Tennessee politicians strip historically Black university of its board

The overhaul of Tennessee State University's board of trustees has ignited a fiery debate on governance, racial politics, and financial management in higher education.

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Mar 29, 2024 - 17:00
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Tennessee politicians strip historically Black university of its board

Nashville—A significant political move was made as the state’s only publicly funded historically Black university, Tennessee State University (TSU), had its board of trustees replaced. This decision, executed under a new law signed by Governor Bill Lee, has sparked controversy and debate.

What We Know:

  • Legislative Action: The Tennessee House passed the bill with a 66-25 vote, leading to the immediate signing by Governor Bill Lee, who then appointed 10 new board members, mostly from the business sector, pending legislative confirmation.
  • Governor’s Statement: Governor Lee expressed his aim to enhance TSU’s status as a leading institution, avoiding direct comments on the board’s dismissal.

“Instead of us rectifying the problems that we created through racist policies by underfunding Tennessee State University, we’re now advocating to vacate their board.” -Rep. Justin Pearson

  • Leadership Scrutiny and Financial Discrepancies: TSU has faced criticism for governance and financial management issues, highlighted by recent audits showing significant procedural deficiencies but no evidence of fraud or malfeasance.
  • Funding and Allegations of Racial Bias: Critics, including Democratic lawmakers, argue that TSU’s problems stem from chronic underfunding, estimating a shortfall of $2.1 billion over 30 years, and suggest racial bias in the legislature’s decision.

“I’ve seen many audits of many universities that look horrendous, have we ever, ever vacated an entire board of a university before? Have we ever done that?” -Rep. Bo Mitchell

  • Political Debate and Public Reaction: The decision led to heated debates in the legislature and public displays of support for TSU, with allegations that the board’s removal was racially and politically motivated.

A list of new appointees was made available by the Governor’s office. In a release, Gov. Lee said each appointee is a graduate of TSU and gave information about their current position.

  • Trevia Chatman, President, Bank of America Memphis
  • Jeffery Norfleet, Provost and Vice President for Administration, Shorter College
  • Marquita Qualls, Founder and Principal, Entropia Consulting
  • Terica Smith, Deputy Mayor and Director of Human Resources, Madison County
  • Charles Traughber, General Counsel, Division of Real Estate, Retail, and Financial Services at Bridgestone Americas
  • Dwayne Tucker, CEO of LEAD Public Schools
  • Kevin Williams, President and CEO of GAA Manufacturing
  • Dakasha Winton, Senior Vice President and Chief Government Relations Officer at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee

TSU is also seeking a new leader as President Glenda Glover plans to retire at the end of the school year.

The overhaul of Tennessee State University’s board of trustees has ignited a fiery debate on governance, racial politics, and financial management in higher education. While the future of TSU’s leadership remains uncertain, the incident underscores the complex interplay of race, politics, and education in Tennessee. As the dust settles, one can’t help but ponder if this move will bridge gaps or widen divides, embodying the adage that sometimes, to build anew, old foundations must first be dismantled.

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