By William H. Kelly III
(JACKSON, Miss.) – Jackson State University held its 2024 Fall Faculty & Staff Convocation to inspire and set the tone for its educators and staff for the 2024-2025 academic year. The annual event touched on inclusivity, exceptional customer care, and steering JSU forward under its adopted mantra, “Welcome Home to THEE.”
New and returning faculty and staff gathered in the Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly Center on Wednesday, Aug. 7, for a celebratory moment filled with music, dancing, giveaways, trivia, and more, including a motivational message from JSU President Dr. Marcus Thompson.
“I am grateful for your dedication to JSU and how you sacrifice your time and energy to make this a 21st century-learning institution with a global reach and lasting impact. Through your work, we are not only exceeding our strategic plan goals, but we are turning our scholars into industry leaders and prominent professionals transforming our nation’s landscape for the better,” Thompson greeted the audience.
He urged attendees to approach the academic year with a mindset that prioritizes difficult conversations to inspire growth and create a university environment emphasizing acceptance.
The president also announced the upcoming launch of a comprehensive customer care plan, which aligns with the institution’s strategic goals of Improving Campus Culture and Enhancing the JSU Brand.
“How do we deepen that sense of belonging and connection to one another? We must lean into the highest standards of customer care. This goes above and beyond service. I’m referring to the daily interactions that affirm our commitment to each other’s well-being and success,” said Thompson. “See, how we treat one another can either create a ripple effect that enriches our collective experience or undermines our sense of unity and purpose.”
This year’s convocation introduced a segment entitled “Vibing with the VPs,” in which members of the president’s executive cabinet provided recent achievements, successes, and goals for their respective areas. Cabinet members took the stage in a talk-show format to share about institution-wide financial savings, newly established academic programs, and even the pending return of the golf team to the Division of Athletics.
Doused in themes of home and family, Thompson paused to express gratitude to the faculty and staff for their exceptional achievements, efforts to catapult the university to R1 status, and gracefully carrying the “tremendous responsibility” to properly lead the next generation of scholars and advance the HBCU to greater heights.
Thompson proceeded to highlight developments and initiatives such as the Lynch Street Corridor Project and the 3+3 Accelerated Law Program, led by JSU’s First Lady LaToya Redd Thompson, Esq. He further acknowledged Jackson State becoming the first HBCU and Mississippi institution to receive the prestigious Founders Award from the National Academy of Inventors.
“Let us seize the moment of change and embrace our illustrious 147-year legacy of being a haven for those seeking higher education to transcend their circumstances. Let us invest in their triumphs, uplift them in times of doubt, and let every lesson taught fortify our reputation as the place where everyone can become who they are meant to be,” Thompson urged.
In closing, he thanked the faculty and staff for choosing to be a part of the Jackson State University family. “I look forward to working with all of you. Together, let us make this house a home and set Thee Standard for generations to come,” he said.
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