Following a nationwide search, Delta State University has hired Dr. Daniel J. Ennis as the school’s next president.
Ennis, a native of South Carolina, has spent the last two decades at Coastal Carolina University where he most recently served as provost and vice president. During his time in Conway, Ennis held a multitude of administrative positions, including dean of humanities and fine arts, vice president of academic outreach, English department chair, and co-director of the University Honors Program.
“The positions Dr. Ennis has held at Coastal Carolina have prepared him extremely well to serve as president of Delta State University,” Teresa Hubbard, chair of the search committee, said. “His long tenure there demonstrates how beloved he is by the campus community. His academic credentials, administrative skills, student-centered focus, and ability to connect students, faculty, alumni, and the community make him a great fit for the university.”
As provost, Ennis helped Coastal Carolina in enrollment, retention, and fundraising – three sectors Delta State needs drastic help in. Since 2014, DSU has seen a 29 percent drop in enrollment, leaving the public university with just 2,556 students.
“His experience will serve Delta State well as it seeks to navigate similar challenges and opportunities, particularly in the areas of recruitment, retention, and fundraising,” said Thomas Duff, president of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning. “I look forward to seeing the university flourish under his leadership.”
Ennis, who has also spent time as president of his local chapter of the American Association of University Professors, expressed his readiness to begin his journey in Cleveland.
“I am honored to serve Delta State University. As I have learned more about the university, the Delta region, and the state of Mississippi, I have been inspired by the history, culture, and resilience of the people whom I will soon work and live with,” Ennis said. “I am committed to helping Delta State University continue to thrive, and my wife and I look forward to becoming members of the community.”
Ennis received degrees from The College of Charleston, Appalachian State University, and Auburn University. He will take over as president at Delta State on June 1, 2023.
