The embattled former president of Western Illinois University is stepping down from his current job.
Dr. Jack Thomas told the Central State University Board of Trustees that he won’t seek renewal of his contract as president of the institution near Dayton, Ohio.
“After taking an educational sabbatical, I plan to continue serving the students of Central State University as a tenured professor,” he said in a written announcement.
Thomas signed a three-year contract with Central State about a year after leaving Western in 2019.
Thomas said he accomplished what he set out to do as Central State’s president.
“We introduced a bold strategy to enhance productivity, progress rapidly, and ensure accountability at the University,” he wrote.
However, Thomas came under scrutiny in the past year after five women who worked for the school asked for an internal investigation into his conduct. The investigation concluded that Thomas was rude, belittling, and bullying, but that his conduct did not constitute harassment or discrimination.
After that, some of the women filed lawsuits against the university, and all five filed charges with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission.
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