Dr. Tyrone Jackson
Dr. Tyrone Jackson, associate vice president for Student Services and Enrollment Management at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, completed the inaugural class of the Mississippi Community College Leadership Academy (MCCLA), along with 28 other participants from around the state. Graduation ceremonies marking the event were held on April 23 at Mississippi State University.
The program, which was designed to address the leadership crisis within the nation’s community colleges, was initiated in fall 2008. In a “Research Brief” from the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), it was noted that by 2007 45 percent of current presidents planned to retire, and it was also predicted that all levels of community college leadership would retire at “above-average rates.” The growth and diversity in community college organizational structures and missions makes it clear: Mississippi community and junior colleges must develop pipelines that provide diverse and competent leaders.
“The academy provided informative sessions and challenging projects on various aspects of the community college system,” Jackson said. “My classmates and I were afforded the opportunity to interact with professionals across the spectrum at every level, from local to national. I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to have participated as a member of the inaugural class of such a prestigious leadership cohort. I thank my president, Dr. Willis Lott, and other members of the Executive Council for their support of me in this endeavor.”
Each of the 15 colleges agreed to name participants to attend the Academy; in addition, the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges (SBCJC) and Mississippi State University named participants to attend the first Leadership Academy for the community and junior college system. The format for the MCCLA was a summer meeting in June and three weekend meetings in September, November and February. Participants were also given assignments to be completed between the meetings.
A total of 53 speakers, presenters and panelists spoke to the group throughout the year. Many of the community and junior college presidents and other leaders from within the community college system participated as practitioners who had practical advice for the participants based on their experiences. In addition, several national leaders spoke to the Academy, including Dr. George Boggs, president and CEO of AACC, and Dr. Dale Parnell, past president of AACC.
