Students Reflect on ASU President Gwendolyn Boyd’s First Year in Office
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Alabama State University President Gwendolyn Boyd has been on job for about a year now. She came into a chaotic atmosphere, at a time when students were still upset about the firing of former President Joseph Silver and the university was in the midst of a governor-ordered audit.
So what’s been the reaction to her first year at the helm?
Gwendolyn Boyd is an ASU graduate and made history when she became the school’s first female president. But shortly after she took office, there was controversy. We’ve highlighted a few of Boyd’s past troubles but students say it seems as if things have only changed for the better.
When you ask ASU students about President Gwendolyn Boyd, they have only good things to say.
“She did a lot of things to get the students involved,” says Tevin Rudolph
“I think she’s one of the best presidents we’ve ever had,” says Rodney Bell.
But it took some time before students and staff warmed up to Boyd.
“It was very crazy,” student Marah Williams says of this time last year. “A lot of people weren’t sure what was going next. They weren’t sure if they were going to have to leave.”
Before her first day on the job, Boyd made national news about a “no-cohabitation clause” added to her contract which forbids her from allowing anyone she’s romantically involved with, from living in her on-campus home. She didn’t object to the clause but her controversy didn’t end there.
Boyd made headlines again in March, for changing the day of the Turkey Day Classic.
In May, local elected officials spoke out against ASU landing the Montgomery Interpretive Center, a civil rights museum.
Then in June, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools placed ASU on a six month warning period for compliance issues..
It doesn’t end there.
In July, Boyd’s one-thousand dollar monthly car allowance came into question particularly because she doesn’t own a car.
Then, board member Elton Dean resigns on Alabama State radio, while board member Marvin Wiggins is fired by Governor Robert Bentley. Despite all of this and more…students say Boyd is improving ASU.
“The atmosphere of the school…it’s different,” says Torres Vines.
“I think she really had to get through her first year, grind it out the first year and you can really start to see the smoke clearing,” Williams says.
We did try to reach out to President Gwendolyn Boyd today to get her take on things. We were told by her media representative that he would not make an effort to set up an interview for this story.
Gwendolyn Boyd has a two year contract with Alabama State University.
