Jackson Jambalaya

 Jackson Mayor John Horhn issued the following statement. 

 Mayor John Horhn today announced Dr. Marcus A. Chanay as Chief of Staff for the Office of the Mayor. Dr. Chanay began his duties today.

Dr. Chanay brings more than 30 years of executive leadership to City Hall, with a career spanning higher education administration, workforce development and organizational management. He serves as President and CEO of The Chanay Group, a strategic development firm working in workforce development, fundraising, community development and operational improvement, and as President of The College of Health Services and Careers, an allied health institution offering certificate programs in high-demand fields.

His higher education career includes senior posts at three universities: Vice President for Student Affairs, Enrollment Management and Executive Assistant to the President for Campus Operations at Lincoln University of Missouri; Vice President for Student Services at Jarvis Christian University; and Vice President for Student Life at Jackson State University.

"Marcus has spent three decades building teams and getting results in institutions that serve young people and working families" said Mayor John Horhn. "He’s managed large staffs and people pulling in different directions. City Hall is no different, and he’s ready to serve."

"My focus over the next 90 days is making sure the Administration's priorities are clearly communicated and carried out," said Dr. Marcus Chanay. "As Chief of Staff, I'll advance Mayor Horhn’s agenda and strengthen municipal leadership through strategic alignment with the Mayor's vision, relationship building across government, and operational stabilization. That means a clearer tracking system for mayoral directives, collaborative alignment with the Chief Administrative Officer, and building trust across municipal leadership. My philosophy has always been that tomorrow's success is founded on today's preparation."

A native of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Dr. Chanay holds a Ph.D. in urban higher education and a master's degree in educational administration and supervision from Jackson State University, and a bachelor's degree in mass communications from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. He earned the Certified Fundraising Manager credential from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at IUPUI and a certificate from the Institute for Educational Management at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

He has co-published three books, including two volumes examining the future of historically Black colleges and universities, and serves on boards including the Mississippi Alliance for Cardiovascular Health, the National Sigma Beta Club Foundation, Vine Place Community Outreach and the UAPB National Alumni Association. He is a member of True Vine Baptist Church, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., and 100 Black Men of Jackson, Inc.

Dr. Chanay and his wife, Makeba White Chanay, have seven children and ten grandchildren.