State Institutions of Higher Learning board considers 79 applicants for next JSU president

Ed Inman
·2 min read
Jackson State University, along with Alcorn State University and Tougaloo College were among several historically Black colleges and universities across the country targeted by anonymous bomb threats on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022.

A Search Committee appointed by the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees on Tuesday, August 29 began the process of reviewing applications from what they reported as 79 candidates vying to become the next President of Jackson State University.

Members of the committee are Dr. Steven Cunningham, chair; Dr. Ormella Cummings; Bruce Martin; Gee Ogletree; and Hal Palmer.

Joined at the 4:30 p.m. meeting at the Universities Center building at the Mississippi Research and Development Center by several members of the Jackson State faculty interested in following the developments, the committee, via a teleconference online meeting platform, voted immediately upon convening to go into a closed or executive session to discuss personnel matters.

None of the committee members were at the meeting in person and Cunningham immediately gaveled the meeting as adjourned without taking questions from reporters as the doors were reopened after approximately two hours.

The committee is expected to decide who among the applicants will advance to the next level and be asked to submit to interviews for the position.

Kim Gallaspy, assistant commissioner for government relations for the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning, responding to questions from the Clarion Ledger, issued the following prepared statement:

“The Board of Trustees has received 79 applications for the position of President of Jackson State University. The schedule for holding interviews has not been finalized at this time, but we expect to complete the search this fall.”

In response to questions over whether Jackson State Acting President Dr. Elayne Hayes-Anthony is still considered an active candidate for the position, the statement added, “The Board values confidentiality for all applicants and will not comment on any specific applicants.”

Hayes-Anthony has said she wants to be a part of the process as the IHL makes decisions for the future of the school.

“I am here. I am a Jacksonian. Whatever I need to do to help my university to make things move ahead, I will do that,” Hayes-Anthony said. “Oh yeah, I would like to be the next president.”

Hayes-Anthony assumed the Acting President role after Thomas K. Hudson was placed on administrative leave earlier this year by the IHL and subsequently resigned.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: IHL considers applicants for Jackson State University president