Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU) also known as The Valley or Valley, is a public historically black university situated in Mississippi Valley State, near Itta Bena, Mississippi. A member of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, MVSU was established by the Mississippi Legislature as Mississippi Vocational College in 1950, following a bill signed by Governor Thomas L. Bailey in 1946. The opening ceremony, with Governor Fielding L. Wright speaking, was held on February 10, 1950.
Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
The university was founded in response to the mounting legal challenges against segregated education. It aimed to provide educational opportunities for African-American students, potentially diverting them from applying to the traditionally white universities of Mississippi. Mississippi Vocational College initially focused on vocational training, aligning with the views of those against providing higher education to African-Americans.
The site for the university was first considered to be the Greenwood Army Air Base but was later changed to Itta Bena, finally settling on a less cultivated land away from the town center. The name changed to Mississippi Valley State College in 1964 and then to Mississippi Valley State University in 1974, amid civil rights activism and a statewide educational reform.
The university’s leadership history includes Presidents James Herbert White, Dr. Ernest A. Boykins, Jr., Dr. Joe L. Boyer, Dr. William W. Sutton, Dr. Lester C. Newman, Dr. Donna H. Oliver, and Dr. William Bynum, with Dr. Jerryl Briggs serving as the eighth president from 2017. The campus, occupying 450 acres near U.S. Highway 82, lies in the Mississippi Delta region, close to Itta Bena and Greenwood.
Mississippi Valley State University’s academic offerings span various colleges, including the College of Art & Sciences, College of Professional Studies, College of Education, and the Graduate School, along with an honors program. Accredited since 1968, MVSU provides a wide array of student activities, including theater, journalism, orchestra, and numerous clubs and societies.
The university is known for its “Mean Green Marching Machine” band, famous for being the first African-American band in the Tournament of Roses parade. The athletic teams, called the Delta Devils and Devilettes, compete in NCAA Division I, with notable alumni such as NFL star Jerry Rice. Facilities include the renovated Harrison HPER Complex, home to various sports and events. MVSU also operates WVSD 91.7 FM, a campus radio station featuring a mix of university news, events, and music.
