By Sara Weissman
Tennessee State University interim president Ronald Johnson announced his plans to step down Wednesday after less than six months at the helm of the historically Black land-grant institution. From Tennessee reported first.
Dakasha Winton, chair of the university’s Board of Trustees, said in a statement that the board had pressured Johnson to go.
The board’s “job is to ensure the school’s future strength through thoughtful and determined management,” he wrote. “Serving this duty and as the chairman of the board, I met the interim president Dr. I talked to Johnson about leaving the university. “He has chosen to resign and submitted his resignation this afternoon.”
in an interview with Inside Higher Ed On Monday, Johnson was optimistic about the measures the university is taking to shore up its dire financial health.
Tennessee is “a social impact institution that affects people from all walks of life, and so we’re here to ensure that it continues to matter,” he said.
Two days later, Johnson sent a letter to students and staff saying he was resigning effective Friday “with a heavy heart.” The decision “was not taken lightly,” he wrote, but “it became clear that there was a fundamental difference of perspective with the Board about how best to move this institution forward.”
“As I step away from this role, I am hopeful and confident that TSU can overcome its challenges,” Johnson wrote. “The road ahead will be difficult, but with the right leadership, collaboration and vision, TSU will continue to thrive as an institution that matters not only to Tennessee, but to the nation and the world.”
A separate statement from the university thanked Johnson for his “devoted service” and applauded him for taking steps to stabilize the university’s finances, including securing emergency funding from the state, saving $13 million through layoffs and cost reductions, and helping to raise $500,000 in the campaign. did supporting students with debt and “increasing transparency and trust with stakeholders”.
“TSU is committed to building on the progress made during his tenure and continuing to advance the university’s mission,” the statement said.
“Rotten-Speed” Drama
Johnson, formerly the interim president of Kentucky State University, took the helm at Tennessee State in July during a period of political and financial turmoil for the university. According to him, when he took over, the institution had only $8.4 million in reserves Inside Higher Ed.
Before he arrived, state lawmakers voted in the spring to fire the university’s entire board and replace it with TSU alumni handpicked by Gov. Bill Lee, saying the university was underfunded because it was mismanaged. The move has sparked outrage among the university’s supporters, who argue that its financial problems stem from decades of underfunding by the state. A 2021 report by the Tennessee Office of Legislative Budget Analysis revealed that the state owes the university between $150 million and $544 million in unpaid land grant funds; A 2023 letter to the governor from the U.S. Departments of Education and Agriculture puts the amount at $2.1 billion.
Glenda Glover, the university’s former president, later retired in June with the buyout agreement — another area of contention. From Tennessee reported that the university’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously at its November meeting to force Johnson to end Glover’s agreement. He was scheduled to receive $850,000 in a transition contract and $212,500 annually over four years to help with fundraising and consulting.
Since Johnson’s arrival, he has been struggling with financial difficulties. State auditors told the board in November that the agency could face a $46 million deficit by the end of the current fiscal year. State lawmakers also appropriated $11 million in cash and $32 million in liquid funds previously earmarked for a new building to allow the university to pay payroll in November.
This fall, Johnson laid out a plan to acquire the university in the current fiscal year. The state of Tennessee also cut 114 positions, along with a non-essential spending and hiring freeze and limited travel for the marching band and other belt-tightening measures.
“We are continually looking for ways to align our budget with our revenue, understanding the purpose of this institution is to do nothing to undermine our mission,” he said. Inside Higher Ed on monday.
Learotha Williams, professor of African American and public history at TSU, said she was stunned by the news.
“I was impressed by the suddenness of it,” Williams said. Johnson’s departure is troubling after the university has already undergone a slew of recent changes and challenges, including a brand new board takeover. “Everything in this drama was played at warp speed.”
The Board of Trustees held a special meeting Friday to discuss the appointment of a new interim president.
