Knoxville College leaders announced plans to install an interim president following Rotesha Harris’ departure on July 23. Harris, who previously served on the college’s board, was appointed last December after serving in the interim role. She succeeded Leonard Adams, who stepped down in June 2024, prompting the board to launch a nationwide search for the school’s next president.
In a statement issued on July 31 on the Knoxville College Alumni Association’s Official Homecoming Facebook page, the school said Harris’ departure was based on “careful deliberation by the board.”
“To ensure a seamless transition, the Board is implementing an interim leadership plan that will support operational continuity and uphold the education experience for our students.” The statement read.
Updates on the plan are anticipated to be released in a few weeks, according to the statement.
The school's financial records show Knoxville College is roughly $2.3 million in debt, up $500,000 from 2022.
The announcement comes as the school's administrative office, which was housed inside a modular trailer, was removed from campus earlier this summer. In 2023, Adams told WUOT news the structure was slated to serve as a future classroom for students.
“Our goal, ultimately in our 10-year plan, is to reach 11,101 students total,” Adams said. “And that's a mixture of campus, commuter and online.”
WUOT news reached out to the board chair for comment but did not immediately hear back by the time of this publication.
Knoxville College, located in Mechanicsville, is the last historically black college in East Tennessee. The school lost its accreditation in 1997 in part to financial issues. Its 54-acre campus closed its doors in 2015 due to the dilapidated condition of the buildings. In November 2024, one of the buildings on the abandoned campus burnt to the ground.
Last August, the school announced it has submitted an accreditation application through the Transnational Association of Colleges and Schools. The status of the application is unclear. Without accreditation, the college is not eligible for state or federal financial aid.
