FAMU trustees pick presidential search firm after delays, hearing responses about DEI

A Florida A&M University search firm selection that was delayed twice finally was solidified after seven applicants were asked a single question of concern – their position on diversity, equity and inclusion . 

Ultimately, it means that the state's only public historically Black university may not necessarily end up with a Black president.

FAMU's Board of Trustees held a special online meeting Tuesday, where they selected Myers McRae as the search firm that will assist a 15-member search committee in identifying and recruiting candidates for the university's next president. 

"We do look forward to working with you," Board Chair Kristin Harper told the firm's Chief Operating Officer Barry Hasenkopf on the Zoom call. "Thank you again to all of the firms who participated in this process and for your patience as we got to this point."

The 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.

Before Tuesday's vote on a search firm, delays in the selection came during an Oct. 15 meeting – which could not take place because of a lack of quorum – and a Dec. 5 meeting, which led a majority of trustees to decide that more time was needed to hear from all the firms before voting. 

Related news: FAMU board delays presidential search again, this time because of search firm selection

The most recent board meeting is where the DEI question initially came up and gave rise to a lengthy discussion about the competing firms' ability to comply with Florida's DEI law  and the Florida Board of Governors' DEI regulation – especially since all but one of the seven firms, Greenwood/Asher & Associates , are from out of state. 

The state and Board of Governors' DEI rules were made effective earlier this year and prohibit universities in the Florida State University System from spending funds to "promote, support or maintain any programs or campus activities" that advocate for DEI or promote political and social activism.

The established rules follow Gov. Ron DeSantis' conservative target on education in the state, which included signing a law last year that dismantled such programs in public colleges and universities.

In addition, although HBCUs (historically Black colleges and universities) typically have Black presidents at the helm of their institutions, hiring based on DEI criteria is also prohibited under the state's laws, which means firms do not have to push for the consideration of Black or minority finalists.

During the FAMU board's Tuesday Zoom call, representatives from all the search firms said they were fully prepared to comply with the rules.

Greenwood/Asher & Associates and Storbeck Search were among the trustees' top three favored search firms during the board's voting process, but Myers McRae – headquartered in Georgia – received the most votes with support from 10 out of 11 trustees on the call.

That's in sharp contrast to the trustees' initial rankings at their Dec. 5 meeting, where Myers McRae was not among the top three firms receiving the highest scores since Isaacson Miller was being considered along with Greenwood/Asher & Associates and Storbeck Search.

Myers McRae will be paid $78,500, according to a university report. The document also listed Kentucky State University as the only HBCU where the firm completed a search in the past five years. The firm's webpage shows no racial diversity among top officers in its leadership team.

Within the last two years, Myers McRae worked with Florida colleges and universities including University of Central Florida, Florida Gulf Coast University, Broward College and Pasco Hernando State College, which is where Beard formerly served as president before retiring .

"Just to be as clear and direct as possible, we focus on a national search that encourages all candidates to apply," Hasenkopf said before the vote. "We are essentially the best candidate for the required qualifications."

While all the firms provided responses ahead of the vote, no comments came from trustees besides Harper, who commented on her scores. 

"In light of the (Board of Governors) Regulation 9.016, I adjusted my scores based on the conversation and ensuring that we are in compliance with that regulation," said Harper said, who had Myers McRae in her top three ranked firms Tuesday contrary to her initial rankings earlier this month.

While Harper rated Myers McRae a three on a scale of one to 10 during the board's Dec. 5 meeting – with one being the lowest score and 10 being the highest – she gave the firm a seven Tuesday ahead of the board's vote. 

With a search firm being selected, the university is now able to move on with the presidential search and has about six months to select its next leader to meet Harper's goal of having a new president chosen by June 2025 .

During the process of best candidates being chosen, identities of those who apply for the presidency will be shielded from public disclosure until they become finalists, according to a state law passed in 2022.

Contact Tarah Jean at  tjean@tallahassee.com  or follow her on X:  @tarahjean_ .

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU Board of Trustees select a presidential search firm after delays