Jamie Comstock Williamson was formally fired as Winthrop University's president on Thursday after being in office for less than a year, school officials announced.

The school's Board of Trustees members voted unanimously to terminate the contract of suspended Williamson during a June 26 board meeting. The board suspended her this month amid "public criticism of the university's hiring of her husband for a part-time job," Inside Higher Ed reported.

"Whenever legitimate concerns arise, it is important -- first to trustees and then to the public -- that questions be addressed factually and as fully with the public as the university's legal obligations will allow. That is especially important for a public university," Board Chair Kathy Bigham said in a statement explain the outcome.

In a June 13 letter to Williamson, Brigham wrote that the school's Board of Trustees believe she lied to them and abused her authority. They were also concerned that she violated state ethics laws, and acted "rude" and "hostile" toward her staff and trustees, The Rock Hill Herald reported.

Bigham added that candor and trust between the President and the Board are "crucial for this university, and any university, to thrive. And once candor and trust are irretrievably broken, decisions must be made to chart a different course."

Williamson has denied those accusations and threatened to sue Winthrop University and individual trustees for breach of contract, slander and defamation.

Williamson's attorney argued that the former president's contract entitled her to a 30-day written notice of any job performance issues.

However, trustees said Williamson violated a part of her contract that does not require such notice, The Rock Hill Herald reported.

Debra Boyd, Winthrop's provost and vice president for academic affairs was named as acting president. The trustees will name an interim president before starting a search for a new president.