The Institutions of Higher Learning board has yet to advertise for a new president for the Mississippi University for Women, but one name is already being floated publicly.
During listening sessions held Tuesday at the university where stakeholders could offer their input to IHL board members, two attendees openly endorsed Sally Burchfield-Doty, a W alumna and former state senator, for the role.
“She’s a leader who turns actions into results and accountability, someone with a proven financial responsibility,” MUW alumna Betty Ruth Hawkins told the board before challenging members to expedite the search by naming Burchfield-Doty president. “… The W needs leadership now. … If there is a long process, The W stands to lose the incredible ground that we have gained this year in public awareness and public sight.”
A pair of local lawmakers agree.
Speaking to The Dispatch after the listening sessions Tuesday, both District 39 Rep. Dana McLean, R-Columbus, and District 17 Sen. Chuck Younger, R-Lowndes County, said Burchfield-Doty is the best candidate for the job.
“We know Sally really well,” Younger said. “She’s a hard worker, and she wants The W to succeed in a big, big way.”
Both lawmakers, who have worked alongside Burchfield-Doty in the legislature, said they would support an expedited process for hiring a president.
“I think it would be wonderful if they could,” McLean said, noting she’s unfamiliar with IHL’s hiring protocols. “I think the sooner that we get somebody permanent in place, the better for The W, the better for our community, the better for the students (and the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science as well.
“… Honestly, I can’t think of a better candidate based on everything we heard (in the morning listening session) and what other stakeholders feel is important in a new president,” she added. “I think Sally checks all the boxes.”
The new president will replace Nora Miller, who is retiring June 30.
Among the alumni, students, faculty and community stakeholders open to a broader search, they nearly all echoed calls for a fiscally responsible, people-oriented university advocate as the next president. Where they split was on whether that person should have ties to the university or be an “objective” candidate from outside.
“I do think (the next president) needs to be from outside the university, someone who can come in with an objective mind and think through things and not be swayed by maybe friendships or previous relationships and will do what is best for this university to carry us forward,” said Lisa Griffin, a nursing instructor at The W.
Tyler Wheat, director of communicators at The W, encouraged the board to consider a nationwide search.
“I feel like this university is strong enough to pull a candidate from somewhere across this nation,” he said. “It would be great for someone to have great involvement in the history of this university, but I don’t think we can limit that just to alumni and just to a gender.”
Burchfield-Doty did not return a request for comment by press time on Tuesday.
An emotionally-intelligent advocate
Whether external or internal, most stakeholders who spoke Tuesday agreed the university needs a president who understands the unique aspects of The W campus and community.
“I want a president to understand that our students are often nontraditional, whether that’s in age, caregiving responsibility, socioeconomic status,” said Kristi DiClemente, chair of the MUW History, Political Science and Geography Department. “So understanding the place where our students are now, I think, is really important.”
That understanding should translate into how the next president interacts with the campus community, stakeholders said.
“I do feel like whoever is going to lead this school has to not only understand that uniqueness … but have the emotional intelligence to meet all of our diverse population where they are … especially with our alums and them coming from different places,” said Cathryn Borer, MUW director of alumni relations and donor engagement.
Stakeholders agreed the next president should then be able to communicate that uniqueness when advocating for the university, particularly within the Mississippi Legislature. Some noted past challenges The W has faced including a failed merger attempt in 2024 and the now-dead effort to relocate the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science from The W campus.
“(Someone who has) experience communicating our value and our impact to policymakers, system leadership … and external partners,” said Elise Wilson, executive director for alumni and development at The W. “Also with this comes a legislative fluency that I think would be very important for our university.”
What’s next?
Using stakeholder input from the listening session and online submissions, the board will develop a candidate profile with minimum qualifications and advertise for the position. For a national search, John Sewell, IHL director of communications, said the advertising period could take six weeks.
The IHL commissioner and search committee will then review applications to determine which candidates to interview, according to the board’s bylaws. Candidates who advance past the first interview will undergo a background check and reference review before a second interview.
The board of trustees and search committee will then meet to discuss candidates and either vote to appoint one to the position or delay, suspend or extend the search.
If the board hasn’t named a president by Miller’s retirement, John Sewell, IHL director of communications, said an interim may be named.
“Generally, you’ll have (someone) kind of come in, keep the doors open, the lights on and the train on the tracks while you’re searching for that next person,” Sewell told The Dispatch after the morning session.
McRae is a general assignment and education reporter for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 39 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 39 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
