House Concurrent Resolution 95

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION HONORING THE ESTEEMED DR. BEVERLY WADE HOGAN FOR HER MANY DEDICATED YEARS AS PRESIDENT OF TOUGALOO COLLEGE AND CONGRATULATING HER UPON HER RETIREMENT AFTER 17 YEARS OF DISTINGUISHED AND MERITORIOUS SERVICE.

WHEREAS, Dr. Beverly Wade Hogan, the esteemed President of Tougaloo College, will retire from this prestigious Mississippi academic institution after 17 years of distinguished and meritorious service; and

WHEREAS, once a Tougaloo eaglet who aspired to soar on to greatness with a profound impact to her community, Dr. Hogan earned her bachelor of arts degree in psychology from Tougaloo College, made great contributions to society and returned to her alma mater to inspire and route the next generation of scholars; and

WHEREAS, during her tenure as president, many have described her as a passionate visionary with innovative strategies and a leader who is disciplined, compassionate, firm, fair, analytical and spiritual; and

WHEREAS, these descriptions reign true as many positive groundbreaking and constructive improvements occurred on the campus during her leadership, such as: the addition of new baccalaureate degree programs in mass communications, hotel and hospitality management and religious studies, as well as two graduate degree programs; a new Honors Program; three centers, the Center for Undergraduate Research, the Center for Continuing/Online Education and the Center for International Studies and Global Change; significant technological improvements have been made, including campus wide connectivity, smart classrooms and wireless networks; and the construction of the Bennie G. Thompson Academic and Civil Rights Research Center; and

WHEREAS, national recognition was also bestowed upon Tougaloo College while Dr. Hogan was at the helm, the United States Department of Homeland Security designated the college as a Center of Excellence in Transportation Security and as one of seven institutions to participate in the Campus Resilience Project; and

WHEREAS, a true scholar of academia, Dr. Hogan has always believed that education is a lifelong pursuit as evidenced by her master's in public policy and administration from Jackson State University, her additional studies in clinical psychology at the University of Southern Mississippi and the University of Georgia, further doctoral studies in human and organizational development at Fielding Graduate University, and Honorary Doctorates from Wiley College, Rust College, Benedict College and Brown University, with numerous certificates in leadership development, organizational management and administrative law; and

WHEREAS, in addition to her many pioneering contributions to Tougaloo College, she has made many contributions to the State of Mississippi as a whole which indicate her unmitigated affinity for community empowerment through selfless service, as she is the founder of the first psychiatric halfway house in the State of Mississippi, has authored and published topics such as "The Dissonance Analysis of the Vietnam War," "Comparable Worth—the Challenging Issue of Pay Equity," "Jobs and Economic Growth," "Public Policy Implications of AIDS in the Workplace," "Higher Education and Civic Responsibility" and "Gender and Race" as a chapter in a textbook, Leadership and Service, published in 2008; and

WHEREAS, throughout the years, Dr. Hogan has made sure to keep Tougaloo College on the minds and hearts of many throughout this state by serving as a member of prestigious business, social and cultural boards, including: Bancorp South, Sanderson Farms, the Jackson Medical Mall Foundation, RAND's Gulf States Policy Institute, the national board of directors for the United Negro College Fund, President Barack Obama's Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities; and she is also a founding member and former president of the Central Mississippi Chapter, National Coalition of 100 Black Women, and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and the Links, Inc.; and

WHEREAS, with the spirit of Tougaloo's alma mater, "Tougaloo, Eagle Queen, we love thee; Mother Eagle stir thy nest: Route thine eaglets to the breezes; They enjoy the test," under her wings, Dr. Beverly Hogan embraced the tough economic challenges that Tougaloo faced when she began her journey as president and, with her innate academic and business prowess, guided the college beyond those challenges to emerge a stronger and more viable academic institution without encumbered debt and a path toward greatness; and

WHEREAS, she has been lovingly supported throughout her career and many endeavors by her husband, Marvin, their two sons and six grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to honor our prolific academic leaders such as Dr. Hogan, who bring honor and pride to this state through their leadership of our treasured institutions of higher learning, both public and private:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby honor the esteemed Dr. Beverly Wade Hogan for her 17 years of distinguished and meritorious service as president of Tougaloo College and congratulate her upon her retirement.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Dr. Beverly Wade Hogan, the Board of Trustees of Tougaloo College and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.