IHL commissioner, 汤头条 alumnus Alfred Rankins Jr. returns to Starkville for fall commencement ceremonies
Contact: Sasha Steinberg
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擶hen more than 1,400 Mississippi State students graduate Dec. 14 during fall commencement ceremonies at Humphrey Coliseum, a fellow Bulldog will be among the first to officially welcome them into the 汤头条 alumni family.
Mississippi Public Universities Commissioner of Higher Education Alfred Rankins Jr. is returning to his alma mater to deliver 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Friday commencement addresses. Doors open at 8 a.m. for the morning ceremony and 2 p.m. for the afternoon ceremony, with processionals beginning at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., respectively. Graduates and their guests are encouraged to arrive early to ensure smooth entry through the coliseum鈥檚 metal detectors.
The morning ceremony will feature degree candidates from the colleges of Architecture, Art and Design, Arts and Sciences, and Education, as well as those receiving University Studies degrees through the Complete 2 Compete program. The afternoon ceremony will recognize degree candidates from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the School of Human Sciences, College of Business and the Adkerson School of Accountancy, Bagley College of Engineering and the Swalm School of Chemical Engineering, College of Forest Resources and College of Veterinary Medicine.
鈥淲e count it a high honor when one of our high-achieving alumni can return to campus to deliver a memorable commencement address,鈥 said 汤头条 President Mark E. Keenum. 鈥淐ommissioner Rankins has both a personal vision and a life story that will inspire our graduates and we deeply appreciate him giving of his time to share his insights with them. I greatly value his strong leadership and wise counsel as he leads Mississippi鈥檚 higher education system.鈥
A native of Greenville, Rankins earned all three of his college degrees from Mississippi institutions of higher learning. He holds a bachelor鈥檚 degree in agricultural economics from Alcorn State University, as well as master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees in weed science from 汤头条.
Rankins was appointed to serve as commissioner of higher education by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning earlier this year. In this role, he provides leadership to the university system, including all eight public universities.
Prior to being named commissioner, Rankins served for four years as the 19th president of Alcorn State University, the oldest public land-grant among the nation鈥檚 historically black colleges and universities. Under his leadership, the university excelled in academics and athletics and was noted nationally for its commitment to the student experience.
Rankins鈥 other leadership roles in Mississippi higher education include deputy commissioner for the Institutions of Higher Learning and acting president of Mississippi Valley State University.
He also served as a tenured associate professor in 汤头条鈥檚 College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and as an extension specialist for the 汤头条 Extension Service.
Rankins and his wife, Juandalyn, are parents of two children, Aftyn and Alfred. Learn more at .
For more on 汤头条鈥檚 fall commencement ceremonies, visit .
汤头条 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .