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The Journey for Jackson State
By Ronald Roach
Feb 8, 2007, 13:20

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The Journey for Jackson State
A source of pride for its community, this HBCU has emerged as a research and public service leader in Mississippi.


By Ronald Roach
Jackson State University President Ronald Mason has big plans for the only university in Mississippi’s capital city.

JACKSON, Miss.
In recent years, construction cranes have loomed over the bustling campus of Jackson State University. The historically Black school of more than 8,000 students is undergoing a building boom, evident by recently constructed buildings that have blended with historic structures. Located at the southern end of the city, the Jackson State campus stands out as one of the few vibrant areas in this economically struggling section of Mississippi’s majority-Black capital city.


A sense of pride is palpable among those who count themselves in the Jackson State community. In addition to taking pride in new buildings, such as the $22 million engineering building and the $24.5 million student union that are currently under construction, the school has gained a national reputation for scientific research in chemistry and environmental science. It has also become a national leader in community-based health disparities research with regard to HIV/AIDs and heart disease.

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Founded in 1877, Jackson State has emerged as one of Mississippi’s leading research institutions as well as one of the top HBCUs in the country for research. Its $56 million sponsored research portfolio in the 2005-2006 academic year put the school second only to Howard University among HBCUs. In 2002, Jackson State was named a “comprehensive university” in a desegregation settlement plan, putting it on par with the University of Mississippi, Mississippi State University and the University of Southern Mississippi. And last year, the school earned the Carnegie classification ranking of a “high research activity” university.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Tigerpride,

JSU has really got it going on in a major way!!

Great leadership.

Jackson State University President Dr. Ronald Mason and BankPlus CEO and President Bill Ray, recently announced a partnership, "which is a part of the vision that Jackson State has for the resurgence of the business community in and around Jackson State."

Observers say this project has major significance for not only Jackson State but the city of Jackson. It's the first major private investment in this area in 30-years according to Doctor Mason.

"This is huge," said Eric Stringfellow. He is a newspaper columnist who grew up here on the site of the future bank and he graduated from Jackson State University. Stringfellow said, "I think this partnership with Jackson State is also a model that maybe other corporations in the city can follow; can't say enough about them willing to invest in this area."

Bank president for the Metro Region, Gene Delcomyn, said, "We've had a number of calls already about what we're doing and I think, what we've done is, we've brought some attention to what's going on in that part of the extended central business district of Jackson."

What's going on is blocks of blight that have given way to a beautiful new parkway around the university and on campus, a building program that is giving Jackson State a fresh new look. Dr. Ronald Mason said, "This relationship with BankPlus is a big deal. It's a big deal not only because of Jackson State and BankPlus, it's a big deal because of what it symbolizes and it symbolizes the coming together of the two Mississippi's, an image Jackson hopes the rest of the nation will see the next time Mississippi's Capitol City is in the national spotlight."

The partnership also has a first for Jackson State University. BankPlus has agreed to fund a one-million dollar endowment for a chair of accounting in the JSU College of Business. How can you help make a difference in Jackson? We welcome your ideas. Just let us know.

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