4/19/2018 - Jackson, Miss.

Trustee C.D. Smith passed the gavel to incoming President Shane Hooper at the meeting of the IHL Board of Trustees held today in Jackson. Trustee Hooper will officially take office on May 8.

"Through both university-specific initiatives and collaborative efforts, Mississippi's public university system advances the state and provides an excellent return on investment for the taxpayers," said Mr. Hooper. "For every dollar the state invests in Mississippi Public Universities, the Mississippi economy grows by $3.21. I am excited to take on this new role as we continue to meet the needs of our students, serve all Mississippians and move the state forward through education, research and outreach."

Trustee Hooper served as Vice President of the Board during Trustee Smith's term. Trustee Hal Parker will serve as Vice President during Mr. Hooper's term.

"I have enjoyed working with my fellow Trustees, the Commissioner and the universities," said Trustee Smith. "The university system is making great strides, awarding a record number of degrees last year and providing $2.46 billion in economic impacts around the state. It has been a privilege to serve as President of the Board of Trustees."

Mississippi Public Universities served more than 95,000 students in Academic Year 2017 and awarded a record number of degrees, 17,760, in 2017. Over the past five years, there has been an 8.9 percent increase in the number of degrees awarded and a 37.9 percent increase in the number of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) graduates. Last year, there were 2,849 healthcare graduates, including nurses.

The university system has a tremendous economic impact on the state, supporting 59,258 direct and indirect jobs in 2015.

Trustee Shane Hooper of Tupelo was appointed to the Board of Trustees by Governor Phil Bryant in May 2012 to represent the Third (Northern) Supreme Court District for a term to expire May 7, 2021.

Mr. Hooper is a graduate of Itawamba Agricultural High School and David Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn. After graduation, he served his country as an officer in the United States Marine Corps.

He has enjoyed a career in the insurance and financial services industry for 16 years. Shane is president of Success Learning Corporation Inc., a training provider for the insurance and financial services industry.

Active in the community, Mr. Hooper is past president of the Tupelo Rotary Club, past president of the Gardner-Simmons Home for Girls and past president of United Way of Northeast Mississippi. He has also served as the Planning and Property division chair for the Community Development Foundation (CDF) and the Economic Development division chair for CDF.

Mr. Hooper has received the "Rotarian of the Year" award and the "Tupelo's Top Twenty Young Professionals" award. He is currently a board member of the United Way of Northeast Mississippi, the Health Care Foundation of North Mississippi, North Mississippi Health Services, Health Link, North Mississippi Medical Center, Good Samaritan Free Clinic, Sanctuary Hospice House and Second Vice Chairman of CDF.

Shane and his wife Sarah have two sons, Christopher and Channing, and one daughter, EllaBess.

A regional director with AT&T Mississippi, Mr. Smith chairs the G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery Institute and serves on the board of the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation and the State Games of Mississippi. He is a member of the Board of Governors of the Mississippi Economic Council and a trustee on the Trustmark National Bank Advisory Board in Meridian. A member of the Meridian Rotary Club, he is a retired Mississippi Air National Guardsman.

Mr. Smith holds a bachelor's degree in business and industry and a master's degree in business administration, both from Mississippi State University, and has served on the MSU Alumni Association's board of directors.

His dedication to community service has been recognized with several awards, including the Meridian Star's Citizen of the Year and Man of the Year awards, the Meridian Civitan Club's Citizen of the Year award, the Seratoma Club Mississippi District's Service to Mankind Award and the Bar Association of Lauderdale County's Liberty Bell Award.

Mr. Smith is married to the former Linda Joyce Bishop and has three children, Cynthia, Drew and Danielle.

Outgoing Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning Board President C. D. Smith of Meridian (left) passes the gavel to incoming Board President Shane Hooper at the Board Meeting held today in Jackson. Trustee Hooper will begin serving his term as president on May 8.

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The Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning 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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