Actually, they recognized that you had abundant experience of the “wrong” kind, and would therefore be very effective in a way they did not want.
I consulted in academia for about 5 minutes, right in the belly of the beast.
First thing that I learned is that "Success Breeds Expectations". If you never succeed at anything, than no one ever expects you to accomplish a dammed thing, and you can coast along comfortably into a cushy, if not plush, retirement.
I worked with people who'd been at this particular school for 30 years who couldn't concisely tell me what their jobs were for, or what they did for work. But they'd collected a decent salary and incredible bennies for an entire generation plus of students.
Hated every minute of working there, but it gave me real insight into the twisted and convoluted workings of a liberal mind.