STARKVILLE, Miss.—The Mississippi State University Alumni Association is honoring a new class of distinguished Bulldogs as the 2024 Alumni Fellows during the upcoming Arkansas game weekend, Oct. 24-26.
Spanning three days, this year’s honorees will engage in various activities on- and off-campus, reconnect with their alma mater and offer current MSU students invaluable professional insights. Their visit will culminate with special recognition during the MSU vs. Arkansas football game.
“The Alumni Association is proud to bring exceptional alumni from each of the university’s eight academic colleges back to our campus to share their experience and wisdom with our students,” said Jeff Davis, MSU Alumni Association executive director. “Since the Alumni Fellows program began in 1989, nearly 300 have participated in this unique program, and each and every year, the class of fellows, their accomplishments, and the impact they have on our students is 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 165,000 living MSU alumni worldwide.
Kilmichael native, Dr. Katrina Poe-Johnson, is one of the honorees.
College of Arts and Sciences
Dr. Katrina Poe-Johnson has built an impressive career in medicine and healthcare leadership and currently serves as executive director of University Health Services at MSU, where she is at the forefront of ensuring the Longest Student Health Center provides dedicated, quality healthcare and support to every patient.
Growing up in Kilmichael, she enjoyed both social and solitary activities, being active in many extracurricular activities and an avid reader. Her passion for medicine began at age 10 when she received a toy medical kit for Christmas, sparking her journey toward becoming a doctor.
Poe-Johnson, a 1992 cum laude graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences, attributes much of her academic and professional success to MSU. She acknowledges the role of supportive professors and strong campus leadership in shaping her path. Returning to her alma mater in 2018 to practice medicine has allowed her to give back to the university.
She was recognized as one of Mississippi Business Journal’s Top 40 Business Leaders Under 40 and a finalist for the publication’s Mississippi Businesswoman of the Year. She also was named the 2005 Country Doctor of the Year by Staff Care Inc.
Poe-Johnson and her husband, Calvin Johnson, now residents of French Camp, began dating during their freshman year at MSU and have two sons. Their eldest, Calvin Dexter “C.J.” Johnson II, is a senior football player at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, while their younger son, James “Deuce” Johnson, is a sophomore at MSU.
