2/21/2008 - Jackson, Miss.

During its regular monthly meeting today, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) received a generous grant from AT&T to build a comprehensive scholarship search tool as part of its new statewide college access website. The search tool will allow users to search for all types of educational funding sources, including state, federal, institutional, and private aid, available to them at Mississippi’s community and junior colleges, private institutions, and public universities. Mr. Mayo Flynt, President of AT&T Mississippi; along with Lisa Hathorn, AT&T Director of Public Affairs; and Scott Cook, AT&T Account Manager, presented the $57,500 check to Vice President of the Board Trustee Amy Whitten and Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Thomas C. Meredith. Click here for a photo of the check presentation (photo caption below).

The Board also celebrated Black History Month by honoring university and community members who have made significant contributions to diversity. The Board’s Black History Month Committee, chaired by Trustee D.E. Magee, Jr., named Dr. Sheila Davis, Professor of Nursing and Assistant Dean for Doctoral Studies in the School of Nursing at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, the 2008 Black History Month Educator of the Year. Ms. Ora Catherine Reed, renowned pianist, singer, and cultural ambassador for Mississippi, was named the Board’s 2008 Black History Month Community Honoree. In addition, the Board gave certificates of appreciation to the following institutional nominees: Dr. Dovi Alipoe, Professor of Agricultural Economics and Director of Global Programs at Alcorn State University; Ms. Georgene Clark, Assistant Professor of Diversity Activities and Coordinator of Compositions at Delta State University; Dr. James Maddirala, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Student Life at Jackson State University; Dr. Stephen Middleton, Professor of History and Director of African American Studies at Mississippi State University; Dr. Albert E. Myles, Extension Professor of Community Research Development in the Agriculture Economics Department at the Mississippi State University Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine; Ms. Towanda Williams, Assistant Director of Career Services for Student Life at Mississippi University for Women; Dr. Marvin Haire, Interim Director of the Delta Research and Cultural Institute at Mississippi Valley State University; Mr. Derek Horne, Associate Athletic Director for External Operations at the University of Mississippi; and Ms. Vrita H. Delaine, Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs at the University of Southern Mississippi.

In other news, the Board approved revisions to the Capital Needs Requests of both Jackson State University and the University of Mississippi. Specifically, the Board approved changing IHL priority 4 of its Capital Needs Request to reduce the amount requested by Jackson State for land acquisition from $4,000,000 to $2,000,000 and include a request for additional funding for Johnson/Dansby replacement at $2,000,000. The Board also approved a request from the University of Mississippi to revise its Capital Needs Request to substitute additional funding for Coulter Hall renovation for Scruggs Music Hall Renovation at $3,500,000; and to substitute the pre-planning of emergency services for the pre-planning of Peabody Hall at $500,000.

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.

(PHOTO CAPTION: AT&T Mississippi check presentation, left to right: Dr. Thomas C. Meredith, Commissioner of Higher Education; Jennifer Rogers, IHL Communications and Marketing Associate; Scott Cook, AT&T Mississippi Account Manager; Mayo Flynt, AT&T Mississippi President; Amy Whitten, Vice President of the Board of Trustees; Lisa Hathorn, AT&T Mississippi Director of Public Affairs; and Annie Mitchell, IHL Director of Media Relations, Communications and Marketing.)

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