“I am extremely honored and humbled to have this opportunity,” said Edington. “I thank Dr. Robinson for the confidence he has in my ability to take on this new role. I’m excited about the opportunity to partner with the president, the Board of Trustees, faculty and other stakeholders as we continue our efforts to implement the goals outlined in the strategic plan to support student success.”
In February 2017, Edington was appointed vice president of a new division, Strategic Planning, Analysis and Institutional Effectiveness. Prior to the promotion, he served as the founding dean of the College of Science and Technology from 2013 to 2017.
Edington will oversee the search for the new deans of the FAMU College of Law and College of Education. He arrived at FAMU in 1998 as an assistant professor of chemistry.
“Dr. Edington is a steadfast, effective and respected leader,” said Robinson. “His experience, academic achievements and institutional knowledge will help FAMU continue its 131-year-old legacy of ‘Excellence with Caring,’ as he implements plans to enhance student success and the University’s vision and mission overall.”
Robinson also announced former School of Business and Industry Dean Shawnta Friday-Stroud, Ph.D., will drop interim from her title and serve as vice president of University Advancement, which also includes overseeing the FAMU Foundation. Robinson appointed Friday-Stroud interim vice president in January of this year.
Also effective today, Beverly Barrington will become vice president for Strategic Planning, Analysis and Institutional Effectiveness. She serves as associate vice president in the division.
Edington, Friday-Stroud and Barrington have been at the forefront of several key University initiatives. In 2016, they co-chaired the University Strategic Planning Work Group, which developed the University’s five-year strategic plan, “FAMU Rising.”
They were also members of the University’s Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) accreditation leadership team. Their work contributed to the University receiving reaffirmation with no recommendations during a spring visit from the SACSCOC onsite committee.
Interim Provost Rodner Wright will resume his duties as dean of FAMU’s School of Architecture and Engineering Technology.
“I would like to thank Provost Wright for his outstanding service and for answering my call to serve as interim provost twice,” said Robinson. “He helped FAMU achieve many successes, including the hiring of three deans this year.”
Wright served as FAMU’s interim provost from August 2012 to February 2015 and again in September 2016.
Edington earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Fisk University, a Doctor of Philosophy in Physical Chemistry from Vanderbilt University, and he completed postdoctoral studies at Duke University, where he was a National Institutes of Health – National Research Service Award Postdoctoral Fellow.