3/27/2006 - Jackson, Miss.

In a unanimous decision, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning announced today that Dr. Robert H. Foglesong, a four star general, is the preferred candidate for the position of President of Mississippi State University.

"We feel we have a person whose leadership, experience and courage in his past jobs can help Mississippi State succeed," said Trustee Ed Blakeslee, Chair of the MSU Presidential Search Committee.

Dr. Robert H. Foglesong currently serves as President and Executive Director of the Appalachian Leadership and Education Foundation, a non-profit operating to identify and support Appalachian leaders. Previously, he was nominated by the President, confirmed by the U.S. Senate, and served as a four star general in the U.S. Air Force personnel, operations, infrastructure and intra/inter governmental affairs for an organization of 358,000 uniformed members and 158,000 civilian employees. He was responsible for planning and programming for future strategies involving an annual budget of $90 billion. His jobs required almost daily interface with members of Congress, the White House and many governmental interagency offices.

On Tuesday, March 28, Dr. Foglesong will attend open, day-long interviews at Mississippi State University’s Starkville Campus with various university and Starkville community constituency groups. Individuals attending the open interviews will be given the opportunity to provide feedback to the Board regarding their impressions of Dr. Foglesong. Following the conclusion of all interviews, the Board will convene at approximately 5:00 p.m. and then go into executive session to review the feedback submitted. The meeting will be followed by a brief press conference in the Parker Ballroom of Mississippi State’s Hunter Henry Center to announce the Board’s final decision.

Tuesday’s interview schedule is as follows:
7:45 a.m.—8:30 a.m.  Breakfast with Vice Presidents, Foundation Board Room, Hunter Henry Center
8:45 a.m.—9:30 a.m.  Meeting with Campus Leadership, Parker Ballroom, Hunter Henry Center
9:45 a.m.—10:45 a.m.  Meeting with General Faculty, Parker Ballroom, Hunter Henry Center
11:00 a.m.—11:45 a.m.  Meeting with Student Leadership, Foundation Board Room, Hunter Henry Center
11:50 a.m.—12:45 p.m.  Lunch with Alumni Executive Committee, Correro Board Room, Hunter Henry Center
1:00 p.m.—1:45 p.m.  Meeting with Staff Council, Foundation Board Room, Hunter Henry Center
2:00 p.m.—3:30 p.m.  Campus and Community Reception, Parker Ballroom, Hunter Henry Center
3:45 p.m.—4:45 p.m.  Meeting with MSU Foundation Board, Foundation Board Room, Hunter Henry Center
5:00 p.m.  Meeting of the Board of Trustees, Correro Board Room, Hunter Henry Center
T.B.A.  Press Conference, Parker Ballroom, Hunter Henry Center

Under the leadership of the Board of Trustees, IHL governs the public universities in Mississippi, including Alcorn State University; Delta State University; Jackson State University; Mississippi State University including the Mississippi State University Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine; Mississippi University for Women; Mississippi Valley State University; the University of Mississippi including the University of Mississippi Medical Center; and the University of Southern Mississippi.

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