Southern University President-Chancellor Dennis J. Shields will leave his position at the end of the year, he confirmed during a Board of Supervisors meeting on Friday. The departure comes after the board indicated a desire to move in a new direction for the university system's leadership.
Shields, who has led the university and its system since early 2022, will have his last day on December 31. The board has not yet named an interim president, causing concern among some alumni about the future stability of the institution.
Key Takeaways
- President Dennis Shields confirmed his departure from Southern University, effective December 31.
- The university's Board of Supervisors reportedly wants to take the institution in a "different direction."
- A vote to select an interim president was delayed and is now scheduled for December 19.
- Alumni have publicly expressed concerns over a lack of transparency and the potential for a leadership vacuum.
- Shields will return to the university's law school as staff after a six-month sabbatical.
A Change in Leadership
During a Board of Supervisors meeting held in New Orleans, Dennis Shields addressed his impending exit from Southern University. He stated that he had been aware of the board's intentions for approximately five weeks.
"It was indicated to me the board wanted to go in a different direction, and I accept that," Shields said. "It's not the way I would have done it, but that's the prerogative of this board."
Board of Supervisors Chair Tony Clayton confirmed that a decision on an interim president is expected at the board's next meeting on December 19. He also noted that Shields would not be leaving the university community entirely. According to Clayton, Shields will take a six-month sabbatical before returning as a staff member at the Southern University Law Center.
An Emotional Address
In his remarks, Shields focused on gratitude and humility, thanking numerous colleagues across the Southern University system for their support during his tenure. While speaking, he became emotional, pausing to regain his composure as the audience offered a standing ovation.
Shields shared deeply personal details about his upbringing to explain his dedication to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Born to an unmarried White mother and a Black father, he spent his early years in an orphanage and foster care.
The Influence of an HBCU Graduate
Shields credited his second foster family with shaping his future. His foster father was a Black doctor who practiced in rural Iowa and was a graduate of Fisk University, an HBCU in Nashville. "If not for them, I wouldn't have had any exposure to that level of Black achievement," Shields explained. "And from that point forward, I always knew I was going to go to college, because I thought that's what you did."
He recounted how this early influence helped him navigate the challenges of attending a predominantly White university, where he was one of only 50 Black students in a student body of 1,200. This experience solidified his desire to one day lead an HBCU.
"He drugged that whole family out of poverty, and that's a direct result of being engaged with... an HBCU, and that's the story of Southern, that's why I wanted to lead an HBCU."
Uncertainty and Calls for Transparency
The board did not vote on an interim president during Friday's meeting. Clayton attributed the delay to a computer error that prevented the item from being properly added to the posted agenda. This postponement has created a period of uncertainty just weeks before Shields' scheduled departure.
The lack of public information surrounding the leadership change prompted some alumni to speak out during the meeting's public comment period.
"I'm really disturbed about the future of Southern University and the direction that we're going, which is unbeknown to the public because there has been no public statement," said Tina Williams, a Southern alumnus who, with her husband Tony, founded the Williams Center for Undergraduate Student Achievement in 2017.
Alumni Voice Concerns
Williams noted that the alumni community has been relying on rumors and questioned the board's criteria for a new leader. "It should be no secret," she stated, emphasizing the public's stake in the university's future.
Her husband, Tony Williams, followed with a practical concern about the timeline. He projected that a new interim president would need three months to get situated, and a permanent replacement would require a similar period, potentially leaving the university without stable, knowledgeable leadership for a significant portion of the coming year.
A Timeline of Transition
Tony Williams expressed concern that with the time required for both an interim and a new permanent president to acclimate, the university could lose up to six months of effective leadership. "So by the time we get somebody in there, we already lost 2026," he said. "It's over. I mean, just do the math."
He concluded by asking for better communication from the board. "Can we just communicate on what we doing so we know how to help you all move the university forward?" he asked.
In response, Board Chair Tony Clayton acknowledged their concerns but stated the board was limited in what it could share. "Mr. and Mrs. Williams, Southern hears you and the law just doesn't allow us to talk about personnel matters," Clayton said. "But we hear you, and that's all I can tell you."