Traditions: Presidents - Southern Miss

History	Updated April 3, 2014

Presidents
Dr. Rodney D. Bennett \| 2013-Present
	On April 1, 2013, Dr. Rodney D. Bennett became the University's 10th president and the first African-American president of a predominantly white university in the state of Mississippi. Only days after being chosen for the presidency, and more than a month from his official first day, Bennett showed the leadership qualities that led to his selection for the job. After an EF-4 tornado ripped through the Pine Belt and damaged buildings on the University's Hattiesburg campus, Bennett returned to survey the damage and worked over the next several weeks with administration, faculty, staff and students to assess what needed to be done to get the University on the road to recovery. On May 10, 2013, Dr. Bennett presided over his first Commencement ceremony as president of the University. More than 1,800 students were candidates for degrees at two ceremonies in Hattiesburg and one, May 11, 2013, on the Gulf Coast.

Dr. Aubrey Keith Lucas \| 2012-2013
	Returning to familiar territory, Dr. Aubrey K. Lucas was selected to serve as the interim president for the University.

Dr. Martha Dunagin Saunders \| 2007-2012
	May 21, 2007, was the first day of the presidency of Dr. Martha Dunagin Saunders. A Hattiesburg native, Saunders returned to her Mississippi roots to take the helm of her alma mater. Early in her tenure, Dr. Saunders instituted planning efforts to establish strategic university priorities. With these priorities as a solid foundation, Dr. Saunders led the University to new heights with record enrollment, new facilities, campus improvements, and an enhanced university presence on the national stage. Dr. Saunders stepped down from the presidency July 1, 2012. Returning to familiar territory, Dr. Aubrey K. Lucas was selected to serve as the interim president for the University.

Dr. Shelby Freland Thames \| 2002-2007
	On May 1, 2002, Dr. Shelby Freland Thames became The University of Southern Mississippi's eighth president. Dr. Thames had been with the University for nearly four decades, serving as professor, department chair, dean and vice president. Under Dr. Thames' leadership, the University received a record number of research dollars topping $100 million in a single year for the first time. Additionally, the number of Presidential Scholars tripled, and other scholarship programs were created. During the Thames administration, the University demonstrated consistent growth in its doctoral programs and was the only Class I university in the state as designated by the Southern Regional Education Board. The Thad Cochran Center, the Innovation and Commercialization Park, The Village residence halls, athletic facilities expansion, and recovery from Hurricane Katrina are also hallmarks of his administration. Dr. Thames' tenure as president ended in May 2007, and he returned to faculty ranks as a noted polymer scientist.

Dr. Horace Weldon Fleming, Jr. \| 1996-2002
	Dr. Horace Weldon Fleming Jr. assumed his duties as Southern Miss' seventh president January 3, 1997. During his tenure, the School of Nursing became the College of Nursing; the Office of Technology Resources was created; a master's program in hydrographic science was added in the Department of Marine Science; a master's program in workforce training and development was added in the School of Engineering Technology; and online classes were instituted. In addition, Southern Miss unveiled its "Strategic Plan for the Future." Designed to plot the University's course over the next three to five years, the plan envisioned Southern Miss as "a national university for the Gulf South." Dr. Fleming resigned the presidency in July 2001, and President Emeritus Dr. Aubrey Keith Lucas was selected to serve until the Board of Trustees of Institutions of Higher Learning hired a new president.

Dr. Aubrey Keith Lucas \| 1975-1996
	On July 1, 1975, Dr. Aubrey Keith Lucas became the sixth president of Southern Miss. Dr. Lucas had a long history at the University, having served as instructor, director of admissions, registrar and dean of the Graduate School, in addition to holding both bachelor's and master's degrees from the school. Among the accomplishments that punctuated the Lucas years were the formation of the Teaching and Learning Resource Center; creation of the Faculty Senate; establishment of the Center for International Education; replacement of the quarter system with the semester system; creation of the Polymer Science Institute; reorganization of the University's 10 schools into six colleges; formation of the Institute for Learning in Retirement; and affiliation with the new athletic conference, Conference USA. After 21 years, Dr. Lucas stepped down from the presidency December 31, 1996, saying it was time for someone new.

Dr. William David McCain \| 1955-1975
	The Board of Trustees selected State Archivist Dr. William David McCain as the school's fifth president, and he assumed the office August 18, 1955, promising to keep the campus "dusty or muddy with construction." At least 17 new buildings were erected during the McCain administration, including Reed Green Coliseum. Dr. McCain's driving ambition, however, was to achieve university status for MSC. To that end, he reorganized the academic programs into colleges and schools, and on February 27, 1962, Gov. Ross Barnett signed the bill that made Mississippi Southern College a university: The University of Southern Mississippi. The second watershed event of the McCain administration occurred in September 1965 when, for the first time in the school's history, African-American students were admitted. The first students were Raylawni Young Branch and Gwendolyn Elaine Armstrong. Other noteworthy events of the McCain era included formation of the Oral History Program in 1971 and establishment of the Southern Miss Gulf Park campus in 1972. Also in 1972, the nickname of the athletic teams was changed from "Southerners" to "Golden Eagles." Dr. McCain retired from the presidency June 30, 1975.

Dr. Richard Aubrey McLemore \| 1955-1955
	Dr. Richard Aubrey McLemore was named acting president, effective January 1, 1955, and served in that capacity until August 17, 1955. Dr. McLemore, known to the students as "Dr. Mac," had been a faculty member at MSC since 1938 and had served as professor of history, head of the Social Studies Division, and dean of the college.

Dr. Robert Cecil Cook \| 1945-1954
	Dr. Robert Cecil Cook (no relation to Joe Cook) became the institution's fourth president following his discharge from the Army on July 6, 1945. During his tenure, the Graduate Studies division was created, and the Reading Clinic, the Latin American Institute, and the Speech and Hearing Clinic were established. Greek presence on campus was increased, the band program was expanded, the "Dixie Darlings" precision dance team was formed, and enrollment soared to more than 2,000. The athletic program was strengthened as coaches Reed Green and Pie Vann returned from military service and resumed their former positions. Over the next two decades, the combined efforts of these two outstanding coaches brought national recognition to the Southern Miss football program. In December 1954, Cook became the first president to leave the office voluntarily when he resigned the presidency to accept a position as vice president and general manager of the Jackson State Times, a new daily newspaper.

Dr. Jennings Burton George \| 1933-1945
	Dr. Jennings Burton George, a Mississippi Normal College alumnus, became the school's third president on July 1, 1933, and the first to hold a doctorate. The new chief executive inherited a huge debt, which he corrected by setting strict financial guidelines, cutting employees' salaries and freezing departmental budgets. His efforts not only resulted in a balanced budget, but each year of his administration ended with a small surplus in the treasury. On February 13, 1940, the school's name was changed for the second time. Its new name, Mississippi Southern College, reflected the fact that it was no longer exclusively a teachers' college. During World War II, enrollment plummeted to around 300 as students and faculty members joined, or were drafted into, military service. Both head football coach Reed Green and his assistant Thad "Pie" Vann served in the armed forces. Looking ahead to the end of the war, President George established a $35,000 trust fund to provide scholarships for returning veterans. But in January 1945, before any of his plans were implemented, the Board of Trustees declined to rehire Dr. George, giving no definitive reason for its action. The school is deeply indebted to President George, for it was leadership that steered it safely through both the Great Depression and World War II.

Claude Bennett \| 1924-1933
	The Board of Trustees selected Supervisor of Rural Schools Claude Bennett as second president of STC. Many of the faculty and staff remained loyal to the former president and viewed Bennett with suspicion. Nevertheless, it was during the Bennett administration that the school was approved for membership in the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools in 1929. Enrollment continued to increase, extension courses were offered in 25 Mississippi counties, and a strong music program was set in motion. Unfortunately, Gov. Bilbo continued to meddle in the internal affairs of STC and other state-supported institutions of higher learning. As a result, SACS revoked the school's accreditation in 1930. In 1932, due to the Great Depression, the state was unable to pay faculty salaries. Fortunately, Hattiesburg banks arranged signature loans for hard-pressed faculty members, and grocery stores extended credit to those with good payment records. In 1932, a single board of trustees was created to oversee all of Mississippi's institutions of higher learning. Uppermost on the new board's agenda was removing political appointees of Gov. Bilbo, so in 1933, President Bennett was fired.

Joseph Anderson "Joe" Cook \| 1912-1928
	The first president, Joseph Anderson "Joe" Cook, oversaw construction of the original buildings and guided the school during its formative years. The school's five original buildings were College Hall (the academic building); Forrest County Hall (men's and married students' dormitory); Hattiesburg Hall (women's dormitory); the Industrial Cottage (training laboratory for home management); and the president's home (now the Alumni House). Prior to 1922, the school awarded certificates, which required at least two terms of attendance, and diplomas, which required at least six terms of attendance. In 1922, the school was authorized to confer the baccalaureate degree, the first of which was awarded in May 1922 to Kathryn Swetman of Biloxi. In 1924, the school underwent the first of a series of name changes. On March 7, 1924, Mississippi Normal College became State Teachers College. Many improvements were instituted following the name change as STC pursued accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools (SACS). One of the improvements was construction of the Demonstration School in 1927, which served as a training ground for student teachers. Sadly, on September 28, 1928, at the behest of Gov. Theodore G. Bilbo, President Cook was dismissed by the STC Board of Trustees.

History