New Leadership at Florida Memorial University

Florida Memorial University in Miami, Gardens, has appointed Mary A. O’Banner as acting president. She replaces Henry Lewis III, who was inaugurated as the university’s 12th president earlier this year. Dr. Lewis was a professor and dean of the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at Florida A&M University. Previously he served as Dean of the Texas Southern University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

According to published reports, Lewis submitted a letter of resignation to the board of trustees saying he would leave at the end of the academic year. But the board replied by terminating his employment immediately. Dr. O’Banner was named to head the university of an interim basis.

Dr. O’Banner joined the administration at Florida Memorial University in 1989 and has served in a number of positions, most recently as chief of staff in the Office of the President. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Jackson State University and a doctorate from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Related Articles

2 COMMENTS

Leave a Reply

Get the JBHE Weekly Bulletin

Receive our weekly email newsletter delivered to your inbox

Latest News

Higher Education Gifts or Grants of Interest to African Americans

Here is this week’s news of grants or gifts to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.

In Memoriam: Archie Wade, 1939-2025

Hired as the university's first Black faculty member in 1970, Archie Wade taught in the College of Education at the University of Alabama for 30 years.

Online Articles That May Be of Interest to JBHE Readers

Each week, JBHE will provide links to online articles that may be of interest to our readers. Here are this week’s selections.

AAUP Urges Institutions to Fund, Protect, and Publicize DEI Initiatives in Academia

The AAUP urges academic institutions to recruit and retain diverse faculty and student bodies and to "fund, protect, and publicize research in all fields that contributes to the common good and responds more widely to the needs of a diverse public."

Featured Jobs