Contact: Amy Cagle

STARKVILLE, Miss.— A staff member in the Mississippi State University Foundation is being promoted to a key fundraising leadership position.

Canton native Georgia Luann Carter became the university’s new annual giving director Feb. 1. In this role, she will direct fundraising efforts that typically focus on gifts made to any MSU area on a continuing basis.

Carter also will be responsible for securing annual gifts for the institution and its academic colleges through direct marketing efforts. Since mid-2016, the Starkville resident has served as staff assistant of annual giving. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Delta State University.

“Georgia brings substantial experience to her new role. As part of the annual giving team, it was a natural progression for her to lead the program and further utilize her skills in direct marketing,” said Jack McCarty, the foundation’s executive director of development.

Before coming to MSU, Carter served as a resource manager with Luckie & Company in Birmingham, Alabama, and in marketing and sales with Birmingham Printing. Her previous experience included various marketing roles with department stores including Parisian, Profitt’s and McRae’s. 

As annual giving director, Carter also will oversee the Bulldog Calling Center. Employing some 20 students, the call center works to build partnerships and update database records for graduates and friends of MSU.

Mississippi State University currently has nearly 140,000 living alumni.

“Georgia will be a great asset as she works to increase gifts to all areas of Mississippi State, which automatically activate a graduate’s membership in the alumni association,” McCarty said. “In beginning her role, she will immediately immerse herself in MSU’s annual online philanthropy event, Hail State Giving Days, during MSU’s 140th birthday this month.”

For more information about the Mississippi State University Foundation and the annual giving program, visit www.msufoundation.com.