Latest news with #FloridaA&M
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Florida A&M athletic director Angela Suggs arrested
The post Florida A&M athletic director Angela Suggs arrested appeared first on ClutchPoints. Florida A&M Athletic Director Angela Suggs has been arrested, per a report by the Tallahassee Democrat. Suggs faces charges of grand theft, scheme to defraud, and four misdemeanor counts for submitting false travel voucher claims, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The Florida A&M alumna surrendered earlier on Monday and was released on a $13,500 bond shortly after 2:30 p.m., according to court records. Sugg's arrest and subsequent investigation and charges stem from her work with the Florida Sports Foundation, in which she served as president of the organization. The Florida Sports Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization that serves as the Sports Industry Development Division for the State of Florida. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement released a statement detailing the scope of their investigation. 'The investigation began in November 2024 after FDLE received a criminal referral from the Florida Department of Commerce's Inspector General with an audit of Suggs' business credit card purchases and corresponding travel reimbursements,' the statement read. 'The investigation revealed Suggs misused her FSF-issued credit card to make wire transfers and cash withdraws and personal purchases at casinos during business trips, totaling more than $24,000. The statement continued, 'When asked about the unauthorized charges, Suggs claimed some were for business meals and others were accidentally charged to the business card. She failed to fully repay (the foundation) for her personal expenditures.' In a statement to the Florida A&M community obtained by the Tallahassee Democrat, Interim President Dr. Timothy Beard said he was 'aware of the allegations involving our athletics director, Angela Suggs, while she was working with a former employer. While the matter is unrelated to her duties as an employee at FAMU, we are monitoring the situation and will respond in the future as appropriate.' In September 2024, Suggs was appointed Athletic Director at Florida A&M University, succeeding Tiffani-Dawn Sykes. A proud Tallahassee native and FAMU alum, Suggs has a longstanding connection to FAMU Athletics. She previously served as Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Affairs and Senior Woman Administrator (SWA). During her tenure, she played a key role in developing FAMU Athletics' current branding and logos and helped establish the North End Zone Club. Suggs is a graduate of FAMU High School, earned her degree from Florida A&M, and holds a master's degree from St. Thomas University. Suggs recently facilitated the hiring of Florida State legend Charlie Ward to become the next basketball coach for the institution. Related: HBCU alumnus shines in Starz's 'BMF' Related: Fisk University gymnastics program set to end next year
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Florida A&M athletic director arrested after allegedly stealing more than $24,000 from former employer
Florida A&M athletic director Angela Suggs was arrested on Monday after she allegedly stole thousands of dollars from her former job with a corporate credit card. Suggs turned herself in to the Leon County Jail on Monday, though she was later released on bond, according to The Associated Press. She is facing several charges, including felony grand theft and felony scheme to defraud. She was also charged with four counts of false claims on travel vouchers, which are misdemeanors in the state of Florida. Officials said that Suggs used a corporate credit card for personal use and stole more than $24,000 at her previous job. Suggs allegedly made wire transfers, cash withdrawals and personal purchases at casinos during business trips while she was the CEO of the Florida Sports Foundation. An investigation was launched last fall, and an audit also revealed that Suggs allegedly falsified travel vouchers by filing the unauthorized charges as meals or claimed they were accidents. She also reportedly failed to completely repay the Florida Sports Foundation for her personal expenses. Suggs, a Florida A&M graduate, was hired officially as the university's athletic director last fall after a nearly seven-year run with the Florida Sports Foundation. Among other things, Suggs hired former NBA player and Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward as the program's next men's basketball coach in April. The Rattlers went 14-17 last season in the SWAC, and they've not been to the NCAA tournament in nearly two decades. 'Florida A&M University is aware of the allegations involving our athletics director, Angela Suggs, while she was working with a former employer,' interim president Timothy Beard said in a statement, via WTXL. 'While the matter is unrelated to her duties as an employee at FAMU, we are monitoring the situation and will respond in the future as appropriate.'
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Yahoo
Florida A&M athletic director arrested after allegedly stealing more than $24,000 from former employer
Florida A&M athletic director Angela Suggs was arrested on Monday after she allegedly stole thousands of dollars from her former job with a corporate credit card. Suggs turned herself in to the Leon County Jail on Monday, though she was later released on bond, according to The Associated Press . She is facing several charges, including felony grand theft and felony scheme to defraud. She was also charged with four counts of false claims on travel vouchers, which are misdemeanors in the state of Florida. Advertisement Officials said that Suggs used a corporate credit card for personal use and stole more than $24,000 at her previous job. Suggs allegedly made wire transfers, cash withdrawals and personal purchases at casinos during business trips while she was the CEO of the Florida Sports Foundation. An investigation was launched last fall, and an audit also revealed that Suggs allegedly falsified travel vouchers by filing the unauthorized charges as meals or claimed they were accidents. She also reportedly failed to completely repay the Florida Sports Foundation for her personal expenses. Suggs, a Florida A&M graduate, was hired officially as the university's athletic director last fall after a nearly seven-year run with the Florida Sports Foundation. Among other things, Suggs hired former NBA player and Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward as the program's next men's basketball coach in April. The Rattlers went 14-17 last season in the SWAC, and they've not been to the NCAA tournament in nearly two decades.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
FAMU presidency controversy continues into contract conversation
A brick sign welcomes visitors to the Florida A&M campus in Tallahassee. (Photo by Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix) Controversy continues to swirl around the president designate of Florida A&M University with the latest dispute over Marva Johnson's five- year contract and how she will earn her pay. FAMU Board of Trustees Chair Kristin Harper said Friday Johnson's contract puts the university at odds with the FAMU Foundation, which is responsible for providing most of the money in the contract. That's because state law caps state contributions at $200,000 annually for presidential salaries. FAMU Foundation's board chair said it could not afford a $750,000 base salary, the Tallahassee Democrat reported, which is what Johnson requested. The FAMU Foundation anticipated the new president's salary would be $588,562, Harper said, reading from a letter from the foundation. The contract says the board 'shall use its best efforts to cause the foundation to contribute to the university portions of all payments' beyond $200,000. That language concerns Harper, who said she is not sure trustees have the ability to make the foundation, a direct support organization of the university, do anything. 'I have concerns about the burden, the financial burden that this places on the university and the university's inability to fund this sweetheart deal of sweetheart deals,' Harper said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX There was significant pushback among alumni to Johnson's candidacy much of which was centered around Johnson's political connections to former Gov. Rick Scott and Gov. Ron DeSantis. Alumni also cited the lack of higher education administration experience as a reason to reject. Johnson. Despite the opposition the FAMU Board of Trustees voted 8-4 last month to select Johnson its next president. Harper voted against selecting Johnson. After the trustees approved Johnson, the board voted to put FAMU trustee Nicole Washington in charge of negotiating the contract. At the time, Harper said she was offended. The pick to run Florida's only public HBCU is an ally to top Florida Republicans On Friday Washington disagreed with Harper's assessment about the foundation's ability to pay. 'It's my understanding that the foundation will be required to amend their budget to accommodate this expense,' Washington said. 'Required is quite a strong word,' Harper replied. Washington on Friday stood by the contract she negotiated, which was ultimately approved with an 8-3 vote. 'I compare this process to, similar to, buying a house. I still regret not buying a house back in 2017 when the median home price in Florida was $237[,000]. In 2025, that median price is $389,400, a 60% increase. The market has changed,' Washington said, calling the contract 'competitive yet balanced.' Johnson is yet to be approved by the Board of Governors. If approved, her contract would take effect Aug. 1. Total compensation would be about $840,000 in the first year and rises up to about $981,000 in the final year. Comparing the contract to other historically Black colleges and universities, the FAMU contract rises above the average HBCU contracts that search consultants evaluated of $446,094. The average of other institutions with a similar research capacity as FAMU is $617,021, according to consultants. Trustee Craig Reed took issue with the size of the contract compared to former President Larry Robinson, whose total salary was $591,669 in his last year. 'I find it highly difficult to approve a contract that significantly exceeds, essentially, what we paid our previous president that had significant experience as a sitting president and as a faculty member in a higher ed institution,' Reed said. Compared to other State University institutions, FAMU's package would land it below the 50th percentile in the first year, which is $899,644. The contract also provides Johnson a spot as a faculty member at the FAMU college of law after her presidency. One concern voiced by some trustees and a pack of people during public comment, was whether the contract prioritizes retention rather than performance. The five-year contract would start Johnson at a base salary of $650,000 with a 3% annual increase. The contract provides annual performance compensation of $86,000, if the board deems her performance worthy. For comparison, the recently negotiated University of Florida contract would've provided Santa Ono with a 20% performance bonus. Johnson's performance bonus would be approximately 13% of her salary. Her contract provides a $150,000 annual retention payment, able to be cashed out after the three and five-year marks. The retention bonus would be approximately 23% of her annual base salary. 'I'm just concerned, you know, about what matters more to this board: Occupying a seat or delivering outcomes for student success?' Harper said, adding that she would prefer that performance and retention were swapped. Trustee Zayla Bryant, a student, stood with Harper. 'And with that only being less than half of what her retention payment would be, I feel like that sets a clear standard or sets a clear indicator that her presence is more important than her performance,' Bryant said. But Washington countered that the two are intertwined. 'It's interesting that you see that as an 'either or.' I see that as a 'both and.' In order for the president to remain for three years would require that she has performed over that time,' Washington responded, adding that 'This is not a contract that anybody is going to get just for sitting in the seat.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
New Florida A&M president Marva Johnson is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha
The post New Florida A&M president Marva Johnson is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha appeared first on ClutchPoints. Florida A&M University's controversial new president, Marva Johnson, is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Many people find that news surprising due to her conservative views. In May, Johnson was selected as the 13th president of Florida A&M last month despite major pushback from alumni, students, and supporters. On May 16, the Board of Trustees met, and Johnson was chosen by a vote of 8 to 4. She is just the second woman to be appointed as president of Florida A&M in the university's history. After Elmira Mangum, who was president from 2014 to 2016. Following weeks of intense discussion, campus visits, and growing resistance from community residents, students, and alumni who questioned Johnson's credentials and connections to Republican political figures, the choice was made. Johnson had previously worked for Florida Governors Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis as a political appointee. She currently works at Charter Communications as Vice President of State Government, according to the Tallahassee Democrat. Due to Johnson's lack of experience and political ties, especially to Ron DeSantis, supporters of the university and other members of the HBCU community are against her appointment. Due to the Florida Board of Governors, DeSantis and his appointees had significant influence over Johnson becoming president. The State University System of Florida is governed by the Board of Governors, which is the highest authority. For campus-level decisions, each institution has its own Board of Trustees, but for system-wide policy, the Board of Governors has the last word. During the search for a new president, four trustees supported Donald Palm, one of the four contenders for the 13th presidency. At the university, he currently serves as the chief operating officer and executive vice president. Palm was also endorsed by the Florida A&M National Alumni Association. 'We are proud to formally endorse Dr. Donald Palm as our preferred candidate for the 13th President of Florida A&M University,' FAMU NAA President Curtis Johnson said in a May 10 letter to the association's members obtained by the Tallahassee Democrat. He added in the letter, 'Dr. Palm's deep connection to FAMU as the current chief operating officer, former faculty member, and long-standing champion of our mission positions him uniquely to continue our trajectory of excellence.' Johnson's appointment comes after former president Dr. Larry Robinson resigned following the $237 million donation scandal with Gregory Gerami. Dr. Timothy Beard was appointed interim president and served a one-year term until a permanent president was found. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated was founded on January 15, 1908, on the campus of Howard University by nine collegiate women. Alpha Kappa Alpha is the oldest established Greek-letter organization for Black women. The sorority has over 355,000 members, including Vanessa Bell Calloway, Phylicia Rashad, Maya Angelou, Alice Walker, Patti LaBelle, and Coretta Scott King.
