FAMU alumni overwhelmingly oppose Marva Johnson’s candidacy, rally behind Donald Palm

A recent poll conducted by the FAMU National Alumni Association has revealed a striking divide among graduates over the university’s presidential search, with 81.75% of respondents opposing the candidacy of Marva Johnson,J.D., a telecommunications executive. Instead, alumni have thrown their support behind Donald Palm,Ph.D., FAMU’s current Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, who is lauded as a “visionary” academic leader with deep institutional ties.

The survey, which polled thousands of FAMU graduates, underscores a clear preference for leadership rooted in higher education experience. Dr. Palm, the only finalist with an earned Ph.D., boasts over 30 years of service in academia, including roles focused on student success, faculty development, and research excellence. Alumni have praised his “transformative” impact and dedication to FAMU’s mission, with many citing his academic credentials and institutional knowledge as critical assets.

“Dr. Palm understands higher education immensely, the heart of FAMU,” said one alum in the poll’s open-response section. “His track record speaks for itself.”

Palm’s academic pedigree is formidable: a B.A. in Chemistry from Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from Penn State’s Hershey Medical Center, and a postdoctoral fellowship at Brown University. He has also completed executive training at Harvard and the American Council on Education (ACE) Fellows Program. Supporters argue his blend of scholarly rigor and administrative experience makes him uniquely qualified to steer FAMU.

By contrast, Marva Johnson, serves the Group Vice President of State Government Affairs at Charter Communications, faces skepticism over her corporate background. Johnson holds a  J.D. from Georgia State University, an MBA from Emory, and a B.S. from Georgetown, critics question her alignment with FAMU’s academic priorities. Her role overseeing government relations and regulatory strategies across nine states, some alumni argue, lacks the higher education focus needed for the presidency.

Meanwhile, a student-led petition condemning Johnson's candidacy has garnered 9,159 verified signatures, as of Sunday evening.  The petition points to Johnson's lack of experience in higher education, close ties to MAGA politics, and anti-DEI and CRT alignment, and misalignment with FAMU's overall mission. 

The other finalists—Gerald Hector, CPA and Senior Vice President at the University of Central Florida, and Rondall Allen, PharmD, Provost at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore—have garnered less attention.  

The FAMU National Alumni Association, over the weekend, took the unusual step of endorsing a Palm's candidacy after the polling, calling the poll results a “critical reflection of stakeholder sentiment.”   

FAMU Trustees are expected to meet on Friday, May 16 to vote on a president-elect.