By Staff Writer
What should be a historic moment for Florida Memorial University — the appointment of its first-ever alumnus as president — may be spiraling into a bitter power struggle and looming legal battle.
Last week, several members of the Board of Trustees voted to officially name William McCormick as president. McCormick, who had been serving as interim president since last year following the resignation of Jaffus Hardrick for health reasons, was celebrated by many as a homegrown leader in the university’s 146-year history.
But the decision has been met with fierce opposition. Interim board chair Brandon Dumas, along with the Florida Memorial College Alumni Association, are rejecting the vote, calling it a violation of the board’s bylaws.
“The actions taken were not only improper but threaten the very governance and accreditation of this institution,” Dumas said. He has since filed an injunction in Miami-Dade County court, accusing what he called a “rogue faction” of trustees of holding unauthorized meetings and making decisions outside their authority.
The university’s leadership picture has only grown murkier. While Dumas insists, he was officially named chair in May after months in an interim capacity, FMU’s own website lists former board member Walter Weatherington as chair — and makes no mention of Dumas at all.
Underlying the conflict is a broader disagreement about the school’s future. Some trustees wanted to launch a national search to ensure a wide pool of candidates could compete for the presidency, while McCormick’s supporters pushed to remove the interim tag because of the upward mobility and the rebirth of an atmosphere of family solidify his leadership.
Instead of unity, the outcome has been described by some board members as “a painful and shameful moment” for Florida Memorial, Florida’s only historically Black university. With the dispute now in court, the institution faces not only questions of leadership but also the risk of instability at a time when its accreditation and long-term strength remain critical.
