Morris Brown College reinstated President Kevin James just days after the Board of Trustees abruptly fired him, saying the initial separation ‘‘did not fully comply’’ with contractual and procedural requirements. James, credited with steering the HBCU back from accreditation loss and rebuilding enrollment, returns with the board citing governance failures in the termination. The board’s statement also acknowledged outstanding workplace culture concerns and pledged to address staff complaints without retaliation. James emphasized immediate priorities: ‘‘healing’’ and preparing for an upcoming accreditation‑reaffirmation visit. The episode highlights governance fragility at small, resource‑constrained institutions and underscores the stakes of board processes during critical turnaround efforts and accreditation cycles.