MSU official at center of discrimination probe resigns

Less than a week after an independent investigation found "no credible evidence" that Missouri State University discriminated against its top black official, that official has resigned.

Ken Coopwood, the vice president of diversity and inclusion since October 2011, stepped down Monday. The resignation is effective April 30 but he will be on paid leave "with no responsibilities" until that date.

He was MSU's first black vice president and his current pay is $120,402.

"I agreed to the investigation and actively participated in it," Coopwood said in a release from the university. "I think that the investigation team took the matter seriously and conducted a thorough investigation. While I accept the investigation and its findings, I have decided that it would be best for me to pursue other professional opportunities."

MSU President Clif Smart told the News-Leader that Coopwood, the university and the Board of Governors agreed that following the outcome of the investigation, which was made public Thursday, it was time to part ways.

"It was a mutual decision that it was going to be a challenge moving forward," Smart said.

A month ago, an online petition created by Springfield business owner Du'Sean Howard alleged Coopwood suffered "despicable and hostile" behavior by his own staff, was discriminated against by the administration and was marginalized when his position was restructured a year ago.

Howard said he made the allegations after numerous conversations with Coopwood, whom he considers a close friend. Asked Monday to respond to the resignation, he said: "My fear has come to pass, but I can’t say that I am surprised by the news."

Except for an email exchange with the News-Leader in early December, Coopwood has declined to answer questions or comment on either the petition or his treatment at MSU.

In early December, the MSU Board of Governors hired a special investigative team — a trio of local attorneys — to look into allegations, made in an online petition.

Petition alleges 'racist treatment' of MSU's top black official

The investigation included interviews with 38 individuals, including 12 suggested by Coopwood, and the review of dozens of documents including employee emails, Coopwood's personnel file, student demand lists, and "employee complaints and investigations."

The final report of the investigation was provided to the board during a closed meeting Wednesday, and a summary of the report was made public Thursday.

It concluded that Coopwood had not been discriminated against "because of his race in connection to his employment at the university." It also showed his pay was above the national average for that position and his budget had grown in recent years.

The report also showed that the restructuring of Coopwood's job a year ago, and other changes that reportedly left him feeling marginalized, were due, in part to "ongoing complaints by personnel within the division for Diversity and Inclusion."

Coopwood's job changes so he could work on larger projects and no longer oversee the day-to-day operations for areas such as the Disability Resource Center, Multicultural Resource Center and Programs, Multicultural Services and Trio programs, which serve historically underrepresented groups.

Report: 'No credible evidence' MSU discriminated against top black official

Citing privacy with personnel matters, the university has repeatedly declined to provide detail about the complaints that have been filed. In a Dec. 2 email in response to a News-Leader request for more information, Coopwood wrote: "I have never had any complaint against me substantiated."

In Monday's release, Coopwood said the university is "poised to continue making advances in diversity and inclusion" following his departure.

“I have appreciated the opportunity to work for Missouri State, and am proud of the progress that the university has made during my time as vice president of diversity and inclusion,” Coopwood said in the release. “There are many people at the university and throughout Springfield who are committed to ensuring that the Missouri State campus is known for being a place of inclusion, and I am confident that the good work will continue on campus and in the community after my departure.”

Howard, who started the petition, said the Springfield community "will miss the services of a good steward."

"I hope that his replacement will make it a priority to reach out to the community, and be within reach," he said.

Coopwood came to MSU after eight years at Indiana University Northwest in Gary, Ind., where he was director of diversity programming, assistant to the chancellor and an adjunct faculty member in the School of Education.

At MSU, he started the Statewide Collaborative Diversity Conference and pushed for a climate study to measure how the students, staff, and faculty perceived diversity and inclusiveness at the university. Coopwood has chaired the climate study response task force.

Smart said with Coopwood no longer on campus, the university will "be aggressively looking to identify an internal candidate" who can take over as chair of the task force and plan the high-profile diversity conference MSU will host in mid-March.

"There is meaningful work to be done," he said.

A national search will be launched to find a replacement for Coopwood.

Smart said with the departure, the university will evaluate the position and determine if it needs to be reconfigured. For example, the next leader may be able play a bigger role in recruiting and retaining diverse faculty, he said.

The MSU president said the university believes having a top official working on increasing diversity and creating a more welcoming campus is important and that won't change with Coopwood's departure.

"There will definitely be a cabinet-level diversity position," he said.

How 2015 became the year of the solar panel in southwest Missouri

Pokin Around: House where Hailey Owens was found will be demolished