The board of trustees of Morehouse College, the historically Black educational institution for men in Atlanta, has announced that it will not extend the contract of the college’s president John S. Wilson Jr. beyond June 30, 2017.
The board of trustees offered some praise for Dr. Wilson’s performance but gave no indication on why a change was being made. But Dr. Wilson had been under fire by various members of the campus community for raising tuition and requiring students to live on campus for at least three years.
Dr. Wilson was appointed the 11th president of Morehouse College in November 2012 and took office in January 2013. Earlier, he was executive director of the White House Initiative on Historically Black College and Universities. Prior to his government service, Dr. Wilson was an associate professor of higher education at George Washington University. He also served as director of foundation relations and assistant provost at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Dr. Wilson is a graduate of Morehouse College. He holds a master’s degree in theology and a master’s degree and Ph.D. in administration, planning, and social policy from Harvard University.
It seems Morehouse has joined the choruses of black colleges that are unable to keep a president for any substantial length of time.
Leadeship is the imperative at HBCUs, and unfortunately, HBCUs keep recycling presidents and never go in deeply inside to rid itself of the people who undermine or hinder the progress.
Sorry, to see Dr. Wilson leave.
Leadership starts at the top, perhaps it is time to look at the Board. Are there are there term limits are the members open to new ideas?