UPDATE, MONDAY, JAN. 27: In a statement Monday, Cephas Archie, the former chief diversity officer for The College at Brockport, released a statement that did not directly address his departure or the reasons for it, but spoke of the importance of the work and encouraged supporters to remain committed to issues of inclusion and improving the college. The full statement can be read by clicking here. It also is attached at the end of this story.

Lorraine Acker, who started at the college last July as assistant vice president for student affairs, was named Monday as interim chief diversity officer for the college

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Disbelief and upset have roiled The College at Brockport campus after the departure of its chief diversity officer.

Cephas Archie confirmed via text message that he was fired on Friday. The college declined to address details of the separation, calling it a personnel matter.

A campus protest Friday night drew about 100 students, who also turned to social media to vent frustrations, along with alumni and others — including Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren — voicing criticism.

Most included the message, "I Stand with Dr. Archie."

He has been in the position since August 2017, responsible for leading campus efforts on equity and inclusion both within the institution and as an educational priority. He has become a powerful voice for equity in the region, particularly when it comes to schools and hiring. His exit came the same week Brockport students returned for classes.

"While we are unable to comment on confidential personnel matters, we would like to ensure the Brockport community that our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is incredibly strong," college spokesman John Follaco said in a statement. "We look forward to continuing to work together to build a better Brockport."

Archie declined further comment until speaking with his lawyer. Voicemail and email messages left with his lawyer, seeking an interview with Archie and detail on terms of his separation, were not immediately returned.

Students and alumni posted messages online, thanking Archie for being a mentor, and committing to continue the work he started: "I promise you that I will knock down every barricade set up against equality for minority students. I have just begun," wrote one recent graduate.

Jerry Thompson, a graduate student in education who works in the office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion that Archie oversaw, called Archie a mentor.

"Dr. Archie definitely wasn't one to hold his tongue on issues that he felt was going on within the college," Thompson said. "For me, he means a whole lot .... We spoke about a lot of things, as far as school to how I conducted myself outside of school. He has been very influential in my life, as a student and as a man."

Archie came to Brockport from Houston Community College in Houston, where he was interim director of Veteran Affairs & Student Support Services as well as program coordinator and specialist for diversity and inclusion. He received his doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Houston-Clear Lake, and his master's and bachelor's degrees from Loyola University in New Orleans.

"It’s my understanding that Dr. Archie was fighting against institutional and structural bias and for that he has been dismissed," Warren wrote on Facebook. "It’s unfortunate when the people that work toward diversity and inclusion across the collegiate spectrum also face it themselves."

Shaun Nelms, superintendent at East High School, said in an interview: "Many in the community, particularly in Brockport and the education community, are more than shocked. If someone of this caliber is not doing the job of equity, I don't know who else can."

@africanq_ Instagram post (photo) Doc, this next degree is for you ! They thought they could stop the fire you put in me and so many others by letting you go, but they were so mistaken! It has just begun ! You stood by me when I called Brockport out on their intentional disregard and institutional barricades on black students. It was your mentor ship that drove me to change a CAMPUS WIDE POLICY. So I promise you that I will knock down every barricade set up against equality for minority students. I have just begun ✊🏾 . #weseeyou #westandwithyou - Gramho.com

Nelms, also an associate professor at the University of Rochester and director for the Center for Urban Education Success, recalled first hearing about Archie a year ago from his daughter, a junior at Hilton High School.

She had attended a ROC 2 Change student summit on race and equity, and came home talking about hearing "this amazing guy speak." She felt empowered, he said, and joined student government and the principals cabinet at her predominately white high school.

"She became a voice for equity in that school That is because of him, it is not because of me as a parent," Nelms said.

He since has met and seen Archie in action: "I watched him do the work at the academic level. I have watched him explain it at the practitioner level … and then I have watched him connect at the most important level, which is our kids."

Brockport President Heidi Macpherson emailed the campus community Saturday evening and said she has scheduled a town hall meeting to discuss concerns from 7-8 p.m. Monday in the Seymour Union Ballroom. Newly named interim chief diversity officer and Brockport alum Lorraine Acker is expected to attend. Macpherson said in a separate campus email Monday that she would soon launch a national search for a permanent replacement.

"Both the leadership of the college more widely and I as your college president have an absolute and unwavering commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion," Macpherson said in the statement. "I recognize that many of you may be angry or disappointed right now, but I commit to you that every campus decision that I make has the best short- and long-term interest of the College at heart."

Macpherson said she is committed to transparency but is "legally restrained from commenting on personnel matters."

She added that interim decisions regarding the operations of the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion will be announced soon and the college will begin conducing a national search for the next chief diversity officer.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Contact reporter Brian Sharp at bdsharp@gannett.com or at 585-258-2275. Follow him on Twitter @sharproc. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers. Sign up today for a digital subscription.