MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2019 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Frazier, Kirby

Senate Concurrent Resolution 622

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING DR. BLAKE THOMPSON ON THE OCCASION OF HIS INAUGURATION AS THE 20TH PRESIDENT OF MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE AND WELCOMING HIS FAMILY BACK TO MISSISSIPPI.

     WHEREAS, on March 24, 2019, Dr. Blake Thompson will be formally inaugurated as the 20th President of Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi, an honor bestowed by the Board of Trustees of this historic Mississippi institution of higher learning; and

     WHEREAS, Dr. Blake Thompson became the 20th President of Mississippi College on July 1, 2018.  Dr. Thompson's diverse background includes leadership in higher education, international research, and the United States government.  As Mississippi natives, the Mississippi College Presidency represents a homecoming for Dr. Thompson and his wife, Jana; and

     WHEREAS, Dr. Blake Thompson received his Ph.D. from the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy and an Executive Master's Degree from Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business.  The 44-year-old Mississippian also received his Bachelor and Master of Science Degrees in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Mississippi where he serves on the institution's Board of Visitors; and

     WHEREAS, Dr. Thompson's wife, Jana, is an Honors graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy and has practiced Pharmacy in several settings.  Blake and Jana are both from Rienzi, Mississippi, and still own and operate a small Mississippi blueberry farm.  They currently reside in Clinton, Mississippi, with their son, Grey, and two daughters, Sarah Blake and Cate; and

     WHEREAS, Dr. Thompson was formerly Vice President and Secretary of the Board of Trustees of The Ohio State University (OSU).  He held several leadership positions at Ohio State, one of the largest universities in the country with a student enrollment of 66,000.  Thompson served as Vice President for Economic and Workforce Development, led the university's Science and Technology Campus, and spearheaded the development of the endowed Battelle Center for Science and Technology Policy at OSU; and

     WHEREAS, in addition to his duties with Ohio State, Dr. Thompson held a joint Vice President appointment with Battelle, the world's leading nonprofit Research and Development organization, where he guided large-scale research, education and philanthropic efforts.  He has also served in Washington as a Senior Staffer to the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee and to recently retired Senator Thad Cochran; and

     WHEREAS, Thompson served as a volunteer leader with a number of philanthropic and civic organizations in Ohio, including KIPP Columbus, a public charter school; Rev1 Ventures, a technology-based business incubator; and Our Ohio Renewal, a nonprofit organization addressing social challenges.  He was the founding Board Chair of The Thompson Institute, a campus ministry serving faculty integrating their faith with their profession; and

     WHEREAS, Mississippi College is a private, coeducational Christian University of Liberal Arts and Sciences serving over 5,000 students from across the world located on its historic campus in Clinton, Mississippi; and

     WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we join faculty, students, colleagues, family and friends in honoring Mississippi's newest college President at this auspicious event:

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize Dr. Blake Thompson on the occasion of his inauguration as the 20th President of Mississippi College and welcome his family back to Mississippi.

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Dr. Blake Thompson and his family, forwarded to the Board of Trustees of Mississippi College, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.