Morris Brown College’s president, Dr. Kevin E. James, is back in office barely a week after being abruptly fired, capping a tumultuous stretch that has thrown the small Atlanta institution into the spotlight.
The reversal has renewed questions about campus leadership, governance, and workplace culture at the historically Black college.
On Jan. 12, James announced that the Morris Brown Board of Trustees had terminated his contract, saying he was given no specific cause or substantive explanation for the decision. The college quickly named trustee Nzinga Shaw as interim president and publicly thanked James for his service, signaling what appeared to be a clean break.
Within days, however, the board reversed course, voting to reinstate James and updating the college’s website and social media to reflect that he had resumed his role as president. In a statement, trustees said a review showed his separation “did not fully comply” with procedural and contractual requirements in his employment agreement.
Allegations against James surface
Even as James returns, documents obtained by local media describe multiple grievances filed by staff members alleging sexual harassment, abuse, threats, managerial intimidation, and the creation of a hostile work environment.
According to a complaint obtained by Channel 2 Action News, James was accused of mishandling a sexual misconduct report and engaging in retaliatory treatment, while another cited unprofessional administrative tactics and presidential overreach.
A board statement acknowledged the turmoil, saying trustees “deeply regret the harm” caused to students, families, donors, staff, supporters, and to James himself, according to the report. The board also conceded that fixing what it called a “governance and process failure” would not, on its own, resolve broader concerns about workplace culture and trust on campus.
Former trustee Jeffery Miller, who once voted to hire James, told Channel 2 Action News the board was “incompetent” for the abrupt turnabout and argued that “it’s time to move forward” with new leadership.
At the same time, the board has highlighted James’s accomplishments, including leading Morris Brown through a widely praised comeback that restored its accreditation nearly two decades after it was lost. In public statements, trustees credited his leadership with renewed national visibility and institutional stability, even as they acknowledged ongoing internal concerns.
