WILBERFORCE — Jack Thomas, Ph.D., began his tenure Wednesday as the ninth president of Central State University.
A native of Lowndes County, Alabama, Thomas holds a doctorate in English from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a master’s of English Education from Virginia State University, and a bachelor’s of English from Alabama A&M University.
Thomas was president of Western Illinois University for nearly a decade. Prior to WIU, Thomas had a 20-year career where he emerged as a nationally and internationally recognized leader in higher education administration with extensive senior-level management experience from department chair, dean and provost to the presidency.
His influence on the academic community extends to his service on several local and national boards. He serves on the board of the Marguerite Casey Foundation, the Seattle, Washington, grant making entity that exists, according to its website, “to help low-income families strengthen their voice and mobilize their communities in order to achieve a more just and equitable society for all.”
Thomas, in a video posted Wednesday to the CSU community, said, “Rest assured, I am committed to maintaining the high-quality education and the family environment for which Central State University is known.”
He also pledged to immediately host a series of dialogues with students, faculty, staff, alumni and community stakeholders to gain insight, he said, and to share his initial plans.
Thomas said he looks forward to building on the tradition and legacy of CSU. Some of the priorities he said will guide his tenure include increasing enrollment (globally and in diversity), improving retention and graduation rates, developing a marketing and rebranding campaign, launching a multi-million-dollar capital campaign, developing an honors college to recruit high-achieving students and increasing degree offerings, graduate studies and flexibility in course delivery.
“My wife, Dr. Linda Thomas, and I are eager to get to know all of the wonderful people in the CSU family as we begin this new journey,” he said.
The board named Thomas president on Feb. 7.
He succeeds Cynthia Jackson-Hammond, Ph.D., who finished her tenure Tuesday. She led CSU for eight years.
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