The pick to run Florida’s only public HBCU is an ally to top Florida Republicans

Florida’s only public historic Black university is turning to an ally of top Republicans to lead the institution despite an overwhelming outcry from alumni, who questioned the decision to pick someone with no ties to the school or higher education experience.

The board of trustees for Florida A&M University voted, 8-4, on Friday to tap Marva Johnson as the school’s 13th president. In the same meeting, they voted to increase the salary offered to as much as $750,000, to match Johnson’s desired compensation.

She still must be confirmed by the Board of Governors of the State University System.

The selection of Johnson continues a trend in Florida of hiring candidates due to their political connections. Florida International University hired former Lieutenant Gov. Jeanette Nuñez as president at Gov. Ron DeSantis’s urging. 

And Florida Atlantic University trustees emphasized a desire to extract more money from the Legislature plus individual and corporate donors when they selected former GOP lawmaker Adam Hasner as the new FAU president.

Jeanette Nuñez named sole finalist in search for FIU president

DeSantis installs allies at state universities in purge of ‘ideological concepts’

Johnson is a vice president for Charter Communications who was appointed to the state Board of Education by then-Gov. Rick Scott. She holds her undergraduate degree from Georgetown University, a master’s degree from Emory University, and a law degree from Georgia State University.

While supporters of Johnson viewed her as someone whose ties to Republicans could help the school “navigate” a state government and Legislature controlled by the GOP, others questioned the decision.

“In an age of merit-based hiring decisions, how can one justify settling for a candidate who does not meet all of the position criteria, or turning a blind eye to exceptionally qualified candidates?” said Kristin Harper, the FAMU board chair, who backed a different candidate.

FAMU has been without a permanent president since Larry Robinson stepped down last year amid a probe into an embarrassing incident involving a supposed significant donation from a hemp farmer. An investigation concluded that the donation was “fraudulent.” 

The search yielded four finalists, including Washington and FAMU’s current chief operating officer, Donald Palm.

No perfect candidate

Trustee Nicole Washington, a Miami Beach education consultant, contended that “there was no one perfect candidate,” but she defended Johnson.

“The landscape of higher education is changing, and with that the role of the president,” Washington said, citing a recent American Council of Education survey of university presidents indicating that financial management and fundraising topped their job responsibilities.

Academics, Washington said, ranked No. 5 on the list.

“I respect the viewpoints expressed but, respectfully, and it’s proven by data, the skill sets and strategies that we have used to get here may not be the same strategies that it will take to move us forward. And I’m excited for new leadership who is going to be capable of navigating these complex challenges.”

Washington will wind up negotiating a contract with Johnson after the board voted to take away that responsibility from Harper. 

Harper and trustees Zayla Bryant, Belvin Perry Jr., and Craig Reid supported Palm.

Other candidates vying for the position (but who received no support) included Gerald Hector, VP for administration and finance at the University of Central Florida, and Rondall Allen, provost at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. 

Several of the FAMU trustees commented Friday that the weighty decision of naming the next president kept them up until early hours of the morning, including Trustee Kelvin Lawson, who joked that he was “not watching ESPN but reviewing the videos of the candidates instead.”  He supported Johnson and, like many of the other trustees who voted for her, said he was thinking about what the HBCU (historic black college or university) needs going forward.

“What got us here today won’t get us here tomorrow,” he said.

Negative reaction

But the hire could harm the school in the near term if alumni and others react negatively to the news.

Before the vote, the trustees heard 40 minutes of public debate; none of the speakers supported Johnson’s bid to head FAMU.

“People are tired of the vitriol, negativity, and divisiveness of politics on the national, state, and local level. Don’t do anything that will create even a hint of politically tainted prospects. Because, make no mistake, as tired as we are, a Rattler when backed up against the wall and forced to fight for its own self preservation will strike like hell for its survival,” said FAMU alum and film producer Will Parker, referring to FAMU’s mascot, a rattlesnake. “Do not underestimate the passion of this community.”

The FAMU National Alumni Association endorsed Palm. 

Curtis Johnson, director of the FAMU National Alumni Association, said he was part of the presidential search process representing the alumni. He said the association held town halls and ran surveys to hear from its members. The results showed resounding support for Palm, he said.

“It’s because he’s been there. He’s led. He understands what needs to be done to continue to elevate [the university]. And so I would implore today as you enter into your deliberations and evaluation of these candidates that you strongly consider the voice of the FAMU National Alumni Association, which supports those students on our campus and those students that are on the way to Florida A&M University.”

The headline of this story has been corrected to reflect FAMU is the only public HBCU in Florida.