SEARK hears first of 3 vying to be president

Tyrone Jackson said he listens twice as much as he speaks, but the Mississippi Delta Community College president had the floor Monday in the first of three public forums for the finalists of the Southeast Arkansas College presidency.

Jackson talked with members of the SEARK community inside the campus Welcome Center for two hourlong forums. Douglas Miller, senior associate vice president at Utah State University Eastern; and Dometrius Hill, associate vice president of academic affairs at Lee College in Texas, will meet the public Thursday and Friday, respectively.

Jackson, 52, originally from Rosedale, Miss., is finishing his fifth year as Mississippi Delta’s first African American president.

“Things are going great at Mississippi Delta,” he said when asked why he’s pursuing the job in Pine Bluff. “I have diverse experience in two- and four-year schools. … I’ve been quite successful. You realize when it’s time to go, and I’m leaving a good track record in Mississippi, a very diverse experience, and I’m looking for an opportunity outside of the state. From my research, this appears to be a great situation.”

Jackson has been in higher education since 1994, when he was an admissions counselor and recruiter at his alma mater, Delta State University. He previously was vice president for the Utica, Miss., campus of Hinds Community College for administrative service as well as the college’s district dean of students.

At Mississippi Delta, located 32 miles east of Greenville in Moorhead, Jackson said he helped the campus secure the two largest donations in its history — about $200,000 to $250,000 — from anonymous donors for grant scholarships, he said. He also lays claim to helping the college secure $10 million from the seven counties it serves to go toward a $17.5 million dormitory project. The other $7.5 million, Jackson said, came from a $10.2 million state appropriation.

“I went to my board of supervisors, from all seven counties, and I convinced them to buy into a $10 million bond to support the $17.5 million for the dorm,” Jackson said.

Jackson’s philosophy regarding finances, otherwise, is to spend only what a school has after it has saved.

The presidential finalists, announced last week, are vying to replace Steven Bloomberg, who left SEARK after six years at the helm in February to become chancellor of the Kern Community College District in Bakersfield, Calif. Stacy Pfluger is SEARK’s interim president.

Pfluger addressed a rumor that surfaced while Jackson fielded questions from the attendees that SEARK would face accreditation probation from the Higher Learning Commission. Pfluger said the commission will send a letter of findings to SEARK by the end of June, but she added it was unclear what possible issues might arise from the findings.

“Basically, assess what we’re doing. Find out why the college is on probation, find out the ins and outs of that situation … and find out what we need to do to get us off of probation, if that is the case,” Jackson said when asked how he would handle the matter if SEARK is sanctioned.

Jackson was also asked how he would plan to promote SEARK in the shadows of a nearby four-year university that is showing growth in enrollment.

“To me and most people, it makes sense to go to community college,” Jackson said. “Thirty-five years ago, I was in high school. If I had to do it over again, I would start at a community college. It costs half of what it costs to go to a four-year college. Does the resume look better to have one or two degrees? Two, an associate’s and a bachelor’s.”

Jackson said there are no proverbial skeletons in his closet. If given the chance to lead SEARK, he said, he’ll give 110% to the job.

“This will probably be the last stop for me,” he said.