FAMU trustees accept President Larry Robinson's resignation, pick interim president

Florida A&M University’s Board of Trustees accepted President Larry Robinson’s resignation, effective Aug. 4, following his July 12 decision to step down from the role.

The board also voted in favor of appointing Timothy Beard — recently retired president of Pasco-Hernando State College and a FAMU alumnus — as interim president to replace Robinson starting Aug. 5, following Board of Trustees Chair Kristin Harper's recommendation.

Harper, who says she has had multiple conversations with Florida Board of Governors Chair Brian Lamb about next steps, will negotiate the contract with Beard as interim president. The contract will be subject to final approval by the Board of Trustees and confirmation by the state's governing board for up to a 12-month period.

Both motions were made during a Tuesday morning meeting that was held online by trustees.

“We absolutely acknowledge and thank you for the past 27 years of service to FAMU and the past nearly seven years as president,” Harper told Robinson. “What you've accomplished is irrefutable.”

While the trustees reflected on Robinson’s nearly seven-year tenure as they met as a collective for the first time after his announcement of stepping down, the Tuesday meeting was mainly to discuss a presidential search and selection.

Beard recently retired from his position as Pasco-Hernando State College's fourth president in January after a nearly nine-year tenure. The New Port Richey-based college serves nearly 10,000 students annually and has six campus locations, including one in Brooksville, which was home to FAMU’s former USDA farm and research center.

Trustees including Kelvin Lawson, Nicole Washington, Belvin Perry and Vice Chair Deveron Gibbons were in favor of Beard serving as the university's interim president after Harper's recommendation. But Trustee Otis Cliatt said he’s “not a fan of interim presidents.”

“I don't think the board has had an opportunity to weigh in on whether we should have an interim versus continuing with the existing president through the search, and immediately starting the search," Cliatt said.

"And I don't want to have an interim that comes in, brings their staff, completely cleans the house, and then we hire a permanent who comes in and does the same thing," he added. "That would mean having a self-inflicted wound twice."

Despite that, the majority of the board voted in favor of Beard to take the interim position during the Tuesday meeting.

"I think we do need an interim, and I think that the person selected is highly qualified and capable," Lawson said. "He's a known entity within the state."

Perry agreed with Lawson's support of bringing in an interim president.

"We got to have a president that comes in and continues to move the school forward," Perry said. "We just don't stop and pause the business of the university. We got things that we're facing."

Robinson's resignation and the selection of Beard for the interim role come as the university faces a historic donation debacle that sparked national headlines, embarrassment and an independent investigation along with athletics-related controversies.

"Of course, I think Dr. Beard won't come in with a hatchet," Perry added. "I think he would look to see if there are changes to be made, but that would be up to him as the administrator."

Prior to the vote on Robinson's Aug. 4 end date, Lawson initially suggested that Robinson's term as president end July 31 for Beard to start Aug. 1.

But Perry pushed for Robinson to be permitted to conduct his last FAMU commencement ceremony, where graduating students of the current summer term will graduate Aug. 2.

"At least give Dr. Robinson, who we've all said glowing things about, the dignity and respect of having his name signed on these students' diplomas," Perry said.

FAMU Student Body President and trustee Loryn May agreed, saying that it would be a "disservice" to the graduating students if they were not given a moment with Robinson after attending the university under his leadership during their collegiate years.

Meantime, Robinson has decided to take a 12-month sabbatical and return as a distinguished professor in the School of the Environment.

“It has really been a remarkable journey for me to see our students in particular succeed,” Robinson told trustees. He also gave a shout out to administrators, staff and faculty members of the university. “Everything about FAMU is special, and I’ve had the chance to enjoy all of it.”

Several trustees thanked Robinson for his service and accomplishments while serving as president, including trustee John Crossman, who acknowledged his admiring "calmness and professionalism."

"Your mark as a leader is on me, and I personally aspire to do more in my leadership by things I've seen you do," Crossman told Robinson.

Gibbons credited Robinson to be an "honorable public servant," and Cliatt said Robinson "walked the walk and talked the talk."

"Larry, your name will forever be synonymous with our academic achievements and a proud representative of what Black love and Black family is," Cliatt said.

A trustees meeting will be scheduled in the near future to approve Beard's contract for interim president, Harper said. The board will also hold a retreat Aug. 7-8, which Beard is expected to attend for trustees to meet him.

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

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU board accepts Robinson's resignation, selects interim president