Jackson State University Vice President for Business and Finance Michael Thomas has been named to the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Minority Business Alliance, Inc.
“This is a great opportunity to highlight the work we’re doing at Jackson State to increase minority business participation and also impact the entire state by working with others in the alliance who have the same vision,” Thomas said.
Thomas, a JSU alumnus, joined JSU’s administration in 2010 after 16 years with the Jackson Public School District, where he initiated a program to increase minority business participation called Jackson First. Since joining JSU, Thomas’ efforts have helped increase the university’s minority business participation from 2 percent to nearly 17 percent.
The Mississippi Minority Business Alliance, Inc., creates and expands mutually beneficial relationships between minority-owned businesses, suppliers and service organizations throughout the state. Alliance members include minority-owned businesses, corporate, governmental and educational institutions, and small- and minority-business resource agencies.