BOG dodges WCTV question about how many FAMU alumni applied for BOT vacancies

Mori Hosseini, chair of BOG Nomination and Governance Committee

On Thursday, the Florida Board of Governors (BOG) dodged a question from WCTV CBS 6 about how many alumni of Florida A&M University applied for vacant seats on their alma mater’s Board of Trustees (BOT).

“There were 32 applicants for these latest positions for the FAMU Board. The B.O.G. could not say offhand how many were graduates of FAMU,” WCTV-6 reported.

Three vacant seats on the FAMU BOT were on the agenda for last week’s BOG meeting. The BOG appointed Craig Reed, an alumnus of FAMU, and Thomas W. Dortch, Jr., an alumnus of Fort Valley State University. It delayed making a decision on the last remaining vacant seat.

At both the University of Florida and Florida State University, alumni have ten of the 11 appointed seats on the respective Boards of Trustees. But FAMU alumni only have three of the 11 appointed seats on their alma mater’s BOT, down from six last year.

FAMU National Alumni Association President Gregory L. Clark told WCTV-6 that he thinks the low number of FAMU alumni on the BOT is unacceptable. But in an interview with The FAMUan he emphasized that he wasn’t being critical of Dortch, whom he said is a good choice.

Dortch is the former chairman of 100 Black Men of America, Inc. and the father of a son who graduated from FAMU with a degree in business management/marketing in 2008. 

"I think he has the leadership qualities that are needed,” Clark said of Dortch. “100 Black Men is a very strong organization and does a lot of work with mentorship; it's geared to student business. I think that he can bring a lot.”

According to WCTV, “Clark says he will work with the B.O.G. and the governor to try to get more alumni representation.”