Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has appointed four new members to the Florida A&M University Board of Trustees, including Indian American attorney Prerak “Pre” Shah, J.D., strengthening the university’s governing body with leaders whose experience spans business, law, healthcare, public service, and higher education.
In addition to Shah, the appointees include Victor Young, Roderick Harris, and Kenneth Jones. Their terms begin in January 2026 and will run through January 2031, according to Florida A&M University News published on January 18.
“It is an honor to welcome these distinguished leaders to the FAMU Board of Trustees,” said President Marva B. Johnson, J.D. “Their outstanding backgrounds in law, business and healthcare will bring added value to our existing board acumen as we work together to lead FAMU forward throughout the coming years.”
According to A&M News, Young and Shah, who were appointed on December 12, 2025, will fill seats vacated by former board members Kristin Harper and Craig Reed following the completion of their respective terms.
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Shah is a partner in the Houston office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, where he advises corporations and executives facing complex state, federal, and congressional investigations.
His legal practice also includes representing clients in high-stakes civil litigation, particularly at the intersection of “law, public policy, and politics,” the news report noted, adding that Shah’s work reflects “deep experience” navigating some of the most “consequential legal and regulatory matters” in the country.
“Shah previously served as acting United States attorney for the Northern District of Texas, overseeing more than 120 prosecutors and serving as the chief federal law enforcement officer for a population exceeding eight million people,” stated A&M News. “His tenure included leading major prosecutions and investigations involving securities fraud, domestic terrorism, and violent crime.”
Earlier in his career, Shah served as chief of staff and chief counsel to U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and as senior counsel to the attorney general of Texas. He earned his Juris Doctor with honors from the University of Chicago Law School and clerked on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the report added.
