(JACKSON, Miss.) – Kimberly Hilliard, who since 2010 has served as director of the Jackson State University Center for University-Based Development, has become JSU’s new Executive Director of Community Engagement. Her appointment is effective July 1.
In this role, Hilliard will lead the Department of Community Affairs and Events, the Center for University-Based Development and the Human Capital Development Division, whose primary initiative is the Washington Addition Prenatal & Early Childhood Education Project. These departments are now part of the Division of Institutional Advancement, which includes the JSU Welcome Center, JSUTV, WJSU 88.5 FM, the Tiger Sports Network and the departments of Development, Alumni and Constituency Relations, Public Relations, Marketing, Social Media and Athletic Media Relations.
“This realignment will enable Jackson State to more effectively build support from our local and regional community,” said David Hoard, Vice President for Institutional Advancement. “I’m delighted that Dr. Hilliard and her staff are now part of the Institutional Advancement team.”
A native of Washington, D.C., Hilliard holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Tuskegee University, a M.S. in urban and regional planning from the University of New Orleans and a Ph.D. in urban and regional planning from Jackson State University.
Hilliard is an expert in comprehensive planning practices, real estate development, community revitalization and historic preservation. She has more than 25 years of consulting in the areas of engineering, urban planning, economic development and historic preservation. She holds certification in Affordable Housing Financing, Historic Preservation and Community Facilitation.
Hilliard serves as a mayoral appointee on the City of Jackson Mechanical Board, is vice president of the Board of Trustees for Mississippi First and serves on the Advisory Board for Midtown Partners. She is also a Preservation Fellow for the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Actively involved in many social and professional organizations, Hilliard’s passion is working with community participatory processes.
“It will be an honor to serve the university and community in this expanded capacity,” said Hilliard, who first joined the JSU staff in 2004. “I’m looking forward to broadening our efforts to engage the larger community.”