Stakeholders say they hope the next historically Black university president addresses student housing and campus safety issues.
Akenya Woods, a freshman from Chicago studying sports journalism, doesn’t want to transfer from Jackson State University. But, unhealthy living conditions there have left her wondering if she may have to.
Woods became sick after mold was discovered in her Alexander Hall dorm room earlier this semester, she said. She took multiple allergy medications for treatment. She filed multiple complaints with administration often getting “the run-around” from university housing officials and staff.
But nothing changed, she said. Her parents are worried.
“It hurts when I talk about it,” Woods said Monday, her voice trembling in the microphone in front of her peers. “I came to college for my career, my education … not just to complain about things I have to deal with as a student.”
Dean of Education Tony Latiker asks a question during one of the on-campus listening sessions held for faculty, students and alumni to offer their opinions about the next Jackson State University president, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today
Woods was among dozens of students, faculty, staff and alumni who packed the seats of a small auditorium at the historically Black university’s student center this week to participate in two community listening sessions.
The sessions were to gather feedback on the qualifications they hope to see for the university’s next president. Many took the opportunity to express grievances to the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees and consultants of executive headhunting firm, AGB Search.
Since May, the top job at Jackson State has been vacant. Marcus Thompson resigned as president less than two years into his tenure without explanation from the IHL board, which oversees and selects the university’s presidents.
Thompson was the third president to depart in five years — in similar fashion to his two predecessors, Thomas Hudson and William Bynum.
State lawmakers and supporters of Jackson State have repeatedly criticized the board’s opaque search process, calling for a fair, transparent national leadership search for the university.
Chandar Lewis, professor of education leadership, asks a questions during an on-campus listening session for faculty, students and alumni to offer opinions about the next Jackson State University president, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today
Many say the constant leadership turnover has caused tremendous strain on the reputation and growth of Jackson State, Mississippi’s largest HBCU located in the state’s capital.
Like Woods, stakeholders said they didn’t want their next leader to be someone who can “meet the criteria,” but a president with a proven track record to hold administrators accountable, address ongoing challenges and ensure student success.
Since August, the board search committee has collected input from constituents in an effort to build the job candidate profile. Kim Bobby, a consultant with AGB Search, told Mississippi Today that feedback shared from participants, including public comments made through IHL’s portal, will be used for the candidate vetting and recruitment process, which can take up to eight weeks. Consultants said they anticipate releasing the candidate profile for a national search in the next few weeks.
‘People need to come out of the ivory tower’
Faculty and staff said they hope their next leader can mend relationships among colleagues in departments, boost salaries, address pay inequities and invest in research and academic programs, internships and opportunities for students.
Dawn Bishop McLin, psychology professor, said the campus community has experienced trauma, likely from the exhaustion and frustration with the board’s search process these past few years. It has affected morale for anyone connected to the university.
McLin would know. Her months-long federal lawsuit reached a tentative settlement agreement with IHL and Jackson State this summer after she was placed on leave pending termination in 2024.
She said the university needs a leader who can “get back to the basics” and have “strong core values” like integrity and accountability and who will, most importantly, emphasize education and service.
Carlton Brown, executive search consultant with AGB Search, an affiliate of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, co-chairs a listening session as a part of Jackson State University’s search for a new president, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, at the university. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today
“People need to come out of the ivory tower,” McLin said. “They need to walk the campus, they need to talk to the students. Talk to faculty. Jackson State has seeds of greatness that never left. We just need someone to nurture it.”
Robby Luckett, professor of history and director of the Margaret Walker Center, said he believes in Jackson State. An investment in the HBCU can challenge predominantly white institutions like the University of Mississippi and Mississippi State University. But, it all begins with leadership, he said.
“We have the opportunity to make this institution the envy of everyone in this state,” Luckett said. “If we have the right leadership, the right support from IHL and people above that, it could happen.”
‘The future of this institution is in the hands of this next president’
Ramon Jackson, liberal arts assistant department chair, asks questions during one of the on-campus listening sessions for faculty, students and alumni to offer their opinions about the next Jackson State University president, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today
Students said they want the next Jackson State president to prioritize student housing, campus safety and student input. When they voice concerns about mistreatment of faculty, staff and administrators, they said they want officials to respect their feedback.
Just days before fall semester began, dozens of students were left without housing assignments, scrambling to figure out where they would live. More than 380 students signed a petition this semester calling on the administration to acknowledge the university’s housing shortage.
Madison Jackson, a freshman affected by this situation, now lives a 25-minute drive off campus. She now has to plan her day based on whether staff can resolve issues before driving to campus. Many students refer to the phone conversations with staff as “bad customer service.” She wants the next president to address this problem.
“Communication is really bad, honestly,” Jackson said.
Jakari Holland, a junior studying political science, told consultants to make sure their next leader is vetted carefully. As a student leader on campus, he has seen Jackson State move away from being a “safe haven” to “a place where students don’t want to be.” He wants student voices considered when it comes to the decision making process.
“The future of this institution is in the hands of this next president,” Holland said. “We pay money here. And, we just need to make sure they are actually here for the people.”
‘We want to get close to John A. Peoples’
Alumni and community residents expressed that the late notice about the campus listening sessions didn’t provide enough time and opportunity for the IHL board and AGB Search to engage with stakeholders.
“It seems like you’re setting the pace already by the way you’re conducting the presidential search,” May Frances Bridges, a retired Jackson State employee and alum, said.
Bridges said she had to make a few calls to catch a ride to the sessions. The Jackson State Tigers also played Grambling University in a game in Las Vegas over the weekend, which could have made turnout for these sessions fairly low the first day, she said.
Carlton Brown, left, and Kim Bobby, both with AGB Search, an affiliate of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, lead listening sessions as a part of Jackson State University’s search for a new president, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, at JSU Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today
State lawmakers and city officials who participated told consultants they are looking for a leader who cares about the city of Jackson, its residents and community at large.
“I don’t think we will ever see another John A. Peoples but we want to get close to John A. Peoples,” said Sen. Sollie Norwood, a Democrat from Jackson and 1974 JSU alumnus.
Peoples, who served as university president from 1967-1984, is widely regarded as the university’s best president. Many alumni shared stories of their experience under his leadership and how he emphasized the need to respect the campus community to survive and thrive.
“Everybody wants to be treated with dignity and respect and that’s what he exemplified and that’s what we were accustomed too,” Bridges said, echoing Norwood’s public comment regarding Peoples.
Kim Bobby, a principal with AGB Search, an affiliate of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, co-chairs a listening session during Jackson State University’s search for a new president, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, at the university. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today
Norwood also said he is looking for a leader whose “toolbox” includes fundraising. Over time, the Legislature has decreased funding support for all state public universities, including Jackson State. Having a leader who can build relationships with politicians and “access funds” will make a difference.
Mayor John Horhn wants Jackson State’s next leader to be willing to partner with the city leaders to create jobs and build upon aging infrastructure to keep “the best and brightest” in Jackson.
“Our HBCUs serve a vital role and they ought to be supported significantly,” Horhn told Mississippi Today. “I’m all for getting as much resources to all the HBCUs as possible. This includes getting the right person to head Jackson State.”
-- Article credit to Candice Wilder for Mississippi Today --
