The president of a historically black public university in Missouri has been placed on paid administrative leave after a former administrator committed suicide earlier this month, citing “abuse” he suffered at the hands of the president. has been done.
On January 8, Dr. Antoinette “Bonnie” Candia-Bailey, former vice president of student affairs at Lincoln University, took her own life. Just 49 years old, Candia-Bailey sent her disturbing emails shortly before her death, accusing President John Moseley of taking her leave for mental health treatment before ultimately firing her. He claimed to have targeted him.
“You had no intention of retaining me as (vice president of student affairs),” the email said in part, according to the report. USA Today. “Due to my severe depression and anxiety, the situation worsened after my FMLA and ADA papers were filed. This is causing significant attacks, which is why I am under your leadership (President) This is all documented and an email was sent.'' ”
The email also referenced a devastating performance review that Candia-Bailey received last November. Her score was only 36 out of 100. terminating characterIn a Jan. 3 letter, she claimed that she was “terminated due to continued failure to provide proper supervision.” [her] Failed to provide adequate oversight of the student affairs area at Lincoln University. ”
“Lincoln is where I began and where I end,” Candia-Bailey wrote in what appears to be a suicide note.
Moseley, who is white, became the athletic director at Lincoln University in 2015 after serving as the head basketball coach for years. In 2022 he was promoted to rector. Last May, he hired Candia Bailey, a graduate of the school, to great success. Fanfare.
“We are very excited to have Dr. Candia Bailey join our team. She brings a wealth of experience to advance student affairs and the university as a whole.” Moseley said at that time. “The department is essential to students’ college experience beyond the classroom, and I am confident she is the right leader to guide that effort.”
However, their professional relationship quickly soured, sources said. HBCU topics It said Moseley regularly “bullied and severely abused” Kandia-Bailey and ignored her “cries for help.” After her death, students, alumni and others began using hashtags to demand Moseley's immediate firing. #firemosely Get your messages trending on social media.
”Let our collective voice be heard. #FireMoseley,” one alumnus known only wrote. coach willmorealso spoke to USA Today about Candia Bailey's death. “Together, we can create a movement for a safer, more compassionate world.#Justice for Bonnie#break the silence#University of Lincoln, Missouri#HBCU@hbcuuzz@hbcupridenation @hbcu_uaf @hbcugrad@HbcuPass. ”
In a letter to the university's board of curators, alumnus Frances E. “Can we act in the best interests of black youth?”
In a statement, the board said Moseley was placed in paid administration while a “third party” investigated “potential personnel issues and concerns that have recently been raised regarding compliance with the University's established policies and procedures.” He claimed to have volunteered to take leave.
As a Board, the mental health of Lincoln University staff is our top priority and we are committed to ensuring that all staff are treated with dignity and respect at all times. While the Board of Trustees has confidence in Lincoln University's leadership team, and as we all work together to serve our students and the Lincoln University community, this review will ensure that important questions and concerns are fully explored and the facts Collect. Dr Moseley agreed that these issues should be considered and volunteered to take leave during the review so that they could proceed in a completely independent manner.
Candia Bailey received her Ph.D. She earned her master's degree in Leadership Studies, a master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling Disability Studies, and has spent decades cultivating a career in academic administration and DEI promotion. In her last stop before Lincoln, she served as Chief Diversity Officer and Title IX Coordinator at Elms College in Chicopee, Massachusetts.
“I believe that diversity work is like a puzzle. I strive to help individuals find the pieces of the puzzle,” she says, “to help Black women develop their identities and examine their self-worth.” said Candia Bailey, who is described as “passionate” to help.
According to federal data cited by USA Today, 44% of HBCU students identify as black and 40% as white.
Neither Moseley nor the university responded to USA Today's requests for comment.
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