Board of Governors appoints former FAU trustee Earnie Ellison to FAMU’s Board of Trustees
The Florida Board of Governors has appointed businessman Earnie Ellison to the Florida A&M University Board of Trustees , which comes during FAMU's search for a new president.
The board met virtually Thursday and voted in favor of Ellison, who served on Florida Atlantic University's Board of Trustees but recently resigned during a five-year term that would have expired in January 2026. His role as a FAMU trustee begins Jan. 7.
"He's been a great board member at FAU, and I just want to thank him for his willingness to apply for the FAMU board given the great upside potential at FAMU and the great work that's going to be done by the board there to select a new president," Board of Governors Vice Chair Alan Levine said at the Thursday meeting.
FAMU's presidential search process comes after former President Larry Robinson's resignation , which led to interim President Timothy Beard's appointment in August for a one-year term.
"Having somebody with Earnie's background and experience at an HBCU (historically Black college or university) as a graduate of Alabama A&M University, I think he's a great pick," Levine said. "There was no reason for him to leave that great board at FAU, but it was (because of) his affection for FAMU and what we're trying to do there."
Ellison's appointment will replace FAMU trustee Nicole Washington, who was appointed by the Board of Governors in January 2020 with a five-year term expiring in January.
But Washington recently resigned from the FAMU trustee role, according to Levine, and her resignation opened a spot on FAMU's full board for Ellison's appointment.
In addition, Levine says Washington has applied to serve in a different seat on the university's Board of Trustees. Her interest to get back on the board means the possibility of being appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and replacing a trustee who might be leaving or whose term expires soon.
FAMU trustee Kelvin Lawson's maximum consecutive term of five years expired in January 2021. But since he was appointed by a governor, he can continue to sit on the board until DeSantis either decides to reappoint him or appoint another individual to replace him.
Trustees with January expirations coming up are Otis Cliatt, Kenny Stone – both of which were initially appointed by DeSantis.
"I don't want to speak for the governor's office since they decide who should replace who," Levine said. "We'll see what the governor does. I feel confident that once the governor makes his appointments, it'll be a great board."
Who is Earnie Ellison?
Ellison – an Alabama A&M University alumnus with a bachelor's degree in accounting – is the managing partner of the Ellison Consulting Group , which consults with professional sports organizations and sports businesses to develop and implement strategies and event management.
The company focuses in part on diversity and inclusion and has been a leader in championing diversity in sports. This comes while DeSantis has strongly dismissed diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in higher education throughout the state through his efforts of dismantling DEI programs from college campuses, among other initiatives.
Recently, the controversial topic became a concern of FAMU's board ahead of its presidential search firm selection, where trustees asked the firms that were being considered to explain their position on DEI.
More: FAMU trustees pick presidential search firm after delays, hearing responses about DEI
Before Ellison's managing partner role, his corporate career included serving as the director of Business and Community Relations for the Professional Golfers' Association (PGA) of America from 1997 to 2013. He also served in financial positions with IBM 1970 to 1988.
His civic and business recognitions over the years include the 2021 Urban League of Palm Beach County Life-Time Achievement Award, and in 2015, his accomplishments were recorded by The HistoryMakers – the world's largest collection of successful African American's testimonies that are archived in the Library of Congress.
"He has a great background," Board of Governors Chair Brian Lamb said Thursday after recommending Ellison, "and he's very involved in the business community."
Ellison is also a life member of Kappa Alpha Psi and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternities, and he currently serves as a board member of the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties.
Although Ellison resigned from his role as an FAU trustee prior to his appointment to FAMU's board, some FAMU trustees simultaneously serve on the boards of other institutions.
At Bethune-Cookman University, FAMU trustee Belvin Perry currently serves as the private historically Black university's board chair while Deveron Gibbons – vice chair of FAMU's board – serves as its parliamentarian and FAMU trustee John Crossman serves as a member ,according to BCU's board directory website .
Also, Washington serves as vice chair of Miami Dade College's Board of Trustees.
Ahead of Ellison's start date on FAMU's board in January, his appointment awaits confirmation by the Florida Senate.
Contact Tarah Jean at tjean@tallahassee.com or follow her on X: @tarahjean_ .
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Board of Governors appoints Earnie Ellison to FAMU Board of Trustees
