Dr. Cynthia Jackson-Hammond became the eighth president of Central State University (CSU) on July 1, 2012, and the first female president in the 131-year history of the University. Under her leadership, the University developed and is guided by Six Compelling Priorities: provide a quality academic/collegiate experience for all students; focus on targeted student enrollment; improve retention rates; reduce time to degree completion; development of graduates with the knowledge, skills and dispositions for advanced studies and professional careers; and increase efficient and effective institutional operations. The University has also received a registered trademark for the logo, Service…Protocol…Civility®. The logo represents the tenets used to rebrand Central State University.

Some notable advancements achieved under President Jackson-Hammond’s administration include:

  • Ten-year reaffirmation by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools;
  • Accreditation for College of Business by Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP); Social Work Program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), and Environmental Engineering accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET);
  • Received federal designation as an 1890 land-grant institution; this historic designation promotes an increase in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Agriculture (STEMA) degree program offerings. Also, the designation expands facilities, research and extension collaborations to provide agricultural education and services to local farmers and neighboring communities.
  • Completed an energy conservation/efficiency project that generates $1M in annual savings;
  • Dedication of a new $33 million, 85,000 sq. ft. University Student Center hosting a 500 plus seat dining hall, ballrooms, computer labs and administrative offices;
  • Three new degreed programs: Sustainable Agriculture, Exercise Science (College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Agriculture) and Agriculture Education (College of Education);
  • Central State University was named HBCU of the Year for 2017 by HBCU Digest;
  • This year, the University will break ground on a New Residential Hall and Wellness Center, which will be home to the Exercise Science Program and nearly 250 on-campus residents in traditional and apartment style units.

President Jackson-Hammond’s experience in educational leaders hip spans more than 30 years and includes faculty status and tenured professorships. Most recently before accepting the presidency at CSU, she served as the Provost at Coppin State University.

She received a doctorate degree in Higher Education from Grambling State University; an Education Specialist degree in Counseling Education from the University of Louisiana-Monroe;a Master’s degree in Communications also from the University of Louisiana-Monroe, and a Bachelor’s degree from Grambling State University in English and Communications .

President Jackson-Hammond is a tenured professor in the College ofEducation serves on many local and national associations: Dayton Development Coa lition; American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU)and (MLI); American Association of Colle ges for Teacher Education (AACTE) expired Feb. 2018; 1890 Land Grant Council of Presidents; Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA); Southern Inte rcollegiat e At hletic Conference (SIAC) Executive Committee; and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II Presidents Council Region 3.

President Jackson-Hammond was selected by the Dayton Business Jo urna l as a POWER 50 honoree in 2015 and 2016, which recognizes the most influential women in the region who drive change in the state’s economy; the 2016 Girl Scouts of Western Ohio Women of Distinction Award in Leadership; and was identified as the 2016 HBCU Digest Female Presiden t of the Year.