Marva Johnson interviews with members of FAMU's board of trustees. | Glenn Beil, used with permission
Published on June 20, 2025 at 10:38 am
Free local news and info, in your inbox at 6 a.m. M-F. Sign up for the Jacksonville Today newsletter.
Marva Johnson has been confirmed as Florida A&M University’s next president. The State University System Board of Governors gave its OK to the appointment on Wednesday.
The board voted unanimously to approve Johnson despite loud opposition from segments of the FAMU community.
Jacksonville Today thanks our sponsors. Become one.
Her selection comes after former President Larry Robinson stepped down last year. Johnson has work experience as a business executive and lobbyist for one of the country’s largest cable companies. But detractors point to her lack of experience in higher education administration. They’ve also raised concerns about her ties to Republican politicians including Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Chekesha Kidd, a board member of the FAMU foundation, was one of several people who spoke at the meeting in Boca Raton. She also criticized the university’s board of trustees, who voted 8-4 to select Johnson.
“Under their watch, we’ve endured NCAA violations, uninhabitable dorms, donor breaches, systemic financial and operational issues you just heard in the audit results and now a 40% over budget compensation package to install a president elect with no higher ed or corporate leadership experience to speak of — someone who has never run a division, led a large team or managed a PNL. It’s not excellence, it’s negligence,” she said.
Jacksonville Today thanks our sponsors. Become one.
Opposition to Johnson’s selection was evident before Wednesday’s unanimous board vote, as members of the audience booed when her nomination was introduced, the News Service of Florida reported.
“We’re not gonna have that. I appreciate everyone’s sentiment and emotion. This is the Board of Governors. We’re going to have decorum,” Board of Governors Chairman Brian Lamb responded.
Some students also urged the board to reject the selection.
“As students, as primary stakeholders … we are very concerned about the future of our university,” FAMU student Devin Nobles Jr. said. “The candidate does not meet the qualifications as set for us by our own presidential search committee.”
Johnson said she hears the critics but is committed to helping FAMU continue to grow.
“I hear your concerns, and my door will always be open, and I’m looking forward to full engagement on campus and in our communities,” she said.
The Board of Governors trusts Johnson’s promise. Board of Governors member Alan Levine said Johnson demonstrated “resilience and spine” amid the public attacks.
“She deserves this opportunity because she earned it,” Levine said.
Board member Paul Renner said he remembers that former FSU President John Trasher also faced significant pushback from community members.
“But once he got in, many of those, most, if not all those people wound up being big advocates for John Thrasher and the amazing things he did for FSU,” Renner said. “And so I would just encourage those who have concerns, who voice concerns, to exercise grace and know that Marvin Johnson’s success is FAMU success. We all want to see that success, and I know without a doubt she’ll deliver it.”
The board approved a compensation package for Johnson that includes a base salary of $650,000 a year, the News Service said. Johnson also will be eligible for annual performance bonuses of $86,000 and would be able to receive “retention” payments of $150,000 in August 2028 and August 2030 if she remains president. FAMU’s interim president Timothy Beard earns $400,000 annually.
Johnson’s confirmation marks another university president with close ties to Governor Ron DeSantis. A group of alumni and students are suing the university in the hopes they get more transparency about the process that they claimed was forced through for political reasons. Her term begins on Aug. 1.
