Nichols College president Glenn Sulmasy has resigned, effective immediately, the school announced Tuesday.

Sulmasy had been on a voluntary leave of absence as the college engaged in an independent, third-party investigation into reports of misconduct by Sulmasy while he was at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

In September, CNN reported Sulmasy sent suggestive text messages to a student he taught while at the academy. At the time, Sulmasy’s attorney Jeffrey Robbins said in a statement to Spectrum News 1, "For now, we are not going to be commenting publicly on what was alleged in, and omitted from, the CNN story."

CNN also reported in July on cases of sexual assault at the Coast Guard academy. In one case, which launched a federal probe, the victim said she met with academy attorneys, including Sulmasy. The victim said she was discouraged from pursuing her case any further.

Robbins questioned the validity of the July report, saying in a statement, “That story was not only wrong, but egregiously and demonstrably wrong.”

In a news release posted to the school’s website Tuesday, the Nichols College Board of Trustees said they “strongly believe the institution’s best interest is to pursue new leadership” in light of the CNN reports and facts uncovered during the college’s ongoing investigation.

The board also said they will continue with the third-party investigation and do not intend to release the results publicly.

Nichols' vice president for advancement Bill Pieczynski is the school's acting president until further notice. The school said it will launch a national search for Sulmasy’s successor.

Sulmasy had been president of Nichols College since July 1, 2021.