FAMU’s presidential finalists will be on campus for visits. Here are their daily schedules

As Florida A&M University gears up to welcome its four presidential finalists for campus visits as part of its search, the candidates will be met with a packed schedule.

With visits taking place May 12–16 , the finalists will have the opportunity to engage with the FAMU community through interviews, meetings and public events from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. each day.

"This is a pivotal moment for Florida A&M University, and bringing the finalists to campus provides an invaluable opportunity for our students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members to engage directly with the candidates," FAMU's Board of Trustees Chair Kristin Harper said in a prepared statement.

"We encourage our entire university community to participate and look forward to vibrant discussions and insights that will help shape the future of FAMU."

The campus visit dates of the presidential finalists, whose names were announced last month, are:

• Monday, May 12: Rondall Allen, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs,  University of Maryland Eastern Shore

• Tuesday, May 13: Gerald Hector, Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance,  University of Central Florida

• Wednesday, May 14: Marva Johnson, Group Vice President, State Government Affairs,  Charter Communications

• Thursday, May 15: Donald Palm, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, FAMU

Earlier in the process, FAMU's presidential search committee – accompanied by the university's hired search firm Myers McRae – conducted several listening sessions in March for the community to provide input and feedback on the qualifications needed for the next president.

The presidential search comes after former President  Larry Robinson  stepped down last year following a major multi-million-dollar gift mishandling, where an  investigation report  found the donation to be 'fraudulent.' Interim President  Timothy Beard  has been serving in the role since August for a one-year term. 

In addition, circulating  rumors  are on the forefront of discussions about the search, with wide 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.

Although Gibbons is aware of the claims, he has not admitted to them and said during a recent trustees meeting – where efforts were made to pause the search – that "all of these innuendos and rumors that are flying around are not accurate in any way, shape or form."

Despite the ongoing controversies around the search, the hunt for FAMU's 13th leader is moving closer to its end as the university hopes to have its new president named by this summer.

Following the four days of campus visits next 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 .

Here is the university's daily schedule for each of the final candidates' campus visit. In addition to being held in person, all sessions – except lunches, tours and meetings with FAMU's senior leadership team – will be live-streamed, according to the university.

• 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. - Board of Trustees interviews (FAMU Grand Ballroom)

• 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. - Meet with the senior leadership team

• 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. - Meet with faculty and staff (Lee Hall Auditorium)

• 12:45 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. - Lunch with the senior leadership team, deans and students

• 2 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. - Campus tours

• 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. - Meet with FAMU students (FAMU SGA Senate Chamber)

• 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. - Finalist's meet-and-greet session with alumni and the community (FAMU Grand Ballroom)

For more information on the finalists

• Details about the final candidates' biographies, work histories and more can be found on FAMU's Presidential Search website at https://www.famu.edu/about-famu/leadership/office-of-the-president/presidential-search/ .

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 president finalists will be on campus with packed daily schedules