Florida A&M University’s Board of Trustees’ selection of Marva Johnson as the institution’s next president has ignited fierce controversy, with critics arguing the decision represents a politically motivated attempt to undermine one of the nation’s premier historically Black universities.
Johnson, a corporate lobbyist and Group Vice President of State Government Affairs for Charter Communications, was recommended as FAMU’s 13th president despite widespread opposition from students, faculty, and alumni. The selection came after a contentious meeting where trustees voted 8-4 in favor of Johnson over internal candidate Dr. Donald Palm, FAMU’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, who had received strong backing from the university community.
Critics point to Johnson’s lack of higher education experience and her close ties to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as evidence that her selection was politically motivated rather than merit-based. Johnson has previously been appointed to various state educational boards by DeSantis and former Gov. Rick Scott.
“The hiring of Ms. Johnson would be a breach of your duty of care,” Tampa attorney Monica Williams Harris, a FAMU foundation board member, told trustees during public comments before the vote.
The controversy at FAMU comes amid what some educational leaders describe as a systematic effort to undermine historically Black colleges and universities through presidential appointments.
In a scathing article published in Diverse, Dr. Walter M. Kimbrough, a veteran HBCU leader and interim president of Talladega College, characterized Johnson’s candidacy as part of “a not-so-secret plot to destroy HBCUs” through politically motivated presidential appointments.
“On paper, she had no business being a finalist. Period,” wrote Kimbrough, who previously served as president of Dillard University and Philander Smith University. “As the nation’s political leaders loudly preach merit, this candidate would clearly be labeled by them as a DEI hire if she was a finalist at a predominantly White institution. But there has been no such challenge to someone with no higher education experience.”
