FAMU presidential applicant list lacks any sitting presidents or provosts of research universities

T. Joan Robinson was Morgan State’s provost when she originally applied to lead FAMU, but she no longer holds that job

Back in March, Rattler Nation reported that the list of FAMU presidential applicants lacked anyone who was the current president of a school classified as a Doctoral/Research University (DRU) or higher by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching (FAMU is a DRU).

There was only one candidate, then-Morgan State University Provost T. Joan Robinson, who even held the number two position at a research school.

But the latest list published yesterday by the Tampa Bay Times’ Gradebook blog shows that FAMU now has NO presidential applicants who currently serve as the president or provost of a DRU or higher.

T. Joan Robinson, who is still in the running to lead FAMU, is no longer Morgan State’s provost. She is now the “vice-president for international affairs.” The provost position is being filled on an interim basis by Keith H. Jackson, who formerly served as interim vice-president for research under ex-FAMU Interim President Castell Bryant.

There is one sitting provost in the applicant pool. Ronald Nykiel has served as the provost and vice president of academic affairs at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore since February 5, 2013. UMES has a Carnegie “Master’s S” classification, which means “Master's Colleges and Universities (smaller programs).”

Two notable candidates have withdrawn their applications.

FAMU alumnus George E. Cooper, former president of South Carolina State University, dropped his name from the FAMU list after U.S. President Barack Obama appointed him to serve as director of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities earlier this year.

Phyllis Dawkins, who was the provost of Dillard University when she applied for the FAMU presidency, also withdrew her application after being hired as the new provost of Cheyney University.