Florida A&M presidential search continues as scrutiny over process intensifies

Florida A&M University's ongoing presidential search was thrown into a tailspin with its credibility being questioned, all while a bombshell announcement was made about the Board of Governors investigating allegations involving the process. 

Amid the efforts of some trustees to pause the presidential search, which ended up failing in an 8–5 vote during the FAMU Board of Trustees' April 24 virtual meeting, circulating rumors were brought to the table about premature salary negotiations and search committee members being pressured to add an extra candidate to an unranked list of finalists that was recently announced. 

But FAMU's interim Vice President, General Counsel Shira Thomas, who initially indicated that the Board of Governors has opened an investigation, later referred to a letter from the board, saying its inquiry to the university "speaks to confidentiality regarding the presidential search" and does not address the specific allegations that were raised.

Thomas caught trustees off guard, with some – including FAMU Board of Trustees Chair Kristin Harper – frustrated about not being made aware until the meeting.

At the same time, in a text message to Harper at noon during the April 24 meeting, Florida Board of Governors Vice Chair Alan Levine – who is also on FAMU's 15-member presidential search committee – said statements being made about the governing board's concerns with the search are "patently untrue," ultimately calling the university out for the inaccuracy.

"I participated in every meeting of the search committee, observed the process, provided input related to our regulations and reported to the Chancellor (Ray Rodrigues) that, based on my observations, this process was handled absolutely in compliance with our regulations," Levine told Harper in the text message, later obtained by the Tallahassee Democrat. 

"Absolutely no one speaks for the BOG but the BOG, and it is not fair or appropriate for anyone on the FAMU board to attempt to do so," he added. "There is no reason to delay this search. Doing so would be a mistake and would have no basis."

Despite claims that none of the rumored issues have occurred during the search, a few trustees expressed concerns about the process – including FAMU trustee Belvin Perry, who supported an initial motion that trustee Earnie Ellison made to halt the search altogether and hire an independent consultant to investigate it.

"Things that I've heard, if they're true, bring to question the credibility of this entire search process," Perry said. "If we don't clear this cloud that's out there, then whoever comes in as the next president is going to have a cloud over them, and whoever that person is will not have the faith and the confidence of the FAMU family." 

The board's discussion came after speculation that FAMU board Vice Chair Deveron Gibbons insisted on adding Marva 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. 

Gibbons told the board the search process is "well run" and has been going "very smoothly." 

"It is apparent to me that folks are making things up (and) putting it on social media to sway the board," Gibbons said in the virtual meeting after he left the Zoom call for several minutes when it was initially time for him to provide updates on the search. "I can assure you that all of these innuendos and rumors that are flying around are not accurate in any way, shape or form."  

More: FAMU search committee identifies four final candidates for president. Here's who they are

Besides Johnson, the unranked list of the four final candidates include:

• Rondall Allen, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs,  University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

• Gerald Hector, Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance,  University of Central Florida .

• Donald Palm, FAMU's executive vice president and chief operating officer.

All of the finalists save for Johnson have experience as a university administrator. She is group vice president of state government affairs for Charter Communications , an internet and cable TV concerns that operates under the Spectrum brand name.

As the search continues despite trustees Perry, Ellison, Craig Reed, Natlie Figgers and board chair Kristin Harper voting in support of a pause, the university is working on having its 13th leader named by this summer.

The search follows former President  Larry Robinson's  resignation last year. Interim President  Timothy Beard  has been serving in the role since August for a one-year term. 

FAMU board chair: 'There may be a rumor mill"

Ahead of the board's vote regarding whether the search should continue or be paused, FAMU board members such as trustees Kelvin Lawson, Michael White and Loryn May – FAMU's Student Government Association president – did not see a need for the process to come to a halt. 

"I just caution us to not be overly influenced by the court of public opinion," Lawson said. 

The suggestion of pausing the presidential search also comes after Leon County District 1 Commissioner Bill Proctor wrote a letter to the Board of Governors and FAMU's Board of Trustees April 23, urging them to suspend the search and calling the process the "Hanky Panky Express." 

More: FAMU president search draws fire: Leon Commissioner Bill Proctor flags weak finalist pick

"Certainly, there may be a rumor mill, and I believe that when questions are raised – whether it be by the public, the media or a member of this body – we have an obligation to address those questions," Harper said. "Anything less, in my opinion, would risk undermining the credibility both of the search and ultimately, the confidence that's placed in this board." 

But Harper later questioned how the finalists' names were made public by the Tallahassee Democrat before the university's announcement.

"How were the names of the supposed finalists announced in the Tallahassee Democrat before interviews took place?" she said. "How were the names of the actual finalists communicated in the Tallahassee Democrat this past Monday before the university issued an official media release regarding this process?

"Tell me how that happened when there's a nondisclosure agreement that everyone who is associated with this search process signed," she added.

FAMU campus visits, open forums underway as search continues

From the start of the board meeting, discussions began regarding the presidential search as individuals such as FAMU Foundation Board member Chekesha Kidd shared public comments about the process. 

Kidd – who started a petition calling for a transparent selection process – also referred to an "Unsolicited Information Request" letter Beard received from the  Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges  (SACSCOC) regarding concerns about an unnamed FAMU trustee interfering with "faculty employment." 

The letter, dated April 14, was not specific about what had happened, including whether it was connected to the university's ongoing presidential search. In Beard's presentation to the board, he briefly addressed the letter, saying that a report will be sent to the commission by May 19.

While trustee Reed asked what the commission's inquiry focused on, Beard reiterated the language in the letter and did not offer any additional insight.

"The presidential search process and recent SACS inquiry raise concerns about whether merits and qualifications are truly driving this selection," Kidd told the board. "The (candidates') actual experiences – not promises and potential – should determine your decision." 

In addition, Kidd suggested Palm as "the right candidate" to be FAMU's next leader, whereas FAMU alumna Erinn Tucker-Oluwole shared public comments to support Allen for the role.

What's next

As the search moves on with its four final candidates, here is a timeline of who the university will be hosting for campus visits and open forums ahead of a May 16 FAMU Board of Trustees meeting for a vote. 

• Monday, May 12: Rondall Allen. 

• Tuesday, May 13: Gerald Hector.

• Wednesday, May 14: Marva Johnson.

• Thursday, May 15: Donald Palm.

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: Tensions rise as FAMU board rejects pause in president search process