Photo by Co-Lin Copiah-Lincoln Community College serves a seven-county area in Southwest Mississippi, including Copiah, Lincoln, Lawrence, Franklin, Jefferson, Adams and Simpson counties.

Copiah-Lincoln Community College President Jane Hulon Sims announced her retirement on February 2. She told the Board of Trustees at its regular meeting that she will step down effective June 30, 2023.

“It has been a blessing for me to serve as the eighth president … for the past five years,” she said. “I have been fortunate to have spent 23 years in various leadership roles at the college, but the pinnacle of my career has been serving as president of this incredible institution.”

Board of Trustees member Janee Harrison said the announcement came as a surprise to many of the trustees and college employees.

“Dr. Hulon Sims has been an innovative and dynamic leader for the Copiah-Lincoln Community College system,” Harrison said. “This is bittersweet as I shall miss her greatly, but I am so happy for her and her next chapter. Her passion for Co-Lin has been so apparent in every project and idea brought before our board and the community. She has left an indelible mark and a fabulous blueprint for the next leader to follow and build upon. We are better for her having been here with us.”

In addition to president, Hulon Sims has also served Co-Lin as Wesson Campus vice president, Vice President of Instructional Services, Academic Dean of Instruction, and Director of Planning and Research.

During her tenure as president, Co-Lin has seen new instructional programs, scholarships, and services that have increased student success and graduation rates, construction and renovations on all three campuses, and the creation of new partnerships with universities and business and industry in the Co-Lin district. The college has been ranked No. 1 in the state for graduation rates, No. 1 for student success, been named A Great College to Work For, and an Aspen Top 150 Community College during her leadership. Both men’s and women’s soccer were reinstated (2020) and the Blue Wave Show Band grew to be the largest band in school history.

Construction projects included the installation of turf and a jumbotron at Stone Stadium (2019), eight-court tennis complex (2020), new president’s home (2020), entrance sign (2020), Career-Technical Building at the Simpson County Center (2020), Diesel Lab at the Natchez Campus (2021), phase one of renovations at Sullivan Baseball field (2023), and numerous other campus beautification projects. Renovations were made at the Cosmetology lab (2020), Franklin and Simpson residence hall restrooms (2020), bridge replacements at Wolf Hollow Golf Course (2021), The Wolf Den Grill and Smoothie Bar (2022), Fortenberry Career-Tech Building classrooms (2022), and PJ’s Coffee (2023).

“In addition to my gratitude to each board member, I would like to recognize and express my deep appreciation to my leadership team,” added Hulon Sims. “They share my desire for educational excellence on all campuses. Working alongside them has been a joy and an honor.”

Hulon Sims is the mother of two sons, Will and Drew, and is married to Dennis Sims.