Sibling Colleges’ Presidents Resign
The Belles and Tigers of Bennett and Morehouse College prepare to say goodbye to both of their presidents.
The brother and sister colleges are currently searching for new presidents. Bennett College President Julianne Malveaux, PhD and Morehouse College President, Robert M. Franklin, PhD both announced their resignations during the Spring 2012 academic semester.
The similarities don’t stop there for the outgoing presidents. They both took office in 2007, and now they leave with their board of trustees giving them a very high honor. Dr. Julianne Malveaux will step down after the May 6 commencement with the distinguished title President Emerita. Dr. Robert M. Franklin will be giving the title of President Emeritus and Distinguished Professor. He will step down at the end of Morehouse’s academic year.
Both colleges released statements highlighting some of the achievements over the past five years for both presidents.
Franklin and Malveaux, both have decided to move on to other endeavors that best fit this time in their lives.
“I look forward to a sabbatical during which I intend to travel, write, speak and interview leaders about the condition of boys and men in the U.S. and around the globe, research that I began years ago in my book, ‘Crisis in the Village,’” says Franklin.
During an interview on the Tom Joyner Morning Show with Roland Martin, Dr. Malveaux says she plans to take a trip and then sort out her future.
“It’s time for me to do other things. I will be going to Peru for about 10 days, and come back to live in Washington and look at options.“
Malveaux told the The Business Journal in a recent interview that leaving now would give the college time to have a new leader in place for the next round of reaccreditation in two years.
“So it was commit to two more years, or leave now and let Bennett bring someone else in.”
Both colleges announced the search for a new president has started.
Bennett College will host their brother school Morehouse College in April during “Ebony Soul”, which is an annual event. The outgoing presidents have one more similarity; they kept this tradition going during their tenure.
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