The State College Board could announce a preferred candidate to become president at Jackson State University at any time. As MPB's Mark Rigsby reports, one alumnus says some JSU graduates are concerned about the track record of one rumored candidate.
Roslyn Artis is President at Florida Memorial University, and rumored to be in the running for the president's job at Jackson State. She was the former provost at the now defunct Mountain State University in West Virginia. The school closed in 2012 when it became embroiled in controversy over accreditation for its nursing program. State Senator Sollie Norwood, of Jackson, is a 1974 graduate, and a high profile member of the JSU community.
"I'm hoping they will dig a little deeper. In the digging, if some of these things are validated, then open up the process. We want to get it right. We want to make sure whomever is named president can bring the Jackson State family together."
IHL Spokesperson Caron Blanton says it's the board's policy not to reveal the names of the candidates.
She says board has received input from the campus and the alumni during the search process.
"Any search is very important, particularly to those alumni from each institution. The board thoroughly understands how important it is to find the right leader for each institution as it's going through the search process."
The State College Board meets again this Thursday.