FAMU issued the following release:

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida A&M University (FAMU) Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Cynthia Hughes Harris announced today that Shawnta Friday-Stroud, professor of management at FAMU, has been appointed interim dean of the School of Business and Industry (SBI).

Lydia McKinley-Floyd, Ph.D., dean of SBI since 2006, will remain in SBI as a professor of marketing. Harris said she will now work on appointing a search committee to begin the process of finding a permanent dean. Harris said her goal is to have a new dean in place by the beginning of the fall semester.

“I commend Dr. Floyd for her accomplishments and contributions during her tenure as dean,” said Harris. “I am excited about SBI’s future and the future for the university as a whole in light of the many recent accomplishments including near completion of the SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) process. This is not an indictment against Floyd, but more characteristic of my desire for a change in direction for SBI. Change sometimes triggers the need for new leadership.”

FAMU President James H. Ammons said he is supportive of the provost and understands how important it is to develop your own administrative team.

“Dean Floyd is an asset to the School of Business and Industry and I am pleased to see that she will serve as one of our professors,” said Ammons. “I believe that the provost is doing what is necessary to carry out our agenda for SBI and the university. She has my support.”