FAMU alumnus expected to 'bring energy and fresh ideas' as university's newest trustee

The Florida Board of Governors confirmed the appointment of Florida A&M University alumnus Deveron Gibbons as FAMU’s newest trustee during a full board meeting Wednesday morning.

Gibbons replaces former Board of Trustees Vice Chair Kimberly Moore after her second consecutive term of five years expired in January. Moore — who initially joined the board in 2013 — has stepped down since her time on the board termed out, meaning she cannot be reappointed.

While Gibbons will be filling Moore's spot on the board, another appointment was made Wednesday evening where Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed lawyer and FAMU alumna Natlie Figgers to replace former Trustee David Lawrence Jr., who resigned last year.

One vacant trustee seat remains, meaning that the Board of Governors will have to appoint another candidate to replace former Trustee Thomas Dortch Jr., who recently passed away in February.

“I have known Deveron for a long time, and I’m excited to have him join our board,” FAMU Board of Trustees Chair Kelvin Lawson told the Tallahassee Democrat after the meeting. “I think he’s going to bring energy and fresh ideas. He’s a person who spends a lot of time here in Tallahassee working the halls of the state legislature, so I think that’s going to be a benefit to our board as well.”

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Gibbons, a consultant for Amscot Financial and a retired senior vice president of the company, earned both his master’s degree in business administration and his juris doctorate degree from FAMU.

Before attending the university, he graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s in political science in 1995 and the University of South Florida with his first master’s in public administration in 2007.

“He’s touched all aspects of the university system,” Board of Governors member Alan Levine said. “He’s a successful businessperson, and I just think he’s going to be such a great addition to the FAMU board.”

Levine recommended Gibbons to be considered for the trustee role during a Nomination and Governance committee meeting Wednesday ahead of the board’s regular meeting.

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As Gibbons joins FAMU’s board, he will be making his transition from serving as a St. Petersburg College trustee since 2006. His most recent reappointment at the college was made by DeSantis in 2019.

Gibbons is also a member of Take Stock in Children’s board of directors.

Board of Governors member Ken Jones says he has known Gibbons for about 20 years, commending his active involvement in the Tampa Bay community.

“He’s done some amazing things with kids and community activism, and he’s just a good person,” Jones said. “I think he’ll serve FAMU very well, so he has my full support.”

The other trustee candidates — four men and two women, five of which are FAMU alumni — are still in the running for the remaining trustee opening. At the same time, the process is open and continues to accept any additional applications for the role, according to Levine.

Besides Moore, some of the other trustee terms have already expired as well. Lawson's second consecutive term of five years ended in 2021 after being chairman since 2016. He joined the board in 2011.

But since he was appointed by a governor, he can continue to sit on the board until DeSantis decides to appoint another individual to replace him.

In addition, Trustee Belvin Perry Jr.'s term ended in January 2021 after he joined the board in March 2016 while Trustee Michael Dubose's term ended in January after becoming a FAMU trustee since December 2020. Both trustees will either be reappointed or replaced, according to Florida's State University System spokesperson Renee Fargason.

"Those terms tend to take a little longer to replace or reappoint," Lawson said. "Some of the individuals will have to make a personal decision if they want to be reappointed and reapply."

Besides the appointment of Gibbons Wednesday, the Board of Governors also approved the appointment of former MasterCard Loyalty and Engagement President Francis Hondal as a new trustee on Florida International University’s board, along with the University of Florida trustee reappointment of Daniel O'Keefe, the co-managing partner of Shutts & Bowen law firm in Orlando.

Levine says making appointments is a work in progress, and he hopes remaining positions will be filled during the board’s next in-person meeting, which will be on June 20.

Contact Tarah Jean at [email protected] or follow her on twitter @tarahjean_.

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CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story stated that Deveron Gibbons fills former Trustee Thomas Dortch Jr.'s seat on FAMU's Board of Trustees, based on information provided to the Democrat. Gibbons replaces former Board of Trustees Vice Chair Kimberly A. Moore, whose second term expired in January.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida Board of Governors appoints Deveron Gibbons as FAMU trustee