HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM) – Joe Paul, Ph.D., will function the eleventh president of the College of Southern Mississippi.

The choice got here after the Board of Trustees of State Establishments of Greater Studying accomplished its seek for the brand new establishment president and voted to nominate Paul, who’s presently serving as interim president of the college.

“Through the Listening Periods held on the campuses in Hattiesburg and Lengthy Seashore, the campus group spoke clearly and passionately about why Dr. Joe Paul is definitely the best individual to fill the position on a everlasting foundation,” stated Trustee Gee Ogletree, co-chair of the Board Search Committee. “I’ve recognized and witnessed Dr. Paul’s distinctive contributions to the college for over 4 many years.

“I acknowledge Dr. Paul’s power, relationships, affection and years of service to Southern Miss have confirmed past a shadow of a doubt that he’s the best individual to information the College into its subsequent chapter of management and excellence in educating, service and analysis within the state and nation.”

Paul, a Southern Miss alumnus, stated he was honored to just accept the place and humbled by the board’s belief in him.

“I’m honored and humbled to just accept this appointment from the Mississippi Establishments of Greater Studying Board of Trustees to grow to be the eleventh president of our beloved College of Southern Mississippi,” stated Dr. Paul. “The whole board and Commissioner Rankins have proven nice help for me and for Southern Miss.

“I’m particularly grateful to the presidential search committee co-chairs, Board President Tommy Duff and Trustee Gee Ogletree. These two Southern Miss alumni have displayed braveness, conviction and integrity by means of this course of. They love Southern Miss as I do, they usually share a imaginative and prescient of the potential this establishment has to positively impression our area, state and past.”

As interim president, Paul stated he labored to advance scholar recruitment, re-invigorate scholar life in a post-pandemic atmosphere, share the Southern Miss story, help intercollegiate athletics as a brand new member of the Solar Belt Convention and helped to push the college’s $150 million capital marketing campaign nearer to its aim three years earlier than completion of the marketing campaign.

“Now we have work to do in rising the enrollment, maximizing our impression on our Mississippi Gulf Coast and guaranteeing the continued progress of our analysis enterprise,” stated Paul. “I’m additionally deeply dedicated to creating an unapparelled scholar life and management expertise. A spirit of shared governance might be entrance and middle for me.

“I wish to guarantee all that I’ll assault these subsequent 4 years with the power and urgency with which I’ve approached these first 4 months. We’ll chase audacious objectives with ardour and persistence. Our Southern Miss grit will prevail.”

Paul beforehand served the college as a scholar affairs administrator for greater than 40 years. He turned the vice chairman of scholar affairs in February 1993 after holding numerous positions, together with assistant director of scholar actions, assistant vice chairman and dean of scholar improvement. Paul additionally held college rank in USM’s School of Schooling and Psychology.

Between his retirement from the college in 2015 and being named Interim President earlier this yr, Paul held part-time positions with the College Basis as a fundraiser, as a citizen service coordinator for the Metropolis of Hattiesburg, as an government coach for the Horne Enterprise Advisor Group and as an government coach and strategic advisor for the Blue Hen Consulting Company.

“Dr. Paul is well-known to the campus group and actually wants no introduction,” stated Trustee Tom Duff, co-chair of the Board Search Committee. “On the Listening Periods, scores of Southern Miss alumni and college students described the way in which Dr. Paul retains the wants of the scholars at first and provides every one the help wanted for them to soar.

“The personalised expertise college students obtain on the college (is) one of many many attributes that make The College of Southern Mississippi particular. Dr. Paul is the perfect individual to construct on these strengths and assist the college attain the subsequent degree of success.”

Past his work at Southern Miss, Paul has offered administration and management seminars and coaching applications for numerous companies, industries and academic organizations. As well as, he was a senior marketing consultant with The Atlanta Consulting Group, a Fortune High 50 administration consulting agency. Purchasers Paul has labored with embrace UPS, RJR Nabisco, Ohio-Edison, Stennis Institute, US Navy, Accenture and Horne CPA Well being care group.

Paul and his spouse Meg reside in Hattiesburg, MS, and are lively members of Trinity Episcopal Church. They’ve two grown youngsters and two grandsons.

Being very concerned within the Hattiesburg group, Paul beforehand served two phrases as president of the United Means of Southeast Mississippi. He has additionally served as board chairman for the Higher Hattiesburg Space Growth Basis, as a Board Trustee for the Mississippi Public Workers Retirement System, as president of the Hattiesburg Space Schooling Basis, as a trustee for the Hattiesburg Public Faculty District and as a member of the board of administrators for the Hattiesburg Boys and Women Membership.

Moreover, Paul co-founded the Hattiesburg Management Pinebelt program and has served statewide in management positions with the Mississippi Financial Council.

Paul holds a Ph.D. in administration of upper schooling from the College of Alabama and was named the college’s Most Excellent Doctoral Pupil within the Subject in 1985.

The Bay St. Louis native earned a bachelor’s diploma in communication and political science from USM in 1975, graduating magna cum laude from the College Honors School. He later acquired a grasp’s diploma in communication and administration from Southern Miss in 1978.

In 2000, Paul was inducted into the College of Southern Mississippi Alumni Corridor of Fame.

Following the Monday, Oct. 24, announcement of Paul’s appointment, reward for the choice started to pour in from campus and group leaders. A number of the responses are beneath:

• Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker: “I imagine each Southern Miss Golden Eagle enthusiastically applauds the selection of Dr. Joe Paul to guide our college for the subsequent 4 years. Dr. Joe Paul has Southern Miss in his soul. There isn’t any another trusted, succesful or ready to tackle that mantle of management, and I respect the IHL Board of Trustees listening to stakeholders and making a daring, decisive decide.”
• Denis Wiesenburg, President of the USM College Senate: “I imagine the USM college might be happy with the number of Dr. Paul as our subsequent president. We informed the IHL Board Search Committee that our subsequent president must be somebody who shares Dr. Paul’s imaginative and prescient of how a college operates. He’s the kind of chief who will work in true partnership with the USM college and workers to information our college towards a shiny future. “
• Jessica Langston, Employees Council President: “Throughout Dr. Paul’s time as interim president, he has been intentional in his efforts to interact workers and be inclusive of this essential group throughout all campuses. We’re excited to help Dr. Paul throughout his everlasting appointment as College President and stay up for collaborating with him and his management staff to proceed propelling Southern Miss ahead.”
• Chuck Scianna, an alumnus from Houston, Texas: “I imagine the IHL has proven, by their number of Dr. Joe Paul as the subsequent president of Southern Miss, that they’re in contact with the short-term and long-term wants and objectives of the college. Dr. Paul possesses the qualities, expertise and relationships Southern Miss must go ahead with its R1 analysis designation and transfer to the subsequent degree. I imagine that is an excellent alternative and hope all college students, college, workers and alumni help Dr. Paul and his effort to take Southern Miss to the High!”
• Ashley Lankford, Pupil Authorities Affiliation President: “Dr. Paul is the true embodiment of what it means to be a Golden Eagle! He reveals every one among us each day what it means to serve our college and to go away it higher than we discovered it. His help for college kids and fervour for campus life is unimaginable. With that being stated, we’re proud to have him function our official president for the subsequent 4 years!”

Along with the in-person Listening Periods held on the USM campuses, the board additionally issued an internet survey to permit as many college students, alumni, college, workers and group members to take part as potential.

Movies of the Listening Session and the outcomes of the web survey are posted on the USM President Search web site.

A proper announcement will happen as a part of on-campus actions associated to the soccer recreation on Thursday, Oct. 27, when the Golden Eagles tackle the Ragin’ Cajuns of the College of Louisiana. The announcement might be at 3:00 p.m. within the Ballroom on the Thad Cochran Middle on the USM Campus in Hattiesburg.

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