The Mississippi State Personnel Board is pleased to announce the selection of the 2025-2026 cohort of Mississippi LEAD, a strategic leadership program. Launched in January 2024, the two-year program is designed to strengthen the leadership skills of state government executives through monthly webinars and quarterly events. Each participant must be nominated by his or her agency head and meet the program’s eligibility qualifications. The 2025-2026 cohort will consist of 30 leaders representing 20 agencies across state government.

We are pleased to announce that the following candidates have been selected for the second-year cohort:

Jameshyia Ballard, Department of Health
Andrew Bicknell, Mississippi Public Broadcasting
Catherine Brett, Division of Medicaid
Leslie Brewer, Department of Marine Resources
Rick Burris, Department of Marine Resources
Shannon Coker, Mississippi Forestry Commission 
John Ferrell, Department of Education 
Derrick Garner, Department of Corrections
Alicia Harris, Mississippi Public Broadcasting
Rochelle Hicks, Mississippi Development Authority
Elizabeth Jonson, Mississippi Secretary of State
William Kuriger Jr., Department of Child Protection Services
Cady Porter Lackey, Office of the Governor
Jon McCormick, Office of the State Auditor
Yolanda Nash, Office of the Attorney General
Jason Pope, Department of Employment Security
Jason Raby, North Mississippi Regional Center
Laura Ring, Department of Employment Security 
Brett Robinson, Department of Education
Mary Ann Ross, Department of Corrections
Kellie Rushing, Department of Rehabilitation Services
Wendy Shelton, Department of Human Services
Susan Smith-Patterson, Department of Rehabilitation Services
Bridgette Thomas, Department of Revenue
Andy Thomas, Department of Environmental Quality
PJ Waldrop, Mississippi Development Authority
Betsy Ward, Department of Information Technology Services
Kimberly Wheaton, Department of Child Protection Services
Wendy Wilson White, Department of Human Services
Shawn Wolfe, Office of the Attorney General

The 2025-2026 cohort will commence classes in January 2025. Nominations for the 2026-2027 cohort will be available in November 2025.

For more information about the Mississippi LEAD program, please click here.