A local college president is now part of a national board of directors. Cynthia Jackson-Hammond, president of Central State University, has been named to the board of Thurgood Marshall College Fund.

Established in 1987, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund is the nation’s largest organization exclusively representing the black college community.

Through scholarships, capacity building, research initiatives, innovative programs and strategic partnerships, the fund is a resource in the K-12 and higher education spaces. The organization also is a source for top employers seeking top talent for competitive internships and good jobs.

Kent Smith Jr., president of Langston University, also was appointed to the board.

“Our board is proud to have Dr. Hammond and Dr. Smith join the TMCF family because we know they appreciate the work we do as an organization and will work to find ways to make TMCF an even better partner in advocacy, scholarships and capacity building for our 47 member-schools,” said Jim Clifton, board chair, as well as chairman and CEO of Gallup.

Jackson-Hammond is the eighth president of Central State. She has a doctoral degree in higher education from Grambling State University, an education specialist degree in counseling education and a master’s degree in communications from the University of Louisiana-Monroe, and a bachelor’s degree from Grambling State University in English and communications.

Jackson-Hammond recently was awarded HBCU Digest’s Female President of the Year for her leadership.

“I look forward to contributing to the strong advocacy and support for countless students, which has been the hallmark of TMCF’s tremendous success,” Jackson-Hammond said in a release.

Central State, a historically black university in Greene County, has about 1,800 students total, according to DBJ research. It is regionally accredited as an 1890 Land-Grant University.

The university recently embarked on a $24 million housing project.