The presidency at Jackson State University has had its fair share of tumultuous transitions.

Students, faculty and alumni were left in disbelief when Mississippi’s higher education board announced Marcus Thompson’s resignation in May, just five days after graduation and two years into his term.

He was the third president to suddenly depart at the state’s largest historically Black university in less than seven years. His predecessor, Thomas Hudson left after two years. Before that, William Bynum resigned after three years, following his arrest in a prostitution sting at a Clinton hotel. The typical college president has been in their current job for 5.9 years.

Yet, in all three cases, the JSU presidents left without formal explanation from the Institutions of Higher Learning board.

Dur

See Full Page