Dr. Jerryl Briggs, Mississippi Valley State University’s executive vice president, has been named acting president of the university by the Board of Trustees of the state Institutions of Higher Learning.
The announcement came on Thursday.
As acting president, Briggs will perform all the duties assigned the president’s office until the College Board appoints an interim president. IHL spokeswoman Caron Blanton said that is expected to happen in August.
According to IHL guidelines for the presidential search process, an interim president is not eligible as a candidate for the permanent position of president.
“Dr. Briggs’ duties are the same as an interim president, but the board is going to appoint the interim president in August,” Blanton said.
Briggs could not be reached for comment.
Briggs was the first choice of Valley’s departing president, Dr. William Bynum, who will take the helm at Jackson State University starting July 1. In an earlier interview with the Commonwealth, Bynum said Briggs would provide continuity at Valley and was well liked by students, faculty and alumni.
Bynum and Briggs worked together for a number of years at other universities before coming to Valley in 2013.
Briggs’ current job description includes complete oversight for the operational well-being of the university, including assessing needs through formal structures and constant contact with all constituents.
Briggs has been credited with helping to improve the university’s retention rate in 2014 and 2015, helping to increase enrollment by 11.4 percent over the past three years and managing a $17 million capital improvement project at the athletic complex. Under his leadership, plans are under way to renovate residence halls and other campus buildings.
Briggs earned a bachelor’s degree from Xavier University and a master’s from Louisiana Tech before pursuing his doctorate at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. He has completed Harvard University’s Institute for Educational Management program.
His professional experience in higher education administration stretches over 25 years at Central State University in Ohio, Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, Clark Atlanta University, the College of William and Mary, Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign.
• Contact Kathryn Eastburn at 581-7235 or keastburn@gwcommonwealth.com.
