Recommended: Click here to improve PC speed »
 I donÂ't think there is a greater honor than to have the people who know you thebest to select you as the leader of your alma mater, Ammons says.  It is thegreatest feeling! FAMUÂ's last full-time president, Dr. Fred Gainous, served from2002 to 2004. He resigned after clashing with a board of trustees displeased overthe universityÂ's financial and administrative status. Gainous was succeeded on aninterim basis by Dr. Castell Vaughn Bryant, the first woman to lead the120-year-old, historically Black FAMU. According to Ammons, his main priorities upon assuming FAMUÂ's top post will be tobuild enrollment, reconnect with the universityÂ's corporate sponsors and infusefiscal integrity and accountability. Before any of that can be attempted, the details of AmmonsÂ' FAMU employment contracthave to be negotiated, and the boardÂ's decision has to be ratified on Mar. 8. PlusAmmons has unfinished business in North Carolina. I would like to be as respectful as I can with North Carolina Central University togive them the time that they need to move forward with identifying my successor, Ammons says.  And I want to graduate this class thatÂ's coming out in the spring. After his work in North Carolina is finished, the Winter Haven, Fla., nativeanticipates being back in his home state for the long haul.  I believe that some ofthe work that we would do (at FAMU) would take up most of a decade, Ammons says.  Iwould like to do things and then have an opportunity to make certain those thingsare implemented and that they take hold.Â
The decision to go with Ammons culminated a FAMU search that began in July andamassed 42 potential candidates before that group was culled to three finalists.Along with Ammons, the other finalists were Dr. Thelma Thompson, president of theUniversity of Maryland Eastern Shore, and Dr. Howard Johnson, provost and vicepresident for academic affairs at the University of North Texas.Ammons received seven votes from the board of trustees, Thompson six, Johnson none. As FAMUÂ's board decided who should lead the 13,000-student university, it wasadvised by Dr. Walter Smith, president from 1977 to 1985. Smith was delighted by theselection of Ammons, who worked under Smith for a time. He not only graduated from this institution, he was involved in many of the changesthat took place in the early 80s right on into the 90s, Smith says.  He has a goodsense of some of the things that should be facilitated, as we strengthen ourselvesin our recruitment program and in faculty. After graduating from FAMU cum laude in1974, Ammons earned a masterÂ's degree in public administration and a Ph.D. ingovernment from Florida State University.--Blair S. Walker
http://www.famu.edu/?a
