Famu National Alumni Association endorses his COO as the following president

While Florida A&M University is approaching when selecting his next president, the National Alumni Association has expressed his preference choice.

The results of her “presidential preferred investigation” concluded that Donald Palm, the most important operational officer of Famu, was the most popular candidate among alumni to lead the HBCU. The presidential search finalists appeared this week on campus to meet faculties and students and to participate in interviews.

Palm, the executive president of the university, received an overwhelming 81.75% of the votes by active alumni members. The president of the association, Curtis Johnson, shared the news with an official approval of Palm in one May 10 Letter.

“Dr. Palm’s deep connection with Famu as the current Chief Operating Officer, former faculty member and long -term champion of our mission unique positions him to continue our process of excellence.”

Johnson, fighting for his own re-election as president of the organization, is also part of the 15-person presidential search committee of the HBCU.

The survey came after concern that the presidential selection missed the input of the umbrella HBCU community. Moreover, claims of political influence the integrity overshadowed of the process, according to the Tallahassee -Democrat.

“We understand that many alumni have expressed concern about the lack of public discussion prior to the release of the last four candidates,” Johnson added to the letter. ‘Please know that silence was not a avoidance. Because your chosen Naa President and member of the search committee of the search committee was essential that I honor the process until we reached a stage in which alumni votes could be heard in the right way.

The three other finalists are the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Provost Rondall Allen, the senior vice president of the University of Central Florida for administration and finance Gerald Hector, and vice -president of the government matters of Charter Communications Marva Johnson.

The promotion of Marva Johnson as a finalist led to a recoil about her appointments to other boards by the Gop governors of Florida, Rick Scott and Ron Desantis. One of the prominent members of the NAA, film producer Will Packer, also publicly spoke about his disapproval of Johnson’s potential appointment.

“Maga tries to take over leadership at various of our beloved institutions,” Packer wrote. “At the moment Famu is in the Bullseye.”

A state law from 2022 releases searches for university presidents to become public. The concern about whether the confidentiality of these agreements is maintained.

Palm will visit the campus for its own Meet-and-Greet on 15 May. After all the campus visits of the finalists, the Famu Board of Trustees will meet almost on 16 May to vote and select a definitive candidate. The confirmation of the candidate will then continue to the Florida Board of Governors.

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