Bethune-Cookman University has seen its share of controversy over the past decade. What is likely at the front of mind for most is the Ed Reed controversy that eventually led to an ugly dissolution for both parties. The good news is that B-CU could have spent more time in resuming their coaching search. If you include Ed Reed’s hire, they hired two solid candidates in 3 months. It was a moment that required a sense of urgency that, to their credit, Reggie Theus and school leadership met head-on.
While the athletic and school administrations worked diligently to hire the next leader of the Football program, another glaring, more prominent position remained vacant. The President of Bethune Cookman University.
A History of Stability
In 1923, B-CU merged with the Cookman Institute of Jacksonville. Dr. Bethune became the first official president of Daytona-Cookman Collegiate Institute, later known as Bethune-Cookman College. For the next 90 years, B-CU would have only five leaders serve as president of this illustrious institution. Over this period, the school would see sustained growth, stability, and success across the student population.
However, the last ten years have been less stable. Since 2013, B-CU has appointed six presidents (Jackson, Grimes, Powell, Chrite, and Drake), including the most recent and current interim, William Berry. Assuming Berry is indeed in an interim posture, we’ll likely see a 7th interim or full-time president at some point.
Before we go any further, The Ave would like to provide a quick disclaimer:
As a media organization created to uplift HBCUs and, more specifically, B-CU, we will never besmirch the name of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune and by proxy, we hold the same stance for her underlying institution. Our goal is to help celebrate her legacy while raising the institution’s and its people’s brand profile.
Simply put: We come in peace, but also we have questions. And it’s not just us. The students have questions, the alumni have questions, the donors have questions, and at the root of it all lies the most important question:
Where is the new president?
Where is the New President?
I don’t think it needs to be said, but I’ll say it anyway. Bethune Cookman University needs a President, not another stopgap. The institution is ripe for an explosion of students, increased graduation rates, and giving, but it requires a strong leader with vision and tenacity to get us there.
The Administration and the Board of Trustees have done a nice job of getting the institution back to solid ground. The dorm deal that nearly threatened the school’s very existence has been resolved. Our SACSCOC accreditation was reaffirmed back in 2022. More importantly, while still a bit unhealthy, the school’s financial outlook has slowly trended toward marked improvement. Understanding how critical these things are, you can see why there’s reason for optimism.
However, if you ask any alumni, most don’t feel that same sense of optimism. But why is that? My best guess is that six presidents in 10 years has something to do with it. That type of instability breeds poor institutional health, and you don’t have to go far to confirm this.
However, if you ask any alumni, most don’t feel that same sense of optimism. But why is that? My best guess is that six presidents in 10 years has something to do with it. That type of instability breeds poor institutional health, and you don’t have to go far to confirm this.
For instance, look no further than our own marching band. We’ve had one band director for 25+ years and that stability in leadership has provided us with the most consistent band program in the entire HBCU band world. Between the football team and band, we understand how to hire and how to retain but neither of those ideals have manifested themselves in our seemingly never-ending search for a school president. It is turning into an untenable situation.
The Never-Ending Search
In fairness to B-CU’s administration, they created a presidential search microsite designed to provide updates on where the school was in the process. In theory, the idea made much sense. The site was established on April 22, 2023, and can be found on the school’s homepage. But if you’re keeping count, that puts us at month 16 of the presidential search. However, that number is a bit misleading. LeBrent Chrite resigned in March 2021. He was the last “non-interim” president of Bethune-Cookman University. That brings us to 25 months since his resignation. Again, this is untenable.
Our research found that presidential searches can take anywhere from 6 months to 1 year on average. But I’ll play devil’s advocate for a second. Six presidents in 10 years is wild. Understanding that, it would be in the school’s best interest to take its time and get this right. So, I expect the board of trustees to do everything possible to ensure a comprehensive search. Given our track record, a 6-month search doesn’t feel quite like the due diligence this moment requires.
Given the past decade, it would be prudent to take some extra time and get it right. That said, two years feels a bit excessive, but this is likely the best-case scenario. The worst case is that qualified leaders aren’t interested in coming to B-CU because of past issues. Perception is everything. Like any other candidate in the hiring process, they’re vetting us just as much as we’re vetting them. There’s a case to be made for both scenarios here.
The Stakes are High
The fact remains that we still need a president. Bethune Cookman University only regains its strength by installing leadership that fully understands the stakes. The institution cannot sustain any more blows, self-inflicted or otherwise. Maybe that’s why the search is taking so long. Maybe the BOT realizes the stakes as well. That’s good if that’s the case.
But honestly, the lack of transparency in the process leaves room for a lot of worry and speculation among the Cookman faithful. This is something we hope to address soon. Based on the 2022 Annual Report produced by the Office of Alumni Affairs and Development, the alumni giving rate was an alarming 2%. Historically, B-CU has always had lower-than-average giving which alumni must take responsibility for.
But one thing that won’t help improve that is the instability at the top. I meet and talk to alumni at the apex of their careers. They have a desire to financially support the school but will often opt out due to the unstable energy the school gives off. The problem becomes exponentially worse the longer we trek without a leader.
It’s not just the giving rates that suffer, it’s the student enrollment, it’s the hiring of top faculty and staff and so many other things that we just can’t afford to fall short on.
Again, this is not an article to admonish the school or the current leadership in place. This is a plea for action. Bethune-Cookman University has the propensity to be the best we’ve ever been. We can make it there, if we can solve our internal problems with the utmost focus and urgency. If for no other reason, think about the students who bet on themselves and traveled from near and far to be a part of this Bethune-Cookman University experience. They deserve better than they have been given these past several years. It’s up to us all to change that. So again, let’s start with filling that office in White Hall and completing this never-ending presidential search.
All Hail to Thee.
