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Alcorn leader finalist to head Md. school
College Board may face fifth search in just two years
By Andy Kanengiser
akanengiser@clarionledger.com
The state College Board could soon begin seeking its fifth university president over a two-year stretch.
That would be the case if Towson University in Maryland selects Alcorn State University President Clinton Bristow Jr. as its new leader.
College Board members said Friday Bristow is a finalist for the presidency at the 16,000-student university near Baltimore and will travel to face campus interviews next week.
Bristow has led 3,000-student Alcorn since 1995.
"We'd hate to lose Dr. Bristow. He's done a fine job at Alcorn,'' said board President Bryce Griffis of Starkville, who confirmed Bristow's candidacy for the Towson post.
Bristow did not return phone messages Friday.
Bristow is among three finalists, Griffis said. Towson's Web site said officials are conducting background checks on five potential finalists, but it doesn't reveal their names.
Founded in 1866, Towson is the second largest university in Maryland. Located on a 328-acre campus in the suburban community of Towson, the school is eight miles north of Baltimore and 45 miles from Washington, D.C.
Mississippi's board is currently seeking a president at Delta State University to succeed David Potter, Mississippi's incoming higher education commissioner.
Earlier this year, the board named a new president, Charles Lee, at Mississippi State University and last year selected new leaders at Mississippi University for Women (Claudia Limbert) and the University of Southern Mississippi (Shelby Thames).
"We'd hate to get into (another search)," Griffis said.
The board last month gave Bristow a new four-year contract at $175,000 annually. But the contract would be canceled if he leaves.
Griffis said he expects Bristow would receive a nice pay raise should be get the No. 1 job at Towson to succeed former President Mark L. Perkins, who resigned effective April 2002. The salary for the post was unavailable Friday.
During his seven years at Alcorn, Bristow "done a good job attracting high-quality students in the math and science area," said board member Ricki Garrett of Clinton. "I hope he will continue to be a good president at Alcorn.''
One of Bristow's greatest achievements, Garrett said, is linking 126-year-old Alcorn to its Natchez campus and other communities in southwest Mississippi.
A former business dean at Chicago State University in Illinois, Bristow received undergraduate and law degrees from Northwestern University. He succeeded the late Walter Washington, who led the historically black university for 25 years.
Two years ago, some irate Alcorn alumni were calling for Bristow's ouster following the Braves' 0-11 football season, its worst in history. But "that subsided,'' Griffis said, after the team responded with a 6-5 record the following season.
"For the work he's doing here, he was destined to move to a larger school,'' said Dave Whitney, head coach of the Alcorn men's basketball team for 30 years. "He's done a lot of things to beautify the campus and the curriculum has improved and expanded. He's a very personable fellow, and very articulate. He's a well-rounded individual.''
At the Demby Men's Tower on the Lorman campus, residence director Larry King said, "I hope he (Bristow) can stay. He does a lot for the students.'"
College Board may face fifth search in just two years
By Andy Kanengiser
akanengiser@clarionledger.com
The state College Board could soon begin seeking its fifth university president over a two-year stretch.
That would be the case if Towson University in Maryland selects Alcorn State University President Clinton Bristow Jr. as its new leader.
College Board members said Friday Bristow is a finalist for the presidency at the 16,000-student university near Baltimore and will travel to face campus interviews next week.
Bristow has led 3,000-student Alcorn since 1995.
"We'd hate to lose Dr. Bristow. He's done a fine job at Alcorn,'' said board President Bryce Griffis of Starkville, who confirmed Bristow's candidacy for the Towson post.
Bristow did not return phone messages Friday.
Bristow is among three finalists, Griffis said. Towson's Web site said officials are conducting background checks on five potential finalists, but it doesn't reveal their names.
Founded in 1866, Towson is the second largest university in Maryland. Located on a 328-acre campus in the suburban community of Towson, the school is eight miles north of Baltimore and 45 miles from Washington, D.C.
Mississippi's board is currently seeking a president at Delta State University to succeed David Potter, Mississippi's incoming higher education commissioner.
Earlier this year, the board named a new president, Charles Lee, at Mississippi State University and last year selected new leaders at Mississippi University for Women (Claudia Limbert) and the University of Southern Mississippi (Shelby Thames).
"We'd hate to get into (another search)," Griffis said.
The board last month gave Bristow a new four-year contract at $175,000 annually. But the contract would be canceled if he leaves.
Griffis said he expects Bristow would receive a nice pay raise should be get the No. 1 job at Towson to succeed former President Mark L. Perkins, who resigned effective April 2002. The salary for the post was unavailable Friday.
During his seven years at Alcorn, Bristow "done a good job attracting high-quality students in the math and science area," said board member Ricki Garrett of Clinton. "I hope he will continue to be a good president at Alcorn.''
One of Bristow's greatest achievements, Garrett said, is linking 126-year-old Alcorn to its Natchez campus and other communities in southwest Mississippi.
A former business dean at Chicago State University in Illinois, Bristow received undergraduate and law degrees from Northwestern University. He succeeded the late Walter Washington, who led the historically black university for 25 years.
Two years ago, some irate Alcorn alumni were calling for Bristow's ouster following the Braves' 0-11 football season, its worst in history. But "that subsided,'' Griffis said, after the team responded with a 6-5 record the following season.
"For the work he's doing here, he was destined to move to a larger school,'' said Dave Whitney, head coach of the Alcorn men's basketball team for 30 years. "He's done a lot of things to beautify the campus and the curriculum has improved and expanded. He's a very personable fellow, and very articulate. He's a well-rounded individual.''
At the Demby Men's Tower on the Lorman campus, residence director Larry King said, "I hope he (Bristow) can stay. He does a lot for the students.'"
