Contact: Maridith Geuder
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Mississippi State University will begin a national search for a new dean and executive director of its Meridian campus early next year, university officials announced today [Dec. 8].
Jack Tucci, who was named to the position in 2009, will become vice president of academic affairs at Faulkner University in Montgomery, Ala., said Jerry Gilbert, MSU provost and executive vice president. At Tucci's Jan. 15 departure, Dennis Mitchell, associate dean of arts and sciences at MSU Meridian, will assume the duties of dean and executive director while a search is under way.
"Our goal is to have the search committee in place by the end of January," Gilbert said, adding that the effort will be chaired by Don Zant, MSU's vice president for budget and planning. The committee will have 10 elected and nine appointed members, including representatives from MSU Meridian, the Starkville campus and the Meridian community.
"We will seek out the candidate with the best fit for the community, the academic programs of the Meridian campus and the Riley Center," Gilbert said. "We want the person who can bring it all together and create a vision for moving forward for the future."
The former head of business at MSU-Meridian, Tucci is the first to hold the position of dean and executive director, overseeing both the day-to-day activities of the nearly 800-student campus as well as those of the Riley Center, a major education and performing arts resource for the region.
"Although I am very happy to have this new opportunity, it is with sadness that I leave MSU Meridian," he said. "I hold my time in Meridian in a very special place in my heart because of the many friends I have made over the past eight years."
Gilbert expressed appreciation to Tucci for his service, saying that "we thank him for his leadership and wish him the best in his new endeavor."
"With the growing importance of MSU Meridian to Mississippi State, we will be diligent and aggressive in seeking the right replacement," he said. "That's why I've asked someone at the vice presidential level to chair the search, and we're fortunate that Don Zant not only has an extensive knowledge of MSU Meridian, but the right leadership skills, " he said.
Mitchell, who will assume the position in an interim role, has served in the arts and sciences division since 2000. "I appreciate Dr. Gilbert's confidence in me to do the job, and I pledge to do my best to ensure MSU Meridian continues the momentum of its many projects," he said.
Gilbert emphasized that Mississippi State is committed to the continuity of its projects in Meridian. "We want to ensure this community that we will move ahead with current projects such as the renovation of the Newberry and Kress buildings, as well as continuing to add new programs and growing our enrollment at Meridian."