Alcorn president resigns

By Julie Cooper (Contact) | The Natchez Democrat

Published Friday, December 4, 2009

LORMAN — Alcorn State University President George E. Ross will be leaving the school in March to return to Central Michigan University as president.

Ross was CMU’s vice president for finance and administrative services before coming to Alcorn in January 2008.

“I am honored to have had the opportunity to serve Alcorn State University and the state of Mississippi during such a transformative time in the university’s history,” Ross said in a press release. “While I did not actively seek the presidency at Central Michigan University, I believe it is a unique opportunity.”

Central Michigan has an enrollment of 27,000 students. Alcorn has 3,339 students enrolled currently.

Several local Alcorn alumni pointed to positive steps taken under Ross’leadership, including beginning construction on a new dormitory in Lorman and implementing a plan to offer education degrees at the Natchez and Vicksburg campuses.

“It’s going to be a trying time,” Natchez resident and Alcorn alumnus Henry Houze said. “I have full confidence that the board is going to find someone who has Alcorn’s interests in mind to move Alcorn forward though.”

The Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning and an Alcorn search committee will lead the search for a new president.

Darryl Grennell, an Alcorn teacher and Adams County supervisor, said Ross’ departure and the turnover would definitely be a bump in the road for Alcorn.

“It was a shocker today,” he said. “A lot of great things are going on at Alcorn, and it’s difficult when you lose a president. When you get a new president, things slightly change. I guess it’s going to be another period of adapting.”

Ross replaced former President Clinton Bristow, who died suddenly in 2006. Between Bristow and Ross, Malvin Williams served as interim president.

Ross’ departure comes on the heels of a proposal from Gov. Haley Barbour to consolidate Alcorn State, Mississippi Valley State and Jackson State into one university. But the proposal is one that hasn’t gained much traction with legislators and one that doesn’t worry the alumni much, Grennell said.

“I’m not in favor of the governor’s plan, and I would think this will not play a role,” he said. “I believe alumni will play a major role in (preventing) that process.”

Alumnus Tony Fields agreed, but said Alcorn should quickly begin the process to hire a new president.

“I just don’t think they should waste a whole lot of time trying to find someone, especially with what the governor’s trying to put on the table,” Fields said. “We do need to start the process. We need leadership at home.”

Houze, who is the president of the Natchez alumni chapter, said he’d love to see the next president have direct ties to Alcorn, but that’s not the most important thing.

“The No. 1 thing is (to find) someone who is within Alcorn’s mission,” Houze said. “I just want someone who has a passion for Alcorn, who is a good person and who understands the role of Alcorn.”

Ross said in his statement that he was certain Alcorn would succeed in the future.

“I will always be proud of the many achievements of Alcorn’s faculty, staff and students during my tenure in the areas of student housing and enrollment; strategic and master planning; financial giving and support; and overall institutional reach and influence, and I am confident that the Alcorn family will continue to aspire to even greater levels of excellence,” Ross said.