2026 Leadership Forum presented by First State Bank

The Jones County Chamber of Commerce is proud to welcome Dr. Joe Paul as the featured speaker for the 2026 Leadership Forum presented by First State Bank.

 

Dr. Paul will share practical leadership insights shaped by his experience leading complex organizations, building high-performing teams, and navigating change with clarity and purpose.

About Dr. Joe Paul:
 

Dr. Joseph S. Paul serves as the 11th President of The University of Southern Mississippi, a Carnegie R1 research institution, serving approximately 16,000 students on campuses in South Mississippi and along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Prior to being named President, Dr. Paul served The University of Southern Mississippi from 1976 to 2015, in leadership roles including Dean of Students and Vice President for Student Affairs.
 

Dr. Paul has served as president of the United Way of Southeast Mississippi, Board Chairman for the greater Hattiesburg Area Development Foundation, president of the Hattiesburg Area Education Foundation, and as a trustee for the Hattiesburg Public School District. He is the co-founder of the Hattiesburg Leadership Pinebelt program and has served on a statewide basis in leadership positions with the Mississippi Economic Council.
 

He holds a Ph.D. in administration of higher education from the University of Alabama and was named the university’s Most Outstanding Doctoral Student in the field in 1985. The Bay St. Louis native earned a bachelor’s degree in communication and political science from USM in 1975, graduating magna cum laude from the University Honors College, and received a master’s degree in communication and management from Southern Miss in 1978. He was inducted into the University of Southern Mississippi Alumni Hall of Fame in 2000.

Dr. Paul and his wife Meg reside in Hattiesburg, MS, and are active members of Trinity Episcopal Church. They have two grown children and three grandchildren.