Former FedEx Exec Dr. Donald W. Comer Becomes HBCU Lane College's Interim President

Former FedEx V.P. Dr. Donald Comer, PhD has become interim president at historic Lane College (Jackson, TN). The Lane College Board of Trustees appointed Dr. Comer as Interim President, with his duties to begin August 1, 2024. His appointment follows the departure of former President Dr. Logan Hampton, effective July 31, 2024. Lane College is a private Historically Black College established by the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church (CME) in 1882.   

Named to the Lane College Hall of Distinction-Non Alumni in 2022, Dr. Comer has dedicated decades of personal time to serving on the boards of HBCUs Lemoyne-Owen College in Memphis and Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Ala. He is a Silver Life member of the NAACP, a member of the National Black MBA Association, and a Life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. 

“I am deeply honored to be appointed to lead my hometown HBCU,” he says of the new responsibility. “Lane College plays a pivotal role in delivering on the promise of excellence in Black higher education and I’m excited to have this opportunity to foster thriving academic pursuit, enhance student success and nurture the next generation of scholars and global leaders.”

Dr. Comer’s appointment continues the historic HBCU’s legacy of excellence. He is a Jackson native, earning his PhD in Urban Higher Education at Lane’s sister HBCU Jackson State University (JSU) in Jackson, MS. He also holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA), and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting (BS). After 35 years at FedEx, Dr. Comer retired as Vice President, Decision Science & Analytics and Operations Analysis; where his duties included collaborating with Tesla, Inc.’s research team to match the design of Tesla Electric Semi Truck with FedEx’s operational needs. 

 Bishop Marvin Frank Thomas, chair of the Lane College Board of Trustees, bottom lines Dr. Comer’s selection. “The Board and I are confident that we have selected a dynamic new leader for the next level of growth of our beloved Lane College.”