JSCC one step closer to finding new president

JACKSON, Tenn. — Jackson State Community College invited the four finalists vying to become the school’s next president to their campus this week.

Candidate Allana Hamilton answered questions from students and faculty Monday during her visit.

“For students to succeed, then this campus needs to be productive,” she said. “It needs to be excited and enthusiastic about student success.”

Dr. Hamilton says student success will be her No. 1 priority if she is chosen as president of the college.

“It is a community college, and ‘community’ is in the word,” she said. “So it would be our college and it would be a shared vision.”

Hamilton currently serves as vice president for academic affairs at Northeast State Community College in Blountville, Tenn.

She said as a first-generation college student, she knows first-hand how higher education can change a person’s life.

“I am an advocate for higher education,” she said. “It has changed my life personally and professionally.”

The interview was live-streamed by Jackson Energy Authority Eplus Broadband and Eplus TV6 for those who were not able to attend.

Faculty members say it is key for the future president to connect with the students.

“We’re about students, and we definitely just need to work together to help the students and help everyone communicate,” Zachary Livelli, a technology specialist at JSCC, said.

The campus meetings are the first step in the selection process.

Livelli said the meetings are crucial so the school can get to know the candidates.

“Hopefully we will get to learn about them in the next week, and hopefully we will get the right one,” he said.

The chancellor will make a recommendation to the Tennessee Board of Regents after the visits.

If the board approves the chancellor’s recommendation, the new president is expected to start in January.