Florida A&M University’s president-elect, Marva Johnson, is celebrating what she calls “an historic level of funding” for FAMU in the state’s new budget.
The spending plan earmarks more than $65 million for the university. Johnson is elated that the amount is more than FAMU had requested.
“That’s nearly a $10 million increase over the original ask,” she said.
FAMU Board of Trustees Vice Chair Deveron Gibbons sees the funding as a nod of approval from the legislature for the university’s newly selected leader.
“Many of you know over the past few months we have taken on water and a lot of heat about our president-elect," he said. "But let me just say this: This is a new day for Rattler Nation.”
Johnson says she's hopeful the university will be able to funnel some of that money to its faculty and staff.
“We’re hopeful we’ll be able to close the gap on some of the concerns we have about competitive compensation," she said. "We know that with the investment the state has made in FAMU, that gap will be closing as we look to implement some of this funding.”
Johnson’s hire as FAMU’s 13th president has been controversial. Members of the FAMU community have raised concerns about her ties to DeSantis and her lack of experience in the higher education field.
