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BOARD ANNOUNCES FOGLESONG AS PRESIDENT OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY

3/28/2006 - Jackson, Miss.

The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning today unanimously named Dr. Robert H. Foglesong as President of Mississippi State University. The announcement followed open, day-long interviews with the Board, Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Thomas Meredith, Dr. Foglesong and various community and university constituencies. The Board solicited and reviewed feedback from the university and community representatives who participated in the open interviews prior to making its decision.

"I’m excited about it," said Trustee Ed Blakeslee, Chair of the MSU Presidential Search Committee. "I think we have someone who is truly going to be an outstanding president for Mississippi State."

"Dr. Foglesong is the right choice for Mississippi State at this time in its history," said Dr. Thomas C. Meredith, Commissioner of Higher Education. "Dr. Foglesong brings proven leadership and a level of integrity that we all deserve in our institutional heads."

"I’m delighted and honored to have this opportunity," said Dr. Foglesong. "I’m excited to take this institution, with its incredible reputation, and have the opportunity to help navigate it to the next level."

Dr. Robert H. Foglesong currently serves as President and Executive Director of the Appalachian Leadership and Education Foundation, a non-profit operating to identify and support Appalachian leaders. Previously, he was nominated by the President, confirmed by the U.S. Senate, and served as a four star general in the U.S. Air Force personnel, operations, infrastructure and intra/inter governmental affairs for an organization of 358,000 uniformed members and 158,000 civilian employees. He was responsible for planning and programming for future strategies involving an annual budget of $90 billion. His jobs required almost daily interface with members of Congress, the White House and many governmental interagency offices. Dr. Foglesong earned degrees from West Virginia University, including a Ph.D. in chemical engineering. Dr. Foglesong and his wife, Mary, have two grown sons, one of whom was born at Columbus Air Force Base.

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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