Walter L. Nelms was president of the college for 21 years, until his retirement in 1997.
He was succeeded by Charlie Delmer Roberts Jr., who served at Jackson State until 2004, when Bruce Blanding became the college's fourth president.
Jeff Sisk was appointed as interim president until June 2, 2020.
George J. Pimentel was appointed as the sixth president of the college in June 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On August 15, 2023, the Tennessee Board of Regents unanimously confirmed Dr. Carol A. Rothstein as seventh president beginning October 1, 2023[4] Viola Harris McFerren (1931–2013) became a civil rights activist.