A student at Wilberforce University in Ohio has died, the school announced Thursday.
Wilberforce President Vann R. Newkirk said in a letter shared on social media that Savanna Jones has died, though officials have not yet released details about the circumstances. He added that law enforcement is investigating the death and that the university will withhold further information to protect the integrity of the investigation.
Newkirk described Jones as a “valued member of our community, and her presence mattered.” He also extended condolences to her loved ones.
“My heart is with Savanna’s family, her friends, her classmates, and all who had the privilege of knowing her,” Newkirk said in the letter.
The university said counseling and support services are available for students, faculty, and staff.
“In this moment of sorrow, let us lean on one another,” Newkirk said. “Let us care for one another. And let us honor Savanna not only in memory, but in the way we uphold the values of compassion, dignity, and community that define Wilberforce.”
Wilberforce University in Greene County is the nation’s oldest private historically Black university and sits about 20 miles east of Dayton.
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