Norwich University president Mark Anarumo was under investigation for violating unspecified school policies before he resigned last week, the university’s board of trustees said in a written statement Tuesday. According to preliminary findings from that investigation, the board said, “it was clear he violated Norwich’s core guiding values and University policy.”
The statement, which Norwich spokesperson Marc Kolb provided to VTDigger on Tuesday evening, appears to contradict what Anarumo said last week after the school informed community members that the president was “on leave and may not return to work.”
In an interview with VTDigger on Friday, Anarumo said he was leaving by “mutual” agreement and that his departure was not prompted by any particular incident. He said at the time that he and his family had “decided it was time to go for various reasons,” and he cited the demographic pressures the Northfield military college faced.
“There’s always challenges with running a school, particularly a small school in New England,” he said.
Anarumo did not respond to a request for comment late Tuesday.
According to Tuesday’s statement, the board was informed on Nov. 29 that some of Anarumo’s actions may have violated university policies, prompting board leadership to initiate an “independent outside investigation.” When the preliminary findings showed he had violated Norwich’s values and policies, Anarumo was placed on paid leave, the board said.
Anarumo then resigned, effective Jan. 4, and the board accepted his resignation Jan. 9, the board said later that day.
The statement did not specify what policies or values Anarumo was accused of violating. Kolb, the university spokesperson, did not respond to requests for further comment Tuesday night.
Karen Gaines, the university provost and dean of the faculty, has been appointed acting president. “The Board of Trustees is actively engaged in determining the next steps for moving forward,” it said in the statement.
Anarumo, who served as a colonel in the U.S. Air Force, became Norwich’s president in June 2020, succeeding longtime president Richard Schneider.
“He served the University with enthusiasm, especially during the COVID pandemic, and connected closely with many of the University’s communities,” the board of trustees said of Anarumo in its statement.
Ethan Weinstein contributed reporting.
Clarification: An earlier version of this story was unclear on Anarumo’s rank in the Air Force.
