Padden is a 2^nd year PhD student in the WPIA program. A retired USAF officer and full-time farmer, Polly commutes weekly commute to Starkville from her farm outside Huntsville, Alabama. She is interested in the development of grand strategy, warfighting, and espionage. Although Polly's dissertation development is in its early stage, she plans to pursue a topic combining US involvement in World War II and intelligence-gathering efforts at home and abroad. 

DR. JOHN DOUGLAS AND ELIZABETH FORREST GRADUATE STUDENT FUND FOR EXCELLENCE was created by a 2017 Mississippi State History PhD graduate and his wife to assist graduate students in completing their degrees.