Florida A&M University President Marva Johnson reflected on her experience thus far as the university\u2019s leader, particularly in light of widespread public pushback to her selection.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Johnson spoke Friday to the Capital Tiger Bay Club in Tallahassee.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI know no university president has a 100% likability rate, but I\u2019m hoping to try to make sure that I listen in a way that is constructive, that I make decisions that are well informed, not just from peoples\u2019 opinions but from data,\u201d Johnson responded to a question about how opposition has changed since her selection nearly a year ago.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd that at the end of the first year, the second year, third year, fifth year, that what people are truly measuring and commenting on is the outcome and the impact, and we expect that to be phenomenal,\u201d Johnson continued.<\/p>\n
Johnson highlighted FAMU successes, such as being ranked the No. 1 public historically Black college and university by U.S. News & World Report<\/a> and No. 1 HBCU by Niche<\/a>, and for the economic support the university provides to the state.<\/p>\n Alumni and FAMU stakeholders questioned Johnson\u2019s political ties when she was announced as a finalist, having been appointed to boards by former Gov. Rick Scott and Gov. Ron DeSantis, prompting protesters\u2019 concerns that she may prove a political president.<\/p>\n Those political ties, paired with a perceived lack of higher education experience, resulted in petitions and community events opposing her presidency and prolonged FAMU Board of Trustee meetings.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a lawyer and a corporate executive. Not exactly a part of the academy from the traditional higher education experience,\u201d Johnson acknowledged Friday.<\/p>\n Johnson was vice president for governmental affairs for Charter Communications before coming to FAMU and previously served as chair of the State Board of Education, which oversees K-12 education in the state and the Florida College System.<\/p>\n She was education chair for Florida\u2019s Constitution Revision Commission in 2016. That, paired with her State Board of Education experience, gave her \u201ca clear perspective and appreciation\u201d for the constitutional responsibility the state has to educate, and she came to FAMU with \u201cclarity and with purpose and with deep respect for what this institution represents.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI spent years navigating a career in corporate board rooms, state legislatures, regulatory battles across nine states simultaneously, and I thought that I really understood complex institutions. I thought I understood complex politics. I thought I understood difficult people, and what I really learned is all that was just gonna be preparing for coming to FAMU. This is probably, in truth, the hardest job I\u2019ve ever had, but it\u2019s also the most rewarding.\u201d<\/p>\n During the Board of Governors meeting in which she was confirmed for the position last year, she committed to having an open door and \u201cfull engagement on campus and in our communities.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the interesting things about the open-door policy is some people tell me I listen to too many people. For me, I can\u2019t listen to too many people. The only limitation I have is time,\u201d Johnson told reporters Friday.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cBy having that open door, I think that it\u2019s worked in both directions. I think that some people initially who didn\u2019t understand who I was, didn\u2019t understand what my vision was, who may have been reticent because of those things, I think they\u2019re coming around,\u201d Johnson told reporters.<\/p>\n