Morris Brown College names new president

12/05/2019 — Atlanta, Georgia — Acting President of Morris Brown College, Kevin James, stands for a portrait in front of Fountain Hall on the main campus, Thursday, December 5, 2019. (ALYSSA POINTER/ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM)

12/05/2019 — Atlanta, Georgia — Acting President of Morris Brown College, Kevin James, stands for a portrait in front of Fountain Hall on the main campus, Thursday, December 5, 2019. (ALYSSA POINTER/ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM)

Morris Brown College trustees have removed the interim title from its president.

Kevin James is now the permanent president of the historically black college, located near downtown Atlanta, the school announced Friday. James had been interim president since March 2019.

“I look forward to continuing this great work in collaboration with the board of trustees, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and other shareholders to resurrect this historic college back to prominence,” James, 42, said in a statement. “We will continue working to obtain accreditation, ensure financial stability, build a strong relationship with alumni, and grow enrollment through The Hard Reset.”

The college is working to regain its accreditation, which was revoked by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 2003 due to fiscal management and debt.

Because Morris Brown is not accredited, students are not able to receive federal loans, which many students need to pay for tuition. The college is seeking accreditation from the Virginia-based Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools. Morris Brown was founded in 1881 by the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

The college continues to offer degrees in business, music and psychology. Morris Brown had about 40 students when James became interim president. Its hopes to add about 300 students by 2024, according to an enrollment plan on its website.

Morris Brown's prior president, Stanley Pritchett, resigned at the end of 2018.