Morehouse College starts off 2018 with a fresh new administrative direction as David A. Thomas, the 12th president in the history of the institution, started his tenure New Years Day. The Morehouse College Board of Trustees voted to appoint David A. Thomas as the college’s 12th president on October 15, 2017. The appointment comes after a tumultuous year for Morehouse College that started after it was announced that they weren’t renewing the contract of former president John S. Wilson Jr. in last January. By April, Morehouse’s Board of Trustees voted to remove Wilson from his duties effective immediately and appointed William Taggart as president. Sadly, William Taggart passed away in June and Harold L. Martin Jr. took over interim presidential duties until the appointment of the 12th president.
Thomas has an intriguing background, actually wanting to attend Morehouse Univesity as he was approaching is undergrad tenure. However, he wasn’t able to receive financial aid and attended Yale on a scholarship instead. Thomas went on to become Dean of Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business from 2011 to 2016. During his tenure the school exceeded it’s $100 million fundraising goal by $30 million and increased the percentage of women and minority students. He also served as a professor and administrator at Harvard University. Thomas also makes history as the first non-Morehouse graduate to lead the institution since Benjamin E. Mays, who served his tenure from 1940 to 1967.
Thomas comes into Morehouse with high ambitions. He aims to provide more scholarships to help students like him that are interested in attending the prestigious historically black institution. He told Atlanta Journal-Constitution in an interview, “I want to leave Morehouse in a position where there will never be another David Thomas. A young man who knows Morehouse is the right place for him and the only thing that separates him is the ability to pay.
The future is starting to look up for one of America’s most prestigious college institutions. With Thomas at the helm, Morehouse will be prominent for years to come!
Sources
- Stirgus, Eric. “Breaking: Morehouse College names new president.” Morehouse College board picks new president, Atlanta-Journal Constitution, 16 Oct. 2017, www.ajc.com/news/local-education/breaking-morehouse-college-names-new-president/OynPpZDhx0ewkJ2rdb1mqN/amp.html.
- Stirgus, Eric. “Morehouse College prepares for its next chapter“. Atlanta-Journal Constitution, 29 Dec. 2017 www.ajc.com/news/local-education/morehouse-college-prepares-for-its-next-chapter/BBwDPAhHcDbJWZ3JcGdx3I/.
