The president of Morehouse College says he will remain in that position despite published reports saying that he would depart early.
John Silvanus Wilson Jr., who has led the Atlanta HBCU since 2013 says that he is still president despite an article in HBCU Digest saying that his tenure was ended early by the school, based on a letter apparently written by Morehouse Board of Trustees chair Robert Davidson, which also said William Taggart, Morehouse executive-in-residence, will handle day-to-day operations.
“I need you to know that this story is NOT accurate,” he wrote in a message to Morehouse students, also posted on HBCU Digest. “Although the article is a possible interpretation of the letter sent out yesterday by Chairman Davidson, I remain as president, continuing to manage the College’s day-to-day operations.”
Aileen Dodd, spokeswoman for Morehouse confirmed to EBONY.com that Wilson’s position has not changed.“Dr. Wilson is still the president of Morehouse College,” she said.
The school’s board voted in January not to renew Wilson’s contract, which expires in June. “They’ve made a decision here,” Wilson told the AJC when the decision was initially made almost two months ago. “I respect that decision and the best thing about it is it gives me the opportunity to be president for the next six months and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
Last week, Wilson was among the first to speak out critically about the meeting with President Trump and several dozen presidents of HBCUs. In a statement, he expressed disappointment that there was no announcement of additional funding, boosts of Pell Grants or Title III funding or tax breaks for private sector contributors.
“Instead of the long-awaited executive order containing or signaling any of those outcomes, the key change is a symbolic shift of the White House HBCU Initiative from the Department of Education to the White House,” the statement said. “It is not possible to measure the impact of this gesture anytime soon, if ever.”
Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story, attributing to HBCU Digest, said that John Silvanus Wilson Jr., had been ousted early as president of Morehouse college. In actuality, no such termination has taken place.
