JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. — James Netherton, the embattled president of Carson-Newman College, is resigning from the Baptist-affiliated school to become executive vice president for administration and finance at Mercer University in Macon, Ga. Netherton, president of Carson-Newman since 2000, has been under pressure in recent months. He was the target of 129–71 "no confidence" vote from the faculty Oct. 4, followed by similar actions by retired faculty and alumni.
Critics accused Netherton, 59, of incompetence and mistreating faculty, and they blamed him for declining enrollment and financial pressures at the Tennessee Baptist Convention school in Jefferson City, Tenn. In recent weeks, trustees held listening sessions around the state to hear from faculty, alumni and other constituencies. The dispute appeared headed for a showdown at the March trustees meeting until Netherton suddenly announced his departure Feb. 16. He will leave Carson-Newman May 31, although the Mercer position won’t begin until Oct. 1. In his new post at Mercer, Netherton will oversee the treasurer’s office, compensation and benefits, human resources, budget and analysis, information technology, physical plant, Mercer Health Systems, intercollegiate athletics and other departments.
From 1996 until 2000, Netherton was provost at Samford University in Birmingham, an Alabama Baptist school.
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