Dr. Harrison Johnson is the new university registrar at Jackson State. He will direct and coordinate all operational facets of the Registrar and Records Office, including student registration and records, class schedules, graduation clearance, athletic eligibility, and other related matters.
Before joining JSU, Johnson was the associate registrar at Plymouth State University in Plymouth, New Hampshire. In his role, he worked closely with the academic campus communities to improve the student experience in relation to graduation and curriculum implementation. Johnson was also able to administer registration strategies that were vital to student retention. Often working closely with the university registrar and provost, Johnson was instrumental in the cohesion of academic advising and student success.
In 2019, Johnson attained his Doctorate of Philosophy in urban higher education leadership from Jackson State. His research focused on the upward mobility and continued success of nontraditional students who have completed degrees at the two-year college level and desire to matriculate into four-year institutions of higher learning.
“As a life-long learner, I strive to continually implement intentional strategies that would outlive myself. I love the work within the registrar’s office as the students are ours for life,” he says.
A native of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Johnson holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in urban and regional planning from Alabama A&M University. He also has a Master of Science in agriculture from Southern Arkansas University.
Regarding his new position, Johnson shares that there is no time greater than the present to work with the Jackson State University community in an effort to ensure the success of all current and future students given the “new normal” of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ozie B. Ratcliff, director of financial aid
As director of financial aid, Ozie B. Ratcliff will oversee the financial aid team, including processing, budgeting, awards, FAFSA verification, and loan certification for college-related programs. He is also tasked with developing, implementing and revising departmental policies and procedures to ensure compliance with federal and state laws, regulations, and institutional policies related to financial aid and scholarships, among other responsibilities.
Ratcliff says he hopes to bring a wealth of structure and knowledge to the department and usher it into the 21st century through the implementation of processes to drastically improve the customer service to the University’s students and their families.
With extensive experience in student financial services, Ratcliff previously served as associate director of financial aid at Cheyney University in Pennsylvania (2018-2020). At George Washington University, he was assistant director of Student Financial Services (2015-2018). While in Boston, he served as director of Financial Services at the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology (2014-2014). Additionally, Ratcliff spent four years as the assistant then associate director of Financial Aid at Antonelli College (2009-2013.
Due to his experiences, personal and professional, Ratcliff says his goal is to ensure that students and parents have a thorough understanding of the full scope of the financial aid process.
Ratcliff holds a Bachelor of Administration in accounting from JSU. In May 2021, he is expected to complete his Master of Business Administration from Strayer University. A native of Jackson, Ratcliff grew up in the Presidential Hills neighborhood and is a graduate of Callaway High School.
Marneé Grant, director of undergraduate admissions
Marneé Grant has been named director of undergraduate admissions. He previously served as director of national recruitment and engagement at the Relay School of Graduate Education, where he was responsible for developing and leading the organization’s national recruitment strategy.
While there, Grant also focused on sourcing undergraduate student talent from over 50 of the nation’s top colleges and universities. He increased graduate student application submissions through national partnerships by 50 percent. Grant also designed a recruitment plan resulting in 2000 application submissions annually.
Furthermore, Grant served as manager of talent and acquisition for the Houston Independent School District (2015-2016), where he spearheaded the mass tutoring program’s recruitment for the district’s low-performing schools to provide additional math and science support to students.
At City Year Columbus, Grant was the senior regional recruitment manager for the Southwest region (2012-2015). There, he focused on college recruitment of students 18-24 from high-risk areas and offered mentoring and tutoring while developing pipelines with major colleges and institutions within the state. He also worked as a special education teacher for Columbus city schools in Ohio (2009-2012).
Grant says it has always been his interest to work in traditional higher education at an HBCU. “Previously, I spent a lot of time on college campuses working with faculty and staff to help students find the next steps. I fell in love with higher-education culture and providing support to students as they are entering and matriculating through college,” he says.
A native of Flint, Michigan, Grant holds a Bachelor of Administration in business management from the University of Phoenix. He attained a Master of Business Administration from Franklin University in Columbus, Ohio.
Grant is a resident of Houston (Texas) with his wife LaQuana and their two daughters Klaire and Alivia.