GEORGETOWN, Ky. — Georgetown College fired president William Jones Monday after allegations of sexual assault.

What You Need To Know

  • President William Jones was fired Nov. 1

  • The school reported two allegations of sexual assault against female employees and other conduct that violated Jones's employment agreement.

  • Jones was named president in June 2019

  • The College's Provost Dr. Rosemary Allen is now Acting President

Dr. Rosemary Allen, the College's Provost was named Acting President by the board of trustees.

Sunday, the College was made aware of a sexual assault allegation of an employee, inappropriate behavior with another female employee and other conduct that violated Jones's employment agreement with Georgetown College. 

The College has hired outside counsel and will continue to investigate, but said it took immediate steps to look into the allegations. The board of trustees took immediate action and fired Jones. 

Board chairman Robert Mills provided a statement in a news release. It read, "Georgetown College does not tolerate violence or misuse of authority. We hold our administrators, students and faculty to the highest standards of moral and ethical conduct. We are surprised and deeply disappointed by what we have learned. We will support the members of our Georgetown College family who are directly impacted, and we will work cooperatively with ongoing or any future investigations. We are confident in the leadership of Acting President Allen and the Board appreciates her dedication to the continuing mission of Georgetown College during this difficult time.” 

Mills said because the case remains under investigation, the school will not have further comments about the allegations. 

Jones was hired as the school's 25th president in June 2019. According to his biography on the Georgetown College website, before coming to Georgetown, Jones served three years as president of Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas. In announcing Jones' hiring, then board of trustees chairman Dave Adkisson said, “Will’s unequivocal commitment to Christian higher education, along with his impressive history of fundraising and growing enrollment at institutions like Georgetown, makes him the perfect fit for the College. The board of trustees is overjoyed to welcome him, his wife, Amy, and their children to the Georgetown College family.” 

Jones is a graduate of Berea College and received a degree in political science. 

Georgetown College is a private, Christian liberal arts college in Georgetown. It was the first Baptist college west of the Appalachian Mountains.