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8h ago

Florida Board Confirms DeSantis Ally Marva Johnson as FAMU President

Board approval follows protests from students and alumni who cite her lack of direct higher education experience.

Florida A&M University hosted a meet-and-greet session with presidential search finalist Marva Johnson, along with alumni and community members, in the Grand Ballroom on campus on May 14, 2025.
Florida A&M University Board of Trustees interviews Group Vice President of state government affairs for Charter Communications Marva Johnson, one of the university's four presidential finalists, Wednesday, May 14, 2025.
The Florida A&M University campus.
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Overview

  • Johnson will lead FAMU under a five-year contract with a starting salary of $650,000 per year approved by the state board.
  • Students and alumni mounted protests at trustee and Board of Governors meetings and circulated a Change.org petition that drew more than 18,000 signatures.
  • Johnson’s resume lists no prior university roles, reflecting experience in telecommunications and service on the Florida State Board of Education.
  • Her appointment is one of five recent picks of DeSantis allies to lead state universities, with Jeanette Nuñez set for FIU and Manny Díaz Jr. assigned to UWF.
  • Critics warn that prioritizing political alignment over academic qualifications risks politicizing campuses and undermining diversity and inclusion programs.