Baptist college in Georgia removes president after inquiry into whether he ignored sexual abuse

Truett McConnell University in Cleveland, Ga., said Friday it will not reinstate President Emir Caner after an independent inquiry into whether he ignored allegations that a former administrator and professor sexually assaulted a student who later became an employee.

Trustees disclosed that an investigator presented his findings to them on Thursday, and in a Friday news conference the board announced Caner would not return as president. John Yarbrough, who had been named acting president in June, will become interim president as the university forms a committee to search for a permanent leader. The university did not release the investigator’s findings.

Yarbrough told reporters that details of Caner’s separation are still being negotiated, adding, “But I can tell you I’m interim president and Dr. Caner is no longer president of the university today.” The move comes after a period of heightened concern and a rare public push by faculty and alumni who questioned the administration’s handling of the case.

The case centers on allegations that a former administrator and professor sexually assaulted a woman who was a student at the time and later became a university employee. The woman has said she was repeatedly assaulted when she went to the man’s home for Bible study. The university said the inquiry examined whether Caner ignored or mishandled those allegations.

The case rose to a public moment in June when faculty and alumni staged a protest outside a trustee meeting demanding Caner’s removal. Caner responded via social media, saying the situation was grievous and that he did not conceal or ignore assaults, while acknowledging that the institution faced significant reputational and procedural concerns. He said, in part, “While there was no cover-up, there was no Title IX filed or an HR complaint, there was no petition that ever came across my desk. We have to do better.”

The investigation and subsequent leadership decision occur against a backdrop of previous and ongoing scrutiny of how faith-based institutions address abuse allegations. Southern Baptists have faced long-standing criticism over how church and affiliated entities handle reports of sexual abuse, and Truett McConnell’s leadership transition adds to a broader national conversation about accountability in academic and religious settings.

Timeline and context of the allegations help explain the distress within the campus community. Truett McConnell issued a statement in May 2024 saying it first became aware of the allegations in February 2024, when the administrator informed the university he was under investigation by the White County Sheriff’s Office “regarding an inappropriate relationship.” The administrator’s employment ended within days, and the university later learned that the individual had sent hundreds of sexually explicit and theologically charged emails from a personal account.

Sheriff’s deputies concluded there wasn’t enough evidence to pursue criminal charges, according to a report provided by the former student’s lawyer, Marcia Shein. Shein has publicly argued that the university knew of problems well before 2024, citing a petition by students to remove the administrator from teaching duties. Shein has also said the student has not sued the university because of Georgia’s four-year statute of limitations, though White County District Attorney Jeff Langley has said he is renewing his review of the case.

Opponents of Caner have asserted that he retaliated against administrators who pressed him on the allegations, pushing them out of their jobs. The university has denied any retaliation. In a letter to trustees, Shein described concerns about the university’s handling of the events, though the university has not disclosed the letter’s contents.

The 3,100-student Truett McConnell University, rooted in the Baptist faith, said the decision to part ways with Caner follows a formal investigation and is intended to restore operational clarity and accountability at the school. Trustees emphasized that they will move promptly to identify a permanent leadership candidate while ensuring continuity for students, faculty, and staff.

The case has implications beyond Truett McConnell, as observers note that independent investigations into how institutions respond to abuse allegations often shape campus policies, faculty governance, and donor confidence. For Truett McConnell, the outcome could influence how the university balances religious identity with rigorous oversight and safeguarding measures across campus programs and student services.

Legal and campus observers will be watching closely as the interim leadership implements changes and as the board commences a formal search for a permanent president. While the university has not disclosed the precise terms of the separation, the university’s leadership transition marks a notable moment for a school navigating a highly scrutinized landscape within higher education and religious-affiliated institutions.