9/20/2006 - Jackson, Miss.

During its regular monthly meeting, the Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) welcomed Dr. Lynn House as Assistant Commissioner of Academic and Student Affairs and named Dr. Reginald Sykes Assistant Commissioner for Community and Junior College Relations.

As the chief academic officer for IHL, Dr. House will coordinate undergraduate, graduate and professional programs at Mississippi's eight public universities and promote intra-system collaboration in academic development. She will also work to enhance teaching and learning within the System and administer various grant programs. Dr. House will lead the System in its commitment to student success through academic programs and student services.

Before joining IHL, Dr. House was dean of the College of Education at Delta State University where she oversaw all aspects of teaching, outreach, scholarly activity and service to the broader college community. Prior to joining Delta State, she acted as the Bureau Director for the Office of Innovative Support at the Mississippi Department of Education, where she coordinated the implementation of federal and state-supported programs in 152 school districts. Dr House brings to IHL extensive training, teaching and administrative experience.

In the newly created position, Dr. Sykes will oversee academic articulation programs to help students take the appropriate community college courses that will transfer for credit toward a bachelor's degree at a university. Dr. Sykes will also work with community and junior college leadership to assist individuals in continuing their postsecondary education after completing work at a two-year institution.

Dr. Sykes comes to IHL from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC), Jefferson Davis Campus, where he was Vice President. Before assuming the position of Vice President, he served for eight combined years as the dean of student services at MGCCC and Meridian Community College. Dr. Sykes also has experience in secondary school administration and university classroom instruction, having taught at Mississippi State University-Meridian, William Carey University in Gulfport, Mississippi, and Prairie View A&M University in Texas.

"We are proud to welcome both Dr. House and Dr. Sykes to our team," said Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Thomas C. Meredith. "Their extensive combined experience will help the Board achieve its goal of moving Mississippi forward through education."

The next regular meeting of the Board of Trustees will be held October 18 and 19, 2006.

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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