Hattiesburg radiologist Dr. Steven Cunningham said he hadn’t been looking to serve on the Institution of Higher Learning’s Board of Trustees. However, he certainly was excited and surprised when Gov. Phil Bryant named him to the position.
Cunningham will represent the Second Supreme Court District, which had been represented by Hattiesburg orthopedic surgeon Dr. Doug Rouse. Cunningham practices radiology in Hattiesburg, where he serves as president of Comprehensive Radiology Services.
“It was a pleasant surprise,” Cunningham said last week as he was preparing to make the change. “It was nothing that I mentioned and nothing that I sought. Overall, it has been pretty exciting.
Cunningham will join Jeanne Luckey, Bruce Martin and Powell "Gee" Ogletree Jr. on the board.
A graduate of Jackson State in 1994, Cunningham – of course – has his Pine Belt connections to the University of Southern Mississippi. His wife, Lakeisha, teaches at William Carey University.
“It’s an honor to be appointed to this position by Governor Bryant,” he said. “Higher education is a priority in my family and an expectation my wife, Lakeisha, and I have of our daughters.”
Cunningham said when he was named at the College Board that the colleges and universities are valuable to their alumni.
“They are important to their alumni, their surrounding communities and the future of our state,” he said. “I look forward to working with my fellow trustees to make sure that all of our institutions continue to flourish.”
Cunningham said he expects a winding road, but also a satisfying trip.
“Everyone we have talked with previously said there were some ups and downs on the board,” he said. “However, when their term was over, they said it was one of the highlights of their lives.”
For Cunningham, the next point is orientation.
“Then, I will get an idea what’s expected in the position,” he said. “Right now, I really don’t know what specifically we will be considering.”
Cunningham graduated from University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis in 1999 and completed both his internship and residency at Oakwood Hospital & Medical Center in Dearborn, Michigan. He received board certification from the American Board of Radiology in 2004.
He is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Forrest General Hospital and Merit Health Wesley.
Cunningham is a deacon at West Point Baptist Church and a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. He serves on the board for the Forrest General Hospital Foundation and on The First Bank’s Community Advisory Board.
Rouse, a Hattiesburg orthopedist, served as both vice president and president of the board. He was appointed by Gov. Haley Barbour in May 2008 for a term to expire May 7, 2018.
Rouse is a partner in Southern Bone and Joint Specialists and has practiced orthopedics in Hattiesburg since 1981. He holds a bachelor of science from the University of Southern Mississippi and a doctor of medicine from the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
Rouse is a member of Omicron Delta Kappa at the University of Southern Mississippi and Alpha Omega Alpha at the University of Mississippi Medical School. He is a member of the University of Southern Mississippi's Alumni Hall of Fame, as well as a member of the President's Circle of the University of Southern Mississippi Foundation.
Rouse is married to the former Pamela Lowery Stamps and has three children: Christa, Wes, and Haley. He is an active member and Deacon of First Baptist Church of Hattiesburg.
Bryant praised the new four members of the College Board.
“As the governing authority for our public institutions of higher learning, the College Board serves a critical role in Mississippi,” Bryant said in a news release. “I am grateful these four highly qualified individuals have agreed to take on that responsibility by accepting these appointments.”
Cunningham said the College Board’s mission is the state’s future.
“We need to try to get the state moving forward,” he said. “Otherwise, we are not improving. We’ve got nowhere to go but up.”
