Latest news with #MarvaJohnson
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- 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.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
FAMU President, DeSantis' Choice
Lee Hall on the Florida A&M University campus. (Photo by Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix) Florida A&M University has weathered its share of storms, the most recent being a deeply embarrassing debacle when a Texas donor conned former FAMU President Larry Robinson and a close circle of school officials into believing that the hallowed institution was the recipient of a $237.75 million gift. After discovering the gift was a hoax, Robinson resigned, which led to the uproar over the past several weeks surrounding the choice of Robinson's successor. During a presidential search process shrouded in secrecy, the Ron DeSantis-dominated FAMU Board of Trustees voted 8-4 for Marva Johnson, a last-minute addition to the presidential finalist list. 'The late entry of Marva Johnson into the pool of candidates to become FAMU's president has sparked concern about her allegiances, the selection process and her apparent lack of qualifications, MSNBC said. 'Johnson, who has been appointed to boards by Gov. Ron DeSantis and former Gov. Rick Scott, has no college administrative experience and has remained an ally of DeSantis as his GOP administration has undermined Black history lessons in the state.' The likelihood that Johnson might be chosen provoked in a multipronged campaign of resistance, including a petition against her candidacy that gathered more than 10,000 signatures. Florida's state NAACP president threatened legal action over the selection process. Popular film director Will Packer, a FAMU graduate who has produced films like 'Takers,' 'Straight Outta Compton,' and 'Think Like a Man,' warned that 'a group of activist Republicans are trying to put in the highest position of power someone who is solidly and objectively unqualified for it. A range of Black media personalities online also sounded the alarm on Johnson. There have been calls for boycotts and other punitive measures to express displeasure over how all this has played out. The primary objections involve Jonhson's connections to DeSantis, who throughout his time as governor has exhibited barefaced hostility towards Black Floridians while implementing a raft of racist ideological MAGA policies aimed at institutions of higher learning. A WFSU story in the days following last Friday's selection captures the temperature. 'Florida A&M University is ablaze following the appointment of Marva Johnson to the school's presidency. Alumni, students and other FAMU stakeholders are weighing how best to move forward,' the story said. 'Johnson is a controversial candidate for her ties to Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, as he works to remake higher education in the state. Now, the school's interim president is urging calm amid backlash and boycott threats in response to Johnson's appointment by the FAMU Board of Trustees,' the story continues. 'I urge you to stay engaged and remain connected,' Interim President Tim Beard wrote in a statement. 'Your advocacy, your feedback and your financial support are crucial to ensuring that our institution continues to thrive.' To describe DeSantis' assault on higher education as a remaking is a grave understatement. Since 2023, he has taken a wrecking ball to Florida's higher educational system in his misguided effort to stamp out liberalism and 'woke' ideology and install university presidents, educators, board members, and others who embrace the governor's conservative agenda. A 2024 report by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), details the 'the various manifestations of political and legislative interference in Florida's higher education system under the DeSantis administration and that of his predecessor, Rick Scott.' 'These include attacks on faculty academic freedom and tenure; the assault on the curriculum; the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs; the development of a patronage system marked by politically connected administrative appointments; the stacking of the statewide board of governors with Republican former political officeholders and professional political operatives beholden to the governor and the legislature; the passage of legislation making confidential identifying information of applicants for presidential positions at state universities or Florida College System institutions; political and legislative attacks on the higher education accreditation system; legal challenges to public employee unions; and the broader assault on the rights and social gains of LGBTQ+ communities.' In short order, DeSantis – term-limited from running again for governor – has enacted hostile takeovers of the New College, the University of Florida, Florida International University, and the University of West Florida. As the Florida Phoenix has reported, DeSantis is installing his political allies at state universities so that they can purge these institutions of 'ideological concepts.' To date, five of 12 schools have new presidents and another four are looking. People like Packer and Adora Obi Nweze, president of the Florida State Conference NAACP, issued calls to scrap the entire process and start again. Nweze urged the FAMU Board of Trustees to 'recommit to a fair and untainted process' that reflects the university's legacy of academic excellence. She and others were ignored and Johnson now will become FAMU's 13th president. During a volatile meeting that ran about two hours, as Johnson introduced herself to the community, tempers ran hot. Packer warned trustees that choosing Johnson would be detrimental to FAMU's future, but she sought to assuage those fears. 'I know that the comments you're bringing – while they're coming to me in a way that may evidence angst – are coming from your love for this university, your love for this university's legacy, and your interest in making sure that you protect it. If I am selected, I would fight and win for FAMU,' Johnson told the crowd. 'No, I'm not a Trojan horse. I was not sent here to dismantle FAMU. … 'I would love the opportunity to work with you and to grow FAMU.' Johnson also said: 'I understand the gravity of this moment. I'm grounded in the importance of FAMU's legacy, and I'm energized by the opportunities that we have in front of us.' The new president served as vice president for governmental affairs (meaning she was a lobbyist) for Charter Communications, a telecom company, and is a former member of the State Board of Education. I reached out to Desirée Nero, a corporate and government consultant and 'a very proud alum,' said she understands the concerns but now that Johnson has been selected, FAMUANs must figure out how to work with her. 'Universities are moving more in the direction of being managed like businesses. The president's job is to raise money, build relationships, and increase the universities' global impact and reputation. Marva Johnson can do that,' Nero said. Nero gives Johnson props for succeeding as a Black woman in business – 'I'm sure she has had to fight some battles in her rise to leadership,' she said. 'She's well educated; a Georgetown undergrad, an MBA from Emory and a J.D. from Georgia State,' said Nero, who has 20 years of experience working in leadership development within Florida State government. 'Republicans and MAGA are not one and the same. There's nothing recently that indicates she will walk the MAGA path.' FAMU, the state's only public historically Black institution, was established in 1887 during the height of Jim Crow and segregation because African Americans weren't allowed to attend white institutions. Racism and purposeful underinvestment has always dogged the university. In 2023, the Biden administration sent letters to 16 governors – including DeSantis – urging these states to review $12 billion in funding disparities among land-grant universities. The U.S. Department of Education alleged that the states disproportionately underfunded Florida A&M University by nearly $2 billion compared to University of Florida – the second largest funding disparity among all land-grant universities. This disparity has resulted in 'inadequate resources and delay critical investments in everything from campus infrastructure to research and development to student support services,' then-U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona wrote. The Trump administration recently rescinded a $16.3 million grant that had been awarded to FAMU's College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Meanwhile, FAMU is struggling to properly prepare its students to pass board examinations in its nursing, law, pharmacy, and physical therapy programs. Alan Levine, vice chair of the Florida Board of Governors, last year threatened to get rid of the programs if there's no improvement. Those who support Johnson hope she has the political connections, fundraising acumen, and leadership skills to reverse these challenges. And they hope she will convince DeSantis not to mess with FAMU the way he did New College. 'Change is inevitable and history has shown us that those who fight change are subject to be left behind,' Nero said. 'Change isn't coming to FAMU, it's here. FAMU may be in the fight of its life and we need a warrior to champion this fight. This is too important to be confrontational.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Florida A&M's new president doesn't define the university. We do.
Since 1887, Florida A&M University in Tallahassee has stood as a beacon of excellence and resilience, nurturing generations of Black scholars and leaders who have shaped this country. That 138-year legacy isn't just worth honoring, but it's also worth protecting. I'm a proud alumnus of FAMU and, thus, watched the recent selection of Marva Johnson as the university's new president with great interest. Many people who love the university fall along a spectrum of emotions regarding the selection process and the selection of Johnson, as she does not have experience in higher education and is a political ally of Gov. Ron DeSantis. Others have complained that the process wasn't sufficiently transparent. And before Johnson was picked, some alumni reportedly threatened to stop supporting FAMU financially if she were selected. For many, the outpouring of concern and scrutiny surrounding FAMU's new president stem not from animosity, but from a place of profound love for the institution. When an entity holds such a significant place in hearts, every decision, every transition, is met with intense passion. This vocal engagement is not necessarily a sign of discord, but rather a powerful testament to the deep-seated affection and ownership the FAMU family feels. It is a reflection of how deeply this university resonates within the lives of its alumni, students, faculty and supporters. The frustration is also undoubtedly tied to the state's political climate in recent years. Too often, Florida has blurred the line between governance and interference — especially in the realm of higher education as Gov. DeSantis has installed political allies at the helm of institutions across the state, including New College of Florida and Florida International University. It is our hope and our expectation that FAMU remains focused on what matters most: its students, its mission and its independence. The strength and integrity of FAMU, like all institutions of higher learning, rely on its ability to operate free from undue political pressures, allowing it to prioritize academic excellence and the holistic development of its students. At the end of the day, political agendas should not drive FAMU's future. It's incumbent upon all of us who care about FAMU to use this moment as a time to recommit to safeguarding it. Holding leadership accountable and offering support aren't opposing ideas — they are two sides of responsible stewardship. This is not the time to disengage, divide or surrender. It's time to strategize and double down on our commitment to where we go from here. Regardless of how we arrived here, the stakes are too high to lose focus. If the president fails, the university fails. And FAMU cannot afford to fail — not for the more than 13,000 students who walk that campus every day, and not for the future generations who deserve the same opportunities we had. As a state lawmaker, my priority is ensuring our historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) receive the resources and funding they need, particularly in the face of uncertainty around federal funding and decades of being chronically underfunded. Nationwide, HBCUs are worried about survival, only increasing the importance of what happens at the state level. This moment calls for my fellow alumni — not just here in Florida, but also across the country — to stay engaged and keep speaking up. It's up to us to ensure that the voices and values of those who built the university into what it is today are reflected. Ultimately, no single president defines FAMU. The people do. We've seen leadership come and go, but the community has always held the line. It is the alumni who carry its legacy forward, the faculty who impart knowledge and wisdom, the staff who ensure its smooth operation and the students who embody its future. If we stay informed, stay involved and stay unified, we can ensure that the university's best days are still ahead. The institution's legacy is worth fighting for. It is our responsibility to safeguard the legacy of excellence, to uplift future generations of Rattlers and to ensure that Florida A&M University not only survives, but also flourishes for the next 138 years and beyond. This profound responsibility rests upon each and every member of the FAMU community. It is a burden and a privilege that must be carried together, with unwavering dedication and a shared vision for a vibrant and impactful future. This article was originally published on
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Amid controversy, Marva Johnson named president of Florida A&M University
Florida A&M University's Board of Trustees on Friday selected telecom executive Marva Johnson as the school's next president, backing a candidate with ties to Gov. Ron DeSantis despite weeks of fierce community opposition and deepening fears of political interference at the state's only public historically Black university. Johnson, a vice president at Charter Communications and former DeSantis appointee to the Florida Board of Education, won the role in an 8-4 vote that capped a bitter, unusually contentious search process. Now, Johnson faces the daunting task of securing legitimacy with a skeptical constituency of Rattlers at FAMU. A vocal group of students, faculty members and alumni have questioned Johnson's lack of higher education experience, as well as the process that elevated her over more traditional candidates to lead one of the nation's top-ranked historically Black public institutions — particularly FAMU Chief Operating Officer Donald Palm, who emerged as the community favorite. Johnson's relationship with DeSantis — whose administration has crusaded against diversity efforts at Florida's public universities and sought to restrict how African American history is taught — has triggered raucous protests across the FAMU community in Tallahassee and nationwide. Critics question whether Johnson can safeguard FAMU in a political climate they say is increasingly hostile to its mission as an HBCU, but proponents see an advantage for the institution in her alignment with the governor and the GOP-dominated legislature. DeSantis hasn't publicly commented on the appointment, and the governor's office didn't respond to requests for comment. Johnson, who couldn't be reached for an interview, attempted to allay concerns at a public forum Wednesday. 'I'm not a Trojan Horse,' she told the crowd. 'I was not sent here to dismantle FAMU.' If approved by the state university system's Board of Governors, Johnson could make up to $750,000 a year as FAMU's president. That salary exceeds her predecessor's by more than $150,000 — and has become another flashpoint in a process that some critics argue has veered far from the university's values. 'There was a lack of intellectual depth and a gap in cultural connection that was just painfully blatant,' said board chair Kristin Harper, who voted against Johnson's selection and later had her role in contract negotiations stripped by a majority vote of the board. Johnson's appointment comes amid broader efforts by DeSantis and his allies to reshape Florida's higher education landscape, often favoring candidates with political loyalty over academic experience. If confirmed by the state university system's Board of Governors, Johnson would join a growing roster of politically aligned university presidents in Florida. Her supporters on FAMU's board argued on Friday that navigating Tallahassee's deeply partisan legislative environment requires precisely the political savvy she offers FAMU, especially at a time when the university is facing mounting threats to its state and federal funding. 'Our survival depends on how we navigate those systems,' said Jamal Brown, the board's faculty representative who voted for her nomination. 'If we don't have leadership that can operate within it, we fall further behind.' But many in the university community weren't convinced. By Friday's board meeting, more than 13,000 people had signed a petition opposing her nomination. During public comments at the meeting, speakers accused the board of ignoring student and alumni voices and warned that donor support could be in jeopardy. 'When you don't have your own students, faculty and alumni behind you, no matter what relationships you have, that's a recipe for disaster,' said Will Packer, a prominent FAMU alumnus and Hollywood producer. According to Packer, several high-profile alumni including rapper Common, singer K. Michelle and comedian Roy Wood, Jr. had expressed opposition as well. Kennedy Williams, FAMU's new student body vice president, said in an interview that trustees' ultimate decision to override the will of the student body and other key stakeholders was 'unsettling.' 'The students are the heart and soul of FAMU and it's important that they feel as if they're heard,' Williams said. 'Unfortunately, they weren't today.' Tensions in the search began escalating last month after the Tallahassee Democrat reported a leaked list of finalists, sparking rumors that Johnson's name was shoehorned in late in the process. One trustee, Earnie Ellison, was forced to resign after suggesting the process be paused to address community concerns. Then, just a day before the board's Friday vote, Alan Levine — a DeSantis ally and member of both the search committee and the state Board of Governors — nominated a Tallahassee-based McDonald's franchise owner to fill the vacancy left on the board. That move, too, raised eyebrows. 'This was a hanky panky process,' said Leon County Commissioner Al Lawson, who is also an instructor at FAMU. In an interview, Levine denied political interference in the search and said rumors that Johnson was added into the running last minute were 'patently false.' He said the candidates were all qualified and endorsed Johnson's credentials, pointing to past instances of nontraditional candidates with successful university presidencies, like former Republican House Speaker John Thrasher at Florida State University. The stakes are high for FAMU, which is still reeling from past leadership controversies. Johnson's predecessor, Larry Robinson, resigned last year amid fallout from a fake $237 million donation scandal that embarrassed the school on the national stage. State Sen. Shevrin Jones (D-Miami), a FAMU alum, urged unity but acknowledged the looming friction stemming from Johnson's presidency. Jones, a former member of the Biden Administration's now-defunct HBCU Advisory Board, said that while 'FAMU is not a Fortune 500 company,' Johnson's political background could help remedy historic underfunding faced by other predominantly Black institutions. But skeptics argue that political access isn't a substitute for cultural alignment or academic vision. 'FAMU has survived far worse than this,' Jones said. 'As Marva comes in, the first order of business for her is to unite the university.'
Miami Herald
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Florida A&M student claims he is being suspended for protest
A controversy at HBCU Florida A&M University has sparked debate after a student activist claimed he is facing suspension and housing loss following his protest Hooks, a political science major from Chipley, Florida, organized a major May 14 rally at the HBCU's Will Packer Performing Arts Amphitheater to oppose the potential appointment of Marva Johnson as FAMU's next president. The protest featured remarks from Packer and others, while Hooks also launched a petition titled "FAMU Deserves Better," which received over 12,500 signatures. Despite the outcry, FAMU trustees voted 8-4 on May 16 to select Johnson as the university's next president, pending approval by the Board of Governors. Hooks, who spoke during the meeting's public comment session, was escorted out shortly after his remarks. He later said the university notified him via email that he was facing possible disciplinary action, prompting concerns that his activism was being punished. While Hooks declined to share the university's email, he questioned its timing and described feeling ashamed and disheartened, adding, "I really, truly love FAMU." The HBCU's Vice President of Student Affairs, William E. Hudson Jr., denied the disciplinary action was connected to the protest, citing an unrelated ongoing matter but offered no further details due to privacy guidelines. Hooks said he received permission to attend and speak at the meeting and was confused by the disciplinary language in the email. His removal from the meeting raised concerns, especially from Board of Trustees chair Kristin Harper, a Florida A&M alumna and former SGA president, who appeared visibly disturbed by the situation. The controversy highlights the tensions that can arise between student activism and administration decisions at HBCUs, especially during critical leadership transitions. The post Florida A&M student claims he is being suspended for protest appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
