Michael Teasley, a senior at Jackson State University and its first white president of the campus’ NAACP chapter, was found dead in his apartment on Monday evening. The Jackson Clarion-Ledger reports that Teasley, 40, appears to have died of natural causes.

Teasley, 40, grew up in rural Rankin County, was elected president of the JSU chapter of the NAACP in late 2010. He is the first white person to hold that position among historically black colleges and universities.

Teasley served as 2nd vice president in 2008-09 and 2009-10 before being elected by the 60-plus-member chapter last spring as president for the 2010-11 term.