In a unanimous decision, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) announced in a press conference today that Dr. Donna Oliver, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Edward Waters College in Jacksonville, Florida, will serve as the 6th President of Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU). The announcement was made following day-long interviews with various campus and community constituency groups at Mississippi Valley State University, during which those participants had the opportunity to evaluate Dr. Oliver.

"Dr. Oliver is an outstanding choice for President," said MVSU Board Search Committee Chair Dr. Bettye Neely. "I am confident that her leadership will allow Mississippi Valley to reach even greater heights."

With a distinguished 30-year career in education, Dr. Donna Oliver has served as a K-12 public school biology and chemistry teacher, a college professor, and a K-16 administrator. She began her studies at Elon College, where she completed her undergraduate degree in biology and education. After teaching five years at the high school level, Dr. Oliver earned a master's of education degree in biology and curriculum and instruction, followed by a Ph.D. in curriculum and teaching, both from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Dr. Oliver will begin her service at Mississippi Valley in early January, 2009. A full biography and photo can be found here.

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 MVSU institutional executive officer search processes, including timelines of events, visit www.mississippi.edu.

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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