House Resolution 27

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING MR. ASHLEY ROBINSON, VICE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS AT JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY, UPON BEING NAMED THE 2024 NATIONAL ATHLETIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR AND UPON HIS OVERALL SUCCESS AT JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY.

WHEREAS, Jackson State University (JSU) Athletic Director Ashley Robinson, is being honored and celebrated upon being named the 2024 National Athletic Director (AD) of the Year by the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Legends, which is a coveted title that recognizes exemplary vision and commitment to athletic prowess; and

WHEREAS, a native of Jackson, Mississippi, Mr. Robinson's path to greatness began at Murrah High School, where he was a former standout point guard star for the Mustang's championship basketball team, and his athletic success continued at Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU), where he was a four-year letterman in basketball and where he went on to become the program's single-season and career record-holder in assists and was named MVSU's Athlete of the Year in 2002 and received the 2002 President's Scholar-Athlete Award; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Robinson's success as an outstanding high school and college athlete was an indicator of his success as an athletic director as he continues to receive well-deserved accolades, such as the following: 2024 Light On College Sports HBCU AD of the Year; 2023 Black Student-Athlete Summit AD of the Year and 2022 Cushman & Wakefield AD of the Year, which was awarded by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA); and

WHEREAS, additionally, under Mr. Robinson's leadership, JSU won the C.D. Henry Award for the best all-around men's sports program in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) in 2022-2023 and in May of 2024, he received the Roscoe Nance Lifetime Achievement Award by the SWAC Alumni Association, and he was named the 2024 YG&E Leader of the Year at the Young, Gifted and Empowered Awards Show - all of which speak volumes of his outstanding and visionary leadership; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Robinson, before coming to JSU, displaced his dynamic administrative skills at Delaware State University, Mississippi Valley State University, Prairie View A&M University and he also briefly served as Assistant Commissioner for Compliance in the SWAC Office - all of which prepared him for his electric tenure at Jackson State University; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Robinson, who is in his seventh year at JSU and currently serves as the chair of the SWAC Athletics Directors Committee, has led JSU athletics to 20 championships and has upgraded several of the program's facilities, and he has served as past president of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Athletics Directors Association and was the first African American in the position from 2020-2021, which speaks to his pioneering spirit; and

WHEREAS, additionally, during Mr. Robinson's tenure, he has made significant hires for Jackson State University, such as Coach Deion "Prime" Sanders, NBA Champion Mo Williams and Coach T.C. Taylor, among others; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Robinson, who is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., and who was named a 50 under 50 Recipient of Mississippi's Top Urban Elite Professionals in January of 2025, credits his success to, as he stated, "The people you surround yourself with. They will determine if you achieve your goals. I have been able to surround myself with great coaches, staffs and administrators who understand the ultimate goal is about the student-athlete experience." - which has truly been a recipe for his impressive success at JSU; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and celebrate an outstanding athletic director such as Jackson State University's Ashley Robinson, whose commitment to "Building on Tradition, Blazing New Trails" has not only brought great honor and pride to JSU but to this great state as a whole:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby recognize and congratulate Mr. Ashley Robinson, Vice President and Director of Athletics at Jackson State University upon being named the 2024 National Athletic Director of the Year, and wish him continued success in all his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mr. Ashley Robinson, Marcus Thompson, President of Jackson State University and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.