Pictured from left are Dr. William B. Bynum Jr., MVSU president; Dr. Curressia Brown, acting chair for the Department of Business Administration and coordinator of the MBA program; and Charles Kenyon, Sr., vice president of Human Relations for CDI.
In his articulation of a vision for Mississippi Valley State University, Dr. William B. Bynum, Jr., President, declared that it would be “recognized across the nation as a premier institution.” That vision is a step closer to being realized with the execution of a memorandum of understanding between MVSU and Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI).
The MOU recognizes interests shared by MVSU and CDI in education, training and development and represents the culmination of a relationship established during recruitment efforts for MVSU’s Organizational Management Program (an accelerated degree program for adult learners). It was signed on Tuesday, March 21, 2017, at the Riverwalk Casino in Vicksburg, Mississippi, by President Bynum and Charles Kenyon, Sr., vice president of Human Relations for CDI.
Also in attendance were Dr. Curressia M. Brown, acting chair for the Department of Business Administration and coordinator of the MBA program, and Michael Taylor, executive director of Enrollment Management and Valley’s Greenville Higher Education Center. Brown was invited to present MVSU’s online Business programs to corporate leaders who were assembled in Vicksburg for a human resources meeting.
“More than a year ago, Mr. Naraseeyappa Rajanikanth, coordinator of the OMP, began discussions with management at Harlow’s Casino in Greenville,” said Brown. “With the expertise of Taylor, I’ve had the opportunity to forge a more comprehensive relationship – not only with Harlow’s, but with the parent company, Churchill Downs Incorporated, to expand our opportunities. As coordinator of the MBA program, I recognized that the online MBA program was an additional asset, particularly since our local community college’s efforts were focused on job entry. The field for academic credentialing at the next level was wide open.”
Well known for its namesake race track and its signature event, the Kentucky Derby, CDI is a publicly traded company that evolved from one world-famous venue in Central Kentucky to the United States’ premier racing, gaming and entertainment company with a myriad of holdings, including racetracks, casinos, Big Fish Games, the world's largest distributor of casual games, the country’s leading online wagering business, TwinSpires.com, a video poker business, a multi-state network of off-track betting (OTB) facilities, and a collection of racing-related data, totalisator and telecommunication companies that support CDI’s sports and gaming operations.
CDI employs more than 5,000 people and maintains physical operations in eleven states: California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, and Washington.
“Online learning gives us direct access to 5,000 prospective students,” said Brown.