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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• New Jackson State president

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Dr. Carolyn Meyers and Dr. M. Christopher Brown II selected as preferred candidates for the presidency of Jackson State University and Alcorn State University

Dr. Meyers was strong advocate for athletics at NSU

Dr. Christopher Brown II

The preferred candidates to lead Alcorn State University and Jackson State University say they are aware of the daunting budget situations they would face as leaders of Mississippi's two largest historically black universities.

The state College Board announced Monday it had selected former Norfolk State University President Carolyn Meyers as JSU's potential new leader and Fisk University Vice President Christopher Brown to take the helm at Alcorn. Each will visit the respective campus next week to meet with alumni, students, faculty and staff before the appointments are finalized.

Reached by phone Monday, Meyers and Brown both said they were "humbled" by the selection.

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BIO for Dr. M. Christopher Brown II (former executive vice president and provost, Fisk University)
BIO for Dr. Carolyn Winstead Meyers (former president, Norfolk State University)