Jackson State University is embarking on creating a School of Public Health — the first of its kind in Mississippi.
The Mississippi Legislature approved $2 million this past legislative session to establish the school. Last week, the Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning authorized the school to be created at JSU.
“This is a tremendous achievement for Mississippi, and we are grateful to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives and all of our Mississippi legislators for ushering this through,” said JSU President Carolyn W. Meyers.
“The action is groundbreaking. There currently is no School of Public Health in the state of Mississippi,” Meyers said. “Not only will it solidify the Capital City as a premier health care provider for the state and region, but it will provide a national model for meeting professional health care needs.”
“Health care in Mississippi is an industry of necessity. Not only can our state benefit from more health care providers and professionals, our economy can benefit from growth in the health care sector,” Gov. Phil Bryant said. “In my Executive Budget Recommendation, I recommended that the Legislature appropriate $2 million for the JSU School of Public Health, and I am very pleased that we secured this funding. This program will be a very important part of the health care landscape in Mississippi.”
“Healthcare is one of the most important issues we deal with day to day and will drive the economy and jobs into the future,” said Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn. “Creating a School of Public Health at Jackson State University will produce students who can work in the public health arena. Representative Angela Cockerham worked closely with me to achieve the required funding and we are all proud that we got this done for our state.”
“Mississippi’s health challenges are well documented,” said Aubrey Patterson, president of the Board of Trustees. “All of our universities share the task of addressing these issues, and Jackson State University’s new School of Public Health is an excellent example of this. Through education, research and treatment, our universities are helping to improve the health and quality of life of all Mississippians.”
Creating a School of Public Health was identified in the Jake Ayers settlement as a program to be established at Jackson State.
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