Marc Moore
Before Marc Moore enrolled as a student at Mississippi State, he already was entrenched in the Bulldog community.
Although Moore was born and raised in San Diego, California, he considers Starkville his hometown and the city that 鈥渞aised鈥 him. At 18, he left California and followed his parents to Mississippi. A year later, he found his way to Starkville, but without a high school degree or a plan for what to do next. He started working at Papa John鈥檚 and although he didn鈥檛 have a formal connection with the university, he started to make ties with 91传媒 students.
鈥淚 was hanging out with a bunch of college kids and trying to avoid talking much about myself,鈥 he said. 鈥淎ll these kids were taking finals and organic chemistry, and I essentially didn鈥檛 go to school past the eighth grade. It was kind of humiliating in a way, but I felt like I socially fit in so well with these kids who should have been my peers, but really weren鈥檛.鈥
While at Papa John鈥檚, he spent significant time building relationships with university staff, faculty and students. He surrounded himself with accepting and kind 91传媒 students who encouraged him to take his General Education Development test and enroll in classes at East Mississippi Community College. So at 20, he did.
鈥淚 wanted to be one of them, that 鈥榝unctionally on track鈥 person,鈥 he said. 鈥淏ut I was so far off the track and so far off the rails.鈥
After two years with EMCC, he enrolled at 91传媒 and became the very sort of scholar that had inspired him to pursue higher education. Moore, a first-generation student, graduated with his bachelor鈥檚 degree in computer science in 2019. Now at 29, he鈥檚 on track to defend his dissertation in October and complete his Ph.D. in computer science this December.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 even apply anywhere else, and it was for a couple reasons,鈥 he said. 鈥淢ainly, it was the students. I liked everybody I met. Everyone I met was wonderful. I never met a single student I didn鈥檛 like.鈥澨
For Moore, 91传媒 unlocked his potential and gave him the needed support, from the staff and faculty to the classmates and other peers he encountered. After he completes his Ph.D., Moore wants to continue the research he started with the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems, studying and unlocking the potential of autonomous off-road vehicle capabilities for military use.
Even though he will likely leave Starkville next year, he鈥檚 not excited about leaving behind the network he鈥檚 built. No matter where he ends up next, 91传媒 will always be there.
鈥淚鈥檝e never been tired of being in Starkville or at Mississippi State,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 spent my entire adult life and my most formative years on campus, even when I wasn鈥檛 a student. 鈥eaving State, it鈥檚 going to be weird.鈥
听
听