“It is with mixed emotions that I write to tender my
resignation as the Chief Officer of the Division of Legal Affairs of this great
institution,” Feeley said in her letter to Interim President Larry Robinson.
Feeley has been hired as the vice president, general counsel
and corporate secretary of the University of Hartford in Connecticut.
Former President Elmira Mangum appointed Feeley to serve as
the general counsel effect July 20, 2016. She replaced Avery McKnight, who
Mangum fired on December 1, 2015.
Feeley did not hold membership in the Florida Bar when
Mangum selected her for the job. She told the FAMU Board of Trustees on
December 15, 2016 that she was seeking an in-house counsel exception from the
bar.
But as of the date of her letter of resignation, Feeley
still held the title “chief officer” of the FAMU Division of Legal Affairs
while Shira R. Thomas continued to serve as the acting general counsel.
Robinson announced that Thomas will remain the acting
general counsel and begin leading the entire division on January 3. This
will be her second time heading legal affairs. She previously filled that role
from December 1, 2015 until July 19, 2016.