FAMU College of Pharmacy Dean Johnnie Early resigns; veteran professor named interim dean
Johnnie Early II, dean of Florida A&M University's College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Institute of Public Health, is stepping down from his role – a move that comes as the school's licensure program struggles with low exam pass rates.
As Early will join the faculty and serve in accreditation, Seth Ablordeppey – a veteran professor, Eminent Scholar chair and Fulbright Scholar – has been appointed interim dean. Early's last day is Friday, and Ablordeppey begins Monday, according to a CoPPS, IPH release sent to faculty and staff that was obtained by the Tallahassee Democrat Wednesday.
"It has been an honor to serve as your CEO Dean, and I'm grateful for the highly noteworthy progress we have made together," Early said in an undated letter obtained by the Democrat Thursday, which was sent to FAMU Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Allyson Watson, faculty and staff.
Early's decision comes as the pharmacy school is one of the university's four professional licensure programs with exam pass rates that remain lower than benchmark goals , with the others being law, nursing and physical therapy.
Licensure exam passage rates in FAMU's College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences program fell 22% below the 92% approved goal in 2023.
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But in spite of the challenges, the pharmacy school's accomplishments under Early since 2018 have included an increase of 26% year over year in scholarships, constant and growing enrollment across degree programs and branding the school by including the Institute of Public Health in the name.
Early served as dean at the university's pharmacy school in two separate eras – once when he joined as a professor in 1978, where he became a dean in 1987 before leaving for another dean's post in 1993, and again when he returned to the university to serve as dean and a professor in 2018.
He earned his doctorate and master's in pharmacology/toxicology from Purdue University and his bachelor's in pharmacy from Mercer University Southern School of Pharmacy.
As Ablordeppey takes on the role of interim dean once again, it comes after his time serving in the role from February 2011 to June 2012 when he replaced Michael Thompson, who was fired due to the pharmacy school licensure program's low passage rates.
Ablordeppey – who holds a doctoral degree in medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry from the University of Mississippi – first joined FAMU in June 1993 as an assistant professor of medicinal chemistry.
He has also served as the FAMU pharmacy school's division director of Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences.
"It's my pleasure to serve my college as this appointment allows me to hopefully share some of what I'm privileged to have garnered here, as I've invested over 31 years of my career to the FAMU CoPPS, IPH," Ablordeppey said in a prepared statement. "Again, it's humbling and gratifying to serve in this capacity."
Contact Tarah Jean at tjean@tallahassee.com or follow her on X: @tarahjean_ .
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU College of Pharmacy dean resigns amid low passing rates
