White HBCU president placed on leave, accused of 'bullying' black former administrator who committed suicide

The president of a historically black public university in Missouri has been placed on paid leave after a former administrator committed suicide earlier this month — allegedly because of the "mistreatment" she received from the president.

On January 8, the former vice president of student affairs at Lincoln University, Dr. Antoinette "Bonnie" Candia-Bailey, took her own life. Just 49 years old, Candia-Bailey issued a disturbing email shortly before her death, claiming that President John Moseley had targeted her for taking time off for mental-health treatment before ultimately firing her.

"You had no intention of retaining me as the (vice president of student affairs)," the email said in part, according to USA Today. "It went downhill after the FMLA and ADA documents were submitted due to my severe depression and anxiety. I requested to be removed under your leadership and from (the president’s advisory council) as this was causing significant attacks. This is all documented and emails sent."

The email also noted the devastating performance evaluation Candia-Bailey received last November. She scored just 36 out of a possible 100. Her termination letter, dated January 3, claimed she was fired for her "continued failure to appropriately supervise [her] staff and continued failure to properly supervise the area of student affairs at Lincoln University."

"Lincoln is where it started for me and where it ended," Candia-Bailey wrote in the apparent suicide note.

Moseley, who is white, spent years as the head basketball coach at Lincoln U. before becoming athletic director in 2015. He was promoted to school president in 2022. Last May, he hired Candia-Bailey, an alumna of the school, to great fanfare.

"We are excited for Dr. Candia-Bailey to join our team. She brings a wealth of experience to move student affairs and our entire University forward," Moseley said at the time. "That division is vital to our students’ collegiate experience beyond the classroom, and I feel certain she is the right leader to guide those efforts."

However, their professional relationship quickly turned sour, and sources told HBCU Buzz that Moseley regularly engaged in "bullying and severe mistreatment" of Candia-Bailey and ignored her "cries for help." After her death, students, alumni, and others began to call for Moseley's immediate firing, using the hashtag #FireMoseley to get the message trending on social media.

"Let our collective voice be heard—use #FireMoseley," wrote an alumnus known only as Coach Wilmore, who also spoke to USA Today about Candia-Bailey's death. "Together, we can spark a movement for a safer and more compassionate world.#JusticeForBonnie#BreakTheSilence#LincolnUniversityofMissouri#HBCU@hbcubuzz@hbcupridenation @hbcu_uaf @hbcugrad@HbcuPass."

"How can this man work in the best interest of young people who are Black like me when he does not reflect them racially or culturally," alumna Frances E. Curtis wrote in a letter directed to the university’s board of curators.

In a statement, the board claimed that Moseley had volunteered to be placed on paid administrative leave while a "third party" investigates "potential personnel issues and concerns recently raised regarding compliance with the University’s established policies and procedures."

As a Board, we are committed to make certain the mental health of Lincoln University employees is a priority and that every employee is always treated with dignity and respect. The Board has confidence in the leadership team we have at Lincoln, but as we all work together to serve students and the Lincoln University community, this review will fully examine important questions, concerns and gather facts. Dr. Moseley agrees those issues should be examined and has volunteered to go on leave during the review so that it can move forward in a fully independent way.

Candia-Bailey, who earned a Ph.D. in leadership studies and a master's in rehabilitation counseling-disability studies, spent decades cultivating a career in academic administration and promoting DEI. In her last stop before Lincoln, she served as chief diversity officer and Title IX coordinator at Elms College in Chicopee, Massachusetts.

"I believe diversity work is like a puzzle. I strive to help individuals find their pieces in the puzzle," said Candia-Bailey, described as "passionate" about helping black women develop their identities and examine their self-esteem.

According to federal data cited by USA Today, 44% of HBCU students identify as black, while 40% identify as white.

Neither Moseley nor the university responded to USA Today's requests for comment.

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