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Dr. Ruth J. Simmons, who formerly served as president at Prairie View A&M University, is slated to speak at this year’s commencement, despite resigning from the university last month.

Simmons was expected to step down June 1. The abrupt resignation appears to be over a difference with Texas A&M Chancellor John Sharp over hiring during the rest of Simmons’ term as president.

Simmons will teach, help maintain new fundraising partnerships and launch a college and university leadership training academy.

Ruth J. Simmons, president of Prairie View A&M University has announced on Friday that she will step down from her role.

HOUSTON – Prairie View A&M University board of regents has approved a new center for race and justice, the university said Thursday. The university announced its creation in June following the death of George Floyd and the civil unrest that followed. The new Ruth J. Simmons Center, named after the school’s president, will research, publish and train students to develop ways to stop systemic biases that impact minorities across the country. Creating a research fellowship program that will bring scholars from across the nation to PVAMU’s campus annually. An activist-in-residence position, which would bring advocates, activists, and those who have worked on behalf of justice to the campus to build on PVAMU students' long history of political engagement.