Kathy Times, Larry Robinson’s hand-picked choice to lead the Office of Communications and to be his official spokeswoman when he was named interim president of Florida A&M University in September 2016, is leaving FAMU.
Times told The Famuan that she will be leaving her position at the end of the month to continue her own public relations agency in the Tampa area with an office in South Florida near where she grew up.
“I put it aside for three years just so that I can focus solely on FAMU’s Office of Communications. I knew I would not be able to run my business and manage university communications. It requires my undivided attention,” Times said.
A graduate of FAMU’s School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, Times is an Emmy award-winning journalist and investigative reporter. She said being given the opportunity to work under President Robinson was an honor.
“Ms. Times came to us with an outstanding career and track record in communications and on top of that is a dedicated Rattler,” Robinson said in an email. “As I looked out and searched for a person to serve in this capacity her name came up time and time again. Once we had an opportunity to meet, it was clear I didn’t need to look any further.”
Times conceded that she has mixed emotions about leaving, though she feels that she has done her job. “I feel as though I left the university communications in a better place than I found it and accomplished goals as an office as we set out to do,” she said.
Robinson has grown more of a presence on social media during the past year and is beginning to acquire a following from students and staff members. He credits Times for helping him become social media savvy.
“The person who can take full credit for me having a small presence on social media is Ms. Times by sort of getting me out of the dark ages in terms of the modern world,” Robinson said.
Journalism came natural to Times as she was passionate about telling people’s stories. Completing internships with the Tampa Tribune and a co-op with IBM in Boca Raton gave her the experience she needed to excel in her field, she said.
Times had a passion for her work as well as promoting Florida A&M University, Robinson said.