Kenward “Kenny” Stone, a Florida A&M University alum, has been appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to a seat on the university’s Board of Trustees.
“I am so proud to join the Board of Trustees and give back to an institution that provided such a transformative experience. Florida A&M provided a firm foundation for future growth across all aspects of my life — faith, family, business and community,” Stone said in a release.
Stone received his bachelor’s in business administration from the School of Business and Industry in 2009. He continued his education, receiving his MBA at the Harvard Business School.
Stone started a private investment fund, SL Group Investors, in 2017; where he serves as co-founder and managing partner. In 2019, he became the CEO for Broughton Pharmaceuticals.
“FAMU’s business program (SBI) and the relationships they had then and now is was ultimately drew me there,” Stone said.
He said he always knew that he wanted to give back to FAMU in any way he could, but he never thought it would be on the Board of Trustees. He expected to contribute financially or by being a mentor to a few students.
“On behalf of the university community, I welcome Kenward Stone to our Board of Trustees and thank Gov. DeSantis for selecting this outstanding FAMU alumnus to serve his alma mater in this new capacity,” FAMU President Larry Robinson told the Tallahassee Democrat.
As a member of the Board of Trustees, Stone said, “The goal is to make a better FAMU and share my experience as a student. But share my experience leading and driving organizations to make it more streamlined and more sustainable for the future.”
He said a top priority is making sure the curriculum is up to date. He wants to make sure that students are prepared to provide for themselves and add value to society.
He also wants to focus on students who take out loans and parents who are paying out of pocket by making sure the students have the best opportunities to finish and graduate.
Kaylyn Stone, his wife and also a FAMU alumna, said, “He is definitely the one to get the job done, by any means necessary in the best way possible. He is going to figure out all the obstacles and really take the time to conquer them. He can have long nights or short nights, but he is defiantly going to work to all the facts to make sure that the job he’s doing is a solid one.”
His appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.