French named Stennis executive director
P. Edward "Eddie" French
After serving for a year as interim leader of Mississippi State University's John C. Stennis Institute of Government and Community Development, P. Edward "Eddie" French is now the new executive director.
The Stennis Institute is one of several campus memorials to the MSU alumnus and Kemper County native who served for decades in the U.S. Senate. With a non-partisan approach to enhancing local governments through research, service, training and technical assistance, the institute reports to both MSU's Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development and the College of Arts and Sciences.
"For the past year as interim director, I have traveled across the state and met with many individuals," French said. "I enjoy working with the wonderful people in this great state and feel that many state and local government officials have become more familiar with my presence at the institute."
Professor French also teaches in MSU's political science and public administration department. In his research and teaching, he specializes in human resource management and the roles and responsibilities of elected officials and administrators.
David R. Shaw, vice president of research and economic development, called French the perfect selection.
"He has a unique combination of knowledge of government at all levels in Mississippi, a rapport with constituents in the state and the respect within and external to the university," Shaw said.
R. Gregory Dunaway, dean of the college agreed and said French's years of public-service leadership and research will be invaluable to him in leading the institute.
"Professor French's intellect, commitment and character will be of enormous value to enhancing the Stennis Institute's legacy of excellence in public service to the state of Mississippi," Dunaway said.
He introduced French as the new director of the Stennis Institute to alumni and friends at a March reception in Washington D.C., and a similar event will be scheduled in Jackson at a later date.
Likewise, K.C. Morrison, director of the political science and public administration department, praised French's background and experience.
"He is a gifted scholar, with the right combination of administrative and practitioner skills to take the Stennis Institute to the next stage of its development," Morrison said. "French's work as a city manager gives him unique advantages in working with legislators and executives at the state, local and national government levels."
French is an MSU doctoral graduate in public policy and administration, and his research has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals and books. He also serves as editor-in-chief for Public Personnel Management, a SAGE Publications quarterly journal covering the latest research trends in human resources, and is a member of the editorial board of Review of Public Personnel Administration, among other roles.
French, who grew up on a cattle farm near Bristol, Virginia, holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Tennessee, a master's in city management from East Tennessee State University and a master's in higher education administration from The University of Virginia. Prior to his work in education, he served as a local government manager in his home state, supervised day-to-day operations and developed community budgets, among other duties.
"Combining my local government background with my academic focus and publications on state and local government, plus my experiences as a Stennis Scholar and interim director, I consider myself a state and local government person," French said. "The Stennis Institute is a place where we look at issues from a policy perspective with a nonpartisan point of view and pass that expertise on to the public."
"I look forward to continuing to serve the university and the state of Mississippi."
Learn more about the Stennis Institute and its services at www.sig.msstate.edu.
Discover more about Mississippi's flagship research university at www.msstate.edu or www.meridian.msstate.edu, facebook.com/msstate, pinterest.com/msstate, instagram.com/msstate and twitter.com/msstate.
Leah Barbour | Public Affairs
