Alabama A&M University’s faculty senate has a clear message to the institution’s presidential search committee: candidate Lawrence Davenport does not have what it takes to lead.
Davenport, a former hopeful for FAMU’s presidency, told AAMU’s search committee that he was willing to sign a lifetime contract with AAMU. But shortly after that statement, he took a job as head (principal) of a Rhode Island charter school.
That move sparked anger from many AAMU supporters. One alumnus said: “Where I come from, we call this two-timing. It's a classic player move: Tell one institution what it wants to hear while you're getting what you want from another.”
Last week, news reports confirmed that Davenport resigned his Rhode Island job to “give his full attention to securing the presidency of Alabama A&M University.” However, there are rampant accounts that he was "embattled" after serving only four months and his employers pushed him out.
AAMU faculty senators are now circulating a petition asking that Davenport’s name be stricken from consideration.
“We did not care for Davenport because of the way he handled himself here with the interview and then taking the job in Rhode Island, and so it was sort of an ethical issue for us then,” said Faculty Senate President Barbara Cady.
When Davenport applied for FAMU’s presidency, he was Florida Atlantic University’s executive vice-president for advancement. During the search, he left that job and collected a controversial $577,950 payment.
Currently, the presidential search is in limbo in part because dissenting board members are boycotting meetings. On message boards, some AAMU supporters say an influential trustee is trying to hand the presidency to Davenport while most students, faculty, and alumni want former South Carolina State University President Andrew Hugine.
Hugine made huge gains in enrollment, fundraising, and construction at SCSU. Many SCSU supporters believe he was fired in retaliation for fighting back against micromanaging Board of Trustees members.
Have you read? Former FAMU prez hopeful accused of “two-timing” AAMU
Davenport, a former hopeful for FAMU’s presidency, told AAMU’s search committee that he was willing to sign a lifetime contract with AAMU. But shortly after that statement, he took a job as head (principal) of a Rhode Island charter school.
That move sparked anger from many AAMU supporters. One alumnus said: “Where I come from, we call this two-timing. It's a classic player move: Tell one institution what it wants to hear while you're getting what you want from another.”
Last week, news reports confirmed that Davenport resigned his Rhode Island job to “give his full attention to securing the presidency of Alabama A&M University.” However, there are rampant accounts that he was "embattled" after serving only four months and his employers pushed him out.
AAMU faculty senators are now circulating a petition asking that Davenport’s name be stricken from consideration.
“We did not care for Davenport because of the way he handled himself here with the interview and then taking the job in Rhode Island, and so it was sort of an ethical issue for us then,” said Faculty Senate President Barbara Cady.
When Davenport applied for FAMU’s presidency, he was Florida Atlantic University’s executive vice-president for advancement. During the search, he left that job and collected a controversial $577,950 payment.
Currently, the presidential search is in limbo in part because dissenting board members are boycotting meetings. On message boards, some AAMU supporters say an influential trustee is trying to hand the presidency to Davenport while most students, faculty, and alumni want former South Carolina State University President Andrew Hugine.
Hugine made huge gains in enrollment, fundraising, and construction at SCSU. Many SCSU supporters believe he was fired in retaliation for fighting back against micromanaging Board of Trustees members.
Have you read? Former FAMU prez hopeful accused of “two-timing” AAMU