by Noni Haynes
Tallahassee—A bumpy first week for Marva Johnson was highlighted by negative comments to her videotaped inaugural speech and walk through the campus bookstore. For a second time, the university blocked comments on posts promoting the start of her term as President of Florida A&M University. Meanwhile, Johnson continues to send surrogates to coax meetings or dinner with outspoken critics, but they refuse.
Many were relieved that Donald Palm, PhD, assumed a new role as Executive Vice President for Health Sciences Enterprise and Research Innovation (EVP-HSERI). Still, his replacement as Chief Operations Officer, Kelvin Lawson, raised concerns. Like Johnson, the controversial former Board of Trustees member has strong ties with US Senator Rick Scott and Governor Ron DeSantis, who are albatrosses for both. Stakeholders say his politics got him there, not his qualifications.
An amended version of the approved Foundation budget paid the supplemental salaries of executive officers, including part of Lawson’s ($381,000), from the $400,000 approved for the “Marching 100.” It was described as “Executive Support” and “Office of the President” increases. When Foundation members questioned the expenditure and the depletion of the band’s budget, President Johnson pledged $800,000 to cover the band appropriation and supplemental executive salaries. She also promised to raise the money to secure funding, as it is based on contingency funding, which is not guaranteed. “As a board member, I supported the amended budget because time was short and FAMU must function. But executive pay above HBCU benchmarks without a fundraising plan is risky. If we don’t act now, next year’s crisis will come with headlines blaming the Foundation for a mess we didn’t make—but will own,” according to Foundation Board Director Laurence Humphries.
Johnson and Lawson are working hard to gain support from a disapproving faculty before classes start on August 25. And they still must deal with historic opposition by alumni and students. The administration hopes to win over faculty and staff by spending the extra $10 million of the budget on 1,400 raises for faculty and staff. That will be very messy. Though a worthy expenditure, the money would typically be used for the many emergencies that occur, maintenance, and other student services that have been lacking.
Johnson unveiled her first 100-day plan that pushed boilerplate talking points: student success, finances, and faculty support. Also, a common thread throughout her speeches is her listening tour. “Whether we were in the airport, in the grocery store, in hotel lobbies or restaurants, these spontaneous opportunities to engage have helped me to build a sense of pride and a sense of accountability for the expectations of the stakeholder community in general.” Critics ask, “What are your plans?” They are looking for substantive initiatives. The new president will have to get beyond buying trust with limited resources. She must earn it.