Editor’s note: A previous version of this story stated Jace Lux, university spokesperson, refused to comment Friday on Hayes’ employment. Lux provided a statement Friday after the story was initially posted and declined to comment on Thursday.

Joshua Hayes, director of WKU’s equal employment opportunity office, resigned effective Thursday to take a similar job starting July 5 at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, but said Thursday that Dartmouth had eliminated the position just days before he was to report to work.

Ena Demir, director of WKU’s Office of Institutional Equity, announced Hayes’ departure in an email to faculty and staff on June 23. Demir’s email said Hayes’ last day after 18 years at WKU would be June 29.

WKU spokesman Jace Lux stated the university does not comment on “personnel matters” on Thursday. He commented Friday on Hayes’ current status at WKU, in which he said via email: “In April, Mr. Hayes notified the university that he had accepted a position at a different institution and would be leaving WKU. His resignation from WKU is effective at the end of the university business day today, June 30.”

When the Herald went to Demir’s office Friday afternoon, Demir told an assistant that she was not available and would have no comment.

Officials at Dartmouth, in Hanover, New Hampshire, did not respond to requests for comment on Hayes’ status or the director of equal opportunity job he said he had accepted.

As of Friday, Hayes was still listed on a web page for the EEO office as director, but his information had been removed from WKU’s online directory of faculty and staff.

Hayes had agreed to an interview with the Herald about his new position, but canceled the interview in an email Thursday in which he said: “I accepted the Director of Equal Employment Opportunity position at Dartmouth College and was scheduled to begin my new role on Wednesday of next week (July 5th). However, I found out this morning that my job and other jobs within the unit have been eliminated. It is my understanding this decision was made within the past 24 hours.”

Asked whether he might want to return to his position at WKU, Hayes said in an email: “You know, I am still processing everything and am not sure. I am always a person who remains logical and within reason, so I imagine I will make a decision at some point soon!”

Editor-in-chief Alexandria Anderson can be reached at [email protected].