Morehouse refutes report that president was fired

A Morehouse College spokeswoman denied a news report that its president was fired Monday.

HBCU Digest reported Monday night that the college’s president, John S. Wilson, had been dismissed and the college’s chief operating officer, William “Bill” Taggart will manage Morehouse’s day-to-day operations.

“Dr. Wilson is still the president of Morehouse College,” Aileen Dodd, a spokeswoman for the college, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Tuesday morning. “The report is erroneous.”

Channel 2's Nefertiti Jaquez reports.

The report was based on a letter the news site said was written Monday by Robert Davidson, chairman of the college’s Board of Trustees. Davidson wrote, according to HBCU Digest, that as the college continues its search for a new president, Taggart will assume “day-to-day leadership responsibilities for the college.” The board voted in January not to renew Wilson’s contract when it expires in June.

Davidson wrote that the board will meet in April to consider who will be Morehouse's interim president. Morehouse's student trustees sued after the board vote because they weren't allowed in the meeting where trustees voted on Wilson's contract. A judge ruled last month Davidson acted legally when he excluded the student trustees from its vote.

HBCU Digest posted an email from Wilson on its website Tuesday telling students and faculty that he is still the college’s president.

About the Author

Eric Stirgus

Eric Stirgus joined The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2001. He is the newsroom's education editor. Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., Eric is active in the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists and the Education Writers Association and enjoys mentoring aspiring journalists.

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