HBCUs in the Time of Turnover

Albany State University recently announced its president, Dr. Marion Ross Fedrick, had been appointed executive vice president for administration and chief of staff at Georgia State University, effective July 1. Her departure from the university meant she would step away from her role as president one year before the conclusion of the school’s 2025 strategic plan.

Dr. Marion Ross FedrickShortly after the appointment was announced, Fedrick wrote in an open letter to the university that “we still have the rest of the semester together to wrap up our strategic plan, focus on a seamless leadership transition and celebrate the accomplishments of our students during spring graduation.”

Fedrick’s departure is just the latest in a series of presidential or leadership turnovers across the nation’s 105 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Since 2022, at least 35 HBCUs have announced presidential changes. While some scholars are deeply concerned by this instability, others note it aligns with higher education trends overall.