More than 11,000 people - including current students, alumni, faculty, and HBCU supporters nationwide - have signed a rapidly growing Change.org petition opposing the potential appointment of Marva Johnson as the next president of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU).
The petition was launched by a concerned FAMU student who says Johnson’s record and political affiliations make her unfit to lead one of the nation’s most prominent HBCUs. Petition supporters cite several key concerns:
• Zero experience in higher education leadership
• Deep ties to Governor Ron DeSantis and MAGA politics, including education policies that undermine DEI and CRT
• A record of supporting school privatization and policies that conflict with FAMU’s mission to uplift Black excellence
The petition starter is available for interviews and can speak to the growing backlash across the FAMU and HBCU community. Supporters have also left hundreds of powerful comments, including this one from HBCU alum Anthony:
“It is an embarrassment to the students and university that [Marva Johnson] is even being considered. She is devoid of administrative experience at the collegiate level and is clearly the beneficiary of ties to the administration that's sought out to dismantle black history in our schools.”
If you're covering higher education, HBCUs, or political interference in university leadership, I’d be happy to connect you with the petition starter and share additional background or student and alumni voices from the campaign. For more information on the petition or to view comments and the live signature count, please visit the petition page at
https://www.change.org/p/famu-deserves-bet... Photo Credit: Dia Dipasupil
Posted By: Reginald Culpepper
Wednesday, May 14th 2025 at 1:05PM
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