Former WSU president David Hopkins will not return to teach this fall

Wright State University’s former president, David Hopkins, will not return to campus to teach this fall.

Hopkins had planned to return to a faculty position this fall to teach but instead he will take medical leave during fall semester for an operation, spokesman Seth Bauguess said via email.

Hopkins will be using his accrued sick time to take leave during fall semester, Bauguess said.

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Hopkins resigned in March, three and a half months before he had originally planned to retire, citing budget concerns. Upon his resignation, the university said Hopkins would return to a faculty position at $200,000 per year.

Following his resignation, Hopkins had also planned to preside over Wright State’s spring commencement but later decided not to.

Hopkins told Michael Bridges, then-chairman of the WSU board of trustees, that he had decided to bow out from graduation after discussing whether he should with faculty members.

Hopkins left behind a mixed legacy at Wright State.

After rising to the presidency from the provost position, Hopkins oversaw the construction of the university’s Neuroscience Engineering Collaboration Building, the Student Success Center, the Wright State Physicians building and the expansion of the Creative Arts Center. He also oversaw the university’s “Rise. Shine” campaign which raised more than $160 million.

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But, Hopkins’ history at Wright State is also marked with a lost presidential debate the university has faced multiple lawsuits over. Wright State was also forced to slash $30.8 million from its budget in June after years of overspending under Hopkins’ watch drained the school’s reserve fund.

Hopkins was succeeded by interim president Curtis McCray in March and new president Cheryl Schrader took over in July. Hopkins will not be involved in Schrader’s administration in any transitional or advisory role, she told this news organization.

“There’s not a formal role for him to take in that regard,” Schrader said earlier this month. “I think he’s looking forward to getting back into that faculty role.”

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