The Florida Board of Governors, which oversees the State University System of Florida, this morning, appointed two new members to the FAMU Board of Trustees, selecting Victor Young, a former luxury automobile dealer with holdings across the state, and Prerak Shah, a former acting U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas.
Mr. Young, previously co-owned several auto dealerships including Lamborghini Sarasota, BMW of Sarasota, and Land Rover Ocala, will begin his term on Jan. 7, 2026. Young will replace FAMU grad Kristin Harper who has served on the Board since January 2021.
Mr. Shah, who served as the chief federal law enforcement officer for a district of approximately eight million people, was also appointed to the board. His appointment is also slated to begin on Jan 7, 2026. He will replace FAMU grad Craig Reed who has served since January 2021..
The move continues a pattern of high-profile, politically appointments to the governing body of Florida universities.
Mr. Shah served as acting U.S. attorney from January 2021 through the end of the first Trump administration, overseeing a staff of roughly 250 people and all federal criminal prosecutions and civil litigation involving the United States across 100 counties. His legal and federal experience stands in contrast to Mr. Young’s corporate background in automotive retail.
The FAMU board currently has four members whose terms are set to expire in January 2026: John Crossman, Natalie Figgers, Belvin Perry, and Jocelyn Rodriguez. Under state law, trustees may continue to serve until their successors are appointed.
Both of the new appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate later next spring.
A spokesperson for the Board of Governors did not provide additional comment on the selections. A university spokesman said FAMU “welcomes the new trustees and looks forward to their contributions.”
The appointments come at a time of heightened scrutiny over the independence and composition of university boards in Florida, particularly as the administration of Gov. Ron DeSantis continues to emphasize alignment with state priorities in higher education.
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