New Bedford NAACP VP Takes Over After President’s Abrupt Departure

NEW BEDFORD — Following the abrupt departure in late September of NAACP New Bedford branch president Dr. LaSella Hall for reasons that remain unclear, the organization has appointed Vice President Renee Ledbetter to take his place.

According to her LinkedIn profile, Ledbetter has worked with at-risk youth for nearly three decades, specializing in personal development and emotional intelligence training.

In a brief statement, Ledbetter told WBSM that she is now the president of the branch, noting, "Dr. Hall stepped down as president and has resumed residing with his family in another state."

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A Sept. 27 email to UMass Dartmouth staff from Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Kimberly Scott provided to WBSM stated that Hall had resigned from his position as Associate Director of the Frederick Douglass Unity House "to pursue career growth opportunities."

Hall left just after the start of the 2022-2023 academic year.

Calling his departure "bittersweet," the email went on to note that Hall had worked at the university for seven years, stating that counseling center staff would be available for Unity House members to help students process his resignation.

"He will be much missed, and we anticipate that his departure will have an impact on our student community," the email stated.

Hall's faculty page at the university has been taken down.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Hall earned his doctorate in humanities and african american studies from Clark Atlanta University in 2016 and holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix.

A UMass Dartmouth spokesperson said that the university doesn't comment on personnel matters.