Angela Graham-West, wife of former U.S. Rep. Allen West, has been removed from her position as a trustee at Florida Atlantic University.
Graham-West was absent from the FAU board of trustees meeting Tuesday, prompting chairman Anthony Barbar to announce her term had actually ended in May. Graham-West, meanwhile, blamed a Senate paperwork mishap as the reason for her removal.
The Senate failed to confirm Graham-West for two years after her nomination as a trustee by Gov. Rick Scott in 2011. An individual cannot serve on the board or even be considered for renomination for a year if they are not confirmed by the Senate, according to Florida law.
Earlier this year, the former U.S. congressmans wife was part of FAUs troubled academic year-turned-media frenzy. Protesters showed up at her office at FAU in March to speak out against FAUs $6 million stadium deal with the private prison group, GEO Group. Graham-West charged one of the protestors with stalking her after they showed up to a meeting she attended in April.
GEO Group withdrew its donation April 1.
After months of controversy, FAU President Mary Jane Saunders resigned May 14.
Former U.S. Congressman Allen West became involved in the fray when he took to his Twitter to warn FAU students to keep away from his wife. His tweet read To FAU students stalking my wife at Bd of Trustee mtgs, end it now. If u believe you can intimidate her, u are mistaken. Nxt time u face me.
The universitys board of trustees is now short one member with an education degree. Graham-West was also the only woman on FAUs BOT and was expected to remain on the board until 2016.
Reach Tampa-based reporter Allison Nielsen at allison@sunshinestatenews.com.
