New funding. Rich legacy. Ongoing student greatness. Alcorn State University is fast becoming a premier institution with student-centered approaches propelling excellence in academics, athletics, and extra-curriculars. Keep your eyes on this one.
Alcorn State University is celebrating 150 years of student-centered learning and excellence, thriving against all odds and becoming a university to watch. Recently ranked in the Top 25 of all Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Alcorn is the first public land-grant university in the United States and the second oldest public institution of higher learning in Mississippi. Founded in the smoldering embers of the Civil War, Alcorn’s history is a colorful tapestry adorned with distinguished alumni such as civil rights leaders Medgar and Myrlie Evers, football star Steve McNair, and author Alex Haley.
Led by their 20th and first female president, Dr. Felecia M. Nave, Alcorn educates future leaders in fields like education, nursing, agriculture, and STEM while dominating the football field and the basketball court – daring students and alumni to be their greatest selves.
Dr. Nave is a grounded and collaborative leader, who is committed to planning and resource alignment, shared governance, a student-centered approach, along with a commitment to the professional development of the campus community. From attending Alcorn football games to advocating for upgrades in infrastructure, Dr. Nave works relentlessly to create a positive campus experience for all students.
“For 150 years, Alcornites have figured out how to excel and defy odds while remaining humble and supportive of one another. We have learned how to bring people along, ensuring our success is a shared success, and how to choose courage for the sake of impact, even when courage means we aren’t taking the easy route.”
Felecia M. Nave, Ph.D., PRESIDENT
Excellence In the Classroom . . .
Students learn from diverse and compassionate professors who help guide them through exploring majors, selecting courses, and meeting career goals. With five degree-granting schools and nearly 50 top programs on three campuses, the university offers a wide variety of academic tracks, whether you envision yourself in scrubs by a bedside, in coveralls tilling fields, or in a suit around a conference table.
The national rankings speak for themselves and demonstrate that a quality education doesn’t need to carry a luxury price tag. The school boasts the #1 nursing program among HBCUs, the #1 most affordable online biology graduate degree, and ranks at #35 of all public schools in the South while continuing to add degree programs such as a Doctor in Nursing Practice program.
. . . and Outside of the classroom
With top programs in nursing, music, STEM, education, agriculture, and the liberal arts, Alcorn has partnered with industry leaders for experience beyond the classroom. For the past four years, food industry giant Cargill has granted scholarships, provided mentorship, and employed student interns; multinational tech corporation IBM granted two million dollars for students attending the IBM Skills Academy; and their Center for Conservation Research is a USDA research location where students get their hands dirty combating soil erosion or making breakthroughs in organic blueberry research.
Further, Alcorn is also a Division I NCAA school whose demonstrated athletic excellence has taught universities across the United States to #fearthebrave. The football team has won an impressive 17 conference championships since the school’s founding. Athletic spirit is high, whether running, scoring, cheering from the sidelines, or even playing in the 200-strong Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite Marching Band, featuring the Golden Girls. Other students get involved in 85 extracurricular organizations like the student-run television and radio stations. Inside and outside the classroom, Alcorn State University is encouraging students to achieve their greatest potential. With a recent financial gift of $25 million from philanthropist Mackenzie Scott coupled with its history of student-centered growth, the school is well-positioned to launch into the future.
Company: Alcorn State University
Industry: Higher Education
Campuses: Lorman, Natchez, and Vicksburg in Mississippi
Grants: Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott gifted $25 million
Athletics: 15 NCAA Division I varsity teams
Programs: Five degree-granting schools, offering nearly 50 top-degree programs
alcorn.edu
