President Marva Johnson Announces Executives for the FAMU Senior Leadership Team
Tallahassee, Fla. – Florida A&M University President Marva Johnson, J.D., announces the appointment of several members of the senior leadership team who will join the Cabinet to drive innovation in her administration. Alumnus Kelvin Lawson joins as executive vice president and chief operations officer; and Donald E. Palm, III, Ph.D., will serve as executive vice president for Health Sciences Enterprise and Research Innovation. Additionally, Michelle Robinson joins as vice president of government relations; and Brandi Tatum-Fedrick, Ph.D., will serve as acting vice president of University Advancement.
“I am pleased to welcome this group of distinguished executives to my senior leadership team. Each individual possesses a wealth of experience in their areas of expertise that will benefit Florida A&M University as I carry out my vision to enhance our competitive standing academically, fiscally, and operationally,” said Johnson.
Kelvin Lawson will serve as executive vice president and chief operations officer, effective Aug. 1. A native of Gadsden County, he started his career with a small division of Bristol Myers, Drackett Products. His professional career has taken him across the country and around the world.
“Kelvin Lawson’s experience as a student, alumnus and former trustee combined with his business acumen will bring added value to his work as chief operating officer,” said Johnson.
Lawson most recently served as president of North Star Total Services. He previously served as the executive vice president of Business Development for Channel Partners, where he coordinated the sales and business development efforts for both Apollo Retail and BDS Marketing Connected Solutions. He has an extensive background in both consumer-packaged goods and sales agency organizations, having worked for Johnson and Johnson, Schering Plough and Acosta Sales and Marketing.
Lawson received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the FAMU School of Business and Industry.
Donald E. Palm, III, Ph.D., will serve as executive vice president for Health Sciences Enterprise and Research Innovation (EVP-HSERI). As the chief strategist and operational leader for a broad academic and research portfolio, he will play a pivotal role in accelerating the university’s progress toward achieving Carnegie R1 Classification and fulfilling its historic land-grant mission in the 21st century. This role encompasses the strategic oversight of Florida A&M University’s Health Science Enterprise (Allied Health Sciences, Nursing, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Public Health) and Research innovation. He will implement sustainable strategies enhance research productivity to advance the competitiveness of the university’s health science programs to keep pace with the evolving demands of health care professionals in the State of Florida and our nation.
“I am pleased that Dr. Donald Palm has agreed to champion this new, critical role to advance FAMU’s focus on our health sciences enterprise with a strategic emphasis on research. He is uniquely positioned to lead transformative research growth while honoring the FAMU land-grant mission in today’s evolving health sciences and research landscape,” said Johnson.
Most recently, Palm served as executive vice president and chief operating officer, where he was instrumental in FAMU’s operational transformation, overseeing academic quality, research productivity, and student success across a broad portfolio. His visionary approach to curriculum development, emphasis on interprofessional education, and investments in infrastructure and AI-driven strategies will make FAMU’s health sciences programs more competitive and responsive to the dynamic demands of 21st-century healthcare.
The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Lincoln University (Pennsylvania) and a doctorate in pharmacology from Pennsylvania State University’s Hershey Medical School. He has successfully secured millions of dollars for STEM Education support, Research Program Support and support for his primary research focus on Neurodegeneration.
Michelle Robinson will serve as vice president of government relations, effective August 1. She will lead the implementation of FAMU’s government relations strategy and convey the university’s interests and the president’s strategic vision at the local, state, and federal levels.
“I am excited to have Michelle Robinson join my senior leadership team. Her depth of experience working with Fortune 50 companies in government affairs and policy advocacy will be an asset to the team as we continue to fortify our relationships with our partners in the legislature and beyond,” said Johnson.
Robinson brings more than two decades of executive experience to the role, having spent most of this time with Verizon, where she held a series of business and leadership roles with increasing responsibility. As vice president of Government Affairs, she designed strategies for obtaining successful policy outcomes, including engagement with elected and non-elected community leaders. Her work primarily focused on government affairs, philanthropy, and community engagement. Robinson maintains a commitment to service—both professionally and personally. She served as Board Chair for Florida TaxWatch, and was a founding member of a monthly convening of African American business leaders in the Tampa Bay area, creating a trusted space for connection, dialogue, and impact. She also volunteers with Major Impact Track Club of Georgia and serves as a coach for the high school girls' basketball program at Kings Ridge Christian School.
Robinson holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and a master’s degree in public policy analysis from the University of Southern California (USC).
Brandi Tatum-Fedrick, Ed.D., will serve as the acting vice president of University Advancement, effective Aug. 1. She will be responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive fundraising strategy to secure financial support, including cultivating relationships with major donors, overseeing fundraising campaigns, managing the development team, and working closely with the president to maximize fundraising and advance the University's mission. During this tenure, she will continue to oversee the Alumni Affairs office.
“I’d like to thank Dr. Tatum-Fedrick for stepping into the role of acting vice president of University Advancement to ensure our fundraising efforts proceed uninterrupted. We will work together to meet with alumni, donors and stakeholders to demonstrate why FAMU is the right place to invest their time and financial resources,” Johnson said.
With a distinguished career at FAMU, Tatum-Fedrick has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership and strategic vision. In her previous roles, she has led transformative initiatives in annual gift cultivation and alumni engagement, fostering a culture of philanthropy and deepening connections across the Rattler community.
She holds both a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in public administration from FAMU. She received her doctorate from Florida State University.
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