Charles L. Guest is the General Counsel for Mississippi State University and serves as Special Assistant Attorney General for the state of Mississippi in litigation issues involving MSU. Mr. Guest joined MSU in June 1988. While continuing his duties as General Counsel, Mr. Guest has served as Interim Director of Human Resources Management from August 1998 to March 2000 and as Interim Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Officer from July to November 2002.

    Mr. Guest received his B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Mississippi State University in 1960 and his Juris Doctorate from Mississippi College in 1977. He is a certified mediator in civil litigation and family mediation. Mr. Guest is admitted to practice law before state courts and all federal district courts in Mississippi, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.

    Prior to joining MSU, Mr. Guest was employed by the Office of the Attorney General of Mississippi, serving as Special Assistant Attorney General in the Education Section. He has also served as Senior Vice President and Trust Officer/General Counsel and as a Director of Data Processing for two national banking systems; has practiced law in the private sector as a partner in a law firm and in a solo practice. Prior to his legal career, Mr. Guest held the positions as Branch Administrator, Senior Systems Representative, Systems Engineer, and Senior Customer Engineer for major computer corporations and served as the Executive Director of the Mississippi State Central Data Processing Authority in Jackson, Mississippi.

    Mr. Guest is a member of the Mississippi State Bar Association, currently serving on the Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, and has served as chair of the Government Section. He is also a member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys and The Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies. Mr. Guest is actively involved with the Palmer Home for Children, currently serving as Chairman of the Board.