Contact: Maridith Geuder
President Charles Lee visits with Hannah Walton of Collierville, Tenn., news editor of the student newspaper, and Student Association president Parker Wiseman of Starkville.
J. Charles Lee, who for the last year has led Mississippi State in an interim role, today [Jan. 17] was named the institution's 17th president by the Board of Trustees, State Institutions of Higher Learning.
Board president Bryce Griffis of Starkville, who made the announcement at a campus press conference, said the appointment showed the board's continued confidence in Lee's ability to lead the institution.
"During these months while the MSU presidential search has been conducted, Mississippi has enjoyed having an experienced higher education administrator with excellent judgment in Dr. Charles Lee," Griffis said.
"The board has observed during this period Dr. Lee's great courage in leadership, which has brought excellence in results," Griffis added. As one example, he cited "a bold and creative early retirement program that permitted access to millions of dollars for high priority needs at the university. The board has determined that we already had the very best person to be the next president of MSU."
Lee expressed gratitude to the College Board, policymakers, alumni, faculty, staff and others throughout Mississippi who worked with him during his interim presidency.
"And, I certainly want to thank the men and women who make up Mississippi State University-those located on the Starkville campus, in Meridian, and at locations around the state-for their support and for making real progress under difficult financial circumstances," he said.
Among four priorities he outlined in accepting the new role of president were access and excellence in the academic program, expansion of outreach and community development, leadership in research and economic development, and improving the stature of the university.
"The details will take shape in the coming weeks in consultation with the faculty, policymakers, our board, and those we seek to serve," he said.
He pledged to nearly 200 people present that Mississippi State would continue to be "the People's University."
"As we prepare to celebrate next month the 125th anniversary of the founding of this great institution, we also will recommit to our mission of providing access and opportunity to students from all sectors of our population," he said.
"This is our most sacred mission and the most critical contribution that we can make to the future of our state. We will spare no effort to secure the resources that are necessary to make sure that there is a place at the university for every student who has shown the determination and ability to take advantage of what this university offers."
Noting that he accepted the position because of the full support of his family, he said that he and wife Pat share a commitment to the future of Mississippi State.
"I pledge to do all in my power to justify your confidence and to serve the university and the state to the best of my ability, and Pat is equally committed as my full partner in this undertaking," he said.
A North Carolina native, Lee holds a bachelor's degree in forest management and a doctorate in forest genetics, both from North Carolina State University. Prior to becoming interim president in 2002, Lee had been Mississippi State's vice president for agriculture, forestry, and veterinary medicine since 1999. He also had served as dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences since July 2000. From 1978-83, he was dean of the School of Forest Resources and associate director of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station at MSU.
In addition to his MSU positions, Lee has held administrative positions at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, where he served as head of the forestry department; and at Texas A&M University, where he held positions including head of the department of forest science, dean and executive associate dean, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, director of the Agricultural Experiment Station, and interim deputy and deputy chancellor of the Texas A&M University System. Lee also served for 18 months as interim executive vice president and provost of Texas A&M.
For the full text of Lee's message, see http://www.msstate.edu/president/acceptance.html.