Jackson Free Press

Jim Borsig said the "tremendous opportunity" to lead the University of Women humbles him. When the State College Board announced it wanted him to be the school's next president last month. Now, they have made the offer official, and Borsig has accepted.

The state Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning voted unanimously yesterday to name Borsig as the next president of MUW. The announcement came after a series of question-and-answer sessions between Borsig and stakeholders on campus.

After interviewing five candidates for the position, the board announced that Borsig was its preferred candidate in November.

"We have found an exceptional leader," Christy Pickering, chair of the board search committee, said at the time.

Before the board officially named Borsig president of the school, he went to the university and met with students, faculty, alumni and others who are invested in the school's future. When the board announced he was their preferred candidate for president, Borsig said he wanted the MUW campus to have the first shot at asking him questions about the university's future.

"I'm just honored by the opportunity and look forward to continuing the conversation," he said.

Borsig is currently the associate commissioner for external relations and public policy at the Institutions of Higher Learning. A Jackson native, he received his bachelor's degree in political science and American studies from the University of Southern Mississippi, where he also earned a master's in political science. He also has a doctorate in public policy and administration from Mississippi State University.

Borsig has also served on the advisory board for the Roger Wicker Center at MUW.

The university's last president, Claudia Limbert, stepped down in June of last year, following a controversy about possibly changing the name of the school to Reneau University. Since then, Allegra Brigham has served as interim president.

Borsig will begin serving as the university's president in January, a statement from the board said. Borsig was not immediately available for comment today.