Lucille H. Maugé, a member of Clark Atlanta University’s executive cabinet for 12 years, will step in to run the HBCU in December following the sudden resignation of President Ronald A. Johnson.
Maugé will become CAU’s acting president on Dec. 8, the day after Johnson officially leaves.
Immediately, she will serve as the school’s chief operating officer, running CAU’s day-to-day operations while a formal search begins for a permanent leader.
Maugé most recently served as the Atlanta school’s executive vice president and CFO.
Johnson, who led CAU for only three years, announced his resignation last Friday via a letter to the university community.
“I make this decision for personal reasons and I advised our Board of Trustees of my intentions today,” Johnson wrote, noting that his resignation will be effective Dec. 7. “While I am reluctant to leave this great University and its incredible students, faculty and staff I am incredibly proud of what we accomplished during this period of institutional transformation.”
Credit: Jonathan Phillips
Credit: Jonathan Phillips
Specific details surrounding Johnson’s resignation have not been released, nor has the university commented on it. Or about Maugé’s ascension.
With more than 3,700 students, CAU is the largest school in the Atlanta University Center. But even as the school celebrates its 30th anniversary, the school has been bogged down with several sexual harassment complaints and has been searching for ways to lower the average student loan debt for its students, which is among the highest in the state, according to some recent studies.
But in his letter, Johnson listed his accomplishments as president, which included an increase in its six-year graduation rate from 38 percent in 2015 to 45 percent in 2018, a “record high” first-year student retention rate of 70 percent, increased alumni giving, new or improved athletic and residential facilities and an improved credit rating.
“As evidenced by these achievements and many others, we have placed our beloved CAU on an upward trajectory that has been acknowledged around the nation,” Johnson wrote.
Maugé, a retired financial services executive, brings with her to the presidency a wealth of high-level corporate and financial industry experience. She is a former chief operating officer for Prudential Private Bank for high net-worth clients and has held similar positions at Chase Manhattan Bank.
She is a graduate of Southern University, which is also an HBCU and has her MBA in finance from Babson College.
Education Reporter Eric Stirgus contributed to this story.
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