TSU students, alumni shocked after interim president steps down
Johnson said he was stepping down because he and the university’s Board of Trustees were not on the same page when it came to planning the university’s future.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Tennessee State University’s interim president said he’d step down by Friday. Dr. Robert Johnson’s resignation came amid a dire financial situation announced last month during a state board commission hearing.
TSU staff and alumni said they were shocked to hear about Johnson’s resignation, but they were even more shocked to hear about why he was stepping down.
TSU Graduate Student Antonio Terry said he couldn’t believe what he was reading in the letter sent out by the university’s interim president.
“It was a bombshell. The letter came out saying that the interim president, Dr. Johnson, said that he did everything he could to try and get TSU on the right track in the first 120 days,” Terry said.
Interim President Johnson went on to say in the letter that he was stepping down from his position. The announcement left even TSU alumni president, Barry Barlow in awe.
“I was shocked, because I certainly thought that he would have definitely stayed his full year into his contract,” Barlow said.
The university had been dealing with financial issues for years. Dr. Johnson was hired on as TSU’s interim president in July after Dr. Glenda Glover retired in June.
Johnson had to make cuts after the state told the school they were out of money. He later laid off 114 employees.
Previous Coverage:
“I was like man, we have been through so much these last couple of weeks, and so I thought that their team was doing a good job trying to get TSU back on the right track despite all the negativity on the community,” Terry said.
Johnson said he was stepping down because he and the university’s Board of Trustees were not on the same page when it came to planning the university’s future.
TSU’s Board of Trustees sent out a statement saying:
“As the appointed Board of Trustees for Tennessee State University, our job is to ensure the future strength of the school through thoughtful and decisive governance. In service of this commitment, and as board chair, I spoke with interim president Dr. Johnson on Tuesday about separating from the university. He has chosen to resign and tendered his resignation this afternoon.”
“Being a student here, going to school here, dealing with financial aid, dealing with faculty and staff here, I knew there were some things that need to be corrected,” Terry said.
Terry and TSU alumni said they’re trying to be hopeful for the future.
“I hope we get somebody, a president and some board members who are just going to stay on the trajectory of making TSU great,” Terry said.
TSU Board of Trustees said they plan to meet Friday morning to talk about filling Johnson’s position.
Copyright 2024 WSMV. All rights reserved.
