James E. Rutledge Jr.Delta State University President William N. LaForge has named alumnus James E. Rutledge Jr. as vice president for Finance and Administration at Delta State University.
Rutledge, an accounting graduate from Delta State in 1984, has served as the university’s comptroller since 2009. He is a Certified Public Accountant with more than 30 years of government and finance experience.
Previously, he worked as the CFO for the Greenville Public School District and as the business manager for the South Delta School District in Rolling Fork.
Rutledge will take office May 1, pending IHL Board approval. He is replacing Steven J. McClellan.
“I feel so honored that I have been offered the position of vice president for Finance and Administration,” said Rutledge. “The overwhelming support from my co-workers and colleagues across the university and the community during this search process has been very humbling. To see the people that you work with everyday show their strong support and encouragement is what Delta State University is all about.
“I look forward to working with the president, other vice presidents and the entire DSU staff with the one goal of making Delta State University even greater.”
LaForge is thrilled to add Rutledge to the university’s leadership team.
“I am pleased to name Jamie Rutledge to this important position at Delta State,” said LaForge. “He has earned his way to this cabinet-level role through hard work, dedicated professionalism and loyalty to his alma mater. I welcome him to our leadership team and look forward to working with him for many years.”
At Delta State, Rutledge has worked collaboratively with former vice presidents for Finance and Administration to develop, prepare and distribute annual operating, auxiliary and plant fund budgets to other vice presidents, directors and department heads.
Rutledge is a member of the Mississippi Society of CPAs, American Institute of CPAs, Southern Association of College and Universities Business Officials and the Cleveland Exchange Club Board of Directors. Additionally, he serves as the treasurer for the First Baptist Church of Cleveland.
A selection committee, chaired by Dr. Charles McAdams, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs, was formed in order to guide the national search for the position. Finalists recently visited the Delta State campus and spent time meeting with various groups including the President’s Cabinet, Academic Council, division directors and the search committee, along with addressing open forums attended by faculty, staff and students.
Along with McAdams, search committee members included: Allie Rose Parker, David Hebert, Deborah Cox, Greg Korb, Judson Thigpen, Julie Jackson, Kelvin D. Davis, Kim Pongetti, Lisa Giger, Lynn Byrd, Marilyn Read and Nicholas Walters.
“I am very grateful to Dr. McAdams and the search committee for their hard work and for the time and dedication they committed to this search,” LaForge said.
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