April 4th 2024.
According to an article from Tallahassee.com, the search for the next president of Tennessee State University has reached its final stages and Florida A&M University's Vice President for Student Affairs, William E. Hudson Jr., is among the three finalists. This comes after the current president, Glenda Glover, announced her decision to step down after ten years of leading the university.
Last week, Hudson, along with Charles Gibbs, CEO of the national 100 Black Men of America, and Michael Torrence, president of Motlow State Community College, participated in forums with TSU students and faculty members. The forums provided an opportunity for the finalists to engage with the TSU community and showcase their qualifications for the role.
Amidst the presidential search, TSU has been facing some institutional challenges, including the recent vacancy of the Board of Trustees due to legislative actions. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee supported a bill that led to the appointment of eight new board members, all of whom are TSU alumni. This decision was made in response to a state audit that highlighted financial irregularities.
While the bill's supporters argued for a comprehensive leadership overhaul, the audit did not reveal any major wrongdoing or fraud. On the other hand, Democrats opposed the move, emphasizing the historical underfunding of TSU compared to other public HBCUs. Data from the Department of Education and the Department of Agriculture showed that TSU has been underfunded by over $2 billion in the last three decades, the highest among all states. FAMU has also faced significant underfunding, amounting to $1.973 billion in withheld state funding over 33 years.
Hudson expressed his gratitude for being considered a finalist, stating, "It is an honor to be in the running for this position, following in the footsteps of past and current Rattlers who have paved the way for me." He also took the opportunity to thank everyone who has supported him throughout his career.
Hudson, who is a two-time FAMU alumnus with extensive experience in academic and student affairs, has played a crucial role in improving student services at FAMU. Some of his notable achievements include the establishment of the Center for Access and Student Success complex, which has streamlined critical student services.
As TSU moves forward with its presidential selection process, the appointment of the next president is expected to take place later this month, according to the university's timeline.
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