For more than two decades, Dr. Jacqueline Gibson Preastly has been a trailblazer in higher education, dedicating her career to uplifting first-generation and underserved college students across the nation.
A proud 1991 graduate of Mississippi Valley State University with an English degree, Dr. Preastly went on to earn both a Master’s and Doctoral degree from the University of Akron in Ohio. Her passion for education and student engagement ignited a remarkable career that spans classroom instruction and student affairs leadership.
Dr. Preastly began her academic journey as a faculty member at Georgia State University. There, she found her calling in student support and transitioned to become Director of the Ronald McNair TRIO Program, where she helped prepare African American students for doctoral programs.
She later served as Dean of Students at Lincoln University of Pennsylvania and as Assistant Vice President of Student Leadership and Engagement at Kentucky State University. In 2013, she returned home to MVSU as Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management. Most recently, she served as Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management and Student Success at Southern University and A&M College.
Currently, Dr. Preastly is a Senior Consulting Advisor with Trellis Strategies, where she provides expert guidance to HBCUs and Minority Serving Institutions, focusing on enrollment, retention, and student success initiatives.
Her accolades include NASPA’s Phenomenal Woman Administrator Award and service as NASPA Region III Director. She also serves on several boards, including the J.H. White Foundation and the Greenwood Leflore County Chamber of Commerce.
Dr. Preastly is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the National Council of Negro Women, and a Life Member of the MVSU National Alumni Association.