KIRTLAND, Ohio — Ahead of his planned retirement this August, Lakeland Community College President Dr. Morris Beverage Jr. has abruptly resigned.
Beverage made the announcement in a letter to the college faculty on Monday, but did not give a specific reason for his decision. "With the board of trustees meeting later today to discuss the selection (of) its new president, I have decided to retire earlier than planned," he wrote. "Prior to the Board meeting this evening, I will begin my retirement."
The relationship between Beverage and Kirtland-based Lakeland Community College goes back more than a half-century. Beverage completed his associate degree at Lakeland in 1974, then returned in 1990 to become the college's chief financial officer. His tenure as president of Lakeland Community College began in 2001.
"Serving as the president of Lakeland has been a dream come true, a dream I didn’t even know I had when I first arrived here. Over the past 34+ years of learning and working at Lakeland, I have met and worked with the most amazing people," Beverage wrote to the Lakeland faculty. "Together, we have moved the college through some tough spots, and have celebrated many successes. We have always sought how best to serve our students and community. I am unspeakably proud of all that we have achieved together, and I fully expect that you will continue this important, life-changing work, creating learning opportunities and new initiatives beyond my imagination."
3News has reached out to Lakeland Community College for a statement on Beverage's resignation and will post any updates here.