By Rhetta Peoples
(Source: The Florida Sun)
Florida A&M University has selected Charter telecommunications executive Marva Johnson as its 13th president, a decision that comes after weeks of controversy, emotional testimony, and deep concern from many students, supporters, alumni, and faculty.
The FAMU Board of Trustees voted to appoint Johnson during a highly anticipated meeting on May 16, choosing her from a pool of four finalists.
Johnson, a Winter Garden native and group vice president at Charter Communications, is now the second woman in the university’s history to be named president— following Dr. Elmira Mangum, who served from 2014 to 2016.
Her selection marks a pivotal moment for FAMU, which has been navigating a leadership transition since the resignation of former President Larry Robinson.
Robinson stepped down in the wake of controversy over the mis- handling of a significant financial gift, which led to the appointment of Interim President Dr. Timothy Beard less than a year ago.
Ties to conservative politics questioned
For many in the FAMU community, Johnson’s candidacy raised red flags. Critics questioned her limited background in higher education leadership and expressed unease about her previous appointments under Florida Governors Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis.
Several alumni and student leaders voiced fears that her ties to conservative politics could place the university’s mission and values at risk.
FAMU Alumna Nikki Freeney said, “What just happened at FAMU is disgraceful, deliberate betrayal. This wasn’t a presidential search—it was a political setup.
A group of Black political puppets, handpicked by Ron DeSantis and propped up by MAGA operatives, have sold out the nation’s #1 HBCU.”
Still, Johnson struck a conciliatory tone during a public forum on campus last week. “I was not sent here to dismantle FAMU,” she said. “I would love the opportunity to work with you and to grow FAMU.”
She emerged as the board’s top choice over three other contenders: Dr. Rondall Allen, Provost at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore; Gerald Hector, a senior vice president at the University of Central Florida; and FAMU’s own Dr. Donald Palm, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
Palm, who garnered strong community backing, had declared confidently in a May 15 meeting, “I am your next president.”
As president, Johnson’s salary will fall between $450,000 and $750,000, per the board’s approved range based on recommendations from the search committee. In her application, Johnson requested the full $750,000 but did not disclose her current earnings at Charter.
Board of Governors must confirm pick
Though the board’s decision has been made, Johnson’s appointment is not yet final. She must still undergo an interview and receive confirmation from the Florida Board of Governors before officially taking office.
“They’ve installed a grossly unqualified figurehead who will dismantle the legacy of excellence built by generations of Black scholars and visionaries. This is bigger than FAMU—this is a blueprint for how they’re attacking Black institutions across America: erasing Black history, undermining Black brilliance and weaponizing our own people as tools of white supremacy and capitalism. And we see it. We will not be silent. And we will not forget who helped them do it,” Freeney said.
As the university prepares to celebrate its 137th year, the next president will be tasked not only with leading a complex academic institution, but with rebuilding trust among the very community she now serves.
