Miami Gardens, Fla. – Florida Memorial University President Dr. Jaffus Hardrick resigned over unspecified health issues, the college’s Board of Trustees announced.

His resignation was effective on June 21.

“I am grateful to the leadership, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the community for the success of our great university, and it’s with a heavy heart that I must end my tenure as president due to a health reason,” Hardrick said in the correspondence.

Former board chairman Wiliam C. McCormick has been appointed the interim president of South Florida’s only HBCU while the board searches for a permanent replacement.

“Under Dr. Hardrick’s leadership, significant strides were made at FMU, including the approval of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) accreditation,” Walter Weatherington, chairman of FMU’s Board of

Trustees said in a statement. “We are profoundly grateful for his service and wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

Hardrick, 62, was appointed president of FMU in 2019 and previously worked at Florida International University for 15 years.

Hardrick also worked at Baylor University in Texas for 12 years.

Hardrick helped FMU bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic and regain its accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools after being on probation for a year.

The accreditation is a national recognition that proves an institution is reputable and is a requisite to qualifying for government funds.

In February 2024, Hardrick and FMU landed a $1 million investment from JP Morgan Chase, one of the largest banks in the nation, for the students seeking future careers in STEM and other com- puter science jobs.

The New York-based financial institution said the $1 million commitment to the HBCU will help under-resourced students explore career opportunities in the technology field including cybersecurity during a ceremony at the Miami Gardens campus.

The investment expanded Computer Science and STEM programs, modernized classrooms, implemented state-ofthe-art computers, enhanced faculty recruitment and training, and paired students with industry professionals to provide hands-on technology experience.