Black Ivy League Dean Abruptly Resigns From Prominent Post

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The dean of Columbia College has abruptly resigned over what she called administrative changes that would diminish or eliminate her authority, leaving the undergraduate division of Columbia University without a leader two weeks before the start of classes. Michele M. Moody-Adams, the first female and the first black dean of the college, said in an e-mail sent Saturday to Columbia alumni and donors that she planned to stay through the academic year. But on Monday, the president of Columbia University, Lee C. Bollinger, said in a statement that it was in the best interest of the college and the university for her to step down immediately. He promised that an interim dean would be named soon.