A letter from alumni expressing concern about Jill Carnaghi’s June 2014 departure from Washington University has received a response from administrators, but no details about whether Carnaghi was forced to resign were provided.

In late September, Brittany Perez, a 2009 University alumna and former Student Union president, sent a request to many alumni to sign a letter to Chancellor Mark Wrighton and Provost Holden Thorp about Carnaghi, the former assistant vice chancellor for students and director of campus life. The letter, penned by Perez and other alumni, called for an explanation for Carnaghi’s departure and highlighted her campus contributions, which it said were not properly recognized by the University.

After receiving Wrighton and Thorp’s response, Perez and other co-authors said they were glad that the University had acknowledged Carnaghi’s accomplishments during her 17-year tenure, although they thought that acknowledgement came too late for Carnaghi, who now works at Saint Louis University.

The letter garnered 175 signatures from University alumni from the class of 2000 through the class of 2014—including many former Student Union presidents. It expressed the belief that Carnaghi was pressured into resigning from the University.

In the letter, Perez wrote, “We are saddened to learn that her resignation from the University was not voluntary, and we are further troubled that her leadership, contributions, and accomplishments have not been appropriately acknowledged.”

Perez said that she came to the conclusion that Carnaghi’s departure was not voluntary based on conversations she had had with Carnaghi since graduating.

“She has never indicated that she had any intention of leaving the University or anything like that. It sounded like from the conversations I had with Jill that the choices the University gave her at that time in the spring weren’t really choices and the alternatives she was given did not leave options for her to stay at the University,” Perez said.

While the University did not comment on the alleged involuntary resignation, Wrighton responded to the letter on Oct. 7, four days after it was initially sent to Thorp and him.

“As it is a personnel matter, we cannot comment further on any of the circumstances that led to this change, but certainly do value greatly the important contributions that Jill made during her tenure with us. It is a time of change in the student services area at Washington University,” Wrighton and Thorp wrote in the response.

With Sharon Stahl, vice chancellor for students, retiring at the end of the 2014-15 academic year, Wrighton and Thorp also said that the University was currently searching for a new vice chancellor for students.

Although he did not discuss Carnaghi’s departure specifically, Wrighton addressed concerns about recent staff turnover in general, including Stahl’s recently announced retirement, after the University’s board of trustees meeting a week ago.

“We’ve benefited from stability in leadership, but I recognize that there’s a need for refreshment,” Wrighton said. “The real question to ask is are we maintaining intellectual vibrancy by renewal…I have said to the leaders who work closely with me that, you know, if they’ve been in their position for a long time and come to be in the vicinity of 70, that’s a good time to be thinking about transition in that role.”

Perez said that she was pleased to see that Wrighton and Thorp had responded to her letter, but she felt that the response was too little and too late.

“We really appreciate that [Wrighton] took the time to respond and acknowledge Jill’s contributions. It’s clear that he agrees with us that Jill had some very valuable contributions to the University community, but unfortunately, we feel that the appropriate time to recognize those things has passed,” Perez said. “It seems a bit puzzling that, if he does agree with our sentiments and the value that Jill brought the University, that her departure wasn’t treated differently when she did leave.”

Neil Patel, a 2008 graduate and the 2007-08 SU president, was one of several alumni who helped Perez write the letter and expressed similar sentiments.

“It was surprising to me, given the impact that Jill had on so many people, that she was let go. It didn’t quite make sense to me,” Patel said. “We’re not trying to get her back on campus because it’s way past that point. It’s just about giving her recognition.”

Patel was also concerned with the lack of notification for alumni about Carnaghi’s departure.

“As alumni, it would be nice to know what the administration plans on doing, if other people are involved in the plan, or maybe let go because Jill was such an important part of campus life to me and to many others. I’m definitely not jumping to any conclusions or casting any blame; I just wanted Jill to get recognized and maybe an explanation,” Patel said.

Julian Nicks, a 2013 graduate and a former SU president, also said he was upset that Carnaghi was not recognized by the University prior to her departure.

“Jill was both an advisor and a dear friend. It’s sad to hear that she will no longer be there to advise and teach students like she did me. I do not know the details about her leave, but it’s hard…to accept that she was not recognized for her years of service,” Nicks said.

Nicks added that although he was not able to sign the letter before it was sent to Wrighton and Thorp, he has since signed it. The form used to gather signatures states that any additional signatures will be added to a paper copy of the letter, to be given to Carnaghi later this month.

Meanwhile, Carnaghi started at nearby Saint Louis University as interim assistant vice president of student development on Sept 9.

“I am thrilled that I found a similarly exciting ‘next chapter’ right down the street. I’ve only been at Saint Louis University for a month, and I have thoroughly enjoyed my short time there,” Carnaghi said. “It is an exciting time at SLU—the inauguration of a new president with an incredibly clear vision of next steps for the institution and beyond.”

Patel was happy to hear that Carnaghi would be able to continue her work with students, even at another institution.

“They’re very lucky to have her. Jill has shaped so many people. A lot of the people she worked closely with now have leadership positions at major companies in the United States or have played important roles at the White House or the U.S. Government, so she’s had an impact across businesses, across national government, across law firms, just based on her advising in college,” Patel said. “I’m glad she’s able to keep doing that at Saint Louis University, but I wish Wash. U. still had her.”