. In the future, Crawford plans to stay in athletics creative video after he graduates and one day run his own creative department.
Anna-Katherine Thompson is a senior from Ruston, La., majoring in communication with a concentration in public relations and a minor in broadcast & digital journalism. Thompson is a member of the Public Relations Student Society of America, Alpha Delta Pi sorority, and State Singers, as well as being on the executive choral council as co-director of marketing and a praise band singer for the Baptist Student Union. She was Miss Maroon and White in 2022 and Miss Mississippi State University in 2023. Her dream job is to work in PR within the Nashville music industry.
Tracey Amick Peer received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a concentration in Broadcasting in 1999 from Mississippi State University. Peer grew up in New Orleans, La., and she now resides in Atlanta, Ga., where she works as a news reporter for WXIA 11 Alive News.
Gabe Smith received his Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a concentration in Theatre in 2005 from Mississippi State University. Smith is from Hammond, La., and he now resides in Starkville, Miss., where he works as Executive Director for Starkville Community Theatre. Smith’s responsibilities include the management of a year-round non-professional theatre company. He became interested in his current job because of his previous theatre experience.
Courtney Isbell Goolsby received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations in 2002 from Mississippi State University. Goolsby grew up in Savannah, Tenn., and she now resides in Jackson, Tenn., where she works as a podcast host for the “Say it Southern” podcast.
Dr. Pete Smith, a native of Morton, Miss., has been a member of MSU’s Department of Communication for 20 years. Smith received a bachelor’s degree in communication from MSU, a master’s in communication from Auburn University, and a doctoral degree in mass communication from the University of Southern Mississippi.
As part of the MSU Communication & Media Studies faculty, Smith has taught many courses, currently including Communication & Media Research Methods, Gender & Media, Mass Media & Society and Elements of Persuasion. He says his favorite part of being a professor is interacting with his students in class and getting to teach so many of his college friends’ children over the last several years.