Fort Valley State University News May 2, 2012 Admired FVSU Administrator Retires Dr. Joyce Jenkins, chair of the Department of English and Foreign Languages, is saying farewell to Fort Valley State University after 26 years of service. The warm, compassionate and engaging administrator, who worked to ensure her students' and colleagues' success, is retiring this month, to accept a position as vice president of academic affairs at Arkansas Baptist College. "Dr. Joyce Jenkins is the primary reason I built a career at FVSU," said Dr. Keith Murphy, interim dean for the College of Arts and Sciences. "She is a wonderful colleague, who took the time to act as a mentor for me early in my career as a professor. She has been responsive to my needs as a professional and as a person and has gently pushed me to work to take my students to the highest of standards and to take my career to ever higher plateaus. She has been the ideal mentor, department chair, colleague and friend." Jenkins began her undergraduate studies at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), where she received a National Science Foundation biology stipend to enter college. The Mississippi native was among other African-Americans to integrate the university. Although the seasoned administrator excelled academically in her undergraduate courses, she faced racism from her instructors. "Our professors had very closed minds regarding the intellectual skills of Blacks," Jenkins said. "They were not reluctant to tell you that if you were black and female, that you didn't belong in business, so why don't you enter education and become a teacher." In addition to her accounting courses, Jenkins studied English. Her performance in an Honors British Literature Class as a sophomore convinced Jenkins to switch majors by her junior year. Later, the professor went on to earn a doctoral degree in English from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Before joining the FVSU family, Jenkins worked at Alcorn State University in Mississippi as the department head of English and Foreign Languages, from 1981 to 1986. In 1986, the administrator learned about Fort Valley State College. She was attending a meeting in Atlanta, when her cousin, Dr. Carl Washington, who once served as Fort Valley State's director of testing, brought her to campus for a visit. She immediately liked the campus. The chair's position in the Department of Languages was open at the time. Jenkins applied and was hired. "My favorite part of working here at Fort Valley State was to see the success stories of students," said Jenkins. "I enjoyed seeing students who were not considered at the top, academically, but nevertheless talented, have an epiphany, and realize that they could succeed." Jenkins' favorite students were nontraditional adults who returned to school, sometimes with their children, to earn their college degree. Equally rewarding was her role as advisor for the Christian Fellowship Society. Jenkins also served as the host for the television programs, "In the Know" and "Assignment: Peach County Schools" that aired over the local cable access channel WFVS 21 and by Cox Communications in Byron, Macon and Warner Robins. During her time on campus, Jenkins helped establish the Faculty Center for Improving Instruction and Leadership. The leader also served on the HBCU Faculty Development Network, and the University System of Georgia's Academic Committee on English (ACE) testing sub-Committee. She was elected ACE chair twice by fellow USG English department heads. Jenkins is primarily making the move to be closer to her family and friends, following the loss of her parents in December 2011 and January 2012. Many say they will miss her presence on campus. "While all members of the FVSU family will miss Dr. Jenkins following her retirement, the legacy of her years of inspired service to our students and university will remain," said Dr. Larry E. Rivers, FVSU president. "She has given of her immense talents and her time to change young lives, to build up this historic institution of higher learning, and to instill in others a dedication to truly effective teaching." "Dr. Jenkins' presence in the Department of English and Foreign Languages and her impact within the FVSU community at large will be greatly missed," said Dr. Berlethia Pitts, an FVSU assistant professor of English. " Over the course of 26 years, she has mentored numerous students and junior faculty, such as myself. She has taught and led by example. I am forever grateful for her investment in me and trust of me. I pray that God will continue to surround her with His peace and love as He prepares her for greater opportunities." Jenkins says she'll miss her colleagues and friends, especially her cousin, Romelda Simmons, Career and Alumni Services director. 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 Street 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.