Inauguration ceremony set for JSU’s 14th president

• Dr. Denise Jones Gregory is the first female alum president of the nearly 150-year-old institution.

Next month, Jackson State University will inaugurate its first female president who is also an alum, Dr. Denise Jones Gregory. 

Gregory, the institution’s 14th president, was officially named to the role by the Board of Trustees for the Institutions of Higher Learning in May after an extensive candidate search that included the consideration of nearly 80 people. She previously served as interim president of the 149-year-old university starting in May of 2025.

The university will reach 150 years of operation in Mississippi on October 23.

After taking over the duties in the spring, Gregory started work to modernize infrastructure across the campus through a $65 million construction and renovation project. The project includes construction of residence facilities that will add 400 more student beds and provide upgrades to buildings and utilities. 

To improve the student experience, the health center on campus has been modernized. It offers mental health, wellness, and preventative care resources to name a few. 

Gregory’s roles prior to being named interim president include serving as JSU’s provost and vice president of academic affairs.

She graduated magna cum laude from JSU in 1994 with a bachelor of science in chemistry and later went on to earn a doctorate in Chemistry from Georgia Institute of Technology. She has also graduated from several leadership programs offered at Clark Atlanta University, including the New Presidents Academy offered through the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, the Willa B. Player Executive Leaders Program and the HBCU Executive Leadership Institute Program. 

Gregory’s official inauguration will include three days of community events, including gospel music on November 29 and a comedy show the following evening.

The formal ceremony to inaugurate her as the newest JSU president is set for December 1 at 9 a.m. at the Lee E. Williams Athletics & Assembly Center. A celebration will follow that evening.