BARKSDALE DONATES MILLIONS TO JSU AND MISSISSIPPI LEARNING INSTITUTE
(JACKSON, Miss.) - James Barksdale, former president and chief executive officer of Netscape Corp., will join Jackson State University President Ronald Mason Jr. at 10:30 a.m., today, Wednesday, August 10 to announce the largest private donor contribution in the university's history.
In honor of the generosity, Jackson State will name a new Educational Resource Center for Barksdale's late wife and former member of the JSU Development Foundation Board, Sally McDonnell Barksdale.
"Mr. Barksdale's contribution exemplifies the type of commitment necessary to positively impact the lives of children and the people of this community," said Mason. "This kind deed greatly strengthens Jackson State's efforts to build a better Mississippi."
Barksdale, who pledges $5 million over a five-year period, said he and his wife shared a strong commitment to invest in education as "the vehicle to improve economic and social conditions in our home state."
The Sally McDonnell Barksdale Educational Resource Center will house the Mississippi Learning Institute which oversees the JSU Region of America Reads Mississippi, the Rod Paige Reading Room, and several innovative educational initiatives that will serve the Jackson State community.
Since its inception in 2002, MLI has experienced tremendous success. An initiative between Jackson State University, the Department of Education and Jackson Public Schools, two Level 3 JPS elementary schools increased test scores to levels 4 and 5 - the second highest and highest rankings.
“The MLI is a great adventure for our school district and our state,” said Dr. Earl Watkins, superintendent of Jackson Public Schools. “This collaboration marks the first time that a university, a school district, and the Mississippi Department of education have worked together to have a major impact on the process of learning for k-20 students, and for administrators from every facet of the learning process. With the added impact of the Barksdale Foundation and their wealth of knowledge, the MLI will have the opportunity to increase learning in Mississippi exponentially now, and for years to come.
Scheduled to join Mason, Barksdale and Watkins are Dr. Hank Bounds, superintendent of the Mississippi Department of Education and Dr. Monique Guillory, director of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Educational Resource Center.
For more information or to make special arrangements to cover the event, call Tommiea Jackson at 601-979-2950.
