FAMU Trustees vote unanimously to ratify vote
President-elect Ammons to FAMU’s Board: ‘I accept’
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TALLAHASSEE – There was more than a touch of spring in the air on Thursday morning at Florida A&M University when the March 8 meeting of the FAMU Board of Trustees convened: There was a sense of coming together.
Board Chair Challis Lowe opened the meeting with a warm welcome to president-elect James Ammons and his family-- and a strong signal that conciliation and progress are a part of the winds of change at FAMU. It was only a short time later that, in a unanimous vote, the board ratified Ammons' selection.
“I can honestly say that words alone are not enough to express my joy and excitement and deep appreciation as I accept as the 10th president of Florida A&M University,” said Ammons, who is currently the chancellor of North Carolina Central University in Durham. “I am honored and blessed as I stand before you today with my wife Judy, my son James and my sister Patricia Salary -- all Rattlers.”
The starting date for the new president is July 2, per Ammons' request. The board voted to have the contract signed today.
Flanked by his family, the president-elect faced the board and vowed that he would “work to provide quality education opportunities for all of our students within a framework of ‘Excellence With Caring’ and accountability.” He thanked everyone and acknowledged the hard work of all involved before he said: “Ladies and gentlemen, I accept.’’
Ammons later received a standing ovation.
Earlier, Lowe had taken a moment during her opening comments to “turn back the clock.”
“As you all know, Chancellor Ammons and I have talked several times,” she said. “I want my colleagues at this table to know that we are off to a good start. I am encouraged.”
“This was as close a vote (on Feb.1 ) as it possibly could have been,” said Lowe. “The division of the board between the two candidates reflected serious deliberation and decision-making for everyone involved. Some people in the community were surprised that at the conclusion of our session that the motion to make the decision unanimous was not supported.
“In retrospect,” Lowe said, “I think that it was a wise action because it made clear to everyone that there was a division and that it would now be the responsibility of those involved to find ways to work together even though they may start with different points of view and objectives.”
Lowe asked the board to listen and respect each other in the coming months.
“We have important and challenging decisions ahead of us,” she said. “The fact that we are not of one mind is a good thing. Where we need unity is in agreement that we now have a president-elect. It is important that we all work together.”
Before the next president of Florida A&M left the podium, he shared a few intimate facts:
“Being president of Florida A&M is my destiny,” Ammons said. “I felt this long before I submitted my application, long before the interviews and long before today. When you have a decision to make of this magnitude, you ask God for a sign. . . something that says this is the right time, the right choice. There was something in the ad that was mystifying: It said the 10th president would be selected on March 8. Well, today is my mother’s birthday. She passed away last year and, today, she would have marked her 86th birthday. I will always remember this day with reverence. It placed me one step closer to being the president of my alma mater.”
Note: Also on the agenda was the special recognition for outgoing trustee, Phillip Agnew, 2006-2007 president of FAMU’s Student Government Association.
Please see Board Meeting for more details about other board business.
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SEEN AND HEARD
FAMU Board of Trustees March Meeting
March 8, 2007
BOT Chairwoman Challis Lowe recognized Student Government Association President Phillip Agnew during her opening remarks. Agnew, a senior business major from Chicago, is leaving the board; he will graduate in December. Agnew has been a student leader who was at the forefront of several national news stories to include the beating death of teen-ager Martin Lee Anderson at a Panama City Boot Camp. Monique Gillum, Agnew’s SGA vice president, will succeed him on the Board.
PHILLIP AGNEW, student government president
"I left the South side of Chicago to come to the highest of seven hills. I am one of thousands embraced by the ‘College of Love and Charity’.
My mission as student body president was and continues to be to spread the good news about FAMU.
My cup runneth over with the knowledge and experience this board has afforded me.
This University must do better to be better. The University must pay its faculty and students. Students must come first. We must recruit, retain and graduate.
This one year on the Board is not long enough, but it prompts a sense of urgency. That’s the beauty of it”.
CASTELL VAUGHN BRYANT, interim president
“Today is certainly an important day for Florida A&M as this Board of Trustees confirms its decision of last month and ratifies the choice of Dr. James Ammons as the University’s 10th President.
“As I said to Dr. Ammons when I called to congratulate him, I certainly am available to assist in the transition and to answer any questions he may have. I wish him every success at this vital time for our University.”
JAMES AMMONS, president-elect
I will always remember this day. . . And I know that up in that big university in the sky, (his deceased mother and his wife's mother) are smiling down on us. They were not college graduates, but they knew the power of education -- and they loved Florida A&M University.
POSTED AT 10:21 a.m. THURSDAY
FAMU’s Board and president-elect are “off to a good start”
Board meets today to ratify Ammons' selection
![""]("/headlines/UserFiles/Image/Ammons_Lowe.JPG")
TALLAHASSEE – There was more than a touch of spring in the air on Thursday morning at Florida A&M University when the March meeting of the FAMU Board of Trustees convened: There was a sense of coming together.
Board Chair Challis Lowe opened the meeting with a warm welcome to president-elect James Ammons and his family-- and a strong signal that conciliation and progress are a part of the winds of change at FAMU.
“As you all know, Chancellor Ammons and I have met several times,” she said. “I want my colleagues at this table to know that we are off to a good start. I am encouraged.”
Lowe took a moment to “turn back the clock.”
“As you all know, this was as close a vote (on Feb.1) as it possibly could have been,” said Lowe. “The division of the Board between the two candidates reflected serious deliberation and decision-making for everyone involved. Some people in the community were surprised that at the conclusion of our session that the motion to make the decision unanimous was not supported.
“In retrospect,” she said, “I think that it was a wise action because it made clear to everyone that there was a division and that it would now be the responsibility of those involved to find ways to work together even though they may start with different points of view and objectives.”
Lowe asked the board to listen and respect each other in the coming months.
“We have important and challenging decisions ahead of us,” she said. “The fact that we are not of one mind is a good thing. Where we need unity is in agreement that we now have a president-elect; it is important that we all work together.”
The board is expected to ratify the vote for Ammons this morning. Also on the agenda is a special recognition for outgoing trustee, Phillip Agnew, president of FAMU’s Student Government Association and the introduction of James Ammons.
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