Antoinette Candia-Bailey, vice president for student affairs at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri, died on January 8 of an apparent suicide. In emails sent the day that she died, Dr. Candia-Bailey stated that she had been “intentionally harassed and bullied” and that after receiving a poor evaluation, John Moseley, president of Lincoln University “ignored requests (failing to respond to emails), or when face-to-face, danced around the topic.”
Some students and alumni are calling for President Moseley to resign. “We are calling for the dismissal of Dr. John Moseley due to poor leadership and the fostering of a detrimental work environment,” one alumna posted on social media. National alumni association president Sherman L. Bonds stated “I find myself standing in the state of hopelessness. I have become compelled to demand a change in the Office of Presidency of the University effective immediately.” President Moseley was subsequently placed on administrative leave.
A native of Chicago, Dr. Candia-Bailey earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Lincoln University, a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling-disability studies from Michigan State University and a Ph.D. in leadership studies from North Carolina A&T State University.
Dr. Candia-Bailey had worked in higher education for 24 years. Before joining Lincoln University in May 2023, she was vice president of student affairs, chief diversity officer, and Title IX coordinator at Elms College in Chicopee, Massachusetts. She has also served as associate dean of students and senior project coordinator at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, assistant vice president of student affairs- housing and residence life at Towson University, director of academic excellence at North Carolina A&T State University and assistant director of university housing at North Carolina State University.
