Dr. Mary A. O’Banner

Acting President

Dr. Mary A. O’Banner is a senior academic administrator committed to ensuring Florida Memorial University realizes its mission of educating tomorrow’s leaders today. Prior to assuming the position of acting president for the university, Dr. O’Banner served in an unprecedented position as Florida Memorial University’s first Chief of Staff. Among her responsibilities as Chief of Staff, she managed the university’s governmental relations, legal affairs and served as liaison between the university’s administration and the board of trustees, to name a few. She was also a member of the President’s Leadership Team.

Dr. O’Banner’s professional career in higher education spans almost four decades and includes her affiliations with Virginia Union University (VA), Tougaloo College (MS), and Middle Tennessee State University (TN), where she held a variety of teaching and middle management positions.

In 1989, Dr. O’Banner joined the Florida Memorial University family. While at Florida Memorial she has served as Chairperson for the General College Division, Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs, Special Assistant to the President and Professor of Education. During her tenure as interim vice president for academic affairs, which was during a tumultuous period for the university, she spearheaded efforts that led to the University’s reaffirmation of accreditation with its regional accrediting organization, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). As Special Assistant to former President Dr. Albert E. Smith, she assisted him in securing $9.2 million for capital improvements (construction and renovations) on the campus. O’Banner also served as Executive Director of the Florida Memorial University Foundation, Inc. In this capacity she was instrumental in securing a $198,000 planning grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to assist in the revitalization of the University’s 350 acres St. Augustine property. In June, 2011 she advanced to the position of chief of staff.

This native Jackson, Mississippian earned her bachelor’s, master’s and education specialist degrees from Jackson State University and her Ph.D. degree from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. She received a certificate from Harvard University School of Education for completion of additional studies in the Institute for Educational Management.

During her educational and professional development, Dr. O’Banner has received various honors and awards, among which include the Elmer J. Clark Doctoral Scholar and the Bush-Hewlett Scholar awards. In 1983 and 1984, she became a part of the rosters of Outstanding Young Women of America. She is a life member of Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society. Additionally, she holds membership in various professional organizations and life membership in the Jackson State University National Alumni Association.

In 1996, Dr. O’Banner was appointed to the State Board of Independent Colleges and Universities by the late Governor Lawton Chiles. Her additional commitments to service have included membership on the Jackson State University Developmental Studies Advisory Board, serving as mentor to aspiring and downtrodden young ladies and young men, providing reading assistance for adult literacy programs, serving as an evaluator and consultant at various colleges and universities for Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and U.S. Department of Education Title IV Programs and serving on various interview committees for the Dade County Public Schools.