Sonoma State University president abruptly announces retirement
(KRON) — The president of Sonoma State University abruptly announced his retirement on Thursday, one day after he was placed on administrative leave following a controversial agreement with campus protesters. President Mike Lee sent out a campus-wide message on Tuesday, agreeing to meet a set of demands put forth by students protesting the war in Gaza on campus.
However, the following day, California State University Chancellor Mildred Garcia issued a statement saying Lee had struck the agreement without the appropriate approvals. The chancellor also announced that Lee had been placed on administrative leave.
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Lee’s agreement with the protesters was met with backlash with State Sen. Scott Weiner accusing the university president of “blacklisting Israel.” Chancellor Garcia called Lee’s actions “insubordination.”
Lee went on to issue a second statement, saying in part, “In my attempt to find agreement with one group of students, I marginalized other members of our student population and community.”
On Thursday, Chancellor Garcia put out another statement saying that Lee had informed her of “his decision to retire from his role at Sonoma State University.”
“I thank President Lee for his years of service to California State University — starting at California State University, Sacramento — and to higher education overall. I wish him and his family well,” Garcia said.
Dr. Nathan Evans, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs and Chief Academic Officer, has assumed the role of acting president of Sonoma State in Lee’s absence.
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