First row, from left are Dr. Joyce Buckner-Brown, provost and vice president for academic affairs; Karen Shedrick, chief of staff and executive assistant to the president; Lucreta Tribune, interim vice president for finance, administrative services and operations and chief financial officer; Second row, from left are Dr. Edward Rice, vice president of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management; Dr. Marcus D. Ward, senior vice president of institutional advancement; and Maxine Greenleaf, interim vice president of marketing and communication.
Dr. Tracy M. Cook, president of Alcorn State University, announces key appoints to his cabinet — Dr. Joyce Buckner-Brown, provost and vice president for academic affairs; Dr. Marcus D. Ward, senior vice president of institutional advancement; Dr. Edward Rice, vice president of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management; Karen Shedrick, chief of staff and executive assistant to the president; Lucreta Tribune, interim vice president for finance, administrative services and operations and chief financial officer; and Maxine Greenleaf, interim vice president of marketing and communication.
“I am excited about the accomplished and talented group that we have at Alcorn and look forward to the many achievements we will have together as a team,” said Cook. “These leaders have a shared vision and commitment to institutional and student success. I appreciate their willingness to lead their respective units during such a pivotal time in our University’s history.”
New Cabinet Appointments:
Dr. Joyce Buckner- Brown, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Before her appointment, she held the positions of interim provost and associate provost for undergraduate education and success at Alcorn.
She has twenty-plus years of experience in instructional design, teaching, research, program management and evaluation, technical consultation, data collection, synthesis, and dissemination. Previously, Buckner-Brown served as chair and professor of the Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health at Jackson State University. From 2008 to 2016, she was employed as a health scientist at the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion in Atlanta, Ga.
Buckner-Brown was a practicing respiratory therapist by initial training. She subsequently completed her doctorate in public administration with an emphasis in health services administration at Mississippi State University. In 2005, she completed post-doctoral training in epidemiology and statistics at John Hopkins’ Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Dr. Marcus Ward, Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement
Ward previously was the vice president for institutional advancement at Alcorn State University and Executive Director of the Alcorn State University Foundation, Inc.
Ward has a demonstrated history of securing over $200 million in total funding, such as private donations, state and federal appropriations, and non-formula-based grants for higher education, nonprofits, and governmental entities. He and his team have led a 450% growth rate from $9 million in 2009 to over $50 million in assets and funds under management today. He has overseen the granting of over $5 million in scholarships and educational funding assistance to more than 3,500 students and supported over 100 faculty and staff with funding for research and intellectual renewal projects.
He received a Bachelor of Science degree in political science from Alcorn State University. He studied at Princeton University’s School of International Studies before completing a master’s in public administration at Syracuse University and earning a Doctor of Education in higher education leadership from the Maryville University of Saint Louis.
Dr. Edward Rice II, Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management
With nearly three decades in higher education, his experiences include assistant dean of students at Mississippi Delta Community College, head baseball coach at Kentucky State University, dean of students at Mississippi Delta Community College, vice president for student services and enrollment at Mississippi Delta Community College, and vice chancellor for student services and enrollment management at Southern Arkansas University Tech.
Rice II is a native of Greenville, Miss. He received his associate’s degree in general studies from Mississippi Delta Community College. Rice completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in public administration at Mississippi State University, master’s degree at Alcorn State University in educational administration/athletic administration, and doctorate degree at Mississippi State University in educational leadership with a concentration in community college administration.
Karen Shedrick, Chief of Staff/Executive Assistant to the President
As a graduation requirement, Shedrick landed her office practicum/part-time employment as the secretary/receptionist in the Office of the President from January to May 1988. She was offered full-time employment in this role upon graduation, and the rest is history.
During her tenure at Alcorn State University, Shedrick has served the Office of the President for over 35 years under the leadership of 13 presidents. She is integral to the University, providing administrative services, hospitality, and organizational support. She provides senior-level leadership in the Office of the President with responsibility for managing and setting the tone for communication from the President’s Office.
In 2013, she was named the School of Business’ Alumnus of the Year. A native of Kosciusko, Miss., she earned a bachelor’s degree in secretarial science and a master’s degree in secondary education with a concentration in business education from the School of Business at Alcorn State University.
Lucreta Tribune, Interim Vice President for Finance, Administrative Services and Operations and Chief Financial Officer
Before her appointment, Tribune provided leadership and direction as the associate vice president of finance, to the following departments — Accounting, Accounts Payable, Grants and Contracts, and Procurement. She will ensure that financial reporting is accurate, timely, and compliant.
With a background in accounting and extensive experience in state government finance, Tribune brings a wealth of expertise to her new role. Previously, she served as the director of accounting at Alcorn since August 2022, playing a role in managing financial operations and ensuring fiscal responsibility.
With a career spanning 14 years in state government finance and an additional five years as a state auditor, Tribune possesses a deep understanding of financial regulations and practices.
Tribune received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Alcorn State University. She furthered her education at Jackson State University, earning a Master of Professional Accountancy degree.
Maxine Greenleaf, Interim Vice President of Marketing and Communication
Previously, she served as associate vice president of marketing and communication at Alcorn State University for nearly three years and executive director of University Communications at Jackson State University after spending four years as the director of communications and marketing at her alma mater, Mississippi Valley State.
Highlights of her career include leading the social media efforts to win 2nd and 3rd place — securing $50,000 and $80,000 Home Depot Retool Your School grants while at Alcorn; leading the University Communications team at Jackson State to garner over 40 national, regional, and state awards; engineering effective communications, marketing and outreach initiatives that assisted in a 12 percent increase in student enrollment over three years at Mississippi Valley State, and leading MVSU’s trademark and licensing program and increasing apparel retail revenue by 15 percent.
A native of Itta Bena, Miss., she holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Mississippi Valley State University and a master’s degree in mass communication and journalism with a concentration in public relations from Kent State University. She is currently enrolled in the higher education doctoral program at the University of Mississippi.
