Tell the Board of trustees:

“FAMU's Future Is Not For Sale.”

Florida A&M University is under political siege.

Powerful interests are pushing to install Marva Johnson, a candidate with deep conservative ties and no meaningful connection to our community, as President. This move threatens FAMU’s independence, legacy, and mission.

Keepers of the Flame is a community-led campaign to expose the political interference behind her candidacy and mobilize students, alumni, and allies to defend FAMU’s future.

We’re calling out the corruption. We’re breaking down the backdoor deals. And we’re empowering the FAMU family to demand a leader who reflects our values, not one parachuted in by political operatives.

This is a fight for FAMU’s soul. Join us.

Meet the Candidates

Don’t just take our word for it—explore the qualifications, records, and visions of those seeking to lead FAMU. Review each candidate’s background and decide for yourself who is best equipped to uphold the legacy, values, and future of Florida A&M University.

Decide for yourself.

Rondall Allen, Pharm.D.

🔵 The Innovator

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of Maryland

    • Provost and VP for Academic Affairs at UMES with 20+ years in academic leadership.

    • Led approval for Maryland’s first public DVM program and 27+ academic credentials.

    • Oversaw 8 successful accreditation visits and regional MSCHE review.

    • Secured $90M for new health professions building and $2M+ in programmatic grants.

    • Created faculty leadership pipelines and student success initiatives yielding 90% persistence.

    • Initiated drone-based prescription delivery to rural areas in partnership with hospitals.

    • FAMU alum with deep roots in health equity, academic innovation, and student outcomes.

Gerald HectoR, CPA

🟡 The Operator

Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance at the University of Central Florida

    • SVP for Administration and Finance at the University of Central Florida, with similar roles at Morehouse, Cornell, and Ithaca College.

    • 25+ years of experience managing higher ed finance, IT, compliance, and operations.

    • Published author and thought leader on MSI (Minority-Serving Institution) financial sustainability.

    • Founder and host of podcast “It’s Easy Son,” featuring higher ed leaders and influencers.

    • Faculty member at Clark Atlanta’s HBCU Educational Leadership Institute.

    • Holds degrees from Howard University and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

    • Widely respected mentor to HBCU leaders, with deep institutional knowledge and spiritual grounding.

Marva Johnson, J.D.

🔴 The Political Puppet

Group Vice President, State Government Affairs, Charter Communications

    • Group VP of State Government Affairs at Charter Communications, overseeing policy across 9 southern states.

    • Former Chair of the Florida State Board of Education, advancing performance-based education reforms.

    • Chaired Education Committee on Florida’s Constitution Revision Commission (2018).

    • Known for expanding broadband in underserved communities and education access across Florida.

    • JD from Georgia State, MBA from Emory, BS from Georgetown.

    • Named one of Florida Trend’s Top 100 Most Influential People in Politics.

    • Strong private-sector and policy experience, but no academic or university leadership background.

Donald Palm, Ph.D.

🟢 The Insider

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Florida A&M University

    • Executive Vice President and COO at FAMU, overseeing Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Research, and Strategic Planning.

    • Former EVP and Provost at Virginia State University, leading record-breaking capital and operational funding efforts ($250M+).

    • Spearheaded creation of 8 new academic programs and 10 new institutes at VSU.

    • Elevated student enrollment and graduation rates to historic highs at VSU.

    • Nationally trained leader: ACE Fellow, Harvard MDP alum.

    • Deep experience in transforming student outcomes, research productivity, and institutional operations.

    • Longstanding commitment to HBCU excellence and community-rooted leadership.