> Skip to content
FEATURED:
  • The Evolution of Race in Admissions
Sign In
  • News
  • Advice
  • The Review
  • Data
  • Current Issue
  • Virtual Events
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
Sign In
  • News
  • Advice
  • The Review
  • Data
  • Current Issue
  • Virtual Events
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
  • News
  • Advice
  • The Review
  • Data
  • Current Issue
  • Virtual Events
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
Sign In
ADVERTISEMENT
News
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Show more sharing options
Share
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Copy Link URLCopied!
  • Print

Hampshire College’s Board Chair Resigns, Citing ‘Vitriol’ and ‘Slanderous Attacks’

By  Zipporah Osei
April 1, 2019
Gaye Hill has stepped down as chair of the Board of Trustees at Hampshire College.
Hampshire College
Gaye Hill has stepped down as chair of the Board of Trustees at Hampshire College.

The chair of Hampshire College’s Board of Trustees has resigned, the institution said on Monday. Gaye Hill, who had served as chair for six years, stepped down on Sunday and was replaced by Luis Hernandez, then vice chair, effective immediately.

6427 idea lab niche icon bullseye
Small Colleges Are Withering. Can Niches Save Them?
Leaders hope souped-up advising, international and research programs, and other ambitious offerings will keep them afloat. But can the institutions afford them, and will they work? It’s too soon to tell.
  • Can a Signature Program Save Your College?
  • 5 Paths for Small Colleges

The Massachusetts college has been financially troubled for several years. Fall enrollment fell more than 15 percent from 2015 to 2018, leading to sharp losses for the institution. At the start of the year, Miriam E. Nelson, the president, announced that Hampshire was looking for a partner to help keep the college running. A month later, officials confirmed they would not enroll a full fall class in 2019.

We’re sorry. Something went wrong.

We are unable to fully display the content of this page.

The most likely cause of this is a content blocker on your computer or network. Please make sure your computer, VPN, or network allows javascript and allows content to be delivered from c950.chronicle.com and chronicle.blueconic.net.

Once javascript and access to those URLs are allowed, please refresh this page. You may then be asked to log in, create an account if you don't already have one, or subscribe.

If you continue to experience issues, contact us at 202-466-1032 or help@chronicle.com

Gaye Hill has stepped down as chair of the Board of Trustees at Hampshire College.
Hampshire College
Gaye Hill has stepped down as chair of the Board of Trustees at Hampshire College.

The chair of Hampshire College’s Board of Trustees has resigned, the institution said on Monday. Gaye Hill, who had served as chair for six years, stepped down on Sunday and was replaced by Luis Hernandez, then vice chair, effective immediately.

6427 idea lab niche icon bullseye
Small Colleges Are Withering. Can Niches Save Them?
Leaders hope souped-up advising, international and research programs, and other ambitious offerings will keep them afloat. But can the institutions afford them, and will they work? It’s too soon to tell.

The Massachusetts college has been financially troubled for several years. Fall enrollment fell more than 15 percent from 2015 to 2018, leading to sharp losses for the institution. At the start of the year, Miriam E. Nelson, the president, announced that Hampshire was looking for a partner to help keep the college running. A month later, officials confirmed they would not enroll a full fall class in 2019.

Since then, college leaders’ decision making has drawn intense scrutiny. The resignation occurred weeks after a faculty vote, later invalidated, on a resolution expressing a lack of confidence in the decisions of the college’s president, the leaders of its Board of Trustees, and its chief financial officer.

ADVERTISEMENT

Hill said in a written statement about her departure that despite wanting to “bring Hampshire through the worst financial crisis in its history,” the “vitriol, slanderous attacks, and the questioning of motives” leveled against her and her colleagues had motivated her to resign.

“I’ve become a lightning rod for criticism and felt it was time to step away,” she said.

Hernandez and the vice chair, Kim Saal, said in the statement about the resignation that the board was confident in a smooth transition and expressed support for Hill.

“We’ve worked alongside Gaye on the board for many years and have the highest regard for her leadership and wisdom,” said the statement. “She has been a steadfast advocate for this institution — for all members of our community — and a most generous benefactor.”

ADVERTISEMENT

The college is still discussing potential partnerships with a number of institutions. Nelson, along with other board members, has said that uncertainty about leadership could be “very catastrophic” for the institution. Drastic changes in leadership could cause lenders to call in loans on the college’s nearly $27 million in debt.

“As we move into this next phase of our work to bring about a sustainable future for Hampshire, we’ll keep our focus, engage the working groups and the community at large, and continue to communicate with you about our progress,” Hernandez and Saal said on Monday.

Follow Zipporah Osei on Twitter at @zipporahosei, or email her at zipporah.osei@chronicle.com.

We welcome your thoughts and questions about this article. Please email the editors or submit a letter for publication.
Leadership & GovernanceFinance & Operations
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Related Content

  • How Hampshire Was Brought to the Brink
  • In Massachusetts, the Market for Small, Liberal-Arts Colleges Is in Decline
  • Explore
    • Get Newsletters
    • Letters
    • Free Reports and Guides
    • Blogs
    • Virtual Events
    • Chronicle Store
    • Find a Job
    Explore
    • Get Newsletters
    • Letters
    • Free Reports and Guides
    • Blogs
    • Virtual Events
    • Chronicle Store
    • Find a Job
  • The Chronicle
    • About Us
    • DEI Commitment Statement
    • Write for Us
    • Talk to Us
    • Work at The Chronicle
    • User Agreement
    • Privacy Policy
    • California Privacy Policy
    • Site Map
    • Accessibility Statement
    The Chronicle
    • About Us
    • DEI Commitment Statement
    • Write for Us
    • Talk to Us
    • Work at The Chronicle
    • User Agreement
    • Privacy Policy
    • California Privacy Policy
    • Site Map
    • Accessibility Statement
  • Customer Assistance
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise With Us
    • Post a Job
    • Advertising Terms and Conditions
    • Reprints & Permissions
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
    Customer Assistance
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise With Us
    • Post a Job
    • Advertising Terms and Conditions
    • Reprints & Permissions
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
  • Subscribe
    • Individual Subscriptions
    • Institutional Subscriptions
    • Subscription & Account FAQ
    • Manage Newsletters
    • Manage Your Account
    Subscribe
    • Individual Subscriptions
    • Institutional Subscriptions
    • Subscription & Account FAQ
    • Manage Newsletters
    • Manage Your Account
1255 23rd Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037
© 2023 The Chronicle of Higher Education
  • twitter
  • instagram
  • youtube
  • facebook
  • linkedin