P. C. (Mac) McLaurin, Jr. is Leader and Extension Professor of Local Government in the Center for Governmental Training & Technology in the Mississippi State University Extension Service. He received his B.A. and M.A. degrees in political science from the University of Mississippi and has completed most of the requirements for the Ph.D. in political science at Ole Miss.

Mr. McLaurin has almost forty (40) years of academic and practical experience in government, having taught political science at Mississippi State University from 1965-75, including visiting instructorships at the University of Mississippi and Millsaps College in the summer of 1967, and having worked as a public administrator with the City of Starkville from 1975-1989, serving as Chief Administrative Officer of the city from 1978-89.

Mr. McLaurin speaks and consults extensively in areas related to local government management and was a co-editor and a contributing author of County Government in Mississippi (2000) and Municipal Government in Mississippi (2001), the leading works on county and municipal government in Mississippi.

Mr. McLaurin is active in university and professional affairs, having recently been elected to a third, three-year term on the Faculty Senate of Mississippi State University and having served a term on both the Intergovernmental Affairs Committee and the Education Committee of the National Association of Counties. He serves his community as a member of the Board of Commissioners of the Golden Triangle Regional Solid Waste Management Authority, a member of the Greater Starkville Development Partnership, a member and President of the Starkville Rotary Club, and a member of the Starkville Board of Aldermen.

Active in youth sports programs, Mr. McLaurin serves as a member of the National Board of Directors of Dizzy Dean, Inc. and has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Starkville Post 13 American Legion Baseball Program, including serving as general manager of both Starkville’s junior and senior division teams; the baseball program liaison to the Starkville High School Athletics Booster Club; and a member of the board of directors and President of the Starkville Baseball Association.