Belvin Perry Jr. is the newest member of Florida A&M University's Board of Trustees. Perry Jr. is an attorney with Morgan & Morgan and oversaw the murder trial of Casey Anthony in 2011 when he served as chief judge of Florida's Ninth Judicial Circuit.Perry's term on FAMU's Board of Trustees starts immediately and will run through January of 2021. Governor Rick Scott made the appointment Thursday. Perry Jr. will have to be confirmed by the Florida Senate during the next legislative session.
He currently serves as a member of the Florida A&M University College of Law Board of Visitors and the 100 Black Men of Orlando Inc. Perry received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Tuskegee University and law degree from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University.
Perry Jr. replaces Trustee Belinda Shannon. Since the failed attempt to oust FAMU President Elmira Mangum in October, five new trustees have been added to the board -- replacing those like former Board Chairman Rufus Montgomery who resigned in the wake of the failed ouster, and Spurgeon McWilliams, who resigned. Lucas Boyce resigned last year to take a job with the Republican National Committee.
Recently appointed trustees include:
Belvin Perry Jr.
Craig Reed
Gary T. McCoy
David Lawrence
Thomas Dortch Jr.
Matthew Carter II
Of the trustees who voted during that contentious October meeting, only a few remain. Board Chairman Cleve Warren, Vice Chair Kelvin Lawson, Robert Woody, Nicole Washington, Kim Moore, Bettye Grable (faculty senate president), and Tonette Graham (SGA President). Graham is graduating and students will soon re-vote on a new SGA President after the outcome of the student election was contested.
