FAMU President Larry Robinson to Step Down

Florida A&M University (FAMU) President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., announced that he will step down as president, a position he has held for just under seven years.

In a letter to the University’s Board of Trustees Chair Kristin Harper, Robinson expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead Florida’s only public HBCU, which currently enrolls over 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students.

The exact date of his departure will be determined in consultation with the Board of Trustees. Robinson is a Distinguished Professor in the FAMU School of the Environment, a position he held prior to accepting the role as the 12th President of Florida A&M University in November of 2017. It is his intention to return to that position at the conclusion of a year-long sabbatical.

Chair Harper, on behalf of the Board, commended Robinson’s leadership and the upward trajectory of the university under his tenure. “Florida A&M University has reached unprecedented heights as a Top 100 University and the No. 1 public HBCU for the fifth consecutive year. We have achieved remarkable gains and record-breaking years under President Robinson’s leadership. I am honored to have served with fellow trustees alongside our president. His love for FAMU, steady leadership, and unwavering dedication to our students’ success will leave an indelible mark on this university’s history. This commitment is shared by his wife, Sharon Robinson, who, like Dr. Robinson, has been a source of inspiration for countless Rattlers. We are grateful they plan to remain a part of the FAMU community on the Highest of Seven Hills.”

Robinson’s letter to the Board noted his intention to thank many people in the coming weeks, those whose work and commitments have been a source of support and progress for the university during his presidency. He emphasized the critical role FAMU plays in shaping students’ lives and the benefits that the state and taxpayers receive from investments in higher education.

Consistent with its operating procedures, the University’s Board of Trustees will meet to determine next steps as FAMU continues to Boldly Strike for student success.

FAMU pauses $237M donation

The president of Florida A&M University announced Thursday that the school is putting a “pause” on a historic $237 million donation the Rattlers received over the weekend from Batterson Farms Corporation CEO Gregory Gerami and the Isaac Batterson Family 7th Trust.

The news comes after days of controversy over the gift.

FAMU announced the donation with a super-sized check during a jam-packed commencement ceremony on Saturday. But the school’s tone toward the funding swiftly changed this week after FAMU Board of Trustees Vice Chair Deveron Gibbons asked FAMU President Larry Robinson and Board Chair Kristin Harper to organize a public meeting in the interest of transparency.

“The recently announced donation would truly be transformative for Florida A&M University, an institution that is helping to shape the next generation of leaders,” FAMU Vice Chair Deveron Gibbons wrote in a statement shared Tuesday. “However, the reality is that little has been shared regarding the nature of the donation.”

A group of school leaders convened and discussed the donation Thursday afternoon during a FAMU Foundation Board Meeting, which was broadcast via Zoom. During the call, Robinson said that officials decided Wednesday to “put a pause” on the donation “pending additional information that’s come to my attention.”

“It’s in our best interest to put that on hold,” he said.

The group also passed a motion to form an “internal, multidisciplinary committee” that will audit the university’s process for evaluating major gifts.

[]SOURCE: WCTV]