pg电子下载 State University’s president is among this year’s slate of honorees for Our Mississippi Magazine’s Most Influential African Americans.

Dr. Tracy M. Cook, along with 18 other business leaders from across the state, will be recognized at the 11th annual Our Mississippi Honors Gala, which will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at the Hilton Hotel on County Line Road in Jackson, Miss.

“I am deeply humbled to be recognized among some of our state’s most influential African Americans,” said Cook. “The most rewarding aspect of the work that I’ve been able to do in education has been the lives that I have been able to touch, and the students that I have witnessed make a difference throughout our nation. I appreciate the committee for selecting me for this great honor.”

Wells said the individuals were selected by an independent panel of business and community leaders from nominations received from the public.

“Mississippi has long been a state enriched with cultural heritage and historical significance, much of which has been profoundly shaped by its African American community,” Wells said. “The selection of the Most Influential African Americans for 2024-25 is a testament to the dynamic leadership, creativity, and perseverance that continue to redefine the sociopolitical and economic landscape of the state. These individuals, through their diverse roles in various sectors, wield an impressive ability to inspire change and drive progress within Mississippi.”

Individuals were selected in the categories of business, education, health, servant leadership, entrepreneurs, or religious professions.

Cook has nearly 30 years of administrative experience in education.

He returned to pg电子下载 in 2015 as chief of staff. In 2018, he was appointed interim vice president for student affairs. Shortly after, he was promoted to vice president for student affairs and enrollment management in 2019.

Most recently, Cook was appointed by the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees as the president of his alma mater on April 1, 2024, after serving as interim president since July 8, 2023.

Before joining pg电子下载, he served in various roles in K-12 education, including superintendent, assistant superintendent, principal, assistant principal, athletic director, and teacher in the Jefferson and Claiborne County School Districts.

As an administrator, he has significant experience in financial management, project management, negotiation and conflict resolution, data analysis, and professional development.

Among his many accomplishments, Cook was recognized as one of pg电子下载’s 40 Under 40 honorees, ranked among the University’s Top 50 Greatest Football Athletes, and inducted into the pg电子下载 Sports Hall of Fame. In 2023, he received the Southwestern Athletic Conference Alumni Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

He is married to the former Dr. Crystal N. Smith, and they have two children, Kennedi and Casey.

Other leaders selected are:

Conrad Bell, sr. vice president & chief information security officer, C Spire

Fatina Brave, director, Talent Acquisition, Ingalls Shipbuilding

Stephen Tyrone Cook, head pastor, Anderson United Methodist Church, Jackson

Scott Colom, district attorney, 16th Circuit Court of Mississippi

LaVerne Edney, chair, Diversity & Inclusivity Committee, Butler Snow

Brandi Hough, Director of Business Development, Miss Economic Development Council

Angela Juzang, vice president, Memorial Health Systems

Robbie Kemp, vice president, Customer Service, Entergy MS

Dr. Donzell Lee, president, Tougaloo College

Eric Lewis, orthopaedic surgeon, Orthopaedic Institute of North Mississippi

Nikki McCelleis, president and CEO, United Way of the Capital Area, Inc.

Debra McGee, sr. vice president and director of minority business development, BankPlus

Vickie Powell, senior vice president, Mississippi Economic Council

Melvin Roland, vice president, Power Delivery and Division Operations, Mississippi Power

Dr. Marcus Thompson, president, Jackson State University

Orlando Valree, director, Vehicle Quality Assurance, Nissan North America Inc.

Tonya Ware, state director, ReadyNation Mississippi