Board of Directors of the United Methodist University (UMU), through its Chairman Bishop Samuel J. Quire, Jr., on Friday, November 28, 2025, named Cllr. Medina A. Wesseh as head of the Interim Management Team.
The United Methodist University (UMU) Board of Directors appointed Cllr. Medina Wesseh to head its Interim Management Team from December 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, following the sudden death of President Rev. Dr. Emmanuel F. Bailey. Wesseh, a seasoned lawyer and diplomat, will work alongside senior administrators to ensure the university’s stability while a search committee pursues a permanent successor.
Wesseh, herself a board member, was unanimously endorsed to lead the team from December 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026. She will collaborate with UMU’s vice presidents and senior staff to maintain the institution’s operations during the transition.
Other members of the Interim Management Team include Rev. Dr. Anthony G. Dioh, Vice President for Academic Affairs; Rev. Dr. George K. Weagba, Vice President for Administration; Comptroller Julius D. Innis; and Cllr. Samuel T. Zonoe, Chancellor of the Liberia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. “Please ensure the viability of the United Methodist University in the academic community,” Bishop Quire urged the team.
Wesseh assumes leadership following the death of UMU President Rev. Dr. Emmanuel F. Bailey on November 26, 2025, while on official duty. Dr. Bailey had returned to the presidency for a third term on March 1, 2025.
A respected Liberian lawyer, diplomat, and public servant, Wesseh has played key roles in peacebuilding, regional integration, and development. She previously served as Secretary-General of the Mano River Union, where she advanced cooperation among member states. She is also a member of the First United Methodist Church in Monrovia.
Meanwhile, the UMU Board has constituted a search committee to identify a new president. The committee is chaired by Dr. Tolbert Nyenswah, Vice Chairman of the UMU Board and Lay Leader of the Liberia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.
