FAMU alumni, community express anger, flex muscle in ongoing presidential search

In a town hall where Florida A&M University alumni confidently declared the common name of who is "not welcome" to serve as their alma mater's new president , Tommy Mitchell, Sr. urged the community members to express who they support, too.

"I think we have to go further than just saying who we don't want. We need to pick somebody, support them and tell (the university) that's who we want," Mitchell, former FAMU National Alumni Association president, said during the town hall. The meeting was hosted by Leon County District 1 Commissioner  Bill Proctor . 

"FAMU is as great as it's ever been, so we absolutely have to have someone that's going to take us further," Mitchell added.

And no less than FAMU alumnus and famed Hollywood producer Will Packer – watching the meeting on a livestream – made his position clear:

"FAMU DESERVES BETTER!" he posted in a comment, referring to finalist Marva Johnson – group vice president of state government affairs for  Charter Communications – the one candidate who has generated the most animus in the FAMU community.

During an impromptu vocal vote at the May 7 meeting in Tallahassee at Bethel AME Church's sanctuary, there was utter silence in the crowd as the names of FAMU's unranked list of four finalists were stated until it came to the last candidate – Donald Palm, the university's executive vice president and chief operating officer. 

Palm's name was met with hollers of "yea" declarations in support of his candidacy.

The united support is what drove the group of about 50 attendees to mobilize and say the same energy will be brought to FAMU as they plan on attending Palm's May 15 campus visit, part of the presidential search process. 

At the same time, the town hall attendees plan to openly voice their concern and disapproval of Johnson while attending her May 14 campus visit. "She is not welcome here," Clinton Byrd said, referring to Johnson. "I've had 50 members of my family graduate ... and we got legacy. We love this place, so we're going to fight for it." 

The town hall Wednesday evening came as an effort of Proctor's to encourage the community to air out their concerns about the FAMU presidential search, where frustrations have run high during what has been a contentious process amid circulating rumors. 

There has been broad speculation that FAMU board Vice Chair Deveron Gibbons insisted on adding Johnson – a former Florida Board of Education chair also appointed to other boards by both former Gov. Rick Scott and current Gov. Ron DeSantis – to what was initially a list of three  final candidates  committee members interviewed and voted on during closed sessions.  

"The easiest way to destroy a university is to put one of your own in as a plant, just like the Greeks did with the Trojan horse," Tallahassee blogger and columnist Chuck Hobbs said. "That's precisely what's going on right now, and we will be foolish to not recognize the play.

"These people are playing (for) keeps, and they are not interested in anything that has to do with Black progress or the progress of education in the United States, definitely not here," he added. 

As the search continues despite public outcry from both community members and a few trustees for the process to be paused, a series of campus visits will be held May 12–15 for students, faculty, staff, alumni and others to engage directly with the candidates. 

Besides Johnson and Palm, the university's other two final candidates are  University of Maryland Eastern Shore Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Rondall Allen – who will visit campus May 12 – and University of Central Florida Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance Gerald Hector, who will be on campus May 13. 

The visits will each start with a 9 a.m. Board of Trustees interview as well as a 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. meet-and-greet session where finalists will engage with alumni and community members in FAMU's Grand Ballroom, which is where the town hall attendees plan to convene both May 14 and 15. 

On Facebook, where the Wednesday evening town hall was livestreamed, unanimous approval of Palm came from viewers in the comments while those who are against Johnson's candidacy – including Packer .  

"It's time to make our voices heard," Packer commented on the livestreamed town hall. "Those who are able, please show up on 5/14 at 5p at the Grand Ballroom to show opposition to Marva Johnson. FAMU DESERVES BETTER!" 

In the meantime, several initiatives have been taken by the Rattler community in efforts of ensuring their concerns about the presidential search are being heard – including a  petition created by FAMU Foundation Board member Chekesha Kidd, calling for a more transparent selection process. 

An open letter was created by a group called "Keepers of the Flame" to oppose Johnson's candidacy. It is expected to be sent to FAMU board Chair Kristin Harper and Florida Board of Governors Chair Brian Lamb after a list of supporters' names are collected to be printed on the document. 

In addition, the FAMU NAA has created a survey for its members to vote on their preferred candidate, which will close Friday, according to Proctor. "Tonight is just the start of where we want to go," said the commissioner, who attended FAMU High School and is now a political science instructor at the university.

Tarah Jean is a reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat. She can be reached at  tjean@tallahassee.com . Follow her on X:  @tarahjean_ .

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Town hall makes clear who's welcome as FAMU president – and who's not