Morris Brown College has reversed course and reinstated Dr. Kevin James as its president just eight days after abruptly firing him, marking a dramatic leadership turnaround at the historic HBCU.
James, who announced his sudden termination on January 12 without a clear explanation from the Board of Trustees, appeared to have been removed without “specific cause or substantive explanation,” according to a statement he shared on LinkedIn at the time.
But on Tuesday, Morris Brown’s official leadership directory was updated to list James once again as president, signaling that he has been reinstated to the role he has held since 2019.
On Instagram, James posted a screenshot of a news article about his reinstatement on social media with the caption, “The Hard Reset Part II,” a reference to the resurgence initiative he has championed at the college.
James’ leadership has been pivotal in shepherding Morris Brown through a significant resurgence in recent years. Under his watch, the institution regained full accreditation in 2022 after nearly two decades without it, a milestone that allowed the school to restore federal financial aid access and rebuild enrollment from its lowest levels in recent history.
His firing earlier this month drew confusion and concern from students and the broader community. Students expressed shock and frustration at the abrupt leadership change, noting that the move came without explanation and during the second week of the spring semester.
The reinstatement comes as the college has not publicly explained the sudden reversal, and efforts by local media to obtain official comment have, as of this writing, not received a formal explanation from the institution.
Photo Credit: DigitalByDash
