NATCHEZ — After a busy first day as Alcorn State University’s new president, M. Christopher Brown said Monday evening he hopes to catch some quiet time in the office today.

Brown started as Alcorn’s new president Monday after the Mississippi Institute of Higher Learning offered him the job Nov. 30.

Brown said Alcorn has shown him a great reception.

“It’s been phenomenally warm and welcoming,” Brown said.

Brown said he met with school vice presidents and deans today to learn about the existing leaders’ priorities and then conducted a few office drop-ins at the athletic facilities and the student affairs office.

“Everyone is certainly excited about having stable and permanent leadership and there seems to be universal commitment to growing the Alcorn brand and expanding,” he said

This week Brown said he has plenty of follow-up meetings planned, but he hopes to spend most of Tuesday in the office building a calendar to schedule the upcoming meetings and events.

He said some of the meetings involve outstanding personnel issues.

“There is certainly much chatter about the football (coach) search, so the search committee will be debriefing me on where they are,” Brown said.

Wednesday Brown said he plans on meeting with state legislators in Jackson.

Thursday he said he will be back at the Lorman campus to meet with department heads.

Friday, Brown said he hopes to attend some student events and return calls to representatives to the eight state institutions he has received since he was named president.

“The great news is I will be getting a long weekend,” Brown said of his busy week, referring to Monday’s Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Brown said he is nearly settled into his new home in Mississippi except for hanging some artwork.

“I have the boxes unpacked, furniture set up, and I’m moved in,” Brown said.

“I’m in for the ride now.”

Brown said he toured Natchez this past weekend after completing most of the move Saturday.

“I was through unpacking, so I decided to drive around,” Brown said.

“I toured antiques row, went down Silver Street, ate at Magnolia (Grill) and drove through the mall parking lot.”

Brown said he dislikes shopping, but wanted to become familiar with the mall in case he needs to shop while staying in Natchez in the future.

Brown said his first day was very exciting.

“Today I just really confirmed the quality of the match in this marriage (with ASU), so I’m excited about it.”