FAMU Board of Trustees interviews presidential finalist, UCF admin Gerald Hector on campus

Coming from one of the schools within Florida's State University System, Florida A&M University presidential search finalist Gerald Hector is taking his turn at being vetted by the Board of Trustees for a shot of being FAMU's next leader. 

Hector, senior vice president for Administration and Finance at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, was interviewed by the FAMU board May 13 for the president's role during his campus visit ahead of meetings with other university stakeholders and the community. 

"To see where FAMU is today in terms of its brand, in terms of its rankings, in terms of the gravitas that it has despite challenges, I believe FAMU is on the cusp of even greater success," said Hector, a Kingston, Jamaica native. "We want a culture of excellence, and I would be so grateful if this board and this community will see me for who I am for this opportunity." 

Hector's presence on campus makes him the second of the university's four finalists to reach one of the last stages of the search process and comes after University of Maryland Eastern Shore Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Rondall Allen's visit May 12. 

The other two finalists in the running for president – and who have garnered most of the public's attention in the search thus far – are Charter Communications'  Group Vice President of State Government Affairs Marva Johnson, an ally of Gov. Ron DeSantis who is strongly disliked by many in the university community, and FAMU Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Donald Palm, who has been lauded . 

FAMU's presidential search comes after former President  Larry Robinson  stepped down last year, which led to interim President  Timothy Beard  stepping in to serve in the role since August for a one-year term. It also comes amid circulating  rumors  about political influence and a lack of transparency in the process.

"FAMU is in the No. 1 system in the country, but it currently needs to get to a different place, and I firmly and honestly believe that I am the person to be able to take it to that point," Hector said.

Presidential candidate lays out goals, vision for FAMU 

Hector moved to the U.S. from Jamaica on a track and field scholarship to attend Howard University – an HBCU (historically Black college or university) in Washington, D.C. – where he received a bachelor's degree in accounting. 

"I'm a product of an HBCU, coming from a foreign country," Hector said. "Howard University did for me what I envision happening for many young people to give them that same purpose and drive. FAMU is that place." 

He also earned a master's of Christian Thought degree from the Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina. 

Hector has been serving in his current senior vice president role at UCF since 2021. But before joining the university, he was executive vice president and chief business officer of Morehouse College – yet another HBCU, located in Atlanta, Georgia – and previously served as vice president for Financial Affairs at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

Part of Hector's goals for FAMU is to bring operational efficiencies to the university in a way that tackles budgeting methods as well as the hiring, onboarding and attaining of world-class faculty. 

As president, he says he would also focus on making FAMU's brand stronger, increasing research enterprise and prioritizing student success and well-being, which he believes are "paramount to this institution's legacy and success." 

"Without our students, we don't have a university," Hector said. 

Similar to Monday's board interview, there were few people present in the Grand Ballroom on campus as other participants attended the session virtually. 

Besides board chair Kristin Harper, vice chair Deveron Gibbons and trustee Nicole Washington, individuals who filled the mostly empty seats in the room were senior leadership team members such as Athletics Director Angela Suggs along with Faculty Senate representatives Kyle Eidahl and Daniel Osborne. 

The board members asked Hector many of the same questions that they asked Allen during his interview, which sought the candidates' thoughts on topics such as fundraising, problem solving, student success and accountability. 

But May 13, trustee and Faculty Senate President Jamal Brown brought up a 2024 compensation study that was completed at FAMU to assess the university's market competitiveness. "If selected as president, what is your vision for benchmarking faculty and staff salaries to stay competitive with other SUS peers?" Brown asked. 

Hector explained the importance of meeting SUS metrics to receive greater state appropriations that could then be distributed to compensation. "If you have a vision but no resources to pay for it, that's a 'wishion,' or at a minimum, a clearly articulated hope," he said. "Oftentimes, when you're trying to drive change, you have to start with the basics." 

Besides being a higher education administrator and instructor, Hector is an author. His first book, "It's Easy Son, Quit Making Things Difficult," was published in 2019 and chronicles his journey from Kingston to the U.S. Hector – who included in the bio shared with the university that he married his "college sweetheart" Sharon-Kaye Hector and that they have three children together – also is an associate minister at the Hope Church in Orlando. 

More information on campus visits

• The next FAMU campus visit will host Johnson May 14, which will be met with a community rally from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Will Packer Amphitheater featuring its namesake, alumnus and acclaimed Hollywood producer Will Packer , who has publicly expressed opposition of Johnson's candidacy. 

• Following the campus visits this week, the university's trustees will meet May 16 to vote and select a sole finalist for president. Their selection will be subject to an interview and confirmation by the  Florida Board of Governors .  

• Additional details about the finalists and the daily campus visit schedules can be found on FAMU's Presidential Search website at  https://www.famu.edu/about-famu/leadership/office-of-the-president/presidential-search/index.php . 

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: FAMU trustees interview presidential finalist Gerald Hector on campus