Florida A&M University’s Board of Trustees could be granting Marva Johnson a presidential base salary $100,000 shy of the high-end compensation she requested as FAMU’s next president.
While Johnson asked for a $750,000 base salary when applying for the president’s job – which many university stakeholders have said FAMU can’t afford – negotiations have led to a $650,000 meeting point for a five-year term, according to a proposed employment agreement.
However, when you tack in her bonus potential, the gap shrinks substantially.
“The President shall be eligible for annual performance compensation of $86,000, if the President receives an overall evaluation of ‘Exceptional’ or ‘Outstanding’ from the Board in her annual evaluation,” the proposed contract states.
Johnson would also be “entitled to annual increases in the base salary each year of this agreement in an amount of three percent (3%) over the previous year’s base salary,” the document says.
On top of $650,000, Johnson’s compensation and benefits would include living in the FAMU president’s house on campus, car expenses reimbursement through a $1,200 monthly allowance, business and travel expenses, and club memberships.
FAMU’s Board of Trustees will consider the employment agreement at 9 a.m. June 6 as they will meet virtually to vote on the approval of Johnson’s contract. The meeting is open to the public.
FAMU trustee Nicole Washington, who voted for Johnson, was given the authority to negotiate the contract with her, which is a move that broke the usual procedure of the board’s chair handling the contract for a new president after Chair Kristin Harper did not support Johnson’s candidacy.
The employment agreement was posted on the board’s website June 2 and comes after trustees approved to pay Johnson – a lawyer and corporate lobbyist who currently serves as group vice president at Charter Communications – anywhere from $450,000 to $750,000 as the next FAMU president.
The state can contribute a maximum compensation amount of $200,000 to the total base salary, according to the agreement, which means it would be up to the FAMU Foundation to come up with the rest of the money as well as any bonuses and other incentives.
Amid concerns from some foundation board members about supporting Johnson’s high-figure salary, the FAMU Foundation Board of Directors met May 30 and postponed a budget amendment for the 2025-2026 fiscal year – a spending plan that would be used to pay the presidential compensation – to take a deeper look into available funds.
The postponed budget amendment and upcoming contract approval all come as frustrations with the outcome of the contentious presidential search process continue to run high. Several alumni, who oppose the selection due to concerns about political influence and lack of experience, have expressed plans to withhold any funding that would go toward Johnson’s pay. They maintain Johnson was hand-picked by Gov. Ron DeSantis as part of his mission to overhaul higher education in his political mold.
With Johnson’s proposed annual base salary being $650,000, it is nearly $200,000 more than the $451,711 base salary former President Larry Robinson made at the end of his seven-year tenure as FAMU’s leader. Also, interim President Timothy Beard currently makes a base salary of $400,000.
She would also be guaranteed faculty employment at the university’s College of Law following the end of her tenure as FAMU president.
“Upon the end of her service as president for any reason other than death, disability or termination for cause, the president will be appointed as a university faculty member at the College of Law at the same base salary of the highest paid College of Law faculty member,” the employment agreement says.
Johnson’s contract – with terms that would start Aug. 1 – must also be approved by the FAMU trustees and Florida Board of Governors, which will meet June 18 on Florida Atlantic University’s campus to consider the confirmation of Johnson as FAMU’s next president despite pushback from many alumni, students and others who want to stop the move.
Read Marva Johnson’s proposed employment agreement
How to listen in, comment at FAMU board meeting
Tarah Jean is the higher education reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat, a member of the USA TODAY Network – Florida. She can be reached at tjean@tallahassee.com. Follow her on X: @tarahjean_.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU board considers $650,000 presidential salary for Marva Johnson. Here’s the contract.
Reporting by Tarah Jean, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
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