President Carolyn W. Meyers is HBCU Digest’s Female President of the Year, the organization announced Friday.
“I am humbled by this honor, but this is really about my outstanding team of administrators and the faculty, staff and students at Jackson State University,” Meyers said. “They are the reasons for our success.”
The honor was announced Friday in New Orleans during an awards banquet as part of the 2014 HBCU Media Summit, sponsored by HBCU Digest and hosted by Dillard University.
Jarrett Carter Sr., HBCU Digest’s publisher, said Meyers more than deserved the honor.
“Dr. Meyers for the last two years has really etched out a strong case for how HBCU leadership should go,” Carter said.
“She has been strategic about enrollment and technology and she hasn’t been afraid to go out and get the resources to make this happen. She was a runaway choice this year.”
Jackson State had record enrollment last year and opened a campus-authorized Apple store, the first in Mississippi and one of few in the country. The university also continued implementation of the nation’s largest freshmen iPad initiative, which provides all first-year students with iPads to help with coursework.
Awards were presented in nearly 30 categories to highlight excellence in student and faculty achievement, including academics, athletics and other extracurricular activities.
Meyers and others were nominated by a panel of students, alumni, faculty, staff and supporters, according to HBCU Digest. The process included essays that were verified by the Center for HBCU Media Advocacy Inc. Finalists were selected and ranked by a panel of HBCU presidents and administrators.
The HBCU Digest is a daily blog that provides news synopsis, links and commentary on stories about the nation’s historically black colleges and universities. The site, which started in 2010, also offers original features, editorials and special content unique to HBCU students and alumni.