During the Nov. 14 Tennessee’s State Building Commission meeting, the finances of Tennessee State University faced intense examination. This has been an ongoing concern that led to the dismissal of TSU’s entire board last March and the appointment of Ronald Johnson, Ph.D., as the interim president in July. Particular Concerns and Fault Attribution
A current advisory contract with former president Glenda Glover, Ph.D., who retired last June, is of great concern. The contract is set to pay her an estimated $800,000, despite the school’s financial difficulties. The cash situation is so tight that a $30 million infusion from the state was necessary for TSU to meet payroll this month. Regarding how TSU reached this volatile position, all parties - Johnson, his team, and Commission members - agreed that the fault lies with Glover and the previous administration. According to Johnson, they made repeated poor decisions with few, if any, checks and balances. “It has essentially put the institution in a crippled position,” Johnson said.
House Speaker's Question
House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, asked a pointed question: “Why would you continue to pay her a lot of money to advise on a situation that we’re dealing with because of her leadership when she was at the helm of the university?” Johnson couldn't provide an answer as he noted that Glover’s contract was a board decision and he wasn't privy to the details. He also couldn't say whether the contract is voidable.
Simple Solution and Glover's Past Actions
Despite the queries, there is a simple solution. In the spirit of accountability and commitment to TSU’s legacy and future mission, Glover can return the money. She should let CoreCivic's experience be her guide. In February 2021, Glover accepted a position on the board of CoreCivic, a Brentwood-based, for-profit prison system under federal investigation for civil rights violations. In a press release, Damon Hininger cited her “extraordinary combination of expertise” and her “lifelong calling” of creating educational opportunities. Glover claimed her goal was to help incarcerated Black people and was planning to donate her board compensation (estimated to be over $200,000) to TSU.
TSU's External and Internal Distress
It is crucial to make clear that the state's historic underfunding of TSU is despicable and has led to its own crippling. The school has been forced to make do with very little, spreading its meager resources to plug one hole while another widens. Johnson is making early efforts to stabilize the university's finances while emphasizing that the state needs to repay every dollar owed. It is shameful for anyone, especially a Black person, to lead a struggling institution and make a bad situation worse. This applies to TSU as well. In the Nov. 16 edition of the Black Tennessee Voices newsletter, the Building Commission meeting and the public airing of TSU’s issues were discussed. It was unfortunate but necessary. As attention turns to Glover and her poor decision-making, it can lead to a positive outcome. It would have been better if Glover had been at the meeting to answer for her decisions that Johnson believes have crippled TSU. Specifically, she could have explained why she used federal COVID relief to extend four-year scholarships to incoming freshmen with only funds to cover their first year. While the remainder of her $800,000 contract won't eliminate all of TSU’s financial woes, every dollar helps.Andrea Williams is an opinion columnist for The Tennessean and curator of the Black Tennessee Voices initiative. She has a rich background in covering country music, sports, race, and society. Email her at
[email protected] or follow her on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @AndreaWillWrite.
