Kim Mayo [RIGHT] and her classmate meet at Shorebreak Taphouse for an alumni-organized gathering.
Photo: Kim Mayo | Courtesy
While the university said she resigned from the Alumni Council, Kim Mayo ‘98 said she learned second-hand about her removal from the position.
Former Alumni Council member Kim Mayo ‘98 said she learned that the university website no longer listed her as a member of the alumni council via messages from friends on Oct. 13. Contrary to the university’s account, Mayo said she planned to complete her term on the council.
“I did not resign from the Alumni Council,” Mayo said. “I was kicked off the Alumni Council.” Mayo said she emailed Chief of Staff Kelly Cordova on Oct. 14 asking why her name was no longer listed.
Alumni-run social media accounts shared Cordova’s email response to Mayo, which said that her public statements and actions indicated she did not wish to be involved with the University or its future. In the email, Cordova said she accepted Mayo’s recent activity as her “de facto resignation,” and asked Mayo to inform her if this was a misinterpretation.
According to Cordova, “On Oct. 3, Ms. Mayo directly informed a senior officer within the VWU Trinder Center for Advancement that she was resigning from the Alumni Council, but said she wished to ‘make a statement’ first. She declined to volunteer during the university’s Homecoming & Family Weekend activities (Oct. 4), as all Council members were asked to do, and instead joined the ‘No-Home’ Homecoming events.”
“We interpreted that to be the statement she referenced, and that Monday (Oct. 6), we accepted her de facto resignation, per her discussion with the Advancement officer,” Cordova said.
According to Executive Director of Marketing and Communication Kristina Raines, Director of Web Services Michael Skipper was asked to remove Mayo’s name from the website on Oct. 6 and updated the list that day.
“We considered the matter closed,” Cordova said. “Ms. Mayo had the opportunity to set the record straight by responding to my Oct. 15 email. She didn’t.”
“All I know is I never resigned from the Alumni Council,” Mayo said. “If I had resigned from the Alumni Council, why would I have sent a message asking why I wasn’t on the website?
“If I had resigned from the Alumni Council, I would know I’m no longer on the council, then I wouldn’t have gone to the media,” Mayo said. “It wouldn’t have been a story.
“We’ve never met,” Mayo said, regarding Cordova’s email, “I don’t know how she could make the determination whether I was on campus or not, or making statements about resignation.”
Mayo said she attended the homecoming weekend play, as well as the Shorebreak dinner on Oct. 3 and rally in front of campus on Oct. 4. “They were all really good gatherings, and as an Alumni Council member, that’s my duty, in my opinion, to serve alumni, and that’s what I did,” Mayo said.
Mayo said, to her knowledge, that participating in official university homecoming events is not an official expectation or requirement of Alumni Council members.
“I highly doubt that every member of the Alumni Council was on campus for the Alumni Weekend,” Mayo said.
In the bylaws of Alumni Council members document, it reads: “As a volunteer advisory group, the principal purpose of the Alumni Council is to strengthen the bond between alumni and Virginia Wesleyan University, its students, faculty and administration.”
In the general roles and responsibilities document, it reads: “To avoid any relationships that could be perceived as injurious conflicts of interest to those of the University,” and “to refrain from actions and involvements that might prove embarrassing to the University and to resign if such actions or involvements develop.”
Mayo said on Oct. 16, “I emailed Alumni Council members to the best of my ability, some of them had dropped off, and there’s some new ones who I don’t know, but I email the contact information I had and copied President Miller, as well as some other administrators, just clearing the air on the false statements that were made.”
Mayo said she emailed President Scott Miller on Oct. 18 about the situation. Her email asked if she will be placed back on the Alumni Council and said “More major media outlets want to cover this. I did not resign. I’ve been a strong advocate for alumni, transparent with VW leadership.”
“I’ve held Virginia Wesleyan very close to my heart through the years. I live close to the school. I’ve been very active, not just with Alumni Council, but going to plays on campus, supporting my sports teams as a huge fan of the program, going to parties — just very, very involved.”
“I’m really disappointed that this is how they would treat one of their own, and I think there’s a lot of disconnection, big picture, between many of the alumni as well as the current administration.”
In a statement to the Chronicle, Cordova said, “Alumni Council members are appointed by the university to be advocates for the university and offer support for the enrollment and advancement programs of a growing, dynamic institution. The Bylaws and General Roles and Responsibilities for the Alumni Council act as a handbook for the volunteer role.”
Although Mayo said she is not entirely sure, she traced the sequence of events which she believes led to her departure from the Alumni Council.
“I think that the fact that I was quoted in the Virginia-Pilot shortly after the name change was a strike against me,” Mayo said.
“I’m just hopeful for maybe some major changes at the university, in a fresh direction and really leadership who has good communication skills and who value our alumni base and can unify and solidify our relationships between the administration and the alumni base,” Mayo said.
“I’m saddened by what’s happened, but I’m hopeful for brighter days ahead,” Mayo said. Mayo said she is still not clear on what caused disagreement surrounding her intent to resign.
By: Lily Reslink & Isaac Fick
lbreslink@vwu.edu & ihfick@vwu.edu
