Tuskegee University President Suddenly Resigns
Fourth HBCU leader to leave in the past few months
By Frederick H. Lowe
Dr. Gilbert Rochon
Special to the Trice Edney News Wire from TheNorthStarNews.com
(TriceEdneyWire.com) - Dr. Gilbert L. Rochon, president of Tuskegee University, has unexpectedly resigned during a board of trustees meeting, shocking board members.
Dr. Rochon did not publicly discuss his reasons for leaving Tuskegee, which is based in Tuskegee, Ala. A school spokesperson said board members would not discuss Rochon's Oct. 18 resignation with the news media.
Major General (Ret) Charles E. Williams, chairman of the board of trustees, accepted Rochon's resignation and thanked him for his three years of service.
Tuskegee named Rochon president on Nov. 1, 2010. He was the sixth president in Tuskegee's 132-year history. Booker T. Washington founded Tuskegee in 1881 and students built the school. Rochon also was named a university professor.
Before joining Tuskegee, Rochon was director of the Purdue Terrestrial Observatory and senior research scientist for the Rosen Center for Advanced Computing. He also was an associate vice president for Collaborative Research and Engagement at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind.
The board named Dr. Matthew Jenkins acting university president. Jenkins, an Alabama native, graduated from Tuskegee University in 1959 with a doctorate in veterinary medicine.
Dr. Rochon is the fourth president of a Historically Black College or University to resign in the past several months.
Patricia A. Hardaway, president of Wilberforce University, is resigning in December. Sidney Ribeau, president of Howard University, also is resigning in December. Norfolk State University recently fired President Dr. Tony Atwater.