TO: Faculty, Staff and Students

FROM: Malcolm Portera, President

My decision today [Friday, Nov. 9] to accept the position of Chancellor of The University of Alabama System came after long and careful deliberation and with deeply mixed emotions. Serving as president of Mississippi State University has been the highlight of my professional career, and the opportunity to lead my alma mater has been a deeply fulfilling personal experience.

I believe it is appropriate for me to move on to new challenges at this point because Mississippi State University is well positioned for the future and has great momentum. Thanks to a highly capable and committed faculty and staff, this institution understands its role and its mission and it has the infrastructure and the expertise to continue to make outstanding contributions to the future of Mississippi.

My regard for Mississippi State, its faculty and staff, and its outstanding students never has been higher. This is a remarkable institution that is making major contributions to the state and region. As I have said before, no university in the United States is more important to the state in which it is located than this institution.

I deeply appreciate the opportunity I have had during the past four years to work with so many talented and dedicated people at Mississippi State and throughout Mississippi. Olivia and I will always treasure the friendships that we renewed and made here and will always have the highest regard and wish the very best for our home university and home state.