FAMU has taken a significant step towards selecting its next president by forming a 15-member presidential search committee. The announcement was made by Kristin Harper, Chair of the university’s Board of Trustees, in a written statement to the FAMU community on Wednesday. The full board is set to discuss the presidential search in detail during a meeting on today.
Harper described the committee as an “esteemed group” and highlighted the diverse backgrounds and expertise of its members. Among them are trustees, FAMU alumni, and other key stakeholders. Deveron Gibbons, FAMU alumnus and Board of Trustees vice chair, will chair the committee.
The committee includes notable figures such as retired ABC News President Kim Godwin, FAMU trustee and president of CrossMarc Services John Crossman, and FAMU alumnus and National Alumni Association president Curtis Johnson. Other members include:
Timicka C. Anderson, FAMU alumna and managing director of Citi Commercial Banking’s Global Head Consumer and Retail sector
Jamal Brown, FAMU alumnus, trustee, Faculty Senate president, and associate professor of Pharmacy Practice at the College of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Public Health
Eisenhower Etienne, FAMU professor of Operations Supply Chain Management Information Systems & Operations Management at the School of Business and Industry
Natlie Figgers, FAMU alumna, trustee, and founder of The Law Office of Natlie G. Figgers
Cheryl Harris, FAMU alumna and senior vice president of Sourcing and Procurement at Allstate Insurance
Lisa LaBoo, FAMU alumna, FAMU Foundation Board chair, and CEO of Prosperity Investment Services
Alan Levine, Board of Governors Vice Chair and Ballad Health’s chairman and CEO
Loryn May, FAMU trustee and Student Government Association president
Jeuanne Pitter, FAMU alumna and assistant professor at School of Nursing
Curtis Taylor, FAMU alumnus and Tallahassee Urban League president and CEO
Raphael Vazquez, owner and operator of J.V. & Sons, Inc.
According to Harper, the search committee is expected to begin meeting in the near future, with assistance from an executive search firm that will be selected by the university’s Board of Trustees. This will be the first time FAMU has had to search for a new president in eleven years.
The last presidential search in 2013 resulted in the appointment of Elmira Mangum, who served for only two years following the resignation of James Ammons.
The formation of this committee marks a crucial step in FAMU’s journey to find a new leader who will guide the university into its next chapter.