By MATT RUSHING

The BROOKHAVEN DAILY LEADER

WESSON — After a decade as president of Copiah-Lincoln Community College, Ronnie Nettles has announced his plans to retire in June.

Nettles, who was also dean of the Natchez campus from 1997 to 2004, made the announcement during a meeting of the Co-Lin Board of Trustees at the Wesson campus Thursday.

“Everybody gets at that point in their career where they start thinking about when’s the right time to retire, and sometimes it’s already passed,” Nettles said. “My experience here has been tremendous. I think we’ve done a lot of great things and had a great team.”

Nettles commended his strong administrative team for his success of the college.

“They have worked tirelessly with our employees to help our college achieve national rankings in student completion rates, minority graduation rates and veteran’s services,” he said.

Nettles served as the director of the community and economic development on the Wesson Campus from 1994-1997. When Dr. Howell Garner became president in 1997, Nettles moved to Natchez to serve as the dean of the campus. Nettles moved back to the Wesson campus as executive vice president from 2004-2008.

During his tenure as president, Co-Lin has seen growth in enrollment to  record highs, a doubling of the Co-Lin Foundation’s endowment to more than $8 million, the establishment of new instructional programs and services that have increased student graduation rates and construction of new buildings and other renovations on all three campuses.

The construction of six new buildings includes the Alton Greenlee Pro Shop in 2010, Howell C. Garner Instructional Building in 2011, Eugene Bates Men’s Residence Hall in 2012, Stone Stadium Press Box in 2014, Early Childhood Education Building in 2015, and the New Women’s Residence Hall to be completed in 2018.

Nettles said he is not unhappy at Co-Lin, but feels he is at a point in his career where he believes it is time to move on.

“I’ll still be here for the next seven or eight months until June. I’ll be working very closely with the faculty, staff and students. My focus for the next eight months is going to be right here,” he said.

Nettles said he was proud of his efforts to increase student enrollment to an all-time high of 3,799 in the fall of 2010.

More than 6,500 students graduated with a degree or certificate under Nettles’ tenure as president.

“Co-Lin will always be very special to me and my family. I did not do my job alone. The accomplishments are a reflection of the work of an outstanding faculty and staff at Co-Lin,” Nettles said. “Co-Lin has a strong foundation built on a rich history with wonderful employees, alumni and students. I am confident that Co-Lin will build on that foundation for many years to come.”

A graduate of Trinity Episcopal Day School in Natchez, Nettles received his bachelor of science degree in political science and a master of education degree in counseling and personnel services from the University of Southern Mississippi. He received his doctorate from the University of Mississippi in educational leadership.

Nettles and his wife, Rosie, were inducted into the Co-Lin Foundation Hall of Fame in 2016. They are parents of two children, a daughter, Jordan and a son, Brandon.

They are members of St. Francis Church in Brookhaven.