Dr. Benjamin Ola. Akande, president of Westminster College since July 2015, resigned Friday.
Six members of the college's board of trustees also turned in their resignations, according to Westminster officials.
"We regret those departures, and I've thanked each one for their service," said board Chairman John Panettiere. "We are moving forward, and I am taking steps to bring our board together. Plus, I've already received significant interest from individuals in joining the board. There is a deep reservoir of people with passion and dedication to Westminster."
Akande did not give a reason for the departure.
"It has been an honor and a privilege to serve Westminster students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors and the entire Westminster community," Akande said in a statement Friday. "The changes we set in motion will have a long-term positive impact on the college, an accomplishment which gives me extreme pleasure."
One resignation came from Byron Bagby, a retired major general who sat on the college's board of trustees for about five years.
"I am no longer a trustee," he said Friday. "I have resigned as a trustee of Westminster College. My departure is for a variety of reasons."
Bagby said he would be willing to help with programs at the college, the newly minted ROTC program and classes about national security.
"I felt at this point in time I have nothing else to offer the board," he added. "For now, it's a matter of my individual conscious."
Westminster alumni were emailed a letter Friday at 10:45 a.m. written by Panettiere. He said Dr. Carolyn Perry, formerly senior vice president and dean of faculty, will assume the duties of president on an interim basis while college officials search for a replacement.
"We appreciate Dr. Akande's contributions to Westminster College, and we want to wish him the best in his future endeavors," Panettiere said in a press release Friday afternoon. "His term as president brought innovations, helping to position Westminster as a leading liberal art college for today's students."
Perry said the immediate needs of the college are keeping functions moving forward.
"I've already started meeting with student leaders and faculty leaders to talk about moving the college forward," she added. "We will focus on the good work of the college and pulling together to make that happen."
Student numbers for the coming school year, referenced in the Panettiere's letter, were not immediately available.
"We'll have them in the next week or two," Lana Poole, vice president and chief communications officer, aid.
Poole added Westminster College, now 166 years old, is in no danger of closing its doors.
"The answer is no," she said. "Our board is committed to seeing we stay in operation. the board is looking to create a more sustainable higher education model."
Akande, born in Nigeria, was the 21st president of Westminster College. Bagby also praised Akande's achievements at Westminster and said any college that gets him as a leader will be fortunate.
"He is a 21st century educator," he said. "If you look at the partnerships that he's built "
In the Friday afternoon press release from the college, Akande's achievements were noted.
"During Dr. Akande's two-year term as president, the college raised $15 million in donor contributions. The Westminster Fund grew 995 percent and alumni participation in that fund grew from 8 percent to 18 percent. Total alumni giving grew from 12 percent to 19 percent.
EARLIER COVERAGE:
Benjamin Ola. Akande, president of Westminster College since July 2015, resigned Friday.
"It has been an honor and a privilege to serve Westminster students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors and the entire Westminster community," he said in a prepared statement. "The changes we set in motion will have a long-term positive impact on the college, an accomplishment which gives me extreme pleasure."
Also resigning was Byron Bagby, a former brigadier general who sat on the college's board of trustees for about five years.
"I have resigned as a trustee of Westminster College," he said Friday. "My departure is for a variety of reasons."
Westminster alumni received an emailed letter at 10:45 a.m. Friday written by John M. Panettiere, chair of the Westminster board of trustees. He said Carolyn Perry, formerly senior vice president and dean of faculty, will assume the duties of president on an interim basis while college officials search for a replacement.
"We appreciate Dr. Akande's contributions to Westminster College, and we want to wish him the best in his future endeavors," Panettiere said in a news release Friday afternoon. "His term as president brought innovations, helping to position Westminster as a leading liberal art college for today's students."
Perry said the immediate needs of the college are keeping functions moving forward.
"I've already started meeting with student leaders and faculty leaders to talk about moving the college forward," she added. "We will focus on the good work of the college and pulling together to make that happen."
Student enrollment numbers for the coming school year, referenced in Panettiere's letter, were not immediately available.
"We'll have them in the next week or two," said Lana Poole, vice president and chief communications officer.
Poole noted Westminster College, now 166 years old, is in no danger of closing its doors.
"Our board is committed to seeing we stay in operation," she said. "The board is looking to create a more sustainable higher education model."
The link to the college's board of trustees website was unavailable Friday afternoon.
Bagby said he would be willing to help with programs at the college, the newly minted ROTC program and classes about national security.
"I felt at this point in time I have nothing else to offer the board," he said.
Akande, born in Nigeria, was the 21st president of Westminster College. Bagby also praised Akande's achievements at Westminster and said any college that gets him as a leader will be fortunate.
"He is a 21st century educator," Bagby said.
The college's Friday afternoon news release noted Akande's achievements as president: "During Dr. Akande's two-year term as president, the college raised $15 million in donor contributions. The Westminster Fund grew 995 percent and alumni participation in that fund grew from 8 percent to 18 percent. Total alumni giving grew from 12 percent to 19 percent. Over $4.3 million in endowment funds were secured, allowing the establishment of two endowed professorships. As part of his fiscal turnaround plan, Dr. Akande developed the college's first corporate partnership program. He introduced new academic and athletic programs to grow enrollment, including a new partnership with Washington University in St. Louis. Most recently, he worked to develop a brand for the college in order to increase awareness of Westminster in key markets."
A biography furnished by the college said Perry came to Westminster in 1991 to teach English and develop a "writing across the curriculum" program. She served as chair of both the English department and humanities division and has been a supporter of the Women's and Gender studies program.
William Woods University President Jahnae H. Barnett weighed in Friday about WWU's relationship with Westminster.
"As an institution, we have been proud to partner with Westminster in a number of ways while sharing the same host community, and will continue to look for new opportunities to do so in the future," she said.