Mississippi Valley State University

Mississippi Valley State University
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Name	Mississippi Valley State University
Established	1950
Type	Public
Location	Itta Bena, Mississippi, United States

Mississippi Valley State University is a public university located in Itta Bena, Mississippi, and is part of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. The university was established in 1950 and has a strong connection to the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The university is also a member of the American Council on Education and the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The university's founding is closely tied to the efforts of Medgar Evers, Martin Luther King Jr., and Rosa Parks, who fought for Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965.

● History

The history of the university dates back to 1950, when it was founded as the Mississippi Vocational College. The college was established to provide educational opportunities to African Americans in the Mississippi Delta region, with the support of United States Department of Education and National Science Foundation. Over the years, the college underwent several name changes, becoming Mississippi Valley State College in 1964 and finally Mississippi Valley State University in 1974, with the help of Congress of Racial Equality and Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. The university has a strong connection to the Civil Rights Movement, with notable figures such as Fannie Lou Hamer, Stokely Carmichael, and Andrew Young having ties to the institution, as well as Southern Christian Leadership Conference and National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

● Academics

The university offers a range of academic programs, including degrees in Business Administration, Education, Engineering, and Health Sciences, accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. The university is also home to the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Professional Studies, and College of Graduate Studies, with partnerships with Harvard University, Stanford University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The university has a strong focus on STEM education, with programs in Computer Science, Mathematics, and Biology, supported by National Institutes of Health and National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The university is also a member of the Association of American Colleges and Universities and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, with collaborations with University of California, Berkeley, University of Michigan, and Columbia University.

● Campus

The university's campus is located in Itta Bena, Mississippi, and covers an area of over 450 acres, with buildings such as the Harrison Complex, Sillers Coliseum, and Ratliff Stadium, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and I.M. Pei. The campus is also home to the Mississippi Valley State University Art Gallery, which features works by Romare Bearden, Jacob Lawrence, and Faith Ringgold, as well as Mississippi Museum of Art and National Gallery of Art. The university has a strong commitment to Sustainability, with initiatives such as Renewable Energy and Green Building, supported by United States Environmental Protection Agency and National Park Service.

● Student Life

The university has a range of student organizations and clubs, including the Student Government Association, National Pan-Hellenic Council, and Mississippi Valley State University Marching Band, with performances at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Essence Music Festival. The university also has a strong focus on Community Service, with programs such as Habitat for Humanity and American Red Cross, supported by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Ford Foundation. The university's students have also been involved in various Internships and Fellowships, including programs with Google, Microsoft, and National Institutes of Health, as well as White House Internship and Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.

● Athletics

The university's athletic teams, known as the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils, compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the Southwestern Athletic Conference, with rivalries with Jackson State University, Alcorn State University, and Alabama State University. The university has a strong tradition of Football, Basketball, and Baseball, with notable athletes such as Jerry Rice, Deacon Jones, and Walter Payton, who played in Super Bowl and Pro Bowl, as well as Olympic Games and Pan American Games. The university's athletic programs have also produced notable coaches, including Eddie Robinson and John Thompson, who coached at Grambling State University and Georgetown University, as well as NBA and NFL.

● Notable Alumni

The university has a range of notable alumni, including Myrlie Evers-Williams, Unita Blackwell, and Charles Evers, who were involved in the Civil Rights Movement, as well as Medgar Evers and Martin Luther King Jr.. The university has also produced notable figures in the fields of Entertainment, including Morgan Freeman, Snoop Dogg, and Erykah Badu, who performed at Grammy Awards and BET Awards, as well as Academy Awards and Golden Globe Awards. Other notable alumni include Politicians such as Mike Espy and Bennie Thompson, who served in United States Congress and Mississippi State Senate, as well as Business Leaders such as Robert Smith and Sheila Johnson, who founded Vista Equity Partners and Black Entertainment Television, with support from Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.

Category:Historically black colleges and universities