Board of Trustees Ousts President of Alabama A&M University

The board of trustees of Alabama A&M University, the historically black educational institution in Normal, Alabama, voted 7 to 1 to remove Robert R. Jennings as president of the university. The move to terminate Jennings’ employment came after allegations surfaced that Dr. Jennings had hired an executive assistant who was not qualified for the position. Jennings was also accused of granting paid leave to the executive assistant so that he could finish his master’s degree.

Dr. Jennings had been president of the university for only two years. He was previously an administrator at the Babcock Graduate School of Management at Wake Forest University. He is a graduate of Morehouse College and holds a master’s degree and an educational doctorate from Clark Atlanta University.

Jennings has vowed to contest his dismissal in court.

Copyright © 2008. The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education. All rights reserved.