FAMU President is stepping down

Florida A&M University President Larry Robinson announced Friday he will step down after nearly seven years leading the state’s only historically Black public university and plans to return to the faculty.

In a letter addressed to “FAMUly and Friends” posted online, Robinson did not detail his reasons for deciding to leave the presidency. But he described the decision as coming with “many emotions — pride, joy, gratitude, some sadness, of course, but at the same time, hope and anticipation.”

“The chance to serve our students, the state of Florida and our nation in this unique role has me more convinced than ever of the transformative power of education,” Robinson wrote in the letter. “These past few years have only strengthened my core belief in the unique power of HCBUs (historically Black colleges and universities) to shape lives and nurture critical talent that serve our families and communities. To play even a small part in this is the privilege of a lifetime.”

It was not immediately clear when Robinson will leave the presidency, with the university saying in a news release that the date will be “determined in consultation” with the school’s Board of Trustees. After taking a year-long sabbatical, Robinson plans to return to serving as a professor in FAMU’s School of the Environment, a position he held before becoming president.