CLEVELAND, Miss. — Delta State University Comptroller Jeremy Ricks has been selected to participate in the 2025–26 Emerging Leaders Program, a national professional development initiative hosted by the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO).
Announced on Sept. 17, the program brings together promising mid-level business officers from colleges and universities across the country. Now in its fifth year, the yearlong program is designed to strengthen leadership skills, encourage cross-campus collaboration, and build professional networks within the higher education business community.
Ricks is among 78 participants representing 69 institutions in 31 states and the District of Columbia — the largest cohort in the program’s history, chosen from NACUBO’s biggest applicant pool to date. Thirty-eight institutions are participating for the first time, underscoring the organization’s commitment to cultivating the next generation of higher education business leaders.
As Delta State’s comptroller, Ricks oversees the university’s external financial reporting and plays a key role in ensuring fiscal integrity and transparency. His selection for the program highlights his growing influence and leadership in higher education finance.
Ricks brings more than 15 years of experience in nonprofit finance and accounting. Before joining Delta State, he served as chief financial officer of Coahoma Opportunities, Inc., and held senior accounting positions with the Delta Regional Authority and the Bolivar County Community Action Agency.
A Delta State alumnus, Ricks earned both his bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in accounting and his Master of Business Administration from the university. He also completed a Certificate in Nonprofit Management earlier this year.
