Might 14, 2025
The presidential search has sparked controversy over the integrity of its course of
As Florida A&M College closes in on deciding on its subsequent president, its Nationwide Alumni Affiliation has voiced its most popular selection.
The outcomes of its “Presidential Choice Survey” concluded that Donald Palm, FAMU’s chief working officer, was the preferred candidate amongst alumni to steer the HBCU. The presidential search finalists appeared on campus this week to fulfill college and college students and take part in interviews.
Palm, the college’s government vp, obtained an amazing 81.75% of the vote by lively alumni members. The affiliation’s president, Curtis Johnson, shared the information with an official endorsement of Palm in a Might 10 letter.
“Dr. Palm’s deep connection to FAMU as the present chief working officer, former college member, and long-standing champion of our mission positions him uniquely to proceed our trajectory of excellence.”
Johnson, vying for his personal reelection because the group’s president, can be a part of the HBCU’s 15-member presidential search committee.
The survey got here following issues that the presidential choice lacked the overarching HBCU neighborhood’s enter. Moreover, claims of political affect overshadowed the integrity of the method, in response to the Tallahassee Democrat.
“We perceive that many alumni have expressed concern over the shortage of public dialogue previous to the discharge of the ultimate 4 candidates,” added Johnson within the letter. ” Please know that silence was not avoidance—it was duty-bound. As your elected NAA President and a search committee member, it was important that I honor the method till we reached a stage the place alumni voices may appropriately be heard.
The three different finalists are College of Maryland Japanese Shore Provost Rondall Allen, the College of Central Florida’s Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance Gerald Hector, and Constitution Communications’ Group’s Vice President of State Authorities Affairs Marva Johnson.
Marva Johnson’s promotion to finalist sparked a backlash over her appointments to different boards by Florida’s GOP governors, Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis. One of many NAA’s outstanding members, movie producer Will Packer, additionally spoke publicly about his disapproval of Johnson’s potential appointment.
“MAGA is attempting to take over management at a number of of our beloved establishments,” wrote Packer. “Proper now, FAMU is within the bullseye.”
A 2022 state regulation exempts searches for college presidents to grow to be public document. Nonetheless, issues relating to whether or not the confidentiality of those agreements is being upheld linger.
Palm will go to campus for his personal meet-and-greet on Might 15. Following all of the finalists’ campus visits, the FAMU Board of Trustees will just about meet on Might 16 to vote and choose a closing candidate. The candidate’s affirmation will then proceed to the Florida Board of Governors.
RELATED CONTENT: FAMU Marching Band 100 Named ESPN 2024 Band Of The 12 months