Newsome

James E. Newsome ('85) of Flora has been appointed by President Bill Clinton as commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the federal agency that regulates commodity futures and option trading in the United States.

Since 1997, he has served as chairman of the Mississippi Agribusiness Council, coordinating industry and government efforts to promote agribusiness development.

Newsome received his bachelor's degree in food and resource economics from the University of Florida in 1982 and a master's degree in agriculture from Mississippi State in 1985.

He became an instructor in animal science at Mississippi State, where he coached the livestock judging team and taught courses in livestock selection and management.

In 1989, he was named executive vice president of the Mississippi Cattlemen's Association and Beef Council, where his responsibilities included administration of legislative activities, membership programs, beef promotion, and research on behalf of the state's cattle producers.