Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Thomas C. Meredith today announced the members of the Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU) Search Advisory Committee. The Search Advisory Committee members will assist the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) with its search for the next president of Mississippi Valley State University. Search Advisory Committee members were chosen based on recommendations by university constituencies and reflect key members of the university community as well as the public and private sectors. The MVSU Search Advisory Committee is charged with identifying the most capable and qualified applicants and nominees to be presented to the Board Search Committee for review. Some Search Advisory Committee members will also participate throughout the interview process with the Board of Trustees.

The Mississippi Valley State University Search Advisory Committee members include:

Dr. Moses Newsome, who will also serve as Committee Chair
Vice President, Research, Planning, Community, and Economic Development

Mr. Edgar Bland
Director of Academic Computing Services

Ms. Brandy Brown
Student Government Association President

Dr. Gwendolyn Catchings
President of the Faculty Senate and Assistant Professor of Business Administration

Ms. Samantha Clark
Job Developer, Career Services Center

Ms. Thelma Collins
Mayor of Itta Bena

Ms. Joyce Dixon
Assistant Vice President of Fiscal Affairs

Dr. Morgan Ero
Interim Chair of the Social Science Department

Dr. Louis Hall
Assistant Professor of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health

Dr. Dae Sung Lee
Dean and Professor of the Business Administration Department

Dr. Abigail Newsome
Director and Assistant Professor of Bioinformatics

Dr. Annie Payton
Director of the J. H. White Library

Dr. Glenell Lee-Pruitt
Professor of Social Work

Dr. Walter Roberts
President of the Mississippi Valley State University Foundation

Mr. Walter Robinson
Member of the Mississippi House of Representatives

Mr. Donald Ray Sims
Interim Athletic Director

Ms. Machelle Stockstill
Mississippi Valley State University Graduate Student

Ms. Carolyn Upkins
President of the Mississippi Valley State University Alumni Association

Dr. Vincent Venturini
Interim Chair and Assistant Professor in the Social Work Department

Mr. Tommy Verdell
Director of Facilities Management

Ms. Barbara Washington
Assistant Professor of English and Foreign Languages

Dr. Marikay Wilson
Education Coordinator for the Institute for Effective Teaching Practices

In addition, Ms. Dallas Reed, MVSU Assistant Vice President of Development, will serve as IHL's search liaison throughout the process.

IHL's institutional executive officer search process allows Mississippi to be on the consideration list of the highest caliber professionals in higher education. The process is open, transparent and representative-based, and works in accordance with today's recruitment standards for high-level institutions of higher learning. For more information on the Mississippi Valley State University institutional executive officer search process, including a timeline of events, visit the Mississippi Valley State University online search page.

Under the leadership of the Board of Trustees, IHL governs the public universities in Mississippi, including Alcorn State University; Delta State University; Jackson State University; Mississippi State University including the Mississippi State University Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine; Mississippi University for Women; Mississippi Valley State University; the University of Mississippi including the University of Mississippi Medical Center; and the University of Southern Mississippi.

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