Ross passes gavel to Robinson

Scott Ross, president of the Board of Trustees of the State Institutions of Higher Learning, has passed the gavel to incoming president Dr. Bettye Neely. Neely will officially take the seat May 8.

Trustee Robin Robinson will serve as vice president.

Neely was appointed by Gov. Ronnie Musgrove in June 2000 to represent the former Fourth Congressional District. She served as vice president during Ross’ term.

Ross was also appointed by Musgrove. He joined the board in May 2000 and represents the Third Supreme Court District.

Neely holds four degrees from Mississippi’s public four-year institutions including a bachelor of science in English from Mississippi Valley State University, a master of science in elementary education from Jackson State University, an education specialist in administration and supervision from Delta State University and a doctor of philosophy in curriculum and instruction from Mississippi State University.

Neely, whose term expires in May 2012, is currently the assistant superintendent of district testing and federal programs in the Grenada School District. She and her husband, Calvin, reside in Grenada. Their daughter Shundreia lives in Georgia, where she is a district instructional specialist.

Ross, whose term expires in May 2012, holds a bachelor of arts degree in political science from Mississippi State University and a juris doctorate degree from the University of Mississippi.

From 1984-1992, Ross served in the Mississippi House of Representatives, including nine years of service on the House Universities and Colleges Committee. He formerly served several years as a trustee and adjunct professor for Mary Holmes College, and as a state and local politics specialist for the John C. Stennis Institute of Government at Mississippi State University.

Ross and his wife, Donna, reside in West Point. They have two children, Katherine and Stephen.