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| L to R: Lawson, Palm, Robinson, and Tatum-Fedrick |
FAMU President Marva Johnson is wasting no time putting her stamp on the university — unveiling a 100-day agenda to stabilize finances, boost student success, and streamline operations while also overhauling her senior leadership team.
In a rapid series of changes effective Aug. 1, Johnson tapped former board of trustees member, and long time board chair, Kelvin Lawson as executive vice president and chief operations officer — one of the university’s most powerful posts — despite his lack of formal higher-ed administrative experience. Lawson replaces Donald Palm, who will now serve in the newly created role of executive vice president for Health Sciences Enterprise and Research Innovation.
Lawson — despite having no formal higher education career experience — will now hold one of the most powerful administrative posts on campus. The provost, vice president for student affairs, and vice president for research will report directly to him. He recently stepped down from the FAMU board just two weeks ago.
Also joining the leadership team is Michelle Robinson, a who mostly recently served as Vice President of Government Affairs at Verizon in Atlanta, GA, from 2007-2023. Robinson, who holds degrees from UCLA and the University of Southern California, replaces Jamal Sowell, who resigned.
Brandi Tatum-Fedrick, was named acting vice president for University Advancement. She replaces Anthony Neal, who resigned last Friday. Tatum-Fedrick, previously worked as assistant vice president for Annual Affinity Giving and University Engagement at the FAMU Foundation. She also serves as the head cheerleader coach.
Tatum-Fedrick, is a familiar figure to many Rattlers, who remember that she previously worked in student activities before being dismissed. She returned to the university in the advancement division under former VP of Advancement and SBI Dean Shawnta Friday-Stroud.
“I am pleased to welcome this group of distinguished executives to my senior leadership team,” Johnson said in a prepared statement. “Each individual possesses a wealth of experience in their areas of expertise that will benefit FAMU as I carry out my vision to enhance our competitive standing academically, fiscally and operationally.”
100 day plan
Johnson, offered a glimpse, of her 100-day action plan which she says will focus on improving the university’s financial footing, leveraging FAMU’s legacy for future growth, and finding operational efficiencies. She also pledged to prioritize faculty support, align academic programs with workforce demands, and place student success at the top of the agenda.
A key part of her strategy, she said, is listening to the FAMU community — particularly students. Johnson credited Student Body President and Trustee Zayla Bryant, who voted against her presidential appointment, with encouraging her to engage with students in a “very natural” way.
“My mission for the next 100 days is really to continue to listen to stakeholders, including faculty, and — as trustee Bryant has alerted me — to listen to students in a very natural way, to engage them in a very natural setting and to make sure that I’m being earnest in my effort to understand where they are,” Johnson said.