Incoming UDC prez tries to outrun his past
Posted by: Anna Bank in News, Vox Populi, tags: UDCThe University of the District of Columbia is getting a new president, after a lengthy search process that included unprecedented input from Mayor Adrian Fenty. The Post’s take on the new prez, Allen Sessoms, makes him sound like a stand up guy who doubled the endowment at his last school, Delaware State. That information comes from his resume, though, so beware the unreliable narrator.
The article fails to mention that in 2000 Sessoms resigned the top post at the City University of New York’s Queens College under pressure from the school’s board of trustees, who claimed he misled them about how much money he had raised for an AIDS research center.
As much as I’d like to believe that new leadership will bring positive financial and academic change to UDC, I’d feel better if the incoming president didn’t have a contentious past. Fenty’s tacit endorsement would mean more if the summer jobs program wasn’t all screwed up. If this doesn’t work out, don’t say Vox Populi didn’t warn you.
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Dr. Sessoms will certainly bring “change” to UDC. Question is whether or not that change will be positive and in the best interest of the institution. His arrogance and “my way or the highway” style of management did not endear him to many of the stakeholders at Delaware State. He does not believe in collegiality (shared governance) as exemplified by his lack of acceptance of faculty input. He certainly did not enjoy a good relationship with alumni, a problem he also had at Queens College. His doubling of the endowment at Delaware State is questionable. Not least of all, Dr. Sessoms is not a proponent of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) having stated on occasion that they are no longer relevant.
UDC, beware!!!
…saw this quoted in the Washington Post Express. Somebody is paying attention.
You’re right, Sarah. Thanks for pointing that out.
Philip, if what you’re saying about Dr. Sessoms is true, UDC is in for a rough time under his administration. Do you have experience with one of the schools he worked at?
To Will Sommer,
I am a graduate of Delaware State University (Class of 1962) and a past president of the Delaware State University Alumni Association. I have watched very closely the situation at Delaware State since the beginning of Dr. Sessoms tenure. I live near the Delaware State campus and as an active and concerned alumnus I visit the campus regularly.
Dr. Sessoms fashions himself as a “change agent”. UDC says they want a “change agent”, well they got one. UDC, beware!!!
I am a current student at UDC. We are hearing many rumors about Dr. Sessoms including the ones stated above. Many faculty and students are becoming anxious and worried about the future of the University. There are already many ongoing issues with the Univeristy but it seems this guy is coming in to seal the deal. Some other rumors include him wanting to end the HBCU status, end open enrollement, and shut out “poor students.” He was also picked over the objections of the Mayor. It seems that the Chair of the Board of Trustees James Dyke was the main proponent of Sessoms (rumor has it he will not be reappointed when his term is up.)Any validity to these? If so please direct me to a place where I can compile info to distribute to the student population. Thanks.
Josh — that’s interesting that people are saying he was picked over Fenty’s objections, since my impression was that Fenty was a Sessoms supporter (at least tacitly.) I don’t have any information beyond what’s been in the Post, but you should definitely look into it and we would love to hear what you information you come up with. If we find anything else out we’ll be sure to post it here.
[...] of District of Columbia Allen Sessoms and his attempt for a massive increase in UDC tuition rates are coming under attack from UDC [...]
In light of the recent uproar surrounding the measure that Dr. Allen Sessoms recently introduced, and the board of trustees approved, there is an increased demand for information about his past at institutions of higher learning.
I attend UDC and also write for the student publication, Trilogy, which has yet to draw any concrete conclusions as to the firm details of Dr. Sessoms’ standing at the schools he anchored before coming to DC.
For better or worse, but at this time pretty much set in stone, the nearly 100% increase in tuition has been approved by the board at UDC and will be introduced incrementally, beginning this fall.