Jackson, Miss.—The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning today named Dr. Tracy M. Cook as 21st president of Alcorn State University. Cook has served as interim president of the university since July 8, 2023. He will assume the role as president on April 1, 2024.

“This decision was made in the long-term best interests of Alcorn State University and its students, faculty, staff, and alumni,” said Dr. Alfred McNair, president of the Board of Trustees. “There was an obvious desire and call from the Alcorn family for Dr. Cook to be named to this role, and we are putting our full faith and confidence behind this decision. He is the right person to lead Alcorn State University.”

A native of Fayette, Mississippi, Cook earned undergraduate and graduate degrees at Alcorn, and then earned his doctorate at William Carey University. His time as an athlete at Alcorn has been recognized with his induction in the Alcorn Sports Hall of Fame, his selection as one of the university’s Top 50 Greatest Football Athletes, and the 2023 presentation of the Southwestern Athletic Conference Alumni Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

He has more than 25 years of administrative experience in education, having served in the Jefferson and Claiborne County School Districts as a teacher, athletic director, principal, and superintendent. He returned to his alma mater as chief of staff in 2015, and then stepped into the role of vice president for student affairs and enrollment management.

“I am honored to have the trust and support of the Board of Trustees, and excited to officially lead a university that has meant so much to me personally and professionally,” Cook said. “We have a bright future ahead of us and I am committed to leading us all toward new levels of success.”

The decision to remove the interim label from Cook’s title was applauded by Dr. Al Rankins Jr., commissioner of the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning.

“At this juncture in Alcorn’s history, Dr. Cook is the right choice to lead the university to greater prominence,” said Rankins. “I understand and appreciate the work that lies ahead for him. Alcorn State University is fortunate to have him at the helm.”

The choice to name Cook as president was welcomed by members of the Alcorn family.

“In my dealings with Dr. Cook, I found him to be a sincere, caring, and dedicated individual whose word is his bond,” said Col. James C. Stubbs (U.S. Army Retired), past president of the Alcorn State National Alumni Association. “I believe Dr. Cook possesses the necessary skill sets, professionalism and character to serve as president of Alcorn State. He is a welcome addition to the list of great presidents who have served Alcorn and worked to ensure it continues as an institution dedicated to the development of young minds throughout the United States and the world.”

Carla Cleveland Kirkland is a 1986 graduate of Alcorn State and serves as vice-chair of the Alcorn State University Foundation Board.

“As a member of the Alcorn Foundation Board and a fellow educator, I am elated to hear that Dr. Cook has been named president of Alcorn,” Kirkland said. “He has a wealth of experience that has prepared him for this role. I believe he will work to bring innovation to the university so our students will encounter the excellence needed for them to be successful in their future endeavors.”

The Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning 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.