The Chair of Memorial University’s Board of Regents, Glenn Barnes, has resigned from the position effective today.

The resignation comes following a Code of Conduct review related to recent email communications involving Barnes that the Board says did not align with its Code of Conduct.

It’s been widely reported that Barnes, after receiving a pro-Palestinian campaign email from a former student, forwarded it to her father, suggesting he wanted to let parents know “what their kids are doing.”

MUN’s privacy office concluded there was “unauthorized disclosure” of a third-party email, and that privacy training was recommended for Barnes.

But in a statement today, Education Minister Krista Lynn Howell said she accepted Barnes’ resignation over the affair, adding vice-chair Anik Rahman will serve as interim board chair until a new appointment is made.

Howell acknowledged it’s been “a challenging time of change” at MUN, adding she has seen “positive enhancements and a willingness to improve transparency.”

She also expressed confidence in MUN’s leadership team under President Neil Bose.

It’s not clear whether Barnes offered to resign or whether he was asked to do so.