Dr. Ricardo A. Brown, dean of the College of Public Service, will be the featured speaker at the Jackson State University Spring Graduate Commencement, according to Dr. Sheila Porterfield, associate dean, JSU College of Business.
According to Porterfield, graduate exercises include:
— Graduate Studies Exemplary Scholars Recognition Reception Friday, May 1
3:30 – 5 p.m. JSU School of Engineering Atrium
— 2015 Spring Graduate Commencement Exercises Friday, May 1
6 p.m. (Doors close at 5:45 p.m.) Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly Center
(Class of 1965 – Golden Diploma Recipients will be recognized)
A sought‐after lecturer, researcher, and educator who is creating a trailblazing path in higher education that is uniquely his own, Porterfield said, Brown began his tenure at Jackson State in July 2013.
He is as a veteran administrator, noted cardiovascular physiologist and researcher, an informed and engaged mentor, and an active community service leader.
“During his tenure as dean, Dr. Brown has shown impeccable skills in leadership and administration as he directs the Schools of Health Sciences and Social Work, the Department of Public Policy and Administration, and the Department of Urban and Regional Planning,” she said.
Under his leadership, three of the five programs in the College of Public Service have received re‐accreditation, to date. To that end, the Public Health program was re‐accredited for the maximum of seven years and is well on its way to becoming the first HBCU to have a school of public health, and the only school of public health in the state of Mississippi.
Also under Brown’s leadership, the Communicative Disorders master’s program received an eight‐year accreditation period and is responsible for producing a large number of speech pathologists in the state of Mississippi. Likewise, the Urban and Regional Planning program received a six‐year accreditation period.
Brown has been recognized by the Provost’s Office for his accomplishments which include: building a strong enrollment in the College of Public Service; achieving the College’s YES campaign goals; achieving re‐accreditations; and bringing about classroom enhancements.
Brown was appointed by JSU President Carolyn W. Meyers to serve as the Campus Liaison for two National Institutes of Health (NIH) contracts for the Jackson Heart Study, a collaborative partnerships between Tougaloo College, the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC), and Jackson State University.
“Dr. Brown’s success did not start when he came to Jackson State,” Porterfield said, “but his consistent, thorough and rigorous training prepared him for such success.” The Howard University graduate began his career as a professor in the Department of Physiology at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, Mich.
Through his research program, he published extensively on the cardiovascular effects of alcohol consumption. During his tenure, he received recognition for medical student training; directed training programs designed to increase participation of underrepresented minority students in STEM programs, biomedical sciences and medicine; and served on numerous university administrative and national committees.
In addition, Brown was the recipient of the School of Medicine Teaching Award.
Subsequently, he transitioned to academic and research administration. He held several significant positions such as: Chairman of Biology at Morgan State University; Health Scientist Administrator at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; Associate Vice President for Research and Sponsored Programs for Howard University; and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs with the University System of Maryland.
For more information, contact Porterfield at 601-979-2263.