Jacksonville, AL –Per the Director of Strategic Communications for JSU, Buffy Lockette, retired JSU President Bill Meehan has been recognized for his contribution to education with his induction into Alabama’s Education Hall of Fame.
At a special celebration held in Tuscaloosa on February. 11th the on the 11th of February. Meehan was honored along with fellow class of 2023 members who were: Dr. Mary Jane Caylor, retired dean of JF Drake State Community and Technical College and Dr. Jo Beth Newton, retired director of Homewood City Schools; Dr. Doug Phillips, host of the Emmy Award winning APT series “Discovering Alabama”; and Jeana Ross who was the retired director for the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education.
Meehan left JSU in the year 2015 after having devoted the span of 47 years to the school, including 40 years being an employee. He was hired in full time as a biology professor in 1976 after obtaining master’s and bachelor’s degrees in biology at the university. He graduated in 1999 and received the title of EdD on higher education administration at The University of Alabama.
“It’s extremely sweet to be acknowledged by the university that awarded you your doctorate,” Meehan said. “It’s great to be acknowledged for the work that you’ve accomplished, even after having retired.”
Meehan played a variety of posts in JSU before becoming the 11th president in the year 1999, which included coordinator of medical technology director of academic advice as well as deputy vice president of academic affairs and acting vice president of academic affairs and vice president associate for the academic and student services as well as acting vice-president for institution advancement. In his time from 1999 until 2015, he was the third-longest presidency in JSU’s history , beaten only by presidents Clarence W. Daugette (1899-1942) and Houston Cole (1942-1971).
Meehan will be celebrating his eighth year of retirement this year which he is still adjusting to, but is enjoying. The man is a resident of Jacksonville and is consultant to Higher Education Leadership Search, where he assists in recruiting administration and faculty for universities and colleges throughout the US.
When he received a note by the UA College of Education in November, informing that he was in being inducted into the Hall of Fame, he was astonished. “Usually when you reach at my age you will only hear from deans when they’re soliciting contributions,” Meehan said with his characteristic mild humor.
He was in attendance with his long-time wife, Beth, and their children, who were raised at the university. Twin brothers Will as well as Drew have followed in the footsteps of their father’s footsteps into the sciences. Drew earned an Osteopathic Doctor qualification in the fall of 2004 from Auburn University and is completing his residency at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. Their wife Allison has a veterinary degree. Will is employed at an experimental cancer lab at UAB in which he is working towards an PhD of molecular pathology. Also, the wife of his, Caroline has a Masters in Special Education. The Meehan’s daughter Carol Grace, is a dual enrollment counsellor for JSU and is working towards the master’s degree of counseling and guidance.
Dr. Meehan’s sibling, Carol Oakes, and friend Rick Wisenaut were also in attendance during the ceremony. Many friends from Meehan’s extensive JSU family were also present to be there to support him during the ceremony of induction, including Meehan’s father, Dr. Eric Mackey, JSU Alumnus as well as Alabama Superintendent of Education and trustee emeritus Red Etheredge; retired nursing professor Donna Etheredge; Dr. Rebecca Turner, provost emerita; Becca and Andy Williams and The Dr. Emily and Lamar Sims and the president Don C. Killingsworth, Jr. as well as first lady Kristi Killingsworth.
“President Meehan was an outstanding educator as well as advisor, mentor and leader over his forty-year tenure in JSU,” Dr. Killingsworth declared. “He was a model for the mission of the university and pushed JSU to greater heights, starting with the first capital campaign we launched to our very first doctoral program. He had a lasting effect on JSU as well as in the State of Alabama, and we are extremely proud of everything the things he did.”
Learn more about Dr. Meehan’s contributions to JSU at jsu.edu/meehan-legacy.
