Since January 2000, Jackson State University (JSU) has had nine different presidents. That averages more than one every three years. Of the nine individuals, three were interim presidents, making it a different person every four years. On the other hand, if the 10 years of Ronald Mason’s presidency are omitted, four permanent presidents have together served only 13 years. In short, there has been a great deal of turn-over and instability.
That fact has not been lost on conscientious and observing alumni nor supporters of JSU. In fact, it has led to the creation of one organization, Thee 1877 Project, and the revival of another, the Mississippi Coalition on Black Higher Education, which began as the Black Mississippi Council on Higher Education.
JSU alumnus Mark Dawson, serving as Chairman of Thee 1877 Project, authored an excellent article entitled, “Thee 1877 Project and its work”. This article spells out that organization’s position on the rapid presidential turn-overs and the role of the college board in the bad choices…