By Kate Payne | The Associated Press/Report for America

TALLAHASSEE (AP) — The board of Florida’s only public historically Black university has chosen a lobbyist with ties to Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis to be the school’s next president, alarming students, faculty and alumni who are outraged by the governor’s efforts to restrict the teaching of African American history and ban public colleges from using taxpayer money on diversity programs.

Florida A&M University’s Board of Trustees voted Friday to select Marva Johnson, an executive for the telecoms company Charter Communications and a former member of the state Board of Education who has touted her experience climbing the corporate ladder and navigating the state legislature. Johnson, who must be confirmed by the state Board of Governors, had previously been tapped for various state boards by DeSantis and then-Gov. Rick Scott.

“As the leader, I am championing resources. I am moving mountains if they get in your way,” Johnson told the board during her job interview. “I’m not going to be the best academian at this point in my career.”

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