Florida Regents Approve Appointment of State University System Chancellor - Judy Hample - Brief Article

Black Issues in Higher Education, March 15, 2001

BOCA RATON, FLA.

The Board of Regents last month approved the appointment of veteran educator Judy Hample to become the State University System's next chancellor.

Hample, the executive vice chancellor to retiring Chancellor Adam Herbert, will take office next month at a time of great change in the university system.

In the past two months, three top Black academic leaders have announced plans to leave the system. In addition to Herbert, who is resigning after a three-year term, Dr. Frederick Humphries and Dr. James H. Ammons Jr. have both submitted their resignations.

Humphries, president of Florida A&M University, stunned the academic community with news of his plans to end his 16-year presidency. Ammons, FAMU's provost and vice president for academic affairs, announced his resignation just a few days before (see Black Issues, March 1).

The departures weigh heavily on the state's university system as it prepares to undergo significant overhaul. A plan by Gov. Jeb Bush approved by the Legislature last year will abolish the Board of Regents by 2003, with each of the 10 public universities getting its own board of trustees.

"Obviously, my biggest challenge is going to be working with the regents and trustees to try to make these changes go as smoothly as possible," says Hample, 53. She will receive an annual salary of $225,000 and a $20,000 housing allowance.