David Joyce has resigned from Averett University after just three months as its president.
The university announced that Joyce is stepping down due to a recent medical diagnosis his wife received.
Venita Mitchell, vice president of student engagement, is now acting president. The university has contracted with higher education search firm Academic Search to fill the position.
In an email sent to faculty and staff this morning and obtained by Cardinal News, board of trustees chair Dan Carlton said, “The search is ongoing and the board is currently interviewing candidates.”
When Joyce was named in December to take over for retiring president Tiffany Franks, Carlton remarked on Joyce’s previous experience, “with a proven record of turning around a college or university that was facing headwinds.”
Joyce was most recently president of Brevard College in North Carolina. He has also served as president of Ripon College in Wisconsin and Union College in Kentucky.
Averett has found itself in dire financial straits over the past year.
The private university in Danville revealed in spring 2024 that officials had discovered financial mismanagement. The subsequent shortfall required budget cuts, including staff furlough days and programming cuts.
A federal lawsuit filed in late March by the university against its financial adviser and former chief financial officer stated that the university’s endowment has dwindled to less than $2 million.
Deborah Hall, the interim chief financial officer who joined Averett with Joyce, will remain at Averett, according to the university’s announcement.
