After less than a year in office, Dr. Nicole Pride, the first female president of West Virginia State University (WVSU) resigned from her post effective immediately. More than half of Pride’s cabinet members recently called on WVSU’s Board of Governors to fire her amid allegations of a hostile work environment under her leadership.
In an almost five-hour meeting on Friday afternoon, the Board of the historically Black university voted unanimously to accept Pride’s resignation letter. According to a statement from the Board, WVSU’s vice president and chief of staff, Ericke S. Cage, will have operational control of the university “pending the appointment of an interim president.” The Board voted that Cage cannot hire, fire, or change the employment terms for university personnel or execute contracts without their prior consent.
“I appreciate the faith the Board of Governors has placed in me, and I will work closely with fellow members of the senior administration to carry out the day-to-day operations of West Virginia State University and do what is in the best interests of our students, faculty, and staff,” said Cage in the statement.
Cage and Pride did not respond to interview requests.
This swift presidential resignation came over a week after an anonymous source leaked to the Charleston Gazette-Mail a letter of “no confidence” in Pride signed by most of her cabinet members and addressed to the Board. Signatories included WVSU’s then-provost, general counsel, and lead financial official, as well as the vice president for university advancement and the vice president for research and public service.
The letter urged the Board to remove Pride “to allow for an investigation,” alleging specific incidents of inappropriate behavior directed toward colleagues. “Condescending and abusive dialogue are common in exchanges with Dr. Pride,” wrote the signatories in the Gazette-Mail’s report.
In the wake of Pride’s resignation, many WVSU alumni have expressed alarm and concern about the future of the institution.
