The man tapped in 2014 to clean up a financial mess at Alcorn State University is headed to a new opportunity that will influence all of the state’s higher education endeavors.

Alcorn State’s loss is the state College Board’s gain.

Alfred Rankins Jr., who was appointed to lead Alcorn State in 2014, will head back to Jackson soon as he transitions into a new role as Mississippi’s higher education commissioner.

Rankins makes history with the new post, becoming the first African-American to hold the position that oversees the state’s eight public universities.

Rankins previously held the position of deputy commissioner so the new role will not be completely new to him.

As in his prior “clean up” roles in which he was asked to go to a university that had been rocked with turmoil and transition, Rankins’ new role will also be one that is challenging.

Financial pressures will continue to be a strong headwind against Mississippi’s higher education efforts.

We believe Rankins’ experience both in a real-world university leader’s positions as well as in administrative positions uniquely positions him to do well in his new post. We hope and expect he will do great things there and that he will work hard to help Alcorn and other universities continue to provide an excellent value in higher education.

Soon a search will begin for Alcorn State’s next leader and we hope the search committee finds someone who will love Alcorn and Southwest Mississippi and has the vision to help the university — and in particularly its campuses located in Natchez — excel for many years to come.