A Miami-Dade judge just settled a heated leadership fight at Florida Memorial University, ruling that William McCormick will remain president and Walter Weatherington, Sr., stays as chair of the Board of Trustees. The decision ends a messy internal battle that had split FMU’s board and raised concerns about the future of one of Miami’s most important HBCUs.
Walter Weatherington said that McCormick “embodies the spirit of FMU” and his leadership is exactly what the university needs to move forward.
Here’s what went down before this moment: Hy-Lo News reported in August 2025, that McCormick, who’s actually an FMU alum and had been interim president, was officially made the permanent president by a part of the board. But another group, led by interim chair Brandon K. Dumas, pushed back hard. They said McCormick and his supporters didn’t follow the rules and took over without approval. This caused a lot of drama and worried folks about how the school was being run and even its accreditation—basically, whether the school could keep its official status.
Why should Black Miamians care about the latest ruling? Because Florida Memorial University is Miami’s only historically Black college and university (HBCU). It’s a place where predominantly Black students gain education, support, and opportunities that are crucial for building strong careers and even stronger communities. When the school’s leadership is shaky, it threatens everything FMU stands for.
Now that the fight is over, FMU can focus on what really matters—helping Miamians get the education and resources they deserve. In a city where opportunities aren’t always equal, maintaining a sense of HBCU culture is huge.
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