Hinds Community College is so ingrained in Dr. Jay Allen’s past, it’s no wonder he became a community college president.
But Dr. Allen, a 1991 Hinds alumnus and employee from 1995 to 2011, continued to climb the leadership ladder elsewhere, landing as president of Itawamba Community College in northeast Mississippi in 2017.
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.
A graduate of Jackson’s Wingfield High School, he came to Hinds in 1989, graduating in 1991. His high school counselor encouraged him to try out for Hinds Connection.
“Hinds Connection was absolutely one of the most pivotal and life-changing opportunities I have ever had. I found a group that resonated with me, my goals and my love for servant leadership. The friendships have been lifelong, and the staff’s impact ultimately guided me on the path to a career in community college leadership,” he said.
Vice President Emeritus Jackie Granberry hired him as a student worker in the Institutional Advancement office based on the recommendation of his high school counselor and his Dairy Queen employer.
“He immersed himself in many aspects of the college. It was obvious that he was a natural at meeting and greeting students and visitors to the college,” she said.
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. Working with Jackie Granberry and her team had been such a pivotal moment in my life, so 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,” Granberry said.
“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.”
Among the many projects Dr. Allen had his hand in while at Hinds:
• Implementing the first 1-800 number at a Mississippi community college
• Supporting social media in its early days.
• Beginning campus recruiting events such as Preview Day.
• Crafting marketing strategy.
“Hinds always gave me new challenges and the opportunity to build a tremendous résumé by simply saying ‘yes’ to opportunities that arose,” he said.
As a sponsor for Hinds Connection, he also worked many college events ranging from Alumni Award Dinners to the annual Golf Fun Fest.
“It was in his role as Hinds Connection sponsor that he had the biggest impact on the lives of individual students. Many of his ‘mentees’ from Connection have pursued degrees in higher education and are serving in key roles around the state,” Granberry said. “He taught Hinds Connection students how to be servant leaders. He accepted only their best.”
In 2009 Dr. Allen received Hinds’ highest honor, the 3E Award, Emphasis on Excellence and Enrichment. He is pictured on the front of Summer 2009 Hindsight with members of Hinds Connection.
Jake Hartfield (2010), Director of Orientation and Events at Mississippi State University, is one of the hundreds of students Dr. Allen mentored.
“Since my early years at Hinds, Jay quickly became a mentor and someone I wanted to emulate. As a student at Hinds, Jay was there for some of my proudest accomplishments, fondest memories, and yes, even some bad decisions. But he always remained supportive and taught me the meaning of integrity.”
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.”