The university announced that Jaffus Hardrick will replace Castell as the interim head of FMU effective July 16, 2018. Castell has been the interim president since November 20, 2017.

Hardwick will be the third consecutive interim president at FMU.  FMU Interim President Michelle Howard-Vital went on medical leave last year. She previously served as provost at FMU before stepping in to lead the university after the resignation of President Roslyn Clark Artis, who left after being appointed president of Benedict College.

Castell served as interim president at Florida A&M University from 2005 to 2007. Her administration reported an $8M surplus when there was really a $10.4M deficit, did poorly on state audits, failed to pay hundreds of employees on time, and was behind a big a decline in enrollment.