- Dr. Jaffus Hardrick takes the helm at south Florida’s only HBCU-

(Black PR Wire) Miami Gardens, FL – The Board of Trustees of Florida Memorial University (FMU) has announced the appointment of Dr. Jaffus Hardrick to serve as the University’s Interim President.  Dr. Hardrick will replace Dr. Castell V. Bryant, who had served in the position.  Dr. Hardrick begins his tenure on July 16, 2018.

“We sincerely appreciate the service of Dr. Bryant during her time with us,” says FMU Board Chair, JoLinda L. Herring, Esq.  “Dr. Jaffus Hardrick is a visionary and transformational leader with 20 years of higher education experience in academic affairs, student services, human resources and diversity and community relations.  He has a strong community presence and involvement, and we look forward to his service to our students, faculty, staff and community.”                                                                                                                                      

Dr. Hardrick spent 10 years at Florida International University (FIU) where he served in a dual role as Vice Provost for Student Access & Success, and Vice President for Human Resources.   While at FIU, Hardrick provided focus and innovative leadership for the university. He is credited for promoting student success and shared governance, providing strategic direction, designing University policy, cultivating donor relations, and developing community relations for one of the nation’s twenty-five largest universities. Dr. Hardrick has designed and executed programs to develop, inspire, and engage a workforce of both faculty and staff.

As an award-winning university executive, Dr. Hardrick has also contributed to educational policy and practices on a national scale and to local communities through his service on the boards or Advisory Committees of the Association of Public & Land-grant Universities, the Florida Education Fund, the College Board, the College & University Professional Association for Human Resources, the Chronicle of Higher Education, the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM), the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce, the 100 Black Men organization, to name a few. 

Dr. Jaffus Hardrick received his Ed.D. in Educational Administration from Baylor University; his M.Ed., Education in Counseling, Prairie View A&M University - an HBCU located in Prairie View, Texas; and his B.A. in Sociology from the University of Louisiana, Lafayette.  Dr. Hardrick is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. 

Located in the City of Miami Gardens, Florida Memorial University is a private, historically Black institution offering  28 undergraduate degree programs, nine concentrations, and three master’s programs to a culturally diverse student body. Since its inception in 1879, the University has upheld a commitment to providing a solid foundation for thousands of young people and opening doors to educational opportunities that may have otherwise been closed to them. As South Florida’s only Historically Black College or University (HBCU), it is widely recognized for being the birthplace of the Negro National Anthem, “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” and the home of Barrington Irving, Jr., the first and youngest pilot of African descent to fly solo around the world. For more information on FMU, call 305-626-3600 or visit www.fmuniv.edu. 

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