By Noni Haynes
Marva Johnson’s path to the presidency of Florida A&M University was dealt a significant blow Friday. The FAMU Foundation, responsible for supplementing presidential salaries, took no action on Johnson’s salary. By a unanimous vote, the Finance Committee tabled budgeting for the salary that could top out at $750,000,00 a year. That came after members voiced numerous concerns over their fiduciary responsibilities to students and priorities that ranked above and beyond Johnson’s salary.
Affordability was also questioned because the Foundation had not seen a contract or taken proper steps to justify the hefty salary. Director Laurence Humphries, who made the motion to table the issue, said, “We lack readiness on this budget item. As stewards of FAMU’s endowment and our donors’ trust, we must exercise due care. Holding the amendment until comparability data and funding contingencies are verified ensures every dollar is market-justified and sustainable, which is the oversight our stakeholders, BOT, and BOG expect.”
“We have other priorities we support as a whole, not one particular item,” Director Chekesha Kidd said.
The Foundation’s funding level depends on when the board decides what it can afford to contribute.
Eight FAMU Board of Trustees members ignited a historic firestorm when they recommended Marva Johnson as president on April 16. Students, faculty, alumni, and community members continue lambasting those board members and Johnson on social media. The stakeholders are adamantly opposed to Johnson in favor of the university COO, Donald Palm. Palm was also the overwhelming favorite of the search committee.
Labeled MAGA Marva, critics say she lacks academic credentials and the management skills to navigate university culture. She also has strong ties to US Senator Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis, who are not viewed as friends of Black Floridians. She was a member of the Florida Education Commission that launched Critical Race Theory, which removed Black history from the Florida public school curriculum. Observers say it’s hard to imagine someone with her background leading the nation’s #1 public Historically Black University.
The Florida Board of Governors will have the final say on Johnson’s confirmation on June 1
