Following a successful, high-profile chancellor at the University of Mississippi will make the job both challenging and rewarding, the College Board’s choice for the role said Tuesday.

“I’m humbled and excited,” said Vicksburg native Dr. Dan Jones, who has been serving the university as vice-chancellor for health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine in Jackson.

If approved June 15 by College Board members following on-campus interviews with various university entities, Jones will move to the Oxford campus to succeed Robert Khayat, whose announced retirement in January is effective June 30. The move was announced in tandem with state Superintendent of Education Dr. Hank Bounds’ selection as leading candidate for Commissioner of Higher Education. Meetings for that post are set for June 17 at board offices in Jackson.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity and I’m grateful to be following Robert Khayat as chancellor,” Jones said, describing Khayat’s 14 years as “spectacular leadership.”

Jones, 60, was part of the second graduating class at Warren Central High School in 1967 after the school was formed from Culkin (where he attended grade school), Redwood and Jett schools. He earned a degree from Mississippi College in 1971, then earned his medical degree and completed residency at UMC. A Laurel-based private practice followed, then travel to the South Korean port city of Pusan in 1985 for missionary service as director of a community health department and hypertension clinic.

He returned to UMC in 1992 as a faculty member, serving as vice-chancellor of health affairs at the Jackson hospital since 2003. Jones’ resume in medical research is extensive and includes the presidency of the American Heart Association in 2007-08, certification by the American Board of Internal Medicine and a fellowship with the American College of Physicians.

Jones said a primary challenge in leading the university and its approximately 17,000 students on multiple campuses will be weathering the economy.

“Moving the university forward during an economic recession is certainly a big challenge,” Jones said.

During Khayat’s tenure, capital campaigns generated nearly $775 million in private support. With that, UM created the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, Croft Institute for International Studies, Lott Leadership Institute, Galtney Center for Academic Computing, Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts and Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation, and added academic and athletic facilities. It also secured a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the prestigious liberal arts honor society.

In Khayat’s final year at the helm, the state’s medical school was named among the nation’s top 100 hospitals and the Ford Center hosted the first presidential debate between candidates Barack Obama and John McCain.

“The Board and the Search Advisory Committee have searched nationally to identify the best candidate to lead the University of Mississippi.  It is a testament to the quality of leadership in our universities that we found the right candidate among our own people,” said Amy Whitten, a member of the state Board of Trustees of Institutions of Higher Learning, also known as the College Board. Whitten chaired the UM search, conducted privately by paid consultants and following a step-by-step process.

Khayat issued a separate statement through the university, which emphasized Jones’ background in teaching in the medical field as a key asset.

“He has provided extraordinary leadership for our internationally respected health-care complex and medical school in Jackson,” read part of Khayat’s statement.

“We are excited about Dr. Jones’ forthcoming campus visit. He is an exceptional educator, scholar and public servant who is dedicated to improving the lives of Mississippians,” said Alice Clark, advisory committee chair and vice chancellor for research and sponsored programs in a statement.

The College Board governs the public universities in Mississippi, including Alcorn State, Delta State, Jackson State, Mississippi State, Mississippi University for Women; Mississippi Valley State, the University of Mississippi and the University of Southern Mississippi.

*

Contact Danny Barrett Jr. at dbarrett@vicksburgpost.com