Adam Herbert’s name circulating as a possible replacement for Ammons

On Wednesday, Rattler Nation reported about the renewed efforts by certain self-described “FAMUans” to garner support for a proposed Adam W. Herbert presidency. This behind-the-scenes lobbying was still somewhat quiet and careful earlier this week but became much louder and obvious in the days leading up to Thursday’s Board of Trustees meeting.

The failed attempt to place FAMU President James H. Ammons on an indefinite administrative leave has turned the internal fight over the possibility of a Herbert presidency into a context for what is becoming increasingly bitter public struggle.

Herbert, a former State University System of Florida (SUS) chancellor, is currently back in Florida working as an independent consultant after leaving the presidency of Indiana University in 2007. As SUS chancellor, he introduced a “three tier plan’ that attempted to classify FAMU as a bottom-tier “Comprehensive” university that would focus mainly on teaching undergraduate students.

The argument being used by those interested in Herbert seems to focus on Ammons’ apparent unpopularity with the Florida Board of Governors (BOG). It is being said that FAMU needs a president who can actually get along with them. Rattler Nation is hearing that there is also strong pressure coming from certain elements with ties to the BOG to move in the direction of a presidential change.


The push by Bill Jennings, Rufus Montgomery, and Charles Langston to place Ammons on an indefinite administrative leave today has led some FAMUans to talk openly about what they are convinced is an under-the-table battle for power in Rattler Country.

At today’s meeting, FAMU National Alumni Association (NAA) Tommy Mitchell told trustees that it would be premature to take action against Ammons in light of the Champion incident, especially while several investigations are still seeking to uncover all the actual facts. Even though he did not directly address the talk about Herbert, he expressed concern that certain “outside people” are trying to influence who sits in the FAMU president’s chair.

“There are already names to replace him,” Mitchell said with respect to widespread belief that is already a push to place a predetermined replacement for Ammons in power.

A motion to place Ammons on administrative leave failed during today’s meeting. But Rattler Nation is being told that another effort to try and put an interim president in charge of FAMU is in the works.