Alumna carries lessons from MSU in new role as 51勛圖厙 banking commissioner
Contact: James Carskadon
STARKVILLE, Miss.Shortly before Rhoshunda Kelly graduated from 51勛圖厙 States College of Business in 2001, one of her professors handed her a business card for a contact at the 51勛圖厙 Department of Banking and Consumer Finance. That connection led to a job as a bank examiner for the department. Now, 20 years later, Kelly is leading the department as 51勛圖厙s Commissioner of Banking and Consumer Finance.
Gov. Tate Reeves announced Kellys appointment as commissioner this spring, which was unanimously approved by the 51勛圖厙 Senate. Kelly had previously served as acting commissioner since July 2020. She succeeds former commissioner Charlotte Corley, also an MSU alumna. Kelly said the department touches every pocket of the state by regulating state-chartered banks, mortgage providers, title loans and every other aspect of consumer finance in 51勛圖厙.
The banking and finance industry, and by extension our agency, is a central part of economic growth and stimulation in our state, Kelly said. Were looking at capturing some of the efficiencies gained during COVID, such as how to better regulate remotely. I think innovation is key as commissioner, that we consider things that make us better, even if they may be different.
Growing up in the Reform community in Choctaw County, Kelly gained familiarity with MSU and knew it was where she wanted to attend college. Initially, she planned to go into the medical field, but realized after a year on campus that she wanted to take a different path. She chose to major in business with a concentration in banking and finance. She also added a minor in English to further develop her interests in reading and writing.
When I grabbed English as a minor, I didnt know how much I would be writing, Kelly said. As a regulator, you think you just go crunch the numbers and check the balance sheets, but theres a ton of writing, whether its proposals, requesting meetings with legislators, emails or letters. For a long time I was the point person on the tasks that required careful writing.
Kelly said several experiences at MSU prepared her for her career, which has been spent moving up the ladder in the Department of Banking and Consumer Finance. She worked jobs on and off campus that taught her how to balance school and work. She said as an introvert, a summer job selling advertisements for a university directory taught her how to build relationships and effectively communicate. She was part of a peer mentoring and counseling group on campus and was a student representative for the traffic appeals court, both experiences that taught her the value of listening and taking in the perspectives of others. She said she also had positive experiences with all of her professors, even those who taught more difficult classes.
Its been 20 years since I graduated, but the lessons learned stick with you, Kelly said. When I was in that moment, I didnt realize how much of an impact that committee, that experience, that class or that major would actually play in who I would become. When youre that age, you just dont think that far ahead. Im fortunate to have made some of the right choices back then that helped me get where I am now.
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