St. Petersburg’s Deveron Gibbons named to FAMU board of trustees

Deveron Gibbons, a developer, former mayoral candidate and longtime St. Petersburg College trustee, was appointed Wednesday by the state Board of Governors to Florida A&M University’s board of trustees.

Gibbons, who retired as Amscot’s vice president of public affairs and currently serves as a consultant there, is also a former Tallahassee lobbyist, longtime community activist and former board member of several local organizations.

He currently serves on the boards of Take Stock in Children, the Sanderlin Community Center and SPC. He has served on SPC’s board since 2006 and was reappointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis for a four-year term in 2019.

In 2009, he ran for mayor in St. Petersburg, placing third in the primary election.

Gibbons and SPC faculty butted heads in 2021 over his comments shooting down an adjunct union contract.

Gibbons has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida, a master’s from the University of South Florida and a law degree and master’s in business administration from FAMU.

“If he continues on this track, maybe he’ll get around to all 12 universities,” Board of Governors member Alan Levine joked as he announced Gibbons’ appointment. “He’s obviously very ensconced in the university system.”

Ken Jones, another board member and the head of Tampa investment firm Third Lake Partners, said he has known Gibbons for more than 20 years and his name is familiar to Tampa Bay residents.

“He’s very involved in the community,” Jones said. “He’s been a stalwart for St. Petersburg and its citizens. He’s done some amazing things with kids and community activism. He’s just a good person.”