Hinds Community College News July 3, 2012 Governor awards state excellence honor to Hinds CC president Hinds Community College President Dr. Clyde Muse was presented the inaugural Excellence in Government Award in Local and District Government by Gov. Phil Bryant on July 3 at the governor's office in the Walter Sillers Building in Jackson. Bryant also presented the Excellence in State Government Award to Trudy Fisher and Terri Torrence on behalf of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. Selected for his impact on Hinds Community College, as well as his impact on the Mississippi community college system, Muse was recognized for his innovative approach to providing affordable and accessible education, including his public/private partnership with the Army National Guard; his local county/college partnership with Rankin County; and his public school/community college partnership with the Gateway to College National Network, which will be launched in Fall 2012. Muse has been president of Hinds since 1978. Bryant was a Hinds Community College student, receiving an associate degree in criminal science in 1975. His wife Deborah received a degree from Hinds in 1974 in medical records coding. "I tell people I got a wife and an education from Hinds Community College, and they have both made all the difference in my life," Bryant said. The governor, who took office in January 2012, said he has known Muse "all of my adult life." "He has changed the lives of many of us blue collar kids who thought we just couldn't afford or weren't prepared for an education. And somehow, through his great work with Hinds Community College, he has encouraged thousands of young men and women that perhaps would not have otherwise even tried or attempted to go on to higher education," Bryant said. "He has meant so much to the community college effort." Muse has been chairman of the Mississippi Association for Community and Junior Colleges legislative committee for many years, working tirelessly with lawmakers to secure funding for the 15 college system. "When I was lieutenant governor someone would step in and say 'Dr. Muse is here to see you,' and I would stop whatever I was doing and say, 'Please have him come in,' because he has meant so much to all of us," Bryant said. "Dr. Muse has shown me through his example that the most important thing that we have are the people that work with us - people that work for the community colleges and the state of Mississippi. I know that he has done all that he can to recognize the good people of Hinds Community College." Muse's colleagues among the 15 college presidents praised his leadership. "I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this honor," said Scott Elliott, president of Meridian Community College and president of the Mississippi Association for Community and Junior Colleges. "Dr. Muse is nothing less than an icon in the annals of public education in Mississippi. The positive effects of his leadership far transcend Hinds Community College and, indeed, encompass our entire state at every level of public service," Elliott said. "He is the consummate leader, a man of impeccable character blessed with great wisdom and compassion for his fellow man. He has been an inspiration to me personally. When I see Clyde Muse, I see the me I would like to be." William Lewis, president of Pearl River Community College, echoed Bryant's words. "Clyde Muse's long tenure as an educational leader in our state has made a difference in the lives of thousands upon thousands of Mississippians," Lewis said. "He has provided a helping hand to legions of students whose life circumstances would not have otherwise afforded them the opportunity for success through higher education. His passion for excellence and his exceptional innate leadership skills have been a driving force in making Mississippi's community college system a national model in higher education." The Mississippi State Personnel Board was authorized by the Mississippi Legislature to establish the Excellence in Government Awards program to encourage the development of innovative systems of public administration. Mississippi has more than 92,000 state employees. Deanne Mosley, Personnel Board executive director, said Muse spoke recently at a training program graduation. "He inspired a lot more people that day to follow in his example and to do public service for the true reasons that we do it, and that's to serve the people of the state of Mississippi," she said. The Personnel Board news release can be found at: http://www.mspb.ms.gov/news/2012-excellence-in-government-awards.aspx SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-520-0593 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/2012meeting-form.html for the October 21-23, 2012 HBCU Library Alliance 5th Membership Meeting and the Photographic Preservation Pre-Conference in New Orleans, LA. The Pre-Conference and Membership meeting are open to directors and other librarians.