Alexander resigns, cites lack of recognition and College’s reversion to old ways
Dean Taifha Alexander’s tenure at Wofford came to an end on May 1 as she decided to move on after serving as the Assistant Dean of Students for Diversity and Leadership Development. Alexander had been at Wofford since 2020 after interviewing for the position in late 2019, and she described her experience at Wofford as having been “depleting,” however rewarding it was at times.
With Alexander in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the number of all-gender restrooms on campus grew from zero to 22, heritage month programming grew to include indigenous peoples and a commitment to anti-racism work included first-year students as well as several offices across campus in an effort to improve the Wofford community.
However, despite Alexander’s efforts to improve Wofford and to open ears all around campus to effect positive change, seeing the College’s reversion back to its old ways after a summer of supposed “listening and learning” ultimately led her to step down.
“After the hours and hours and hours of trainings that took place in the summer that I led with ODI,” she said, “after the trainings that took place in the fall, to know that people were reverting to the same inappropriate behavior that they were in the past, made me realize that I was doing all of this work for nothing.”
Moving forward with her career and her passion for working for the representation of underrepresented and unheard groups, Alexander added that Wofford taught her that people in her position, because of how they challenge the status quo, may not get the recognition that would normally come.
“I think that, in the time that I have been on campus, there have been a lot of initiatives programs, there’s been a lot of things that ODI has done for the betterment of the college overall,” Alexander said. “And there wasn’t very much recognition of that work.”
Outside of the office, Alexander touched the lives of the many student leaders whom she worked closely with, including Destiny Shippy ’22, president of Wofford Women of Color, and Ally Branzuela ’23, president of Wofford Asian American/Pacific Islanders (WAAPI).
Upon receiving word of Alexander’s sudden resignation, Shippy expressed that she was “upset and hurt,” but that she knew that Alexander was only doing what was best for herself.
“She was and still is like a mentor to me,” Shippy said of Alexander, “but I know Wofford and truthfully, they don’t deserve her.”
Branzuela had similar thoughts, viewing Alexander’s decision to step down as “brave” and “admirable.” She recalled Alexander’s unwavering support of WAAPI since its inception, most notably after the spa and massage parlor shootings that took place in Atlanta in March.
“I hadn’t had many faculty/staff check on me so I was really appreciative of her kind and supportive words,” Branzuela said. “It meant so much to me just knowing that someone was thinking of the (Asian/Pacific Islander) community.”
Branzuela admitted that she feels that it will be difficult for the college to move forward without Alexander, who was involved in so much change on campus in such a short time, but she values the lessons that are left behind and is confident that everyone who knew Alexander will continue to apply them.
On the other hand, Shippy did not mince words when saying that she believes that Alexander’s departure signifies more of the same—the continuation of a cycle that sees a revolving door of administrators in ODI seemingly each year.
“Based on Wofford’s past, I think they will do nothing,” Shippy said. “Wofford has a long history of pretending, creating committees, then doing nothing and I think nothing is different here. I wish they would see this was a wakeup call for them, but I truthfully don’t know what it will take for them to make real change.”
Alexander herself expressed similar thoughts, saying that she hopes her departure is followed by a more intentional look at the needs of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and how it can be better supported by the College. Above all else, though, the biggest thing that Alexander looks forward to in the years to come after Wofford is “being able to not work for an institution that undervalues my efforts.”
As a scholar and an activist, Alexander looks forward to her original piece, “A Love Letter To My Unborn Black Daughter,” originally published in the Huffington Post in 2017, being republished in the June 1 release of “Chicken Soup for the Soul: I’m Speaking Now: Black Women Share Their Truth.”
Her academic article, “Chopped & Screwed: Hip Hop from Cultural Expression to A Means for Criminal Enforcement,” analyzing how prosecutors use rappers’ violent lyrics as incriminating evidence, will be published in the Harvard Journal of Sports and Entertainment Law.Finally, after resting following her departure, Alexander anticipates the opening of her own consulting service in antiracism, justice and equity work for colleges and universities everywhere in addition to continuing her nonprofit work with her husband, James, sister, Takaria and best friend, Andre McDonald, to support “historically subordinated law school applicants” such as students of color, first generation students, international students and students from the LGBTQIA+ community in gaining admission into top law schools with institutional scholarship funding.
Written by contributing writer Sera Guerry and senior writer/copy editor Eyon Brown
