By: Cathy Hayden, HCC Director of Publications
Itawamba Community College President Dr. Jay Allen of Fulton will be recognized as Hinds Community College Alumnus of the Year at annual Homecoming festivities on Oct. 24.
A graduate of Jackson’s Wingfield High School and a former Raymond resident, Dr. Allen is a 1991 Hinds alumnus and employee from 1995 to 2011. At Hinds, Dr. Allen served many roles, leaving as Dean of Enrollment Services and sponsor of the Hinds Connection student recruiting group and leaving a legacy of innovative practices.
For his many accomplishments not only at Hinds but in the field of community college education, Dr. Allen has been named Hinds Community College’s 2024 Alumnus of the Year.
“Dr. Allen has been an outstanding representative of the Hinds family for more than 35 years. He has distinguished himself as a leader in higher education while working to better the lives of his fellow Mississippians,” said Hinds Community College Foundation Executive Director Matt Jones.
“As a student at Hinds, he was involved in every aspect of college life, and as an employee, he continued to move the college forward in various roles over 17 years at Hinds. Today, he continues to represent his Hinds roots well serving as president at Itawamba CC,” Jones said.
Dr. Allen came to Hinds in 1989, graduating in 1991. His high school counselor encouraged him to try out for Hinds Connection.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1993 and master’s in 1995, both from Mississippi State University, returning to Hinds in 1995 as Enrollment Manager. Later, he earned a doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Mississippi in 2009.
“I knew if I were going to work in recruiting, I needed to be at a place I loved, and I definitely felt a calling to be in the community college environment that had made such an impact on my life. The idea of going back to work at Hinds was massively appealing,” he said.
In July 2001, Director of Admissions and Records was added to his responsibilities and then he was promoted to Dean of Enrollment Services in 2003.
“He took our recruiting efforts to another level. He built his own recruiting database and developed a systematic and organized plan for staying in contact with potential students both by mail and phone,” said Vice President Emeritus Jackie Granberry.
“There have been many people whose lives have been changed because of Hinds Community College. One of those is Jay’s. Not only did Hinds change Jay’s life, but his influence on Hinds is still evident today – 30-plus years later.”
As a sponsor for Hinds Connection, he also worked many college events ranging from Alumni Award Dinners to the annual Golf Fun Fest.
“Hinds always gave me new challenges and the opportunity to build a tremendous résumé by simply saying ‘yes’ to opportunities that arose,” Dr. Allen said.
Dr. Allen left Hinds in 2011, becoming vice president at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College for three years and then president and CEO of Hopkinsville Community College in Hopkinsville, Ky., for three years before returning to Mississippi as President of Itawamba Community College.
“I know without a doubt God placed me at Hinds with a great group of leaders at all levels to prepare me for what I do today as a community college president,” Dr. Allen said.
“My passion for students and my drive to inspire our leaders to make our college better than we were yesterday all started at Hinds, both as a student and a young employee. I know I was blessed, and I hope I left some positive impacts at Hinds that will stand the test of time.”
Hinds Community College will honor three Alumni award winners and five Sports Hall of Fame inductees at the annual Homecoming festivities.
Public activities begin on Tuesday, Oct. 22 with the 50+ reunion and luncheon at 10 a.m. The reunion, at Fountain Hall on the Raymond Campus, honors the class of 1974 and all prior high school and college classes.
The Alumni recognition event is at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24 at Cain-Cochran Hall on the Raymond Campus. The event honors Alumnus of the Year Dr. Jay Allen of Fulton, formerly of Raymond, Young Alumnus of the Year Landon Corkren of Jonesboro, Ark., formerly of Raymond, and Alumni Service Award recipient Vermeer MidSouth in Richland.
Also being honored are the 2024 Sports Hall of Fame Inductees Kelli East Dyess of Madison, Nic Henderson of New Orleans, Dot Easterwood Murphy of Raymond, Michael Myers of Oak Point, Texas, and Mark Smith of Madison.
The Homecoming game against Pearl River Community College will be played at 7 p.m. at Gene Murphy Field at Joe Renfroe Stadium on the Raymond Campus. The Homecoming Court and the award recipients will be presented. Performances include the Hinds Marching Band, Colorguard and Hi-Steppers with special performances by alumni from the Hi-Steppers, band and Colorguard.
To learn more, visit www.hindscc.edu or call 1.800.HindsCC.