Shakeup of FAMU leadership starts to take shape

TALLAHASSEE, FL —Florida A&M University (FAMU) Interim President Dr. Timothy Beard sent shockwaves through the hills of campus on Monday night as it was revealed that he requested the resignations of the university’s entire senior leadership team by the end of the day on Tuesday.  As news of this spread throughout the FAMU community, a sense of uncertainty spread like wildfires.

FAMU welcomes students back on Aug. 26, less than two weeks away.  The reigning national champion Rattler football team opens its season next week in Atlanta.  The Marching “100” began drills on Sunday.  Dismissing the entire leadership team when the Fall semester was in full swing was an interesting proposition.

However, as the day went on and more information surfaced, it was evident that Beard was implementing a common business strategy when new leadership takes over.  It is an opportunity to evaluate employees and decide which to retain and which to move on from.

The first public acknowledgment of separation from the university was an email sent from former FAMU Vice President and Director of Athletics Tiffani-Dawn Sykes .  She wrote a note to friends and colleagues that she was no longer employed at the university and that questions about athletics should be directed to Associate Athletic Director Michael Smith.  Sykes indicated that she did not resign, but was no longer with the university.

As the day went on, it was revealed that three other members of the leadership team’s resignations were accepted.  Former FAMU General Counsel Denise Wallace, Director of Governmental Affairs Danielle McBeth and Director of Communications Keith Miles were all part of the separation implemented by Beard.

He insisted that the process was not something new, but a standard operating procedure in business circles.  “The process is highly used in corporate America and in higher education to assess leadership teams. It shouldn’t be taken out of context, but sometimes, it is,” Beard told the Tallahassee Democrat.

FAMU has had several distractions over the last three years

For the last three years, FAMU has conjured up drama right before the football season. While there were issues during the year, for some reason the beginning of the football season has been filled with controversy.

In 2022, there was a question if the Rattlers would even show up to open their season in North Carolina to play the Tar Heels.  26 players had not been certified, with many of them being starters.  Buck Buchanan Award winner Isaiah Land was caught in that situation.  It spilled over into the second week as only hours before the game, 18 players were certified.  In order to expedite the process, both the NCAA and SWAC sent people to assist FAMU in its debacle.  It made national news and revealed that FAMU had just one qualified person handling the compliance procedures.

In 2023, just before the opening game in Miami against Jackson State University, a music video began going viral.  It was national rapper Boston Richey who hails from Tallahassee.  He had filmed a video in the FAMU Football locker room where people can be seen wearing FAMU jerseys, polos and even displaying FAMU helmets.  The embarrassment caused then-head coach Willie Simmons to shut down all football activities until it was investigated.

Now in 2024 the restructuring of FAMU’s senior leadership by an interim president who was hired to clean up some things at the university has stolen the headlines just a week before the first football game.

Beard has been very visible and engaging in his short period at the helm.  Last Friday he participated in a ceremony to recognize longtime donors Eddie and Jerrlyne Jackson who received a plaque on the wall of the Lawson Center.  He then rushed over to the Jake Gaither Gym to participate in the ribbon cutting for the newly-donated indoor golf putting room.

On Saturday he started the day supporting the Rattler Boosters, participating in the Rattler Booster Golf Tournament.  He then rushed over to the Lawson Center again to give remarks at the packed-out Rattler Boosters Kickoff Luncheon.

Beard has ties to several FAMUans.  He was a classmate of FAMU Assistant Vice President for Alumni Relations Carmen Cummings-Martin at FAMU, a longtime friend of Eddie Jackson and an associate of National Rattler “F” President Curtis Taylor, as they both hail from Ocala.

It is apparent that with all the ties the FAMU alumnus has in Tallahassee and FAMU, he is laser focused on doing what he was hired to do.

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