Senate Concurrent Resolution 626

(As Adopted by Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND CONGRATULATING DR. CAROLYN W. MEYERS AS PRESIDENT OF JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY ON THE OCCASION OF HER INVESTITURE AS THE 10TH PRESIDENT OF JSU ON MARCH 30, 2012.

WHEREAS, Carolyn W. Meyers, Ph.D., is being installed as the 10th President of Jackson State University. Dr. Meyers is a qualified leader and also serves her students as a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering in addition to her administrative duties as President; and

WHEREAS, under the leadership of Dr. Meyers, Jackson State earned a ten-year reaffirmation of accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, national accreditations in business, teacher education and engineering and full certification from the National Collegiate Athletic Association; and

WHEREAS, under the leadership of Dr. Meyers, Jackson State has seen vast growth in key areas, including a student enrollment growth to an all-time high of 8,903 students; a tenfold increase in fund-raising through alumni, private and corporate contributions to $4.2 Million; and she has positioned the University to become a national premiere model for educating the underserved; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Meyers launched the Honors College, the School of Extended Learning and the School of Graduate and Professional Studies, achieving global recognition for the University for excellence in education, research and service; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Meyers brings to Jackson State more than 30 years of academic experience and leadership in higher education, most recently serving as President of Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia, and was the Provost and Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, as well as a tenured Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Dean of the College of Engineering at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Meyers also served as a tenured faculty member at Georgia Institute of Technology, where she also served as the Associate Dean for Research and as the Director of the Center for Professional Success and SUCCEED Coalition; and

WHEREAS, a native of Newport News, Virginia, Dr. Meyers earned her Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Howard University, and went on to obtain her Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech, her doctorate from Georgia Tech's School of Chemical Engineering, and she has completed post-doctoral work at Harvard University; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Meyers has published numerous articles and reports, and has been invited several times to conferences, presenting a variety of topics from technical papers to areas dealing with education and diversity; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Meyers is an asset to her profession and to Jackson State, as evidenced by her prestigious awards and honors such as the National Society of Black Engineers' Golden Torch Award, the National Science Foundation Presidential Young Investigator Award and a commending resolution from the Virginia Legislature for her leadership and service to higher education; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Meyers has three beautiful children and four grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this respected educator and academic leader 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 recognize and congratulate Dr. Carolyn W. Meyers as President of Jackson State University on the occasion of her investiture as the 10th President of JSU on March 30, 2012, and welcome Dr. Meyers and her family to the State of Mississippi.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Dr. Meyers, forwarded to the Board of Trustees of Jackson State University, and made available to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.