MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Harden

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT JAMES E. LYONS, SR., UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT FROM OFFICE.

WHEREAS, Dr. James Earl Lyons, Sr., President of Jackson State University, is stepping down from office to assume the presidency of another institution; and

WHEREAS, Dr. James Earl Lyons, Sr. assumed the presidency of Jackson State University on July 1, 1992; he became the eighth president of Mississippi's fourth largest institution of higher learning and one of the nation's premier Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); and

WHEREAS, Lyons brought to Jackson State a proven track record of rallying businessmen, city and county officials and community leaders behind the goals of a university; since arriving at Jackson State, he has been able to attract support from all segments of the community and collectively, they have recognized the need for developing Jackson State University as the Urban University of Mississippi and developing the West Jackson community; and

WHEREAS, one of the most important steps in that direction has been Lyons' development of a Campus Master Plan that projects the growth of the university well into the 21st Century; land and other property have been secured for growth and revitalization of the area around the campus; a $16 million home for the School of Liberal Arts, the first of several new buildings envisioned in the Campus Master Plan, is in the final planning stages; also underway is a $12 million expansion of the H.T. Sampson Library, an effort which will nearly double the library's existing size; all of the growth and expansion under Lyons' leadership are not occurring within the confines of the campus. Overwhelming support of a proposed parkway, an extensive boulevard which will link Jackson State to the downtown business district and greatly improve West Jackson, has been received from city, county, state and federal officials; and

WHEREAS, under Lyons' leadership, Jackson State moves confidently toward the future as a major force in the region and among its peer institutions; additional graduate and undergraduate programs have been implemented; namely, the Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and the B.S. in Child Care and Family Education; along with the Council on Social Work Education's approval of candidacy status for the master's degree in social work program, these degree programs clearly emphasize Jackson State's role in providing programs that seek solutions to urban problems in the physical, social, intellectual and economic environments; additional achievements in the academic realms include the selection of Jackson State University as a contender in the National Science Foundation's Minority Institution of Excellence (MIE) program; the identification of Jackson State as the sole HBCU with a Reading Recovery Program, an intervention program for "at risk" first grade students; and the completion of the process for acquiring accreditation of the Jackson State University School of Business; and

WHEREAS, prior to assuming the presidency of Jackson State University, Lyons served as President of Bowie State University (Maryland) for nine years (1983-1992); other administrative posts include Vice-President and Dean of Academic Affairs, Chief Negotiator and Professor of Education at Delaware State College in Dover, Delaware, from 1978 to 1983; Vice-President for Academic Affairs and Professor of Education at Barber-Scotia College, Concord, North Carolina, from 1975 to 1978; Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Director of Summer School at Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, North Carolina from 1974 to 1975; administrative assistant to the Vice-President for Academic Affairs, Director of Institutional Research and as Social Professor of Education at Kentucky State University, Frankfort, Kentucky, from 1973 to 1974; Assistant Dean of Students, Director of the Afro-American Cultural Center, Black Student Advisor, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, from 1969 to 1973; instructor of Afro-American Studies at Central Connecticut State College, New Britain, Connecticut; and Director of the Conscience Educational Day Camp of Temple University, North Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from 1967 to 1969; and

WHEREAS, Lyons also worked as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ecuador during the late 1960s and as a tutor-counselor with the Rodman Job Corps in New Bedford, Massachusetts; and

WHEREAS, a native of New Haven, Connecticut, Lyons holds degrees from the University of Connecticut (B.A., Spanish, 1965; M.A., Student Personnel, 1971; Ph.D., Professional Higher Education, 1973) and has done post-doctoral study at the Harvard University Institute for Educational Management; Lyons serves on the board of directors of a number of organizations including the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO), Institute for Technology Development (ITD), Basic Technologies International (BTI) and Capitol City, Incorporated. He is a reviewer on the Objective Review Committee which evaluates grants for the Division of Programs for Special Populations, Department of Health and Human Services and has also served as a member of the editorial board of the Educational Record; he is the Public University Representative to the Board of Directors, Mississippi Association of Colleges (MAC), President of the Council of Presidents, Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and serves on the Hall of Fame Committee of the Mississippi Press Association and the Information Resource Council of the Mississippi Central Data Processing Authority; a widely published author, Lyons has written articles on subjects ranging from the United States Constitution to integration and race relations. His works have appeared in such publications as the Educational Record, the Howard Law Review, The Journal of Negro Education, Today's Education, Essence Magazine and World View, a publication of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities' Office of International Programs; he has made numerous appearances before school, community and professional groups and has appeared before Congress a number of times as a spokesman for such groups as ACE, AASCU and NAFEO. He has served as the lead person in AASCU's Delegation of Presidents to Mexico and has judged The Clarion-Ledger's All-Star Seniors Competition; Lyons is a member of numerous organizations, including the Office for the Advancement of Public Black Colleges, the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges (NASULGC); the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE); Phi Delta Kappa; Phi Kappa Phi; Pi Lambda Theta; 100 Black Men of Jackson, Inc.; Information Resource Council, Mississippi Central Data Processing Authority (CDPA); Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.; and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Beta Mu Boule; and

WHEREAS, Lyons is married to the former Jocelyn Massie and is the father of three sons; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize the service of this individual who has brought pride to Jackson State University, the City of Jackson and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend Jackson State University President James E. Lyons, Sr., upon the occasion of his retirement from office, and wish him and his family continued success in his future career endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Dr. Lyons and his family and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.