“With great dedication and much determination, Florida
Memorial University is committed to empowering our students to succeed with
exceptional excellence,” said FMU Board of Trustees Chair JoLinda L. Herring
said in a statement published by the Times. “The change in leadership will help
position our university’s common core values and services to our students as
well as throughout our community. Dr. Bryant brings both the qualifications and
experience needed to strengthen this process.”
According to the Times, FMU Interim President Michelle
Howard-Vital has gone on medical leave. She previously served as provost at FMU
before stepping in to lead the university after the resignation of President Roslyn
Clark Artis, who left after being appointed president of Benedict College.
Castell served as interim president at Florida A&M
University from 2005 to 2007. Her administration reported an $8M surplus when
there was really a $10.4M deficit, did poorly on state audits, failed to pay hundreds of employees on time, and was behind a big a decline in enrollment.