JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Days after commencement ceremonies were held at Jackson State University (JSU), President Dr. Marcus Thompson submitted his resignation to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL).

The IHL will now be closely watched as alumni and fans of the university have grown weary of the past presidential choices that end with resignations.

Thompson was appointed to his position by the IHL instead of being chosen by a national search. He follows in the footsteps of Thomas Hudson, who also resigned in 2023.

The IHL Board held an executive session and revealed the reason was due to a personnel matter regarding a job performance of a person holding a specific position at JSU, alongside a potential lawsuit.

The rollercoaster of leadership changes at JSU has eyes of more than just the alumni tuning in.

“This is the third consecutive president at Jackson State that has resigned long before they have been there very long. Jackson State needs consistency. They need quality leadership. And I think that the IHL Board and the IHL commissioner owe the taxpayers an explanation as to why they’ve gotten it so wrong at Jackson State. And so, I’m hopeful to have an open, transparent process going forward,” said Gov. Tate Reeves (R-Miss.).

“Maybe our voice should be louder to the IHL Board to say, ‘Hey, we appreciate the process that you go through, but we want to make sure that we don’t have a stoppage in what we’re doing moving forward.’ And this breaks the momentum every time,” said a former JSU student.

The IHL named Dr. Denise Jones Gregory, provost and vice president of academic affairs, as interim president.