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Five things to know about Morehouse’s acting president

From left to right: Bill Taggart, then Morehouse's interim president, Gerard Vanloo, the college's salutatorian for 2017, and Michael Hodge. PHOTO CREDIT: MOREHOUSE COLLEGE.
From left to right: Bill Taggart, then Morehouse's interim president, Gerard Vanloo, the college's salutatorian for 2017, and Michael Hodge. PHOTO CREDIT: MOREHOUSE COLLEGE.
By
June 12, 2017

Morehouse College officials named Michael Hodge the school’s acting president after Thursday’s death of its interim president, Bill Taggart.

A public memorial service for Taggart is set for 11 a.m. Friday at Morehouse’s Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel, 830 Westview Dr. SW in Atlanta.

Here are five things to know about Hodge, according to his Morehouse College bio.

  • Hodge has been a campus leader. He was associate provost for Research, Scholarship and Creative Production.
  • He has a deep interest in the problems of the world. Hodge teaches in the college's sociology department. Hodge received his Ph.D. in sociology and M.S. in psychology from the University of Florida.
  • Hodge has taught at several institutions. Prior to Morehouse, he's taught at the University of Florida, the University of Georgia and Georgia State University.
  • Hodge's work has focused on inequalities. He's looked at health disparities, socioeconomic inequality as well as racial and ethnic inequality.
  • He's involved in his church. Hodge is a trustee at St. Philip AME Church, sings in the Mighty Male choir.

VIDEO: Taggart dies; Morehouse seeks new president

Interim Morehouse College president Bill Taggart has died, officials announced Thursday.

About the Author

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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