Florida A&M picked Assistant Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Valencia Matthews to serve as Interim Chair of the Music Department following the dismissal of former director Julian White.
FAMU President James Ammons made this announcement Monday in remarks before more than 2,000 students at a town hall session on hazing. He urged students to report any incidents of hazing in the wake of drum major Robert Champion Jr.’s death two weeks ago, which was likely due to hazing.
White was fired days after Champion’s death for what the university called failing to take appropriate action against numerous reports of hazing within FAMU’s Marching “100” band. White has since filed suit against the university to reclaim his job, blaming FAMU for not supporting his attempts at discipline.