Mayfield resigns top job at Mississippi community colleges

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Mississippi Community College Board will start searching for a new executive director after Andrea Mayfield stepped down Friday.

Her resignation took effect immediately. A news release from the board did not say why Mayfield left the job she had held since Dec. 1, 2015.

She had worked in other roles in community colleges before becoming executive director. In the top job for the 15 two-year colleges, she worked closely with governors to promote workforce training.

The board chose Kell Smith as interim executive director. He has worked for the board since 2008 and is director of communications and legislative services.

"Since 1996, Dr. Andrea Mayfield has dedicated her professional career to community colleges," the chairman of the Mississippi Community College Board, John Pigott, said in the news release. "We appreciate her commitment to the system and wish her the best in the future."