Did you see our Valley professors, Dr. Louis Hall and Dr. Abigail Newsome featured in The Greenwood-Commonwealth’s Profile edition on Thursday? These two professors, along with colleague, Dr. Mack Felton, are diligently working toward our MVSU Go Green Vision 2012. You will hear more about this in the coming days as we prepare to launch our sustainable, renewable, recyclable program. This will include collecting old cell phones and other digital equipment, an initiative spearheaded by the Office of Sponsored Programs. In addition, Facilities Management is preparing to replace trash cans with “trio receptacles,” a three-part container for paper, aluminum and plastic. Other professors and staff members are looking into ways to assist the University in “going green.” I look forward to sharing more with you.

Officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency were on campus Wednesday and learned more about our Go Green initiative. They were impressed with our plans and left with good impressions. I want to thank all of those areas, including the Sustainability Committee, who prepared for the visit. Great job!

I want to welcome the TRIO Programs to campus on Saturday as The Valley hosts the Student Leadership Initiative. Among those visiting are Hinds Community College, Tougaloo College, Alcorn State University, Coffeeville/Calhoun, Jackson State University, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and Copiah-Lincoln Community College.

I hope they will join us after the conference for the MVSU vs. Jackson State men’s and women’s basketball games in the Harrison HPER Complex.

I learned today that The Valley will be welcoming the men and women of the Mississippi Alumni Directors Association as we serve as host institution for their annual meeting on Wednesday, March 4. If you see them, please give them a great Valley welcome.

I wish I could blog every hour on the hour and tell you about all of the great things happening at this university! We have had an incredible week – how often can you tell someone, “I spent Tuesday evening with Branford Marsalis, Delfeayo Marsalis and Jessie Robinson!” Our students and members of the community who attended the first MVSU Music Industry Symposium experienced a night we won’t soon forget. (By the way, among the 100 or more high school students visiting campus, we had one Valley prospective student and his mother attend the high school symposium from Ocean Springs on the Gulf Coast. Hats off to our recording studio professors for this remarkable recruiting activity!)

I was honored today to be the keynote speaker for the Black History program at Chambers Middle School in Arcola. I was greeted by the Student Government President Courtney Brown and Vice President Montana Flannagin. Principal Angela Johnson and her staff have an impressive school and an impressive student body. I met several Valley graduates among Chambers’ faculty – another special experience.

I want to invite you to join The Valley Family on Sunday, May 1, as we attend Turner Chapel AME Church, 717 Walthall Street in Greenwood. Pastor Ray Jackson and his congregation are looking forward to having us. Services begin at 10 a.m. I want to thank MVSU employee LaShon Brooks for extending a personal invitation.

Our athletic teams continue to excel in their respective sports. Our women’s softball team is shining! The Valley men’s baseball team challenged Mississippi State and lost by one run. The men’s and women’s basketball team are facing our rival Jackson State. Please support these teams; come to the games and wear your green and white. Let’s go, Valley!

This is a reminder that today we will hold our first all campus Faculty and Staff Town Hall Meeting at 11 a.m. in the H.G. Carpenter Auditorium. The topic of discussion will be the MVSU Budget, the current 5 percent state budget cut and the anticipated 10 percent state cut in funding.

We will have sign-in sheets at the front entrance. Please arrive by 10:45 a.m. so that you can sign in and be seated. The meeting will begin promptly at 11 a.m.

Just a quick blog about several events coming up at The Valley:

Our women’s softball team will host Southern University on Saturday with a double-header at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. On Sunday, the women will welcome Lyons College for another double-header at noon and 2 p.m.

I want to recognize these ladies as they received a vote in this week’s USAToday/NFCA Division 1 Poll. Kudos to coach Lee Smith and the entire team!

For the MVSU family interested in joining us as we visit area churches, on Sunday we will be attending First Presbyterian Church located at 300 Main Street (in downtown Greenwood on the corner of Washington and Main Streets). Services begin at 11 a.m. and Dr. Rusty Douglas, church pastor, and his congregation have extended a hearty welcome. Please join us!

I know you love hearing our University Choir under the direction of Mr. Orlando Moss. The choir will be performing Sunday at 3 p.m. at Greater Pine Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Grenada. For those of you in the Grenada area, don’t miss our young men and women!

Like the weekend, next week is packed with outstanding opportunities for the Delta citizens.

On Tuesday, area high school students are invited to the MVSU High School Music Business Seminar beginning at 9 a.m. in the Business Education Building auditorium.

Featured guests include Ed Silvera, who will discuss music video; Dr. Marvin Haire, who will give a Black History presentation, and MVSU students Jimmie Lee, Jamonte Ford and Willie “Wi-lee” Robinson, who will give demonstrations in rap, R&B and jazz.

Silvera is a music video, concert and artist promoter who has also served as a cultural heritage manager.

Everyone is invited to a FREE concert Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. featuring Delfeayo Marsalis and friends. The workshop will be held in the H.G. Carpenter auditorium. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if more members of the Marsalis family made a surprise visit to Itta Bena! You never know who will grace the stage so please come to the Instruction Training Demonstration. Jessie Robinson also will perform and if you love the blues, you’ll love this performance.

On Feb. 25, the Robert Clark Political Leadership Forum will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. in the Social Science Auditorium. Featured speakers include Howard Boutee, chief executive officer of the Mississippi Action for Community Education (MACE), Mayor Johnny Thomas of Glendora and Letisha Latiker, program officer for the Mississippi Children’s Defense Fund. During the luncheon, our friend, Dr. Rosetta Jones-Howard, dean of academic affairs at Coahoma Community College, will speak.

Also on Wednesday, the MVSU Department of Fine Arts will host a reception honoring faculty members whose art is on exhibit through March 25. The faculty include Craig Clifford, Charles Davis, Frank Hardmon, Ronald Minks and Dorothy Vaughn. The reception is from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Johnston Gallery located in the Fine Arts Building.

On Saturday, the men’s and women’s basketball teams host Jackson State. I really need you to wear green and white and fill those bleachers! I want a sea of green with just a sprinkle of blue and white! You know what I am talking about! Let’s show coach Nate Kilbert and the ladies and coach Sean Woods and the men that we are behind them and let’s beat those Tigers! I’ll see you there!

 I am pleased today to announce two new members of my executive cabinet, Dr. Joseph M. Stevenson, University Provost/Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, and Dr. Anna Hammond, Chief of Staff.

Dr. Joseph M. Stevenson

Dr. Stevenson comes to The Valley from Jackson State University where he most recently served as director and founder of the Executive Ph.D. Program/Jake Ayers Institute for Research in Urban Higher Education. Dr. Stevenson founded the institute in 2004, after serving as JSU’s provost and vice president for academic and student affairs from 2001 to 2004.

While on sabbatical last year, he was visiting provost-in-residence for the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO). Among his accomplishments was the crafting of the first national research and policy agenda for NAFEO and HBCUs throughout the United States. Previously, he served as a Kellogg Leadership Fellow at NAFEO as a part of a minority-serving institutional leadership development program. His presidential mentorship for this fellowship was completed at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Stevenson was campus provost and chief executive officer at Golden Gate University–Sacramento and Central Valley campuses from 1997 to 1999. He also served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at York College, The City University of New York.

His impressive dossier includes stints as associate vice president for academic affairs at the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and as executive assistant to the president at Middle Tennessee State University.

Dr. Stevenson currently lecturers on transformational leadership at Tuskegee University; strategic planning and budgeting for diversity at Stanford University; future higher education trends at Tougaloo College; and future academe at the University of Georgia. 

The Valley’s new provost earned a doctorate degree in educational policy and management from the University of Oregon in 1986. He holds a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction leadership with emphasis in K-12 education, also from the University of Oregon. Dr Stevenson holds three degrees from California State University, including a master of arts degree in social science education with an emphasis in government, a master of arts degree in education administration with an emphasis in higher education, and a bachelor of arts degree in government.

Dr. Anna M. Hammond

I am equally pleased to have Dr. Anna Hammond join my executive team as chief of staff. Dr. Hammond and I have worked closely together at Edward Waters College in Jacksonville, Florida, where she was associate provost and dean of the college. We also worked together at Bennett College where Dr. Hammond was associate vice president for academic affairs, academic officer and associate professor of education. Currently Dr. Hammond serves as the Interim Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs at Edward Waters College.

Dr. Hammond brings expertise in the areas of continuing education, faculty and staff training, program and curriculum development, strategic planning, Board staffing, student recruitment and retention and strategic tactical planning.

While at Bennett College, Dr. Hammond was responsible for the design and development of a college-wide retention plan and developed, coordinated and implemented the comprehensive student academic assessment system for enrolled students. She led the revitalization of the college’s athletic program and directed the development of the new academic advising handbook.

Prior to joining Bennett College, Dr. Hammond was director of the University Centers for Academic Development at National-Louis University in Chicago, Ill. As director, she managed more than 40 professional and support staff who served more than 7,000 students and provided academic support services and course work to students at the University’s five Illinois campuses and five out-of-state campuses.  Dr. Hammond also served as the first African American President of the National Learning Centers Association (NLCA).

Dr. Hammond holds an Ed.D. degree in adult and continuing education from National-Louis University in Chicago, Ill., a master’s degree in extension education from the University of Illinois; and a bachelor of science degree in secondary education from Chicago State University.

Please extend a warm welcome to each of them just as you did for me!

It was a pleasure today to see our own Dr. Kathie Stromile Golden recognized during the IHL Board of Trustees meeting. Dr. Golden was selected as the MVSU 2009 Black History Month honoree for advancing diversity at The Valley. Congratulations, Dr. Golden!

In addition, congratulations go to our very own alumnae, Dr. Bettye Henderson Neely of Grenada, who will begin serving as IHL Board Vice President effective May 9, 2009. Dr. Neely was the MVSU Preeminence Award Winner during 2008 Gala.

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Joe Stevenson as MVSU Provost effective March 1, following board approval this afternoon. I will be sharing more details about Dr. Stevenson in tomorrow’s blog.

By now campus faculty and staff have received a notice regarding our first campus-wide Town Hall meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 11 a.m. in H.G. Carpenter Auditorium. During this time, we will discuss the MVSU Budget, the current 5% state budget cut and the anticipated 10% state cut in funding.

Dr. L. Stacy Davidson, Jr., board member and chair of the Board’s Special Recognitions and Black History Month Committee, Dr. Kathie Stromile-Golden and Dr. Donna Oliver.

Our Town and Gown Initiative is full steam ahead with The Valley’s official institutional membership in the Greenwood-Leflore Chamber of Commerce. Tuesday’s press conference included pledges of support and reciprocating commitments between University officials and chamber officials.

I stated during the press conference that I want the community to see Mississippi Valley as their university. Together we can accomplish so much for education and economic development so that all of the communities in Leflore County are thriving.

Later in the day we witnessed the unveiling of the City of Itta Bena Web site. More than 40 citizens and Valley representatives were on hand as Mayor Thelma Collins and our own Dr. Marvin Haire launched www.ittabenaonline.com. We congratulate the city and look forward to more joint projects.

Today I am at Jackson State for IHL board meetings. I regret I will be unable to attend Black History Convocation. I want to thank Dr. Roy Hudson for stepping in as the keynote speaker after our invited speaker, Dr. Terrence Roberts of the Little Rock Nine, cancelled due to illness. We wish Dr. Roberts a speedy recovery.

I do hope that you will turn out for tonight’s basketball game in the Harrison HPER Complex. Valley’s men and women take on rival Alcorn! Students – come out with those pompoms and cheer your peers. Please wear your green and white.

I need you there in my absence. I am in North Carolina celebrating my darling granddaughter Raina’s first birthday! Even though Mr. Oliver and I are out of town, please know that we are thinking of our athletes and wishing them the very best!

On Sunday, The Valley family, including the baseball team and the University Choir under the direction of Mr. Orlando Moss, will attend Wesley United Methodist Church near downtown Greenwood on 800 Howard St. You may recall the Rev. Ever Burt’s congregation hosted Dr. Bill Cosby in November.

On Feb. 22, we will visit First Presbyterian Church in downtown Greenwood on the corner of Washington and Main Streets. Please join us!

Last week was a very, very fruitful and engaging week spent in Washington, D.C.

We spent Tuesday on Capitol Hill meeting with Sen. Cochran. I was able to share my vision with Sen. Cochran and a representative from Sen. Wicker’s office. I am pleased to tell you that I will be going back in June when we have our new strategic plan completed. Our congressman, Bennie Thompson, had a full slate so we look forward to visiting him in D.C. this summer.

The Environmental Protection Agency officials are very interested in working with The Valley as we move toward a sustainable environment on campus. They will be coming to our campus later this month and I can tell you that it is a very exciting time to be a part of our University!

Can I tell you how much I love Valley alumni! I was able to meet with about 21 DC-area alumni. I was able to speak with them about the vision and how we really need the alumni to work with us because they are indeed our product and the best recruiters we have! This group takes that literally – each year going to college fairs in the DC area. Wow! We need all our chapters assisting us in this effort. Again, I enjoyed hearing about The Valley and their commitment. All pledged their support and it means so much. It was a beautiful evening.

Dr. Yvonne Maddox and others with the National Institutes of Health reconfirmed the organization’s commitment to our students and our University. Dr. Maddox has agreed to continue our funding with the projects set to end in April.

I also enjoyed a wonderful dinner meeting with Lezli Baskerville of the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO). She shares our excitement about Valley’s future and some of the projects we are planning, encouraging us to focus on the need to strengthen our research infrastructure. She will be visiting campus in the near future.

I had a wonderful day at U.S. Department of Education where I met with everyone on that schedule. In addition, I had a delightful exchange with Dr. Haines from the Whitehouse Initiative, who shared with us great ideas for moving MVSU forward.

My meeting with Dr. Lynda Byrd Johnson of the TRIO programs (Upward Bound, Talent Search and Student Support Services) was beneficial. Dr. Johnson let us know that our application will come in this summer in order to eligible for next funding cycle. She shared with us tips on how to ensure that we sustain our program. We were also encouraged to start back our ROTC program so I look forward to sharing details with you about that project.

At every meeting, we talked about economic stimulus plan and how it may be used to help fulfill the Town and Gown mission. There will be money for rural area and areas where there is a lot of poverty. We must analyze how Valley and our Delta communities can partner to seek this funding.

There is much to do, my friends. Never has our mantra, “Working Together Works,” been more important!

My dear Valley family and friends,
It is with great sadness I share with you the passing of one of Valley’s freshmen students, Miss Shannon Thompson of Belzoni. She was killed in a car accident on Sunday evening. A passenger in the car, MVSU junior Daniel Smart, was seriously injured. He is recovering from surgery and I understand has several more surgeries scheduled.

While details of a campus memorial service are not available at this time, I can share with you that Miss Thompson’s funeral services will be on Saturday, Feb. 14, at 1 p.m. in Mt. Carmel Church located at 4657 Hwy.12 in Belzoni.

Please continue to pray for Daniel’s recovery and for comfort and peace for the Thompson family.

I ask that you continue to keep the Donna Perry Family of Sunflower in your prayers. As many of you know, Ms. Perry, administrative secretary for Residence Life, died Jan. 30 at her home.