Dealing with educational budget cuts in the wake of Katrina presents a challenge for the State College Board, but the newly appointed commissioner has a wealth of experience at his disposal. Commissioner Thomas Meredith’s responsibilities include enforcing the College Board’s policies at the eight public colleges and universities in Mississippi.
L. Stacy Davidson Jr., a member of the College Board from the 3rd Congressional District, said he thinks Meredith has the talent and ability to move the state’s higher education system forward.
“I think that Meredith has the knowledge, talent and ability to give guidance and formulate programs that will be very helpful in the future to all of our universities,” Davidson said.
Much of Meredith’s experience came from working as chancellor for the University of Alabama system and later the university system of Georgia, where Meredith had responsibility for Georgia’¿s 34 colleges and univeresities.
Meredith also completed educational management courses at Harvard University and serves on a number of corporate boards, including holding a chair on the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.
One of Meredith’s most daunting tasks includes facing extensive devastation left by Katrina in the form of increased state cuts and renovation costs, but Davidson remains confident in the new appointee.
“We’re going to pull together and get them [damaged colleges] back into working order,” Davidson said. “We’ll just have to do the best we can with what we’ve got.”
Meredith served as president and professor of education from 1988 to 1997 at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green.
MSU President Charles Lee said he agrees that Meredith brings the right tools to the job.
“Dr. Meredith is vastly experienced in higher education administration, both at the campus level and at the system level, and his prior experience in Mississippi should be an asset,” Lee said.
In a recent article in The Clarion-Ledger, Meredith said that his main goal is to get more Mississippians to go to college, noting that only 17 percent of Mississippians have a college degree.
“When more people go to college, the state wins,” he said. “These are people who are going to be in the economy, paying more taxes.”
MSU vice president for student affairs Bill Kibler said he feels confident that the new commissioner can do a good job, especially considering his qualifications.
“It is well-known that he has led two higher education systems both in the state of Georgia and Alabama,” Kibler said. “Stability of leadership is something we’¿re all looking forward to.”