University of the District of Columbia Dismisses Its President

SessomsThe board of trustees of the University of the District of Columbia announced on December 19 that it had terminated president Allen L. Sessoms. His contract was due to expire in September 2013.

Elaine Crider, chair of the board of trustees issued a brief statement which read in part, “As we grapple with the challenges of reducing staff and programs, continuing to improve our physical plant and attracting new students, the Board has decided to go in a different direction.” The statement said that an interim president would be in place by January and would serve from six to 18 months while a nationwide search is conducted for a new president.

Dr. Sessoms has led the University of the District of Columbia since September 2008. Previously, he was president of Delaware State University and before that he was president of Queens College, part of the City University of New York system.

Dr. Sessoms is a physicist. He is a graduate of Union College and holds a master’s degree from the University of Washington and a Ph.D. in physics from Yale University.

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