Tallahassee, Fla. - The Florida A&M University Board of Trustees (BOT) held Thursday, September 18 marked President Marva B. Johnson’s first at the helm of the U.S. News & World Report Top 100 Public Institution and bid farewell to outgoing Board Chair Kristin Harper. The convening also celebrated service, welcomed new leadership, elevated student voices, and honored distinguished alumni.

In the spirit of renewal, incoming Chair Devron Gibbons introduced a new tradition for board meetings—the Mission Moment—to center deliberations on FAMU’s purpose. “Our work often focuses on numbers, reports, and decisions,” he explained. “But at the heart of everything we do at Florida A&M University is the mission to provide access, opportunity, excellence in education, research and service.”

The Board's inaugural Mission Moment was delivered by Evan LeSure, a third-year social work scholar and Army ROTC cadet from Atlanta. He described the grueling physical and mental demands of his Special Forces training — from 4 a.m. wakeups to hours of pool workouts and long-distance swims.

“Embarking on a journey that most would never even set out to accomplish made me realize that my mission isn’t always to lead from the front, but to be an individual who listens to the little guy,” he said.

LeSure asked leaders to remember that "students are not just numbers. They are people with minds, curiosity, and a will to succeed."

He also urged FAMU to invest in resources and spaces that support students' ambitions and sense of belonging—particularly for Black men. "I challenge the University today to examine our Black male retention rates and ask the question, why? What are we doing to ensure every Black man feels heard and feels important?” he asked.

LeSure’s words drew gratitude from the trustees and President Johnson, who called his address “a phenomenal way to start us off.” She also invited LeSure to help shape future retention and recruitment efforts for African American men, to which he enthusiastically agreed.

Shortly following LeSure’s moving mission moment, Johnson delivered her first presentation to the Board, opening with thanks to Harper: “The one thing I could always count on Chair Harper to bring to every conversation was her passion and her commitment to FAMU’s success… Your insight has given me a tremendous foundation to build on as we continue to advance the legacy.”

The President’s update highlighted progress under the Boldly Striking 2022-2027 Strategic Plan and her own 100-Day Framework, focusing on student success, academic excellence, faculty development, and industry partnerships.

“Our academic progress rate has climbed to 86.3%, moving us closer to our 90% target for 2027,” Johnson reported. She also celebrated FAMU’s recognition as a Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leader and its No. 1 ranking on Niche’s 2026 Best HBCU Schools list, calling it “a testament to our unwavering commitment to providing a high-quality student experience and living out our motto, Excellence with Caring.”

Closing with optimism, Johnson shared: “Together, these actions are bold, intentional, and designed to create a measurable impact… It’s a true reflection of our commitment to strike, and strike, and strike again.”

Later, Gibbons introduced the Chairman’s Award to honor outstanding Rattlers who break barriers and embody "Excellence with Caring." One of the inaugural awards was presented to Booker Gainor, the first Black mayor and city manager of Cairo, Georgia.

Gainor accepted the award with gratitude and reflection. He talked about attending FAMU in 2008 and being placed on academic warning. Dejected, he returned to Cairo, Georgia, over the summer and spent his days doing yard work until his uncle asked him if he wanted to do that for the rest of his life.

"I returned to FAMU in the Fall of 2008. I made the Dean's List three semesters straight," he said.

Gainor recalled how FAMU shaped his path, saying he strives to live up to the standards instilled in him by his alma mater. Expressing gratitude to the Board, he said: “Each and every time that I graced this campus, and [return] home, I continue to embody our motto… excellence [with caring], and just continue to strike from the top and move up.”

The SBI graduate expressed appreciation for the chance to stand before the Board, pressing them to continue their work on behalf of the University because of its lasting impact on lives like his own — and, as he noted, "especially people of a small town called Cairo, Georgia, which happens to be the crown jewel of South Georgia."

Gainor also pledged to create opportunities for future graduates: “Best believe, as long as I’m in this position as city manager, we will have a pipeline of Rattlers coming to work for the city of Cairo.”

As FAMU embraces new leadership and continues its upward momentum, voices like LeSure’s and Gainor’s underscore the University's mission and the real lives it influences every day. 

September BOT Meeting Distinguished Rattler Honorees:

• Glen Edwards – NFL standout and FAMU Hall of Famer
• Booker Gainor – First Black mayor and city manager of Cairo, Georgia
• Kristin Harper – Founder and CEO, Driven to Succeed, LLC; Immediate Past FAMU Board Chair
• Lt. Col. Bill Jennings† – Pilot and former FAMU Trustee
• Arthenia Joyner – Florida Senator, attorney, and civil rights advocate
• Carrie P. Meek† – U.S. Representative, first Black American since Reconstruction elected to Congress from Florida

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