The Southern University System officially welcomes Dr. Ronald Mason, Jr., the seventh president of the nation's only historically black university system. 

President Mason brings almost 30 years of experience in the higher education, community development, and legal fields. 

Prior to his appointment as Southern University System President, he served as President of Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi.  During his tenure at Jackson State University, the campus and surrounding community experienced unprecedented transformation and growth pursuant to a five-year strategic plan developed in 2002. The academic and business units were reorganized, information technology was infused throughout the campus, more than $150 million in construction of new buildings and improvements enhanced the JSU landscape, and public relations and fundraising divisions were installed.

Under his leadership, JSU acquired a $20 million facility from Allstate Corporation for only $3 million and developed it into the Mississippi e-Center @ JSU, a  technological hub for corporate, community, and academic advancement.

"I am impressed with the level of experience that Dr. Mason brings to our System, and I am confident that Mason's leadership and vision will propel our Southern University System to greater levels of excellence," said Tony Clayton, Chairman of the Southern University Board of Supervisors.

President Mason has been involved in numerous public service and professional activities including current membership on the White House Board of Advisors for Historically Black Colleges, the boards of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund, and National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO). He previously served on the boards of the American Council on Education and the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity, Office of Postsecondary Education.

He is a native of New Orleans and received his B.A. and J.D. degrees from Columbia University in New York City. He is a graduate of the Harvard Institute of Educational Management and is the recipient of the Mayor's Medal of Honor from the City of New Orleans, the Martin Luther King Lifetime Achievement Award from Dillard, Loyola, Tulane, and Xavier universities, and was one of five recipients of Columbia University's 2008 John Jay Award for distinguished alumni.

He is married to the former Belinda DeCuir and has one daughter, Nia, and two sons, Jared and Kenan.