Schools

Board of Governors picks FAMU trustees

Three members arrive just before its new leader unveils plans for the struggling school.

By SHANNON COLAVECCHIO-VAN SICKLER
Published July 11, 2007

Just in time for today's much-anticipated meeting with Florida A&M University's new president, the governing board for the struggling state college has three new members.

The trio were chosen Tuesday from among five finalists, following interviews with the group that oversees all 11 public universities in Florida.

The Board of Governors chose:

• North Carolina native Robert Brown, founder of a PR firm in North Carolina and a longtime member of various university governing boards. Brown's company, B&C Associates, currently has consulting contracts with the FAMU Foundation and the FAMU office of alumni affairs.
• Karl White, a 1988 FAMU pharmacy grad, now chief investment officer for Fletcher Asset Management, an investment company based in New York. He serves on the University of Massachusetts board of trustees and its foundation board.
• Richard Dent III, a 1993 FAMU business school graduate, now vice president and chief financial officer for the national clothing retailer LimitedBrands. In 1997, the pastor's son helped FAMU secure a $750,000 donation from the Ford Motor Co.

Former FAMU provost James H. Ammons took over as president of his alma mater earlier this month, and today he will unveil for trustees his plan to fix deep-rooted problems at the university, which is at risk of losing its national accreditation.

[Last modified July 10, 2007, 23:16:33]