Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) Board of Trustees on Friday selected Marva Johnson to serve as the institution’s 13th president, pending confirmation by the Florida Board of Governors.

Johnson, who holds a law degree and has a background in telecommunications and public education policy, was chosen following a national search. Her appointment is subject to final approval by the Board of Governors, which oversees Florida’s State University System. An anticipated start date has not yet been announced.

“Florida A&M University has long stood as a beacon of excellence and empowerment. To be considered for the opportunity to lead this storied institution is the honor of a lifetime,” said Johnson.

Johnson also emphasized a commitment to student success, community engagement, and increasing the university’s national prominence.

“I will approach this role with bold vision—focused on student success, innovation, and national prominence —while building strong bridges with the FAMU community and honoring the legacy that makes this university so special. FAMU’s culture and impact are unmatched, and I am committed to upholding and amplifying that legacy as we move forward together.”

Johnson currently serves as group vice president of state government affairs for Charter Communications, where she leads government relations, regulatory strategy, local franchising, and community initiatives across nine southern states, including Florida. Johnson was appointed to the Florida State Board of Education in 2014 and served as its chair from 2015 to 2019.

FAMU, established in 1887, is the state’s only public historically Black university, with a student population of more than 9,000.

If confirmed, Johnson would become the second woman to lead the university. Her appointment would follow outgoing President Larry Robinson, who has served in the role since 2017.

Robinson announced in a July 2024 letter to the university’s Board of Trustees Chair that he would step down after nearly seven years and that he planned to return to his former position as a Distinguished Professor in the FAMU School of the Environment.

Robinson’s decision came just weeks after FAMU received a falty $237 million donation from the Issac Batterson 7th Family Trust and its CEO Gregory Gerami during its spring 2024 commencement ceremony. The gift would have ranked among the largest single contributions to a Historically Black College and University and doubled FAMU’s current endowment.

The donation came under scrutiny when it was discovered that Gerami had a history of failed pledges. In 2020, he promised $95 million to Coastal Carolina University, but the deal fell through, leading the university to cut ties with him.