Tuck named MCSW Ambassador of the Year
Amy Tuck
Mississippi State's vice president for campus services has been named the Mississippi Commission on the Status of Women's 2015 Ambassador of the Year.
Amy Tuck, along with nominees from other state institutions, was formally honored May 7 at the Jackson-based organization's annual Woman of the Year luncheon.
The annual celebration recognizes Magnolia State women leaders for their contributions in a broad range of categories, including art/entertainment/performing arts, business/industry, community service, education, legal/judicial, medical/healthcare, military/law enforcement, and political/state or local government service.
Established by the Mississippi Legislature in 2001, the commission seeks to "improve the overall quality of life of women, specifically in the areas of education, health, economics, political participation, and race relations."
"Assessing and influencing policies and practices that affect women through an inclusive, collaborative process" is its primary mission.
Vice president of campus services since 2012, Tuck is responsible for providing vision and strategic leadership in overseeing campus landscape, facilities maintenance and repair, utilities production and distributions, faculty and staff housing, sustainability, as well as campus planning, design and construction.
In addition to serving as chairman of the Special Events and Game Day Operations committee and as a member of the Community Engagement committee, Tuck is president and director of the university's Educational Building Corporation and member of the MSU Athletic Council. She also serves as the university's incident commander for the Crisis Action Team.
An Oktibbeha County native who began working at MSU in January 2008, she was a member of the Greater Starkville Development Partnership, for which she previously served as chairman.
Tuck also has served as a member of the President's Commission on the Status of Women at MSU, where she received a 1985 bachelor's in political science and 1994 master's in public policy and administration. She also graduated with a 1989 law degree from Mississippi College.
As Mississippi's lieutenant governor, Tuck was a strong advocate for K-12 and higher education, economic development, healthcare, protection for senior citizens, public safety and civil justice reforms.
Only the second woman to hold the second-highest elected office in the state's 198-year history, she also served as a state senator from 1990-1995 and was elected by the senators to serve as the secretary of the Mississippi State Senate from 1996-99.
In 2009, the Mississippi Business Journal recognized Tuck as one of Mississippi's 50 leading business women, and in 2008, she was appointed by then-U.S. President George W. Bush to the President's Commission on White House Fellowships.
"I am very honored and humbled to have been chosen as the 2015 Ambassador of the Year for the Mississippi Commission on the Status of Women. There are so many outstanding women leaders in our state, and it is extra special to be lifted up by your peers," Tuck said in expressing appreciation for the award and commission itself.
Learn more about the Mississippi Commission on the Status of Women at www.msstatusofwomen.org.
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 using the hashtag #WeRingTrue.
Sasha Steinberg | Public Affairs
