Jackson State University’s doctoral student Johnathan Brown is ecstatic about his new position as a legislative state agency liaison with Mississippi’s Municipal League.
“So far, I am loving this job more than 100 percent,” Brown said.
According to the MML website, the league “is the official non-profit private organization of cities and towns in Mississippi. The MML lobbies the state and federal legislatures, provides education for municipal elected officials, provides technical support, represents municipalities with public and private entities and is a networking media for municipal members.”
Brown said, “I am always going to work to accomplish the mission of the Mississippi Municipal League. In reality, we basically work to improve the lives of the citizens of the state of Mississippi.”
Brown received an associate in general studies from Hinds Community College in 2001. In 2005, he completed a bachelor’s degree in English literature and in 2011 he received a master’s degree in environmental planning both from JSU. Currently, Brown has fulfilled all coursework for his doctorate in urban design.
“Once I get that I’ll be certified, hopefully, to help design cities, downtown areas, parking lots and things like bike trails,” Brown said.
[dropcap]B[/dropcap]rown’s position as an MML liaison not only includes educating city and state officials on resources and legislation that can assist their communities, but also lobbying for the best policies, regulations and laws that overall benefit the state of Mississippi.
Before transitioning to his position with the MML, Brown spent many years as a residence hall coordinator for JSU. He not only helped to operate a community while at JSU but “we also had to create programs that would connect with students in a way to build trust and to help improve their quality of life.”
He does not deny his affinity for the university.
“The reason I loved JSU so much is because I worked directly with the students and I felt like I could positively influence them. Working at JSU for 11 years, I had students who graduated, and they would come back and say, ‘Mr. Brown, you really helped me out.’
In his new position, Brown wants to overturn negative perceptions and affect positive change, not only in the state but in the Capital City as well.
“I know what I see Jackson as … it’s a city that I love because I’ve been there my whole life. I know what I want to be able to contribute to Jackson, and I know that when I retire or when I’m 80 years old or 100 years old I can look back and say this is what I helped do in Jackson.”
JSU alum Tiffany Bush became a full-time accounting coordinator for the MML in January of this year. Bush received her bachelor of arts in urban studies in 2013 and a master of arts in urban and regional planning two years later.
“I began working with the Municipal League as a summer intern in 2015. I was the summer conference intern, which means you come in and help with planning the annual conference. We have about 3,000 attendees where the league trains municipal officials – kind of like continuing education credits administered through the league,” Bush said.
When a permanent opening became available, Bush was offered the spot. She enjoys organizing and preparing for the MML meetings and conventions.
“We do a total of three a year – small towns is where we go to different cities throughout the state then we have the mid-winter Legislative Conference in January, and then the annual conference is always in June,” Bush said.
“I think those are the highlight times because you’re more one on one with members of the league like the aldermen and mayors. You get to talk with them and see what’s going on in their cities and towns. I like that part of it.”
[dropcap]B[/dropcap]ush majored in urban and regional planning due to an interest in municipal government. She recalls being told by Judge Denise Owens, “You should always major in something that interests you; you’d do better in it.”
Although Bush does not work directly in regional planning, she feels her work with the MML satisfies her objective. “I still am affiliated with the municipal government so I would say that I’m fulfilling my goal right now,” Bush said.
Bush believes the university was consequential in facilitating her transition from student to account coordinator. She was working at the JSU Institute of Government (IOG) when the league called requesting an intern.
The IOG, located at JSU’s downtown campus, acts as an advocate for urban regions and organizations of public service by providing aid that improves community stability, development and prosperity.
“I’m pretty sure I would not have gotten the internship which led me to MML . . . so, had it not been for Dr. Burton at the Institute of Government at Jackson State that never would have happened,” Bush said.
Bush advises other students to “get your name out there” by becoming involved with their department and familiarizing themselves with department heads. “Part of getting any job today is networking and learning how to network starts at the university level,” she adds.