The president of Florida A&M University announced Friday he plans to resign, months after the historic gift he touted quickly fell apart.
Larry Robinson has served as the Tallahassee school’s leader since Nov. 2017 and will return to FAMU as a distinguished professor within its environmental program after a year-long sabbatical, according to a news release.
“As you can imagine, this decision come with many emotions — pride, joy, gratitude, some sadness, of course, but at the same time, hope and anticipation,” Robinson wrote in a letter to the university community.
His departure comes two months after another high-ranking official at FAMU, Shawnta Friday-Stroud, resigned following her involvement in accepting a record-breaking donation for the institution. The gift swiftly crumbled under scrutiny, raising doubts about its true worth.
According to Politico, trustees launched an investigation into the gift from a Texas hemp farming executive, questioning how it was approved without their prior knowledge. The HBCU received a historic $237.75 million contribution from the Issac Batterson 7th Family Trust. Gregory Gerami, CEO of Batterson Farms Corp, presented the generous donation to FAMU during a graduation ceremony in May at the Al Lawson Center.
FAMU officials then admitted Gerami’s gift, which came in the form of private stocks in his hemp company, could be worthless, and the university began backing away from its affiliation with Gerami. Robinson later took full responsibility, telling FAMU board members — who were kept in the dark about the donation until it was announced — that he “wanted it to be real and ignored some warning signs along the way.”
Gerami told The Sun News Monday that he was sad to hear about Robinson’s resignation. He said he’s sure the criticism surrounding his gift played a role in the decision, but there are likely other factors involved, including recent threats by the Florida Board of Governors to eliminate the school’s nursing and law programs for poor performance.
Next steps for FAMU regarding Robinson’s tenure and a search for its future president will be determined during the university’s next Board of Trustees meeting, which has yet to be scheduled.