Former Dean at U. of Alabama Will Get More Than $300,000 in Severance

U. of Alabama at Tuscaloosa

Jamie D. Riley, the former dean of students at the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa, resigned the same day that the right-wing outlet Breitbart News resurfaced some of his old tweets. As part of his resignation, Riley will receive more than $300,000 in severance, amounting to nearly two years of pay, according to his separation agreement, which The Chronicle obtained through an open-records request.

The hasty nature of Riley’s resignation may heighten questions on the campus about the circumstances surrounding his departure. Since then, students have protested, demanding answers and better diversity and inclusion efforts from the administration.

On September 4 in the early afternoon, Breitbart published an article featuring three tweets by Riley, who is black. In one, Riley wrote that the American flag “represents a systemic history of racism for my people.” The most recent of the three tweets was posted in October 2017. Riley, who could not be reached for comment on Friday, started his position at Alabama this past February.

In the agreement, which bears Riley’s signature and is dated September 4, 2019, both Riley and the university “deny any wrongdoing associated with their employment relationship,” and the university agreed to provide Riley with a “neutral reference” for future employment. Riley also agreed to keep any details and discussions related to his departure “strictly confidential, and shall not be discussed, referred to, or communicated by either party or their lawyers to any other person or entity.”

The agreement also says Riley will be paid $43,750 in four monthly installments through the rest of 2019. Then, on January 31, 2020, Riley will receive two checks: one equivalent to his yearly salary of $175,000, and another totaling $127,450.

In the wake of Riley’s resignation, Alabama’s campus has seen student protests, sit-ins, and student-government votes for reform. Faculty members have also made demands of the Alabama administration.

Carina Villarreal, a senior at Alabama and a protest organizer, told The Crimson White, a student newspaper, that she believed the protests were addressing issues that have plagued Alabama since long before Riley’s resignation.

“Obviously the catalyst was everything that was going on with the previous dean and forced resignation,” Villarreal said. “But this is really just us trying to get a united front and change the student culture at UA.”

Marquis Hollingsworth, a senior, told The Chronicle two weeks after Riley’s resignation that he and a group of students had met with Stuart R. Bell, the university’s president, who listened to the students and their concerns.

“This campus is a great place to be,” Hollingsworth said. “Unfortunately, we have our shortcomings and whatnot, but the University of Alabama is truly a great place; it just has a lot to learn, is all.”

Wesley Jenkins is an editorial intern at The Chronicle. Follow him on Twitter @_wesjenks, or email him at wjenkins@chronicle.com.