FAMU Trustees to consider a five-year $3.4 million employment deal for Marva Johnson

The FAMU Board of Trustees will convene virtually at 9 a.m. on Friday morning June 6 to consider and vote on the employment agreement for Marva Johnson, who was recently named "president select" of the institution. The proposed 5-year contract would pay Johnson a base salary of $650,000 annually.

According to the document, Johnson would be entitled to annual three percent increase in her base salary each year over the previous year’s base salary for the life of the contract. The proposed salary schedule is as follows:

• 2025: $650,000

• 2026: $669,500

• 2027: $679,585

• 2028: $699,972.55

• 2029: $720,972

The total base compensation over the five-year period would amount to $3,420,029.55. The state of Florida will contribute a maximum of $200,000 to Johnson's salary each year, with the remainder coming from the FAMU Foundation. Last Friday, the FAMU Foundation board of directors postpone a crucial budget amendment concerning the salary package until it had an opportunity to view the full terms.   

Johnson would also be eligible for $750,000 in retention bonuses
In addition to her base salary, Johnson would receive a car allowance of $14,400 annually, $25,000 in moving expenses, and be eligible for an annual performance bonus of up to $86,000. 

If she remains in her role through 2028, she will be eligible for a $450,000 retention bonus, and if she stays through 2030, she would receive another $300,000 retention bonus.

5-year deal is longer than FAMU customarily offers
The length of Johnson’s contract is two years longer than the initial contracts for her predecessors, Elmira Mangum and Larry Robinson, who both had 3-year contracts. 

The longer contract term follows a recent pattern in Florida, where Gov. Ron DeSantis loyalists have been receiving 5-year initial contracts. For instance, the University of Florida recently offered President-elect Santa Ono a 5-year contract, and Florida Atlantic University provided former Rep. Adam Hasner a 5-year contract. Similarly, Florida International University offered former Lt. Gov. Janet Núñez a 5-year contract.

By offering these longer contracts, Governor Ron DeSantis is extending his influence over Florida’s higher education landscape long after he leaves office.

The proposed contract has sparked significant debate and opposition from various stakeholders, including students, faculty, and alumni, who argue that Johnson's lack of higher education experience and her ties to Governor DeSantis are antithetical to FAMU's mission. Critics also point to her support for right-wing initiatives, such as the rollback of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and affirmative action programs, as reasons for their opposition.

As the FAMU Board of Trustees prepares to vote on Johnson's contract, the tension and opposition from the FAMU community remain high, highlighting the deep divisions surrounding her appointment.