The Mississippi Link sat down with the first female chief of Jackson State University, Dr. Carolyn Meyers, who describes herself as a “researcher,” a “collaborative leader,” and a “thinker.”
Meyers has over 30 years of experience in higher education, having served most recently as president of Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Va. During her tenure as president, the university received reaffirmation of accreditation in business, teacher education and engineering. In addition, the university received full certification by the NCAA.
Meyers holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Howard University in Washington, D.C., and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology at Atlanta. In addition, Meyers earned a doctorate from the Georgia Institute of Technology’s School of Chemical Engineering.
Meyers is the university’s 10th president and assumed the role amid declining revenue from the state, uncertainty amongst students, faculty and staff as it relates to university’s programs and on the heels of the aftermath of merger talks.
Meyers is up for the challenge.
During a listening session on campus late last year, Meyers expressed optimism for the future. Fundraising must become “everybody’s business,” she told faculty and the university must “rally a sense of urgency” among its supporters. “At the same time, JSU needs to develop more confidence in presenting itself as a leading research institution,” she said.
Meyers said she’s committed to HBCUs.
“The legacy of HBCUs is developing the whole person-the mind and the soul,” she said. “This is something we should celebrate, preserve and hold onto even in the 21st century. I’m very proud of our tradition of access and excellence.” Meyers proclaimed ‘that other institutions are catching up with HBCUs in the area of teaching and learning.’
Dr. Meyers, you have admitted that you are a data driven person, in that sense what data are you collecting from your listening sessions about JSU?
“I’m getting a lot of good information. I’m getting a sense on what’s on everybody’s mind. I’m learning the issues from different groups. Things that make them proud and things that they want to see improved or changed. When you hear certain things over and over again you get a real sense of how to prioritize things and create a plan of attack. I would like to do these sessions all across the state, take JSU to the people if you will.”
You assumed your role as president of JSU facing 12 percent budget cuts straight across the board, what is your plan to deal with this seemingly never ending challenge?
“There was a plan in place prior to my arrival to deal with some of these financial challenges, and we are reviewing those plans. We are also realistically looking at creative ways to save in an effort to be cost efficient. Whether those efficiencies are realized to realignment or rearrangement is yet to be determined. Studying the plan in place now and determining what we should do going forward creates a stimulus, if you will, to look at how effective different programs are. It’s a challenge but it is also an opportunity. A necessary opportunity. I’m confident that we will work thru this downturn in the economy just as JSU has done in its more than 130 year history.”
Based on student population and admission standards, I read during my research that you came under fire while at Norfolk State University for perhaps lowering admission requirements as a means of bolstering student population. Can you explain that?
“A lot of people don’t understand the admission process or criteria used at most schools. It is a balancing act and as a university and particularly as an HBCU, we must leave room to educate those students who wouldn’t normally get accepted. We must take care of the least of them. Again, I maintain HBCUs should pride themselves on teaching and learning. By the way, those earlier reports were totally misreported. I believe in meeting students where they are.”
Your bio mentions that while you were at Norfolk State that the university received full certification from the NCAA. As you know this is a sports community…we love athletics. One of your first acts was to not to renew head football coach Rick Comegy’s contract and recent news that athletic director Braddy’s retirement has been accelerated. What’s your position on athletics?
“I’m very committed to athletics; I’m even more committed to being a good citizen of the NCAA. We have some problems that we must address and clean up. I’m committed to doing that. Our fans, players and former Tigers deserve us to be in good standing. We must work hard and smart and quickly. I love athletics, enjoy it, support it but not outside of the NCAA.”
In our interview, we touched on a variety of topics.
For the full audio version of the interview, please visit mississippilink.com
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