A stream of criticism has followed Jackson State University President Ronald Mason since his controversial “unification” proposal for merging three of Mississippi’s HBCUs was leaked to the media last winter. And now Mason is on his way to Louisiana.
To many observers in Mississippi, the timing of Mason’s hiring as president of the five-campus Southern University System seems impeccable.
Critics hammered Mason because of his proposal — which called for Alcorn State, Jackson State and Mississippi Valley State universities to merge — and because he was privately circulating his idea while publicly condemning Gov. Haley Barbour’s similar, budget-cutting plan to merge those schools. Neither idea went beyond the stage of stirring protest, but Mason left alumni, students, faculty and Black state legislators seething over what appeared to be a stealth move.
“I don’t think it was time to leave but I had some concern that the focus became on me than on the future of the HBCUs,” Mason says. “I think a conversation has started that may change the consciousness and concern for Mississippi HBCUs.”
But Mason admits the SU job came at an ideal time for him and his family. “There was no relation between the two,” the New Orleans native says. “Only, perhaps that the noise reminded me that 10 years is a long time to be a president in this day and age. I like the idea of a new challenge, going home and working with a system.”
Before becoming president of JSU, Mason held administrative positions at Tulane University, including senior vice president and general counsel and vice president for finance and operations.
Mason’s campus unification ideas appealed to Southern University at Baton Rouge Chancellor Kofi Lomotey, who says he is “pleased and excited” that Mason was selected as the new president. “His ideas are not dissimilar from what we have here in Louisiana with the five campuses. It is my understanding that he was trying to save the institutions (in Mississippi).”
