President and CEO Eddie N. Moore, Jr. of Norfolk State University (Photo from Norfolk State University)

(Note: a video statement from President Moore is available at the end of this article.)

Norfolk State University President and CEO Eddie N. Moore, Jr. announced in writing his retirement to the NSU Board of Visitors on Monday, Sept. 25. The BOV formally accepted his retirement decision through a special call meeting the same day and said they will “soon name an interim president and delineate the plan for conducting a national search for a new president.” In a statement to members of the Norfolk State University Community, the Board said “The next president of this outstanding institution will find both great responsibility and unparalleled opportunity. The Board of Visitors is confident that we will identify the right leader.”

President Moore will continue to serve until the end of the calendar year.

President Moore began service with NSU in the fall of 2013 and immediately faced the challenge of dealing with the university’s probation with their accrediting body, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), due to unfinished annual audits and what the BOV said were “serious institutional governance issues.”

President Moore was hired due to his previous success as President of Virginia State University and his financial expertise as State Treasurer, which the BOV characterized as “sterling and outstanding service to the Commonwealth of Virginia.”

“President Moore provided the necessary leadership to fully correct (the SACSCOC) deficiencies and restore the university’s good standing with SACSCOC within a two-year period,” the BOV said in its statement.

Moore was invested as the sixth president of Norfolk State University a little over a year ago on Sept. 16, 2016. During his administration, NSU experienced an overall improvement in retention and graduation rates, the completion of three new buildings, as well as a communication tower, and initiated a major rebranding effort.

President Moore released a video statement Monday afternoon after the BOV’s announcement. The video is available in its entirety below.