A Change in Leadership at Tennessee State University

Ronald Johnson, who has served as interim president of Tennessee State University for the past six months, has abruptly resigned his position. He was scheduled to serve as president until June 30, 2025. It appears that his decision to resign was made after pressure from the board of trustees. “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,” TSU board chair Dakasha Winton said in a statement. “In service of this commitment, and as board chair, I spoke with interim president Dr. Johnson about separating from the university. He has chosen to resign and tendered his resignation.” As JBHE reported last week, administrators recently informed the university’s board of trustees that the university was heading towards a $46 million deficit by the end of the current academic year on June 30, 2025. This year, undergraduate enrollment at Tennessee State University dropped by a staggering 23.5 percent, while graduate enrollment decreased by over 12 percent. Most notably, enrollment in first-year programs dropped by over 50 percent, causing an estimated $28 million reduction in expected revenues. Dr. Johnson previously served as interim president of Kentucky...