Nikole Hannah-Jones & UNC Reach Settlement In Tenure Dispute
Nikole Hannah-Jones and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have reached a settlement after the acclaimed journalist was not offered tenure by the university initially. The News & Observer of N.C. reported that the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees Chair David Boliek confirmed the settlement of less than $75,000.
The settlement was reached to avoid a formal lawsuit, which by Hannah-Jones and her attorneys never filed.
“The steps taken to resolve the lingering potential legal action posed by Ms. Hannah-Jones will hopefully help to close this chapter and give the University the space to focus on moving forward,” Boliek expressed in a statement to the outlet.
The lack of tenure initially offered to Hannah-Jones ignited a national controversy, where the Pulitzer-prize winning journalist received supports from scholars, UNC faculty, and alumni and students of the university.
Amid the controversy, the Board of Trustees later called a vote on Hannah-Jones’ tenure, voting 9-4 to grant her tenure. Hannah-Jones decided to decline UNC’s offer and accept a position to be an inaugural Knight Chair at Howard University.
