JSU appoints Dr. Elayne Hayes-Anthony as temporary acting president

Jackson State University has appointed Dr. Elayne Hayes-Anthony as the temporary acting president, effective immediately, WLBT reports.

The decision follows a vote of no confidence by the Jackson State University Faculty Senate Executive Committee and the Faculty Senate, which resulted in the placement of President Thomas K. Hudson on administrative leave with pay on Thursday night. The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning held a specially called meeting to discuss “a Jackson State University personnel matter” before the decision was made.

Tom Duff, President of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, expressed gratitude to Dr. Hayes-Anthony for agreeing to serve as Acting President, citing her understanding of the campus, its students, challenges, and opportunities as an alumnus and long-time administrator and faculty member at the university. Dr. Hayes-Anthony has been serving as the chair of the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at Jackson State University since 2015, and prior to that, she was a professor of Communications and chair of the Department of Communications at Belhaven University from 1998 to 2015.

Dr. Hayes-Anthony’s tenure at Jackson State University includes 10 years of service, first as the director of Graduate Studies for the Department of Mass Communications and later as the head of the department. During her leadership, the department received national accreditation from the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.

President Hudson’s placement on administrative leave with pay comes after the Faculty Senate affirmed a vote of no confidence on January 26, citing “significant concerns for months regarding the administration taking reasonable steps to provide a healthy, safe, and secure environment for all members of the campus community.” Hudson was named the 12th president of Jackson State in November 2020, succeeding William Bynum, who was among 17 others arrested in a prostitution sting.

As the investigation continues into the personnel matter at Jackson State University, the appointment of Dr. Hayes-Anthony as the Acting President is intended to ensure continuity of leadership and maintain the institution’s commitment to excellence in education.