Cunetto joins MSU development staff
The College of Education is welcoming an alumna as its new director of development.
A 1986 elementary education graduate, Trish Ashmore Cunetto of Starkville officially joined the MSU Foundation fundraising team Tuesday, Jan. 3, following an accomplished career in the classroom. A Columbus native, she has been a public school teacher for 25 years.
"We have great confidence in Trish to lead our fundraising efforts for the College of Education, for which she has a deep appreciation," said Jack McCarty, executive director of the MSU Foundation.
"Her solid experience in the field of education and her work with venues that have provided her with exceptional experience in the field will assist her immensely as she works to raise funds for MSU," he added.
Cunetto said she welcomes the role of fundraiser because of a passionate desire to make a difference in education.
"As a lifelong educator, I understand that producing highly qualified educators who can make a positive impact in teaching and learning throughout the nation is critical," Cunetto said. "I hope to use my contacts in education and those I've made through networking to communicate the needs of the College of Education and ultimately Mississippi State University to alumni and friends."
After beginning her career at Quitman's Lower Elementary, she went on to West Side Elementary in West Point. Most recently, she was a kindergarten teacher at Starkville's Sudduth Elementary.
Cunetto has a long list of career-related leadership activities. She served as a member of Gov. Haley Barbour's Teacher Advisory Committee from 2005-08, and was a member of the Mississippi Superintendent's Advisory Committee for 2005-06.
She also was honored numerous times, including the 2007 Starkville School District Teacher of the Year and Starkville Rotary Club Teacher Excellence awards. Additionally, she was involved for a number of years with the Mississippi Early Childhood Association as president, executive board member and chair of several committees.
Since being established as a school in 1909 and reconstituted in 1935, MSU's now College of Education works to prepare highly qualified professionals to serve the state and nation as teachers, administrators, supervisors, counselors, as well as other professional roles in government, industry and human services.
Currently, the major academic unit includes the departments of curriculum and instruction; counseling, educational psychology and special education; instructional systems, leadership and workforce development; kinesiology; music; along with MSU-Meridian's Division of Education. (For more, visit www.educ.msstate.edu/.)
For more information on the fundraising activities of the MSU Foundation, contact McCarty at 662-325-9580 or jmccarty@foundation.msstate.edu.
Allison Matthews | University Relations
