Marcus L. Thompson Named the Thirteenth President of Jackson State University

The board of trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning in Mississippi has selected Marcus L. Thompson as the thirteenth president of Jackson State University.

Dr. Thompson has more than 20 years of leadership experience in early childhood, K-12 education, and higher education. He has been serving as the deputy commissioner and chief administrative officer of the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning, where for over a decade he has been responsible for overseeing IHL staff.

“I’m very honored to be named president of Jackson State University because I believe in its mission, purpose, and most of all, the outstanding faculty, staff, alumni, and students who embody our school’s motto of challenging minds, changing lives,” said Dr. Thompson. “I look forward to working closely with all of them to develop a consensus about strategic goals and objectives we can achieve by working together.”

Dr. Thompson earned a bachelor’s degree in history and Spanish and a master’s degree in education from Mississippi College. He holds a Ph.D. in urban higher education from Jackson State University.

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