Jud Skelton - “Cultivating Lasting Friendships”
Jud Skelton
Jud Skelton joined the MSU Foundation as a fundraiser in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in late 2001. Since then he's become a fixture in the lives of many alumni and friends of the university, many of whom he now calls friends.
Skelton was born and raised in the Washington County community of Winterville. His Mississippi Delta roots aid him almost daily in his position as director of development for the agriculture college, Mississippi State's oldest academic unit.
"Having grown up on a farm, I saw working with alumni and development as an opportunity for me to get reacquainted with the individuals and agricultural-related corporations that I had known so well prior to attending college at MSU," Skelton said.
Skelton is a 1998 MSU business administration graduate. He also holds a master's degree in business administration from Millsaps College. His previous positions include counseling in the admissions office at Millsaps and working in the area of foodservice marketing for Sara Lee Corp. His professional affiliations include NADA and CASE. He also is involved locally with the Alumni Council and with the United Way.
Now, Skelton serves 10 unique units within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, MAFES and the MSU Extension Service. He believes he plays a valuable and rewarding role with MSU, the Foundation and with the college.
"Having an established network of individuals that I was familiar with as well as the knowledge about the agricultural-related issues that donors are faced with has helped me a tremendous amount in this position," he said. "All these things have made me successful in my position."
Skelton derives much from the relationships he cultivates with alumni and friends through special events, such as alumni breakfasts and class reunions, as well as personal one-on-one visits.
"A number of people that I come into contact with are what I like to term "land rich and cash poor," says Skelton. "Finding unique ways to help these donors use their available resources to benefit MSU in a way that is meaningful to them gives me great satisfaction," he explains.
MSU alumni have a deep passion for their university as well as CALS, Skelton acknowledges. "While I have learned that no two donors are alike, I know that they all share the common bond of wanting to see our university succeed and prosper," he says.
Outside of his work with MSU, Skelton enjoys spending time with his own group of Bulldogs – his family – wife Shannon Eastman Skelton and their children Porter, Kathleen and Caroline.
Jud may be contacted at 662.325.0643 or by email at jskelton@foundation.msstate.edu. His office is located in the Bost Extension Center.
