The candidates who made the short list are Milton Overton
Jr., Eric C. McCurdy, and M. Dianne Murphy.
Interim AD D’Wayne Robinson applied for the permanent job
but was not chosen as one of the final three.
Overton has achieved all but dissertation (ABD) status for
his doctorate degree in higher education and administration at the University
of Oklahoma.
McCurdy also has more than 20 years of experience. He
currently serves as executive director of athletics for the Seattle Public
Schools. Previously, he served as assistant director of operations/academics
and academic coordinator for men’s basketball at the University of Houston and
the assistant athletic director (intern) at Texas Southern University.
McCurdy received his Bachelor of Science in Psychology from
the University Alabama at Birmingham.
The third candidate, Murphy, has more than 40 years of athletic
administration experience. Currently, she serves as the university advisor on
athletic issues at Columbia University. She also served as director of
athletics and physical education for 11 years at Columbia. Prior to going to
Columbia University, she held numerous leadership positions, including director
of athletics and recreation at the University of Denver, associate athletics
director/senior woman administrator at Cornell University, and assistant
athletic director at the University of Iowa and Kentucky State University. She
served as head women’s basketball coach at Florida State University from 1976
to 1979.
Murphy received her doctor of philosophy degree from Florida
State University in 1980 with a concentration in administration, supervision,
and curriculum.
"These three candidates demonstrate the high regard at
which FAMU is held in the athletic and academic communities," said Mangum.
"We are pleased to have a short list of candidates with the diversity and
depth of experience they bring to the table.”
Mangum plans to make the appointment before the start of the
fall semester.