FAMU president to step down

Florida A&M University in Tallahassee. Credit: FAMU's Facebook

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Florida A&M University President Larry Robinson will step down after nearly seven years in the role.

Robinson’s last day will be determined following consultation with the FAMU trustees, according to the university .

Under Robinson’s leadership, FAMU was ranked No. 1 among historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) for five years in a row, and in 2023 a Top 100 public university, according to U.S. News & World Report .

“These past few years have only strengthened my core belief in the unique power of HBCUs to shape lives and nurture critical talent that serve our families and communities,” Robinson said in a prepared statement. “To play even a small part in this is the privilege of a lifetime.”

Robinson and university leadership recently made headlines after a $237 million gift from a Texas hemp farmer Gregory Gerami “ceased,” the Tallahassee Democrat reported.

Gerami announced the gift during spring commencement, saying “the money is in the bank,” yet after investigation there was reason to believe the donation may not have been legitimate.

That investigation and pressure from the Board of Governors to produce higher-performing professional programs were key moments during the last months of Robinson’s time as president.

The departing president said he plans to remain at the university and return to his role as a distinguished professor in the School of the Environment after taking a year-long sabbatical.

“We have achieved remarkable gains and record-breaking years under President Robinson’s leadership,” said FAMU Board of Trustees chair Kristin Harper in a news release. “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.”

Robinson said he has hope for what lies ahead for him and his family and the university.

“As you can imagine, this decision comes with many emotions – pride, joy, gratitude, some sadness, and of course, but at the same time, hope and anticipation,” Robinson said.

Robinson began at FAMU in 1995, serving as a visiting professor and later as director of the Environmental Sciences Institute. He served in other administrative roles at the university and in a U.S. Senate-confirmed role in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration before being named FAMU president in 2017. He previously served three stints as interim president, first in 2007, again from July 2012 to March 2014, and the third time in September 2016.

FAMU, the state’s only public HBCU, will conduct a search for a new president under a law enacted in 2022 that keeps names of candidates for president confidential until finalists are named.

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