Nelson Turned Down Job at Texas Southern University
President says that he still has work to do at Lincoln
Allycia White
Issue date: 3/10/08 Section: News
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"They wanted me," says Nelson, whose contract at Lincoln is scheduled to expire in 2009. "They offered me the job."
In a wide-ranging interview with The Lincolnian, Nelson, 73, says that he was asked to take the helm of the 61-year old Historically Black College and University after its former president, Priscilla Slade, was fired pending two criminal charges due to the mishandling of university funds for personal finances.
"I am not interested. I am not looking for a job," says Nelson.
Last month, the Board of Trustees at TSU announced that it had appointed Dr. John Rudley, an alumnus of the school, to the top position.
Officials at TSU could not be reached for comment, but the university has been plagued by a series of problems. Last year, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools placed the university on probation for noncompliance with regulations on financial management and administration. In published reports, university officials say that improvements have been made and that the probation will likely be lifted by the end of the year.
While it's unclear what Nelson will do when his contract expires next year, the former chemistry professor who served as president of Central Washington University before coming to Lincoln in 1999, says that he's focused on his work here.
Next month, the university will undergo evaluation for reaccreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. According to Nelson, this played a role in his decision to remain at the university.
"Time is about everything," says Nelson. "Texas Southern wanted a president that could be there now. Short of death, there would be nothing that would make me leave Lincoln University before that accreditation took place."
Nelson says that he has received many other offers during his tenure at Lincoln.
"Since I've been here, eight years, I've probably had two to three offers a year to be considered president somewhere else. I just simply said no," says Nelson, who added that he feels obligated to see the construction projects on campus-which he orchestrated-through to completion.
"I got a lot of stuff here that I would like to see finished."
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