TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida A&M University trustees on Wednesday turned to a familiar face to lead the university as it continues to deal with the fallout from the hazing death of a marching band member.
Trustees confirmed Larry Robinson, who spent time in President Barack Obama’s administration, to serve as interim president while the university embarks on a search for a permanent leader.
Robinson had been serving the university as its number two official since last November, the same month that drum major Robert Champion died. Robinson takes the place of James Ammons, who abruptly resigned in July amid the ongoing scrutiny of the university.
Robinson had been FAMU’s provost and helped draw up the university’s anti-hazing plan that includes new academic and membership requirements for the famed Marching 100 band when it resumes playing. The band was suspended for the entire upcoming academic year.
“Sometimes you don’t have to reinvent the wheel,” Robinson said. “We’ve got a running start. We’re moving very aggressively in implementing that plan.”
Trustees said they turned to the soft-spoken Robinson, a research scientist whose background is in nuclear chemistry, in order to offer some “stability” to the university as it starts a search that could last anywhere from six to 12 months.
“We have both an insider and an outsider,” said Narayan Persuad, a trustee and president of the FAMU faculty senate. “Dr. Robinson is not a product of Florida A&M University but his dedication is to this institution.”
