Dr. Henry Lewis, III, Officially Takes The Helm As Florida Memorial University’s New President
MIAMI GARDENS – Florida Memorial University, the only Historically Black College or University in southern Florida, officially welcomed its twelfth president, Henry Lewis, III, Pharm.D. Held on the president’s first day in office, Tuesday, February 1, the well-attended press conference kicked off Dr. Lewis’ administration and introduced him to the wider South Florida community.
Dr. Lewis shared his vision for the university, “Vision 2020,” and outlined plans over the next 10 years of his administration.
“My job, as they have charged me to do,” remarked President Lewis to reporters, school administrators and students gathered at the conference, “is to make Florida Memorial University, not the best-kept secret, but the best-known entity of higher education in the state of Florida.”
Dr. Henry Lewis III
In addition to holding the press conference, Dr. Lewis spent his first morning in office meeting with all FMU faculty and staff to formally introduce himself to campus and highlight his overall approach to management and education. From spiritual growth to enhancing their classroom experience, the president focused on his goal to make FMU a student-focused, “World Class University.”
Dr. Lewis’ “Vision 2020,” a copy of which was provided to all conference attendees, went into detail about his immediate and future plans for the school. The document outlines goals to grow FMU’s grant funding, increase the university’s awareness both locally and nationally, and spur enrollment through middle and high school partnerships. The plan’s 40 objectives are designed to move FMU from “Good to Great,” and make the school noted for successful graduates, a first-class faculty, and economic impact on the surrounding community.
“Dr. Ammons (president of FAMU) said ‘this man brings in $21 million-a-year for us,’” recalled Charles W. George, Florida Memorial University Board of Trustees chairman, when introducing President Lewis. “So, I knew it was going to be tough for us to get him, but here he is.”
Dr. Lewis has served as dean and professor in the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at Florida A&M University (FAMU) in Tallahassee, Florida for the past fifteen years. A former interim president of FAMU, he also served as dean of the Texas Southern University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences for four years. Dr. Lewis is the past president of the Minority Health Professions Foundation (MHPF) and the Association of Minority Health Professions Schools (AMHPS). Under his leadership, the two organizations secured over $100 million in support of programs improving the quality of education and availability of health care to underserved communities.
Dr. Lewis is also the former chairman of the board of the Florida Education Fund, the nation’s largest producer of African-American Ph.D.’s. After graduating from FAMU with a Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy, he earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Mercer University’s Southern School of Pharmacy in Atlanta, Georgia, and completed his post-doctoral studies at Harvard University’s Institute for Educational Management.
