Dr. Carolyn Meyers named Jackson State University's first female chief

Carolyn Meyers describes herself as a "researcher," a "collaborative leader" and a "thinker." She plans to put those traits to use when she takes the helm as Jackson State University's first female president in January. "The university's vision is something that will be crafted with all of us working together," she said Wednesday. "This is not Meyers State University; this is Jackson State University."

The state College Board voted unanimously in favor of hiring Meyers, 64, as JSU's 10th president after she spent the day meeting with faculty, alumni, students and others on campus. "It was really enlightening and heartening to hear and see how committed all of the groups are," Meyers said after the interviews. "I think we have something here that's special and unique and appeals to a lot of people."



Former NSU president gets Jackson State job

JACKSON, Miss. - Jackson State University has hired Carolyn Meyers, the former president at Norfolk State University, as the school's president, making her the first woman to hold the top job there. The Board of Trustees of the State Institutions of Higher Learning named Meyers to the position Wednesday.

She replaces interim president Leslie McLemore, a political science professor appointed when Ronald Mason left in June to lead the Southern University System based in Baton Rouge, La. Meyers has more than 30 years of experience in higher education. Before working at Norfolk State, Meyers was provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at North Carolina A&T. She begins her new job in January.

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