The resignation of Nichols College President Glenn Sulmasy yesterday, followed by allegations of sexual misconduct during his term at the Coast Guard Academy. As report by Boston 25 News, Sulmasy is accused of sending sexually suggestive texts to at least two students while at the Academy.
Article from The Day stated that Sulmasy felt compelled to resign amongst an ongoing investigation at Nichols College. Previously in 2016, while he was still at the Coast Guard, attorneys there had suggested to prosecute him in a military court for unbecoming conduct and wilful neglect of duty.
Notwithstanding, Sulmasy's lawyer, Jeffrey Robbins, defended that prosecutors had labeled the intimate texts as consensual. Regardless of the recommendations to bring charges, Sulmasy was to never be prosecuted. Not being charged allowed Sulmasy to progress his career, moving from the United States Coast Guard Academy to Bryant University in Rhode Island, and then to Nichols College where he became president in July 2021.
Specific contents of the texts have not been disclosed, though a CNN report which cited testimony from 2011 by Academy graduate Melissa McCafferty. She claimed that Sulmasy verbally harassed her and insisted he would only write a recommendation letter to law school if she sent pictures of herself to him. He also allegedly confessed to always adoring her foot tattoo.
The repercussions of these allegations have impacted Nichols College, prompting Sulmasy's resignation. According to a statement from the college, the Board of Trustees believe a change in leadership would be advantageous given the facts collected so far and the potential effects on Sulmasy's leadership capacity.
In the meantime, the acting president of Nichols College will be their vice president for advancement, Bill Pieczynski, until they find a new president to lead the college in its next phase.
