By Vaughn Wilson
New FAMU Interim President Dr. Timothy Beard wasted no time in making changes at FAMU, and he didn’t start small. According to documents, Beard asked for the immediate resignation of members of the FAMU senior leadership team by the end of today.
FAMU is slated to begin the Fall semester next week and play its week zero football game in the MEAC-SWAC Challenge in Atlanta next week against Norfolk State.
The letter was a form letter and was accompanied by a suggested response form, seemingly to expedite the response time.
While it is not uncommon for interim presidents to make changes, a sweeping change of senior leadership just days before the start of the Fall semester is curious timing as critical decisions for the successful school year are made during that time based on the factors of enrollment and issues.
As the day progressed, former FAMU Vice President and Director of Athletics Tiffani-Dawn Sykes revealed that she was no longer employed with the university. It was later learned that she did in fact not resign but had parted ways with the university.
Florida A&M University has been embroiled in a major embarrassment with a failed major gift to the university. Texas farmer Gregory Gerami promised FAMU $237 million to go toward various causes at the university. The gift was characterized as a transformational gift and the largest in HBCU history.
Things quickly fell apart and FAMU distanced itself from Gerami before admitting that the gift was unfounded and fraudulent. Immediately Dr. Shawnta Friday-Stroud resigned from the FAMU Foundation and returned solely in her second job as dean of the FAMU School of Business and Industry. Shortly thereafter, FAMU’s 12th President Dr. Larry Robinson, resigned. The FAMU Board of Trustees would immediately begin working on a succession plan. Beard emerged as the choice for FAMU Interim President.
After Beard’s first week at the helm, he would briskly ask for the senior leadership to tender their resignations within 24 hours. He would then begin meeting with and evaluating the performances of the senior leadership team and deciding who would remain and who whose resignation he would honor.
Over the next week, it will be determined who remains and who has parted ways with the university. It was a common thought that Beard was brought to clean up some things for FAMU and it appears he is laser focused on the mission.
