Jackson State College, the reigning HBCU nationwide soccer champion, is as soon as once more present process a significant management transition. On Wednesday, Dr. Marcus Thompson submitted his resignation as president, marking the third time in seven years that the outstanding HBCU has skilled a change on the prime.
In response, the Mississippi Establishments of Increased Studying (IHL) Board of Trustees appointed Dr. Denise Jones Gregory as interim president. Dr. Gregory, who at the moment serves as Provost and Vice President for Educational Affairs, brings greater than 20 years of expertise in increased training to the function. A proud alumna of Jackson State College, Dr. Gregory is understood for her work in pupil success, variety, and tutorial affairs, most not too long ago serving at Samford College earlier than returning to her alma mater.
At Samford, Dr. Gregory managed three key student-focused workplaces and performed an important function within the college’s strategic planning and finances oversight. She additionally served as NCAA School Athletic Consultant and held membership on a number of management councils. Her deep ties to Jackson State as a life member of the JSU Nationwide Alumni Affiliation and as treasurer of its Birmingham Chapter converse to her long-standing dedication to the establishment.
Dr. Gregory’s appointment comes at a time when stakeholders are calling for stability at Jackson State College, which has confronted frequent turnover on the presidential degree. Thompson, who started his tenure in 2023, adopted Thomas Hudson, who served simply over two years earlier than stepping down in March of that 12 months. Hudson himself succeeded William Bynum, who resigned in 2020 following authorized troubles stemming from an arrest in a prostitution sting.
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves addressed the state of affairs throughout a current public occasion, stressing the necessity for “consistency and high quality management” at Jackson State. He additionally overtly criticized the IHL Board, stating that “the board and the commissioner owe taxpayers an evidence as to why they’ve gotten it so fallacious at Jackson State.”
Regardless of the management turbulence, Jackson State’s athletic success, particularly in soccer, has helped preserve its visibility within the HBCU panorama. As Jackson State College strikes ahead underneath Dr. Gregory’s interim management, the JSU neighborhood is hoping this new chapter will carry the long-term stability the establishment and its college students deserve.
