Jeff Little - “Growing Relationships”
Jeff Little
Jeff Little's job as director of development for MSU's College of Forest Resources just comes naturally for him. He appreciates nature and loves sharing his experiences with alumni and friends.
Jeff is a 1995 MSU English graduate from McComb who completed a juris doctorate degree from the Mississippi College School of Law. Before joining the MSU Foundation in 2004, he was a senior attorney with the Mississippi Tax Commission. He also has legal experience with two professional law firms, and with the Hinds County municipalities of Raymond and Edwards.
Jeff admits that compared to bankruptcy law, his experience with Mississippi State has been a welcome change and his position provides him with the opportunity to interact with some of the most interesting people he's ever met.
"After practicing law I figured that I had better go into either religion or philanthropy to try and "equal things out" so to speak," he jokes. "Seriously though, I think this job has to be one of the most rewarding careers I could have pursued. It is also a lot of fun."
When he first joined MSU, Jeff served as assistant development director for the colleges of Forest Resources and Veterinary Medicine. It was during this time that he secured, with the help of another fundraiser, what he considers his most memorable gift.
"Three wonderful ladies endowed a scholarship in memory of a family member, Clyde Patrick "Pat" Wade," Jeff recalls. "Later, I talked with one of them and the appreciation in her voice really stuck with me. It was at that moment that I realized philanthropic giving many times means as much to the donor as it does to the recipient, if not more so."
The College of Forest Resources enrolls about 350 students. Since its establishment in 1945, CFR has awarded more than 2,600 degrees in the areas of forestry, forest products, and wildlife and fisheries.
Fundraising efforts for CFR currently focus on scholarship endowments and endowments for chairs and professorships. CFR also has a need for additional facilities, such as an expansion for Thompson Hall.
To meet these goals, Jeff says, CFR is emphasizing its individual property holdings, which are collectively known as The Bulldog Forest.
"The Bulldog Forest is a really wonderful way for a donor to help CFR meet its goals and at the same time establish a family legacy," he says.
When he's not fundraising, Jeff spends much of his time enjoying life with man's best friend – his dog, Lucy, a 2-year-old Labrador Retriever.
"I am usually in my boat with the dog trying, unsuccessfully more often than not, to catch anything that swims. I also love to hunt, because if I had to depend on fishing both the dog and I would have starved to death a long time ago," he confesses.
For information on supporting the College of Forest Resources, contact Jeff at 662.325.8151 or jlittle@foundation.msstate.edu.
