Sandra Hodge does not take her new role as interim vice president for the Division of Institutional Advancement lightly as it involves sustaining the mission of Jackson State University and building crucial relationships.
“I’m excited about the opportunity afforded me to bring funding, resources and other growth opportunities,” said Hodge, who most recently had worked as special assistant to JSU President Carolyn W. Meyers.
Hodge said among her top goals is helping JSU continue to prosper through fundraising and “friendraising.” She described Meyers as a quintessential leader noted for broadening academic disciplines, including STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), Liberal Arts, School of Public Health, College of Business – especially entrepreneurship, and all other schools and colleges on campus.
Hodge also wants to assist JSU with its ongoing efforts to foster JSU Global’s Passport to the World program. She’s especially proud that her alma mater embraces cultural diversity that allows students to study abroad.
Furthermore, as a new Cabinet member, she aims to help garner resources from key contributors – areas with which Hodge is quite familiar. As a former regional CEO for the nonprofit American Red Cross of Mississippi, she was its chief development officer and fundraiser and provided leadership in securing financial resources, board leadership, critical partnerships/sponsorships, facilities and mission-delivery needs.
Aside from generating revenue, seeking sponsors and donors, she also actively pursued training for staffers to help the Red Cross reach benchmarks for delivering services to communities. Over the years, she has worked with many city and state leaders, including mayors and governors, to assist people and territories amid disasters such as tornadoes and hurricanes.
In general, Hodge said in her new role she will target efforts that “encourage more people to invest in JSU’s rich legacy so they can help catapult the university further into history.” She said such accomplishments show that Mississippi is developing some of the “best and brightest minds to meet the needs for an innovative workforce and global leadership.”
Hodge credits her successes to lessons taught by her mother, who with a third-grade education, urged her to “keep God close and get a good education.” That advice placed her on a trajectory to influence many others and helped her become a key member in boardrooms of various organizations.
Hodge said her other goal will be to “help lead JSU’s Development Foundation to greater efficiencies, operations and excellence to provide funding for scholarships, internships and helping increase JSU’s endowment to support programs that advance our mission.”