After the reappointment committee met this fall, Johnson received the Oct. 29 letter from Brooklyn College President Christoph M. Kimmich, saying he was unable to recommended his promotion.

Kimmich declined to comment, and several history professors did not respond to requests for comment.

Johnson has submitted a request for written justification, but as of now he will be leaving Brooklyn College at the end of the academic year.

“Before this happened, I thought I would spend the rest of my life here,” he said. “Although I feel I have been treated incredibly unfairly by the institution, I will stay if they change their minds, because as many as 200 people have helped me throughout this, both colleagues and students.”

But if the college stays its course, Johnson said, he’s not sure where he would end up next year.

“I am very much hoping that the trustees and chancellors of CUNY will review and reopen KC’s case and candidly go over the records,” Iriye said. “I am quite confident that if they review everything, they will agree that an injustice has been done.”