Education
Education

HBCU presidents grapple with economic, political pressures

Morehouse College President John S. Wilson holds a meeting Jan. 17  to discuss his impending departure from the college. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

Credit: ccompton@ajc.com

Credit: ccompton@ajc.com

Morehouse College President John S. Wilson holds a meeting Jan. 17  to discuss his impending departure from the college. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
By
Feb 6, 2017

Last month’s decision by the Morehouse College Board of Trustees not to renew the contract of its president, John S. Wilson, when it expires in June highlights an issue facing many historically black colleges and universities: the shorter tenures of its leaders.

About 1 in 6 of the nation’s HCBUs do not have a full-time president, according to experts such as MaryBeth Gasman, director of the Penn Center for Minority Serving Institutions. Gasman also noted the average tenure for a HBCU president is six years, as opposed to eight years at non HBCUs.

HBCU leaders say they face an array of financial challenges and political pressures. To read more about these issues, click here.

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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