Rust College welcomes new president as Fall semester begins
Aug. 11, 2025 – Rust College in Holly Springs kicked off its fall 2025 semester today with a renewed sense of purpose and pride, ushering in a new chapter under the leadership of its 13th president, Dr. Johnny M. Moore.
The historic HBCU campus was alive with energy as students returned to class and faculty prepared for a semester marked by transformation and momentum. Dr. Moore, whose first official day coincides with the start of the academic year, brings more than three decades of experience in higher education, most recently serving as Chancellor of Arkansas State University – Newport.
“There is a great energy on campus right now, as we embark upon an excellent semester,” said Dr. Moore. “HBCUs are special, and I look forward to immersing myself in Bearcat Nation, working with skilled faculty and staff, and especially getting to know the smart, talented young people who have chosen Rust for the next step in their educational journey.”
Selected from nearly 200 candidates in a national search, Dr. Moore is widely respected for his leadership and commitment to student success. He and his wife, Sequoyah, are parents to two children, Johnathan and Jayna.
Momentum from Milestones
Rust College enters the new academic year riding a wave of accomplishments from 2024–2025:
• The A’Cappella Choir earned a Silver Performance Award—the highest honor in their category—at the 36th Annual International Verona Competition in Italy.
• Student Government Association President Sa’Kinah Williams was named a 2024 HBCU Scholar by the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
• Dr. Doris J. Ward, Vice President for Academic Affairs, was honored as the 2024 Educational Administrator of the Year by the Mississippi Association of Educational Office Professionals.
• Sonya Faulknor, Assistant Professor of Music and Assistant Choir Director, received the 2025 Humanities Teacher of the Year award from the Mississippi Humanities Council.
• Rust earned Gold Status as an NAIA Champions of Character Five-Star Institution.
• The Athletics Department welcomed key hires, including Athletic Director Jeremy Patterson and Men’s Basketball Head Coach Barry Wellington.
With a legacy rooted in excellence and a future guided by visionary leadership, Rust College is poised for a semester of growth, achievement, and Bearcat pride.
