DR. KEITH PARKER 1978
JEFF RUSSELL 1980
Dr. Keith Parker has a distinguished
Jeff Russell, a 1980 graduate of Delta
career as a university teacher and
State University, is the Senior Partner
administrator that spans approximately
and President at the Godwin Group.
26 years. He is Professor of Sociology
For the last two decades, Russell
and former Associate Provost for
has worked as a strategic marketing
Institutional Diversity at the University
planner for a variety of accounts
of Georgia-Athens. Prior to moving
focusing on bringing creative solutions
to Athens, he held the positions of
to marketing problems primarily in
Associate Professor of Sociology,
the fields of economic development,
Assistant and Associate Dean of
health care, and financial marketing.
Graduate Studies, Assistant Professor
Over the past 25 years, he has helped
of Sociology, and Director of African-
guide and assist Godwin Group’s
American and African Studies at the
clients such as Nissan, Mississippi
University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He has
Development Authority, Mississippi
served as First Vice President of the
Power, Hancock Bank, Trustmark
NAACP, Chair of the MLK Freedom
Bank, and Baptist Medical Center.
Breakfast Planning Committee, and
Russell began his advertising career
was on the Board of Directors of the
as a staff artist at a small agency in
Salvation Army. From 1979–1982, he
Mississippi, but, seeking to build his
served as Assistant to the Dean of
understanding of advertising and
Student Affairs at Delta State University.
marketing, he returned to Delta State
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in
University where he received an MBA
psychology and sociology from Delta
with an emphasis in marketing. He
State, a Master’s degree in sociology
became a GodwinGroup stockholder
and a Ph.D. in Sociology, both from
in 1990 and assumed responsibility
Mississippi State University. Parker has
for the agency’s brand management
been instrumental in building an Annual
component in 1992. He is currently
National Civil Rights Conference, and
responsible for the Godwin Gulf
he is currently working on his first book,
Coast, and he leads GodwinGroup’s
Character Matters.
Healthcare division. 9