Florida A&M University has forged new bonds in The Big Apple through a partnership that will help students embark on graduate studies in supply chain management.
During a visit to New York City, FAMU President Marva Johnson – along with other university officials and stakeholders – met with the Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY) to establish a direct graduate pathway for MCNY’s bachelor of business administration graduates to pursue a master’s degree in FAMU’s supply chain management program.
“Florida A&M University is honored to partner with Metropolitan College of New York in reflection of our shared commitment to expanding access to graduate education and preparing the next generation of leaders in supply chain management,” Johnson said in a prepared statement. “We look forward to the continued academic and professional growth of these scholars as they learn how to improve efficiency, enhance customer satisfaction and ensure product cost effectiveness through our program.”
During the recent trip, Johnson was accompanied by FAMU’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer Kelvin Lawson, interim Vice President of University Advancement Brandi Tatum-Fedrick, recently appointed Senior Vice President of Enterprise Partnerships and Innovation Marcus Burgess and Board of Trustees vice chair Michael White.
Former FAMU Board of Trustees chairman Rufus Montgomery – a FAMU alumnus and GOP supporter who is based in Atlanta, Georgia – also accompanied the officials on the trip. Before resigning from his role as the board’s chair in 2015, he was a vocal critic of former FAMU President Elmira Mangum’s leadership style and left the position as trustees were split in their wish to fire Mangum.
“We’re always happy to have FAMU alumni join us for big announcements as their schedules permit,” a university spokesperson said in an email to the Tallahassee Democrat.
But sealing the deal on the new partnership with MCNY wasn’t the only task on the FAMU delegation’s itinerary during the New York visit. They also stopped by Fox News on Oct. 6 to watch one of the network’s shows from the studio.
Johnson presented Harris Faulkner – an award-winning Fox News anchor and host who is widely known for her support of conservative viewpoints – with a FAMU snapback and a black FAMU jacket as Montgomery stood next to Faulkner. The university delegation and Faulkner also took photos together following the gift presentation.
The Fox News studio appearance comes as several FAMU alumni and others have voiced concerns about Johnson due to her ties to Florida’s GOP leadership and President Donald Trump; she was a Florida elector who casted her vote for him in 2020. Many Rattlers view Johnson’s ascension as an example of DeSantis reshaping the higher education landscape in his political mold and strongly opposed her presidential candidacy.
But despite the FAMU group’s presence, a FAMU spokesperson said Johnson was not at the news channel’s studio for an interview, nor did she participate in any major network interviews while in New York City.
FAMU, MCNY partnership ‘represents an important step forward’
Through FAMU’s new partnership with MCNY, efforts are being made to expand access to higher education while also preparing students from historically underrepresented communities for leadership in business and global commerce.
While FAMU Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost Allson Watson and Burgess worked on plans for establishing the partnership on FAMU’s end, Johnson and MCNY President Charles J. Gibbs spearheaded the move. The partnership was an idea birthed between the two presidents when they met during the Orange Blossom Classic Aug. 30 in Miami Gardens and spent time talking about how the institutions could work together, a FAMU spokesperson told the Democrat.
In an Oct. 8 LinkedIn post, Gibbs thanked Montgomery for bringing them together for the collaboration.
“This partnership represents an important step forward for our students,” Gibbs said in a FAMU release. “Our scholars come to MCNY with resilience, determination and a clear sense of purpose. Through purpose-centered education, they learn to turn those qualities into leadership and impact.”
Located in New York City, MCNY – which has a total enrollment of about 800 students – is a private college with campuses in Manhattan and the Bronx. It was recently ranked No. 150-164 out of 170 institutions in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2025-26 “Regional Universities North” category and No. 54 among top performers on social mobility.
At the same time, MCNY has been facing accreditation issues as its accreditor − the Middle States Commission on Higher Education − recently required it to show cause as to why its accreditation should not be withdrawn. The college provided a report that was due in September and will be visited by commission representatives ahead of a hearing in November, but it remains accredited in the meantime.
MCNY is also recognized as both a Predominantly Black Institution (PBI) and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as it is dedicated to serving a significant percentage of students of color − particularly those from underrepresented communities, according to the college.
MCNY graduates with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher can apply to FAMU’s master’s in supply chain management program, and the opportunity includes application fee waivers, specialized advising and eligibility for financial assistance. At the same time, the partnership comes as FAMU’s board recently approved a 15% out-of-state tuition increase for fall 2026 to be in compliance with the Florida Board of Governors.
“Working with FAMU, one of the nation’s most respected HBCUs (historically Black colleges and universities), allows us to extend that mission into one of the fastest-growing and most in-demand career paths – supply chain management,” Gibbs said in the university release. “Together, we are creating pathways that empower our graduates to pursue meaningful careers and strengthen the communities we serve on local, national and global levels.”
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, Metropolitan College of New York form partnership for graduate pathway program
Reporting by Tarah Jean, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
