House Resolution 143

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND COMMENDING DR. JANE G. HULON SIMS UPON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT AS PRESIDENT OF COPIAH-LINCOLN COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

WHEREAS, Dr. Jane G. Hulon Sims will retire as president of Copiah-Lincoln Community College (Co-Lin) on June 30, 2023, after dedicating over 34 outstanding years to education in Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, after graduating from high school and Jones County Junior College, Dr. Hulon Sims earned a bachelor of science degree and a master of education degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Southern Mississippi, and earned her Ph.D. from Mississippi State University in higher education administration; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Hulon Sims joined the staff of Copiah-Lincoln Community College, and served as Director of Planning and Research from 1999 until 2002, and after a couple years, she returned to Co-Lin as Dean of Academic Instruction in 2004, and was named Vice President of Instructional Services in 2008, and later, she was named Vice President of the Wesson Campus in 2017, and then she was selected as President of Copiah-Lincoln Community College on July 1, 2018; and

WHEREAS, upon becoming Copiah-Lincoln President, Dr. Hulon Sims increased the Co-Lin Foundation's endowment to over $10.8 million; instituted new instructional programs, scholarships, and student services that have increased student success and graduation rates; created new partnerships with universities, businesses and industries in the Co-Lin district; reinstated both men's and women's soccer in 2020; and the Blue Wave Show Band grew to be the largest band in school history; and

WHEREAS, under Dr. Hulon Sims' leadership, construction projects included the installation of turf and a jumbotron at Stone Stadium (2019), an eight-court tennis complex (2020), a new president's home (2020), campus entrance sign (2020), the Career-Technical Building at the Simpson County Center (2020), Diesel Lab at the Natchez Campus (2021), phase one of renovations at Sullivan Baseball Field (2023), renovations made at the Cosmetology lab (2020), Franklin and Simpson residence halls (2020), bridge replacements at Wolf Hollow Golf Course (2021), The Wolf Den Grill and Smoothie Bar (2022), Fortenberry Career-Tech Building classrooms (2022), Ellzey Hall phase two (2023), and PJ's Coffee (2023); and

WHEREAS, Dr. Hulon Sims has seen the college's athletic programs gain state and national recognition, with both softball and men's basketball winning a MACCC championship title, and numerous teams being nationally ranked on the field and academically; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Hulon Sims has seen the college recognized on a national and statewide level, ranked No. 1 in the state for graduation rates, No. 1 for student success, being named A Great College to Work For, and an Aspen Top 150 Community College; and

WHEREAS, as an exceptional leader during her tenure as President of Copiah-Lincoln, Dr. Hulon Sims served as a representative to the Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation, and as a member of the Board of Trustees of SACSCOC, Mississippi Academic Officers Association (Past President), the Mississippi Association of Colleges, Southern Association of Colleges with Associate Degrees, and American Association of University Women; and

WHEREAS, over the years Dr. Hulon Sims has received many notable honors, including the Phi Theta Kappa National Distinguished Administrator Award, Phi Theta Kappa Paragon Award, and Co-Lin's High Performance Award, and she was inducted into the Co-Lin Foundation Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend the outstanding contributions of extraordinary academic leaders, especially those such as Dr. Jane G. Hulon Sims, who has provided a quality educational environment and curriculum to the students of this state who are its future:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend the exemplary and dedicated services of Dr. Jane Hulon Sims, congratulate her upon the occasion of her retirement as President of Copiah-Lincoln Community College, and express warmest wishes for continued success in all her future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Dr. Jane G. Hulon Sims and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.