Peter Schorsch
FAMU last week named four finalists for President. In the days since, there has been more focus on how the announcement was made and how the names were picked than on the finalists themselves.
The list: University of Maryland Eastern Shore Provost Rondall Allen, UCF Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance Gerald Hector, FAMU Executive Vice President and COO Donald Palm and Charter Communications Group Vice President of State Government Affairs Marva Johnson.
Johnson’s inclusion raised eyebrows, with the Tallahassee Democrat — which preempted the university in announcing the finalists — reporting rumors that she was a last-second addition to the field. One Trustee, former 9th Judicial Circuit Court Chief Judge Belvin Perry Jr., asserted that there was now a “cloud hanging” over the finalists.
Florida Board of Governors Vice Chair Alan Levine, a presidential search committee member, said any rumors of impropriety are bunk. Taking him at his word (Levine isn’t afraid to call a foul when it’s due, as he showed during FSU’s presidential search as well as FAU’s) Johnson is entitled to the same consideration and scrutiny as the other three finalists.
Johnson doesn’t have the university administration background as the other finalists, but that’s arguably a good thing. Right now, FAMU doesn’t just need a run-of-the-mill leader — they need a smart, savvy visionary.
Johnson, a former State Board of Education Chair, is a seasoned executive and nationally respected education advocate who would bring FAMU a rare and powerful combination of public policy leadership, private sector experience, and unwavering commitment to student success. She has also been a longtime champion for expanding access to digital education tools and bridging the technology gap for underserved students.
Her deep understanding of governance and strategic planning has also been shaped by her service on the 2018 Florida Constitution Revision Commission and numerous state-level boards, including Enterprise Florida, Florida TaxWatch, the Florida Talent Development Council and the Florida Virtual School. She is also an active national voice on issues of workforce development and youth opportunity through her board work with the Pace Center for Girls and Women in Cable.
With a law degree from Georgia State University, an MBA from Emory University, and a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown, Johnson also has a suitable academic background — for those who still think a university President should hold a Ph.D., remember, it worked out well when a J.D. held the top job at FSU not so long ago.
Simply put, Johnson is a known quantity in Florida and in the education sphere who could hit the ground running at FAMU and keep it on the right trajectory.
The finalists were selected by the FAMU Presidential Search Committee from a highly competitive national pool of candidates. Each finalist, including Johnson, will participate in on-campus interviews with the FAMU Board of Trustees from May 12–16, as the board prepares to select the university’s next president. The final candidate will be submitted to the Florida Board of Governors for approval.
24 comments
Brian Davis
April 29, 2025 at 12:31 pm
Peter, I have to totally disagree with you on this opinion piece. FAMU has been rising up the ranks academically —jumping 10 spots last year in the USNWR Top 100 rankings to #81 public university overall—- just fine without a DeSantis/Scott political hack like Mrs. Johnson. FAMU’s national ranking place it as the fifth best public university in the SUS, with proper funding by state leaders it would soar.
Johnson’s educational resume includes rubbers stamping GOP initiatives like diverting money away from public schools to charter schools, punishing public school districts for not complying
DeSantis’ school mask mandates.
With all due respect, Mrs. Johnson IS NOT what FAMU needs at this time!
J McDaniel
April 29, 2025 at 12:47 pm
Mr. Peter Schorsch, welcome to you for being newest charter member of the 100% Wrong Club. We (FAMU) have had enough of these GOP political appointed leaders at FAMU. The 1st one did all that she could to give the institution away piecemeal, the 2nd one used the institution like an ATM machine. Enough is enough. The shady move by a trustee to add the most unqualified individual the mix is diabolical. Had she been qualified, she would had made the final cut on her own merit. Not by cheating the system as the GOP does so well. Just stop with the bs already.
Fritz Kilpatrick III
April 29, 2025 at 12:52 pm
If this isn’t that savior type mentality of well meaning folks who always know what’s good for the Black folks. If Marva Johnson is that great, why wouldn’t she be a candidate for the UF, USF, or FIU presidency??
Why pawn her off on FAMU??
Pete Kennedy
April 29, 2025 at 1:58 pm
This comment is so spot on! #MAGAMarva for USF or UF President!
Della Denny-Abbott
May 2, 2025 at 9:52 am
Amen.
Brandon Johnson
April 29, 2025 at 2:01 pm
I will just simply use what you said yourself – she does not have the experience. FAMU is not just a cultural icon, a beacon of black pride and joy but a top accredited research institution! There needs to be someone in Lee Hall with the academic skill and track record to navigate FAMU to higher heights. We don’t need a political operative, we have great contract lobbyists and a robust Government Affairs team to handle those skills. We need an experienced leader. FAMU is NOT a starter school for someone looking to get into higher education.
Rick Young
April 29, 2025 at 3:25 pm
Marva Johnson IS NOT what FAMU needs right now. As a matter of fact, she’s not qualified to be FAMU’s President. However, I think she would be great for UF, FSU, FAU or one of those other schools. Dr. Collins and Dr. Palm are more than qualified to lead FAMU and WE prefer one of them to be our next president. We appreciate your concern and would be even more appreciative of a financial contribution from your organization.
No Thanks
April 29, 2025 at 5:42 pm
Peter, I wonder who put you up to this puff piece? She shouldn’t have even made the finalists, and in fact didn’t make it until an influential board member forced her in.
She’s absolutely not the right fit for FAMU now, and maybe ever. FAMU has achieved a lot, especially considering the climate it has to operate. It needs someone the faithful can believe in to continue the progress that’s been made and take it to ever higher heights.
On no day that ends in Y would she be seen as the best candidate out of the finalists. She’s actually the worst of the lot. And that’s no slight at her as she’s very accomplished in her own right. However the other finalists are far and away superior fits for the position.
She won’t win the students. She won’t win the alumni. She won’t win the supporters. She needs to bow out if she knows what’s right for her as those that truly love FAMU won’t put up with the obvious plant she would be.
FAMU yesterday. FAMU today. FAMU FOREVER!
K. Farnell
April 29, 2025 at 8:02 pm
Article commissioned by the Governor himself, aye?
David Cantrell
April 30, 2025 at 9:50 pm
or Deveron Gibbons
She Is Absolutely NOT what FAMU needs
April 29, 2025 at 8:16 pm
If Gov. Ron DeSantis promised to stay out of UF’s presidential search, he and his allies on the Board of Governors and U Board of Trustees should do the same for FAMU. Our university deserves a top-notch academic leader who can propel us toward R1 status and help us achieve our goal of becoming a Top 50 public university. Let’s prioritize excellence in FAMU’s presidential search, NOT political favoritism !
Amy Rattler '95
April 30, 2025 at 1:19 pm
No MAGA MARVA!
Danielle Wade
May 2, 2025 at 6:12 pm
I have had the pleasure of knowing Marva Johnson both personally and professionally for over 25 years. As a PROUD HBCU alum and ardent supporter, I strongly believe Marva is an outstanding candidate to lead FAMU into its next chapter.
Marva is incredibly talented with a proven track record of working collaboratively with all constituencies to achieve outstanding incomes. This skill is especially important in her executive role in government affairs. Her current role requires her to be a relationship builder – working across the aisle and with multiple constituencies. I have witnessed her mastery of business acumen and ability to address the needs of all stakeholders. FAMU would undoubtedly benefit from her skill at managing complex issues and delivering the goods for any organization she serves.
Marva has been a fierce champion for individuals of color and women. As a Black female Senior executive, I am a personal benefactor of her mentorship and witnessed her do the same for countless others. To reduce her talent, skill and background to an undeserving caricature is unfair and undignified. I am sure that, through this process, Rattler Nation will witness firsthand what I’ve known to be true of Marva – her talent, commitment and character are second to none.
She would be a dynamic force at FAMU with the ability to substantively build on its initiatives and legacy for the faculty, staff and students.
AJ From Tampa Bay
May 9, 2025 at 10:55 am
100% Agree
Ron Jordan
May 7, 2025 at 6:59 am
She is not a good fit for FAMU. She has no university administration experience and is simply not qualified to hold any university leadership position at an HBCU, especially at FAMU.
Modee
May 8, 2025 at 9:01 am
Stay out Black people’s business
Darren J
May 8, 2025 at 11:17 am
THST PART
Reginald Cox
May 8, 2025 at 11:36 am
The audacity to slap the HBCU community in the face with this maneuver speaks to the disrespect of the Black communty by the dominant ideology. In no way shape or form would other communities stand for dismissing their cultural pride, legacy and historical suffrage that garnered the existence of the HBCU’s during reconstruction.
La Tanya Simms
May 8, 2025 at 5:09 pm
A person with ZERO higher education and higher ed administrative experience would not be an acceptable candidate to lead any other university in the State University System of Florida. Ms. Johnson has ZERO relevant experience, which is not acceptable for Florida A&M University. It is extraordinarily offensive that Mr. Schorsch has the gall to write such a thing. Shame on him.
Apryl Evans
May 8, 2025 at 7:51 pm
Your qualifications to write this opinion article on an institution you know nothing about, are the same as her qualifications to be the next president of FAMU- nonexistent.
Liyah
May 9, 2025 at 7:01 am
Peter,
Quite frankly you can take your subvert “paid sponsorship” of a article on a University you have no experience nor expertise on and respectfully send in back to the depths of ill intent you clearly pulled it from. It’s apparent you want to assist in the indoctrination of idiologies from unqualified individuals into places they DO NOT belong. She belongs over someone’s school of business with her experience NOT the President of OUR University. Just because she’s black doesn’t mean ANYTHING. She’s not what we need nor what we deserve.
Adamantly,
A Concerned Floridian
AJ From Tampa Bay
May 9, 2025 at 10:57 am
She is the first black woman to serve as the Chair of the Florida State Board of Education (4 years) member (8 years) during a time period when the FSUS saw growth in funding, performance, and a reduction in cost of tuition!
She has the experience!
BadChoice4FAMU
May 9, 2025 at 5:10 pm
Because Marva Johnson publicly organized and protested against abortion with church children and magaites, and additionally sat on Ron DeSantis’ CRB Committee, that every 20 year freestyle no citzen input panel that back doors far right policy…she’s unfit. She is kinda hot tho
Otis Kirksey
May 11, 2025 at 9:43 pm
If she is so great, why didn’t you recommend her for the UF position. Please!
Comments are closed.