Dear ASU Alumni & Supporters,
Thank you for your unwavering dedication and collective advocacy on behalf of Albany State University. Because of your efforts, we successfully caused the Board of Regents to make some important adjustments to its plans. We are relieved that Dr. Lawrence Drake was not selected as president, given his lack of experience and concerning track record.
During the Board of Regents’ Specially Called Teleconference Meeting today, Monday, March 3, 2025, the Board announced Dr. Robert Scott as the sole finalist for the position of President of Albany State University. We hope to work with Dr. Scott to grow and sustain our beloved institution.
However, we must acknowledge that this selection raises serious concerns about the legitimacy of the search process, as numerous highly credentialed candidates—each with significantly more experience—were not even granted an interview.
The ASU Task Force remains deeply troubled by the flawed and opaque nature of the USG Board of Regents’ National Search Committee process. It was, in essence, a farce rather than a genuine effort to identify the most qualified leader for our institution. As a result, Albany State University was deprived of the opportunity to benefit from an authentic, merit-based selection process. Once again, the Board of Regents has handpicked a president without meaningful input from the ASU community.
We remain steadfast in our commitment to advocating for a transparent, rigorous, and inclusive selection process—one that ensures ASU receives the leadership it rightfully deserves. While we assess the best course of action, please suspend any further emails to the Board of Regents members until the next steps are determined. The ASU Task Force will follow up soon with further guidance.
In the meantime, let us take a moment to recognize the significance of our collective success in preventing Dr. Lawrence Drake’s appointment. Together, we will continue to fight for the future of Albany State University.
Sincerely,
The ASU Presidential Search Task Force