Much of Cole Wood’s life has centered on two things: public service and Mississippi State University.

By combining these two, he’s discovered that the sky is the limit when it comes to what he can accomplish.

A Starkville native, Wood is a senior majoring in political science, a field he’s put in practice since he was an underclassman.

He first joined the MSU Student Association as the organization’s constitution adviser before being elected attorney general for 2015-16. In the spring, he lost a hard-fought race for Student Association president.

“I’ve always been very interested in politics and leadership,” Wood said. “Serving on the Student Association taught me leadership skills, and it also taught me to trust myself that I’m capable of succeeding in this field.”

Beyond his political ambitions, Wood is a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and a student worker for the university general counsel’s office. Last summer, he interned for Congressman Gregg Harper in Washington, D.C., as a junior fellow in the Library of Congress.

Wood said he grew up a Bulldog fan with strong family ties to MSU, and he never wavered when it came to where he wanted to attend college.

“When you have this unique school with such a family atmosphere, it’s hard to turn away,” he said.

After college, Wood said he wants to pursue a degree in constitutional law and live in Washington, D.C., for a few years before returning to Mississippi to practice. He may even decide to one day run for state office.

Ultimately, Wood said he wants his life and career to make a positive difference for others.

“I’ve been helped by people in my life, and I want to give back in some way,” he said. “I also want to be an inspiration to others that they can overcome any obstacle.”