OPINION: Congratulations, JSU President Dr. Denise Jones Gregory

By Ivory Phillips

JA Contributing Editor

On Thursday, April 16, 2026, the college board voted to name Dr. Denise Jones Gregory President of Jackson State University. It is thus fitting and proper to congratulate her on that great and monumental achievement. She triumphed over a field of 79 to become the 14th president of the university. 

Dr. Jones Gregory has served a year as JSU’s interim president. She holds an earned doctorate degree. She also completed post-doctoral study in executive leadership. 

In reporting the news of her appointment, several media personnel repeated the fact that she is JSU’s seventh president in 10 years. In the interest of full disclosure, however, it should be noted that JSU has had 14 presidents since the departure of Dr. John Peoples. (This compares to it having had just four presidents in the 63 years prior to the college board becoming its overseer.) That bit of accuracy becomes important if and when one anticipates the presidency of Dr. Jones Gregory. The frequent turn-overs reflect not just instability. They also reflect the manner in which many believe the college board has deliberately manipulated, neglected, or otherwise mismanaged JSU.

This reality escapes people who are often aware of racism in other aspects of this society when they say things like, “when are you-all going to get us a good president,” or “why can’t JSU keep a president for anytime?” Apparently, the office of institutions of higher learning and its board are not on the same page as are JSU well-wishers. It is they who keep finding and appointing weak or flawed presidents.

Lest we digress, however, we again congratulate Dr. Jones Gregory. She is an alumna many want to serve as president and her work during the past year now can continue without interruption. With that said, we turn to the second half of our topic, community expectations.

Based upon recent history, we may not fully know or appreciate the expectations of the college board, since it has historically been oppressive. However, the expectations of the JSU community are not difficult to discern. 

Faculty, as has frequently been expressed through the Faculty Senate, expect hearty support in the task of providing the best curriculum and instruction for JSU students, firm advocacy for fair and equal salaries, welcome and willing partnership in the development of academic policies as well as in the hiring of academic personnel, including the extension of due process. 

Similarly, staff expect to be respected, appreciated, and compensated, as well as being extended appropriate due process and opportunities for in-service training and promotions. 

Students, especially through the Student Government Association and other campus groups, expect to be able to have their ideas, including grievances, respected and heard; to receive due process; have adequate and equal accommodations and services; and to be appropriately taught in their fields of study. 

Alumni and university allies expect to be briefed on matters affecting them and the community and to be so briefed in a timely manner and with full transparency.

Obviously, meeting such expectations requires commitment and constant, attentive effort on the part of all concerned. In every instance, it must be a two-way enterprise, reflective of the historical and current needs of HBCUs and their primary constituencies. 

We hope and pray for Dr. Jones Gregory’s success and for the fulfillment of these critical expectations. The two things go together; neither can be ignored. Without her being successful, we will have wasted another opportunity and the precious time involved. Ignoring or failing to capitalize on the essential expectations would mean placing JSU in a predicament wherein it cannot and will not function as a first-rate institution. It would mean that the door would be open for JSU to lose its accreditations and respectability in such national bodies as the Association of University Professors. It would mean that the university could easily become prey to being run like a modern-day plantation. Or, to soften the language a bit, JSU would continue being run by the college board in such a manner that it remains second-rate, never reaching its potential. 

Mississippi citizens and tax payers deserve better. JSU’s predominately Black and working-class clientele deserves better. The newly appointed president, Dr. Denise Jones Gregory deserves better.