{"id":13295,"date":"2025-04-30T18:34:51","date_gmt":"2025-04-30T18:34:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.jsums.edu\/theflash\/?p=13295"},"modified":"2025-04-30T18:35:31","modified_gmt":"2025-04-30T18:35:31","slug":"farewell-from-mister-jsu-michael-stewart-jr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.jsums.edu\/theflash\/index.php\/2025\/04\/30\/farewell-from-mister-jsu-michael-stewart-jr\/","title":{"rendered":"Farewell from Mister JSU Michael Stewart, Jr."},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Dear Jackson State University Family,<\/span><\/p>\n

As I prepare to close this incredible chapter of my collegiate journey, I find myself reflecting on all that this experience has meant to me. To serve as the 8th Mister Jackson State University has been more than just a role\u2014it has been a calling, a challenge, and a cherished opportunity to grow both personally and professionally.<\/span><\/p>\n

Wearing this crown was never about the title\u2014it was about the responsibility that came with it. The responsibility to represent, to uplift, and to connect. I\u2019ve come to understand that leadership is not defined by what we do in the spotlight, but by how we show up when no one is watching. It\u2019s in the quiet conversations, the tough decisions, the small moments of encouragement that leadership finds its truest meaning.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

JSU has taught me more than I could have ever imagined. It taught me the importance of presence\u2014being present in every moment, in every space, with every person. It taught me how to listen deeply, care genuinely, and lead with humility. But above all, it taught me to believe in the power of community. Because here at Thee I Love, we don’t just attend a university\u2014we become part of a legacy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To every student I\u2019ve met along the way, thank you. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your story, even if just for a brief moment. Whether we shared a laugh between classes, sat next to each other at a game, or exchanged words of encouragement during a tough week\u2014those moments mattered. You reminded me daily why I chose to serve.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To the faculty and staff, your mentorship and support have been anchors in my journey. You have pushed me to think deeper, aim higher, and love harder. Thank you for pouring into me the kind of wisdom that will last a lifetime.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And to Jackson State itself\u2014thank you for shaping me. For giving a young man from Belleville, Illinois a place to dream, to stumble, to rise, and to lead. Every hallway, every classroom, every late-night walk across campus has left a mark on me that I will carry forever.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As I pass this mantle on, I do so with full confidence in the future of our university. I\u2019ve seen the brilliance in our students, the passion in our leaders, and the spirit in our traditions. There\u2019s no doubt in my mind that JSU will continue to thrive, because we are JSU\u2014and we are unstoppable.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Though my time as Mister Jackson State University may be coming to an end, my heart remains here. Forever grateful, forever proud, and forever committed to being a reflection of the excellence that JSU stands for.<\/p>\n

Michael Stewart, Jr.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dear Jackson State University Family, As I prepare to close this incredible chapter of my collegiate journey, I find myself reflecting on all that this experience has meant to me. To serve as the 8th Mister Jackson State University has been more than just a role\u2014it has been a calling, a challenge, and a cherished […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":13296,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-13295","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-news-campus"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.jsums.edu\/theflash\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13295","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.jsums.edu\/theflash\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.jsums.edu\/theflash\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.jsums.edu\/theflash\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.jsums.edu\/theflash\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13295"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/sites.jsums.edu\/theflash\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13295\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13300,"href":"https:\/\/sites.jsums.edu\/theflash\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13295\/revisions\/13300"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.jsums.edu\/theflash\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13296"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.jsums.edu\/theflash\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13295"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.jsums.edu\/theflash\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13295"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.jsums.edu\/theflash\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13295"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}