TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The president of Florida’s only historically black public university is resigning amid retaliation about the school’s apparent failure to adequately examine a multimillion dollar donation from a dubious donor.
Larry Robinson submitted his resignation last week and will leave Florida A&M University at a time when state officials are scrutinizing the school’s programs that they say are underperforming and so increasing political influence reshapes the state’s higher education landscape.
During a graduation ceremony in May, Robinson took the stage in his academic regalia holding a giant check for $237 million, a gift that would have been the largest private donation to a historically black college or university — if it ever materialized.
Robinson led the 137-year-old HBCU for seven years. There has been a public outcry over the university’s handling of the donation, which took the form of millions of shares in 30-year-old donor Gregory Gerami’s fledgling industrial hemp company. FAMU suspended the donation and authorized an external investigation of the disaster, which is ongoing.
“I saw in this unprecedented gift the potential to serve our students and our athletic programs in ways unimaginable at that time,” Robinson told university trustees on May 15. “I wanted it to be real and I ignored the warning signs along the way. ”
During Robinson’s tenure, FAMU praised his rise in national rankings. But state officials also scrutinized the poor performance of some of the university’s programs, including the pharmacy and law schools.
The leadership change at the institution is raising concerns among some alumni at a time when Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is working to limit state diversity programs and restrict what can be taught about race and American history.
Democratic state Sen. Shevrin Jones, a 2006 HBCU graduate, says he hopes university leaders remember that the college was founded to educate African Americans as they search for a new president.
“If they make decisions based on the politics of this time, I fear for my institution,” Jones said.
University trustees are expected to set Robinson’s departure date and begin discussing the presidential search when they meet on July 23. Robinson plans to return to his teaching position in FAMU’s School of the Environment after a year’s sabbatical.
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Kate Payne is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report to America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to cover undercovered issues.
