Dennis Shields confirmed Friday he would be leaving his job as Southern University's president, saying the university's Board of Supervisors wanted to go in a different direction.

Shields said he's been aware of the board's intentions for the last five weeks.

"It was indicated to me the board wanted to go in a different direction and I accept that. It's not the way I would have done it, but that's the prerogative of this board," Shields said at the end of Friday's Board of Supervisors meeting held in New Orleans before the Bayou Classic.

Shields began his comments by saying that he _______, but after roughly ten minutes of thanking a host of colleagues in the Southern system, Shields began to choke up.

"The Southern University Board of Supervisors did not vote Friday on an interim pres

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