Chancellor Gordon Gee informed the Board of Trust this morning he and his wife Constance are divorcing.
"Constance and I have agreed to seek a divorce," Gee said in a statement released Wednesday morning to The Vanderbilt Hustler. "While this is a difficult decision, we remain committed to each other's happiness and success. I ask that you respect our privacy regarding this issue."
Constance Gee, an associate professor for public policy and education, filed for divorce Tuesday, citing “irreconcilable differences." Rose Palermo, Constance Gee's attorney, declined to comment.
Vanderbilt spokesperson Mike Schoenfeld said the chancellor’s announcement will not have an impact on his career at Vanderbilt.
“It is of course a difficult personal decision for him, but Chancellor Gee is deeply committed to Vanderbilt's success and is eager to continue building on the extraordinary progress that has occurred over the past six years in every part of our mission,” Schoenfeld said.
"The Board is totally and enthusiastically supportive of Chancellor Gee's leadership of Vanderbilt and looks forward to his service for a long time to come," Schoenfeld said.
The split comes five months after a report in The Wall Street Journal addressed Constance Gee's use of marijuana in the chancellor's university-owned residence, Braeburn.
Asked then about the possibility of divorce by The Hustler, the chancellor responded that it was not on the table.
"No, no, no, no. I mean, we work every day on our relationship, marriage is a long-time relationship, and we work very hard at it," he said in the interview.
Gordon and Constance Gee were married in 1994 in Salt Lake City. Their marriage produced no children; however, Gordon Gee has a daughter, Rebekah Gee, from a previous marriage to the late Elizabeth Gee.
Visit the Nashville Post to view Constance Gee's complaint for divorce or see attachment.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Gee_v_Gee--DCCirCt--27Feb2007-1.pdf | 421.81 KB |
