Keenum draws support as next Miss. State's boss

BY ANDY KANENGISER


Daily Journal


STARKVILLE - Some Mississippi State University supporters are openly pushing Mark Keenum, chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran, to return home to lead his alma mater.


Keenum is "an outstanding individual. He would be a great candidate and serve the university well if chosen," said former Tupelo Mayor Larry Otis, a 1960 MSU graduate. "He would bring a great skill set to the university particularly to the fundraising side. He represents the senator well."





Early speculation


The speculation game began early, just hours after MSU President Charles Lee, 67, announced his retirement Monday. Lee, who served a year as interim president before taking the permanent job in 2003, will step down at the end of the academic year in May.


Keenum's name was getting plugged by many in the MSU family.


"He's got the Washington experience and the research and development experience, plus an academic career,'' said MSU political scientist Marty Wiseman, a Keenum supporter. "He knows the halls of Congress and federal agencies well.''


Added Wiseman, an MSU alumnus and head of the Stennis Institute of Government: "There is a huge groundswell of support for Dr. Keenum.''


Keenum, 44, and his wife, Rhonda, who works on the White House staff and is an aide to President Bush's adviser, Karl Rove, are "two prominent State alumni with a new batch of triplets,'' Wiseman said.


A Corinth native, State graduate and former MSU agricultural economics professor, Keenum said in a statement he was "honord to have been mentioned as a possible candidate for the presidency of MSU."


"Dr. Lee has done an outstanding job during his tenure and certainly will be missed," he said. "As an alumnus, I share Dr. Lee's desire that his replacement be a leader of the quality that the university and state deserve.''


Keenum said his immediate plans are to continue to assist Cochran and help with Mississippi's Hurricane Katrina recovery.





Other prospects


State College Board member and West Point Mayor Scott Ross said it would be inappropriate for him to comment on Keenum or other potential prospects.


Ross, who serves on the board's new presidential search committee, said the university should hire a leader who can raise money and deal with a broad array of constituents.


"MSU needs a good, strong aggressive person who's got skills, not just inside, but outside the university,'' said Ross, an MSU graduate. "The president spends so much time on external matters, dealing with government, alumni, fundraising and things like that.''


The board committee is headed by MSU alumnus Ed Blakeslee of Gulfport and includes board member Roy Klumb, a State graduate also from Gulfport.





Other potential candidates


But Commissioner of Higher Education Tom Meredith, who began his duties in Jackson in October, is expected to play a significant role. It's his first search as commissioner of Mississippi's eight university system.


Under a recent board policy change, university presidents now report to the commissioner. A panel of MSU supporters is expected to assist with the national search. A consultant may be hired, too.


Keenum was a prospect for the job last time. The board suspended the search after MSU supporters were divided and unable to reach a consensus on a candidate, Ross said.


After Lee served as interim president, the board selected him for the job with influential Mississippi lawmakers, including Sen. Jack Gordon, D-Okolona, and Rep. Steve Holland, D-Plantersville, lobbying for him.


Others being mentioned for the post: MSU professor Marty Fuller, director of federal relations on the Starkville campus; Robert Altenkirch, former MSU engineering dean who is president of the New Jersey Institute of Technology; Millsaps College President Frances Lucas, an MSU graduate and daughter of retired University of Southern Mississippi President Aubrey Lucas. Also: Jim Newsom, a State graduate and president of the New York Merchantile Exchange.


Fuller, 47, a 1980 MSU graduate and Ripley native, said he's honored to be mentioned. "It would obviously be an honor to do that and serve in that capacity.''


Fuller is former associate director of the Mississippi agricultural experiment stations. "Hopefully, they will find a consensus (candidate) this time and move forward,'' said the 1976 Starkville High graduate.