MSU’s Priddy selected for 2026 Tau Beta Pi–McDonald Mentor Award
Contact: Camille Carskadon
STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State Bagley College of Engineering Associate Professor Matthew Priddy is the 2026 recipient of the Tau Beta Pi–McDonald Mentor Award, an honor recognizing excellence in mentoring and advising among Tau Beta Pi educators and engineers.
Established in 2005, the award celebrates those who consistently support the personal and professional development of students and colleagues. Recipients are recognized for serving as effective mentors, advocates and guides while contributing to their fields and communities. As this year’s recipient, Priddy will receive a $1,000 cash award and an engraved medallion, and the MSU Tau Beta Pi chapter also will receive $1,000 in his name.
“Looking at the past recipients, they are so accomplished. I am honored to be counted among them,” said Priddy, who is a faculty member with the Michael W. Hall School of Mechanical Engineering and additive manufacturing lead for MSU’s Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems. “At a higher level, I believe this recognition speaks to the caring environment of MSU and our genuine interest in providing our students with the best possible education.”
Priddy joins a distinguished group of Tau Beta Pi–McDonald Mentor Award recipients, including retired MSU Department of Computer Science and Engineering Professor and Head Donna Reese, who received the honor in 2010.
“Dr. Donna Reese is an institution at MSU. Her presence is felt, and her positive impact is evidenced in so many different programs within the college of engineering,” Priddy said. “If I can have a quarter of the impact on engineering students as Dr. Reese did, I will feel like my career at MSU was a success.”
MSU’s Michael W. Hall School of Mechanical Engineering is online at www.me.msstate.edu, and the Bagley College of Engineering is at www.bagley.msstate.edu and can be found on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube at @msuengineering.
Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.