RALEIGH, NC – Saint Augustine’s University (SAU) has announced new leadership while the institution continues to move forward as one of North Carolina’s most prominent historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The university’s Board of Trustees announced the appointment of Dr. Marcus H. Burgess as interim president, effective immediately.

Dr. Burgess’s appointment comes after the most recent appointment of Dr. Leslie Rodriguez-McClellon as Acting President and the firing of former President Christine McPhail.

“We, the SAU Board of Trustees, have selected Dr. Marcus H. Burgess as Interim President of SAU,” said The Honorable Chief Justice James E.C. Perry, Chairman of the SAU Board of Trustees. “At this critical juncture, we believe Dr. Burgess has many resources he brings to SAU. Namely, resources that will assist SAU to the recent Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) decision.”

Dr. Burgess most recently served as Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Claflin University after holding the position of Associate Vice President for Major and Planned Gifts. Before his return to Claflin in 2019, Burgess served several institutions in a leadership capacity, including York Technical College in Rockhill, SC, as the Executive Director for Campaigns and Strategic Initiatives; Florida Memorial University, Miami Gardens, FL, as the Vice President for University Advancement; and Voorhees College as the Vice President for Institutional Advancement.

“I am deeply honored to step into the role of Interim President at Saint Augustine’s University and am committed to advancing the mission of excellence in education,” said Dr. Burgess. “I am committed to ushering in a new era of stability and growth for the university, ensuring its continued accreditation and fostering a culture of transparency and collaboration. I stand with the dedicated faculty, staff, and students as we navigate these challenges and build a promising future for SAU.”

During his first stint at Claflin, Dr. Burgess was a former director of alumni affairs and annual fund, where he achieved an alumni giving percentage of over 45 percent, pushing them towards a goal of 50 percent, and a former K-12 public school administrator.

Burgess is a native of Cades, South Carolina. He is a 1996 graduate of Claflin University, where he earned a BS in Elementary Education, a 2000 Graduate of The Citadel, earning a MS in Education Administration and Supervision, and a 2020 graduate of Vanderbilt University’s Peabody School of Education, earning a Doctorate of Education in Learning and Leadership in Organizations.

About Saint Augustine’s University (SAU)
Saint Augustine’s University (SAU) was established in 1867 in Raleigh, NC by the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina. A four-year liberal arts university with an average enrollment of approximately 1,000, SAU sits on 105 lush acres just north of Downtown Raleigh. For more Information, visit www.st-aug.edu.

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