9/7/2006 - Jackson, Miss.

The Mississippi Board of Trustees for the Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) has named Robert Bass, the former Executive Director of the Mississippi State Personnel Board, as Project Director - Gulf Coast Operations.

In his new role, Bass is responsible for assessing and meeting the changing educational needs of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. He will oversee the rehabilitation of the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) Gulf Park Campus and the establishment of an additional coast campus for USM. Bass will provide leadership in administration, planning and budgeting to accomplish these objectives.

"I am confident that the Board's commitment to the educational needs of the Mississippi Gulf Coast will be greatly enhanced by Robert Bass joining the Board Office staff," said Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Thomas C. Meredith.

Before joining IHL, Bass served as the Executive Director for the Mississippi State Personnel Board in Jackson, where he was responsible for administering human resource policy for 30,000 state government employees, overseeing a staff of 50 employees, and managing an annual budget of $6 million. From 1997 to 2004, prior to joining the State Personnel Board, Bass served as Mayor of the City of Long Beach, Mississippi, where he helped revitalize a spirit of cooperation among city leaders. As mayor, he was intimately involved in the promotion of four-year curriculum at the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Park Campus. He also led the city through the sale of city-owned recreational property to the University for expansion purposes.

An attorney and a certified public accountant, Bass brings many talents to his new position. As a resident of Long Beach, he is committed to citizen-driven development and education on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

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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