fall 2015 a&m magazine

WINTER2013SUMMER2013

FAMU Students and Counselors

Living-Learning Communities Cover Photo: Macork Solutions

UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT Elmira Mangum, Ph.D.

VICE PRESIDENT FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND EXTERNAL RELATIONSJimmy Miller

EDITOR Kanya Stewart

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The A&M Magazine is the official magazine of Florida A&M University, and is designed to inform alumni, supporters, and friends about issues of importance about the University. This public document was promulgated at a total cost of $5,260 or $2.10 per copy. FAMU is an Equal

Opportunity/Equal Access University.

www.famu.edu

FAMU’s AgribusinessProgram is in FULL BLOOM

06

IT TAKES A VILLAGE: FAMU Introduces Living-Learning Communities

10

FAMU CHAMPIONTOMMY MITCHELL SR. Ends Historic Reignas NAA President

16

THERE’S A RATTLERIN CHINA18

ELIZABETH MURELL DAWSON:Keeper of the Dream22

FAMU Calls Upon Alumni for Inaugural “DAY OF SERVICE”

30

FAMU Athletics Focuses onWINNING IN THE CLASSROOM

30

04 President’s Message

36 Alumni Applause

40 From the Bookshelf

42 Campus Notes

46 Fallen Rattlers

SE

CTIO

NS

FALL2015

FAMU NAA Launches FIRST INTERNATIONAL CHAPTER

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4 // FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY // A&M MAGAZINE

Dear Alumni and FAMU Supporters:

I am excited to introduce to you the fall 2015 issue of the award-winning A&M Magazine.

A&M Magazine not only highlights the successes of our alumni, but it also provides an opportunity

to tell the remarkable stories of the innovative programs and outstanding students, faculty, and

staff that walk the “Hill” every day.

This fall marks the 128th anniversary of the founding of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical

University, and that is what makes this issue so special. The stories on the pages that follow give

our readers a glimpse into how far we have come from those 15 students, two instructors, and

one building back in 1887.

In this issue, you will read about our newly implemented, state-of-the-art Living-Learning

Communities, and how we are embodying the “village” concept in providing our students with the

tools, services, activities, and support that will ensure they are prepared to be great contributors

to the needs of the global economy. You will also learn more about the University’s international

impact, including an alumnus who is making great strides in China, and the newly launched West

Africa Native Land Alumni Chapter.

Also, you will learn about the successes of our students and faculty in our emerging Agribusiness

Program, and how our new Athletics Director Milton Overton and his team are building champions

in the classroom, on the field, and in life. Last but certainly not least, you will read about the great

champions of our University like FAMU National Alumni Association President Tommy Mitchell

Sr.; E. Murell Dawson, Ph.D., former director of the Meek-Eaton Black Archives; and alumna

T’Keyah Crystal Keymáh, who will serve as the honorary chair of our inaugural Day of Service.

In closing, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank each of you for not only your support of A&M

Magazine, but also for your faithfulness and commitment to the forward movement of our

University. Without our alumni, students, faculty, staff, community, and all of our stakeholders

and leaders, we certainly would not be where we are today.

With Rattler Regard,

Elmira Mangum, Ph.D.

President

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The A&M Magazine welcomes letters to the editor about stories in its issues. We reserve the right to edit emails and letters for clarity or spacing. Emails may be sent to: [email protected] or letters may be mailed to the Office of Communications, Florida A&M University, 1601 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Suite 200 Lee Hall, Tallahassee, FL 32307-3100.

A&M MAGAZINE // FALL 2015 // 5

COMING HOME5Alumna and FOX Sports broadcast journalist

Pam Oliver returned to the “Hill” to inspire our new graduates during summer commencement.


Kendall Strickland, a 2015 graduate, is a personification of the

successes taking place within the Agribusiness Program. Strickland

recently placed second at the 30th Annual Minorities in Agriculture,

Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS) Career Fair

and Training Conference held in Houston, Texas.

He received national recognition in the poster category of the

competition for a project titled “The Economic Value of Palm Trees

in Hotel Landscaping.”

The primary focus of the research was to determine the value of

palm trees at hotels in areas such as Aruba. Since visitors travel to

places like Aruba for its tropical environment, Strickland’s research

helped to address industry concerns regarding how the number of

palm trees in proximity to hotels ultimately impacts the number of

visitors.

Strickland’s passion for agribusiness and research, not only

contributed to his receipt of a full scholarship from the U.S.

Department of Agriculture’s 1890 National Scholars Program as a

student, but it has also afforded him the opportunity to work for the

USDA in a post-graduate program as an agricultural statistician.

“What I experienced at FAMU has given me confidence in my work in the agribusiness field. I learned

to work hard at my research and put my heart into agriculture,” he said.

Strickland follows in the footsteps of Agribusiness alumni like actor Montrel Miller, who has used

the business, critical thinking, and people skills he acquired while

in the CAFS program to build a successful career. Such skills have

provided him with the flexibility needed to land roles in films like

“Selma,” “Coffee Shop,” “Unconditional,” and “Stomp the Yard 2.” He

recently took to Twitter to pay tribute to the Agribusiness Program.

The students, faculty, and alumni of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University’s Agribusiness Program have garnered the national spotlight. Appropriately themed, “Come Grow With Us,” FAMU’s agricultural offerings have made their way into the halls of the U.S. Capitol, national competitions, and boardrooms of some of the world’s largest organizations -- showcasing the talent and research capacity of the College of Agriculture and Food Sciences (CAFS).

FAMU’s Agribusiness Program is in

Full Bloom

RATTLERS IN D.C.4Agribusiness students and

representatives from each CAFS unit at the 1890 land-grant celebration.

We touch food every day. That’s a

direct impact on our day-to-day lives. I’ll

have a direct impact on somebody’s life every single day...

- Nicholas MillerMonsato Scholar

BY [Domonique Davis]

4


“Thanks for all that you have instilled in me,” he said.

“I’ll continue to make you proud.”

While Strickland, Montrel Miller, and the Agribusiness Program

alumni in leading roles at such companies as Target, Coca-Cola,

Western Union, Kraft Foods, and Sanderson Farms are making

waves in their respective fields, current students are serving as

ambassadors for the University at a national level.

In July, students in the program joined 18 other universities at

the U.S. Capitol to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Second

Morrill Act of 1890.

The Act awarded FAMU and other Black institutions land-grant

status and helped FAMU grow into the academic and research

powerhouse it is today.

While in Washington, D.C., students met with top U.S. officials

to share their experience in FAMU’s agricultural programs and

participate in a national convocation and exhibition. They were also

on hand to witness President Elmira Mangum, Ph.D., make history

as one of the first presidents from an 1890 land-grant University to

testify before the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture.

“The type of recognition our agriculture programs are receiving

helps to amplify the quality of our students at FAMU and display

the groundbreaking research that is happening every day at the

University,” President Mangum said.

Agribusiness Program Coordinator Daniel Solís, Ph.D., said he is

proud that the program has been able to provide students with the

opportunity to travel to national conferences, participate in research

competitions, and showcase their skills while representing FAMU.

“Academic enrichment and research are the main focuses of our

program. Each year we send students to professional conferences

to garner additional knowledge and to share their work with others

in their respective areas of interest. Consistently, they return to us

from these conferences with top recognitions for their outstanding

work,” said Solís, who was recently recognized by Research Gate as

one of its most read authors.

Solís explained that the program has partnered with interna-

tional companies and government agencies that provide internship

opportunities that have led to incredible career opportunities for its

students.

“We have a laser focus on internships. We try to discover what

the main goals of the students are, what they really like to do and

match them accordingly,” Solís said. “For instance, this year, we

have one student who’s working in the Department of Agriculture

and Consumer Services, we have another working in a federal credit

union, and there’s another student who recently started with the

Fish and Wildlife Commission, so depending on their goals we try to

find them an internship that fits and inspires them.”

Gerard Gunner, a senior agribusiness student, said his internship

experience truly opened his eyes to his future possibilities. This

summer, Gunner was able to travel the country and learn about

credit and banking as it applies to agriculture while interning with

the Farm Credit Administration in Dallas, Texas.

Gunner explained that his internship through the Agribusiness

Program showed him that he would be able to combine his interests

in business administration, economics, and agriculture.

“This is the kind of work that changes lives. If I’m a small business owner and now have large market access, I can be provided with a better livelihood...”

- Nicholas MillerMonsato Scholar


“I met representatives from the Farm Credit Administration at

the career fair last fall, and after learning about the company I found

that it combined everything I like into one job,” Gunner said. “It was a

great opportunity.”

Monsanto Scholarship recipient Nicholas Miller always knew he

wanted to study business. After three years in FAMU’s five-year,

Master of Business Administration Program and an internship with

PepsiCo, Miller realized he was also interested in agriculture, so he

decided to pursue an additional degree in agribusiness.

With internship and work experience with Monsanto and the

FAMU Sustainability Institute under his belt, Nicholas Miller said he

feels more than prepared to enter the job market and showcase all

that he has learned at FAMU.

Upon graduation, he said he plans to establish his own marketing

company.

“I want to have a multifaceted business, but at the same time I

have a special passion for connecting small agricultural businesses

with large players in the market,” Miller said. “This is the kind of

work that changes lives. If I’m a small business owner and now have

large market access, I can be provided with a better livelihood, and a

better future for my kids.”

All in all, Miller said his main priority is to do something that will

positively influence the lives of others, and he believes the agriculture

and food industry is the perfect avenue for that.

“For me, I’m big on impact,” Miller said. “We touch food every day.

That’s a direct impact on our day-to-day lives. As a player in the food

industry, I’ll have a direct impact on somebody’s life every single day.

What more could you want from a career?”

Solís agrees that the research and work done in the agriculture

industry has a global impact. Recently, Solís was recognized

nationally for his research focusing on red snapper, one of the most

economically important fish in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. His study,

entitled “The Effect of IFQs on the Total Productivity of the U.S. Gulf

of Mexico Red Snapper Industry,” produced results that will be

presented to key stakeholders in the fishing industry, including both

fishers and policymakers.

At its core, Solís said that making an impact through research

and education is what agribusiness is all about – using tools from

the classroom and applying them to real-world problems.

“What makes us unique is that everything we do here is

extremely applied. It’s not just focusing on theory, but application of

the theory. I think that’s what we do best. That’s what sets us apart.

We find solutions to issues that plague communities worldwide.”

TOUCHING LIVES5FAMU’s Agribusiness Program provides

students like Kendall Strickland with the opportunity to impact the lives of others by combining research and business training.


BY [LaCrai Mitchell]


here was a lot of anticipation, excitement, and nervousness for me

moving into the Village,” sophomore public relations student Cara

Hackett recalled. “It was such a wonderful experience being a part of the first

group of students to move in.”

It has been more than a year since the University first opened the doors

of FAMU Village to hopeful students like Cara Hackett, and the enthusiasm

surrounding the suite-style facility is still high. Not only has it become a new

campus staple, but it is now the home of a new University initiative that will

improve student success, increase graduation and retention rates, and

enhance the student-life experience.

In August 2015, FAMU launched the first-ever group of Living-Learning

Communities (LLCs) in the FAMU Village – a first step in a long-term

University initiative for incoming and current students.

President Elmira Mangum, Ph.D., and the divisions of Academic Affairs,

Student Affairs, and Housing have collectively set in place a strategic goal

to promote a 21st century living and learning environment that provides a

holistic approach and diverse learning styles to enrich student growth and

education. LLCs are living facilities that provide students with mentoring,

academic support, and a sense of

community – inside and outside of the

classroom.

It’s Just the Beginning

“Our highest purpose is to provide the

best educational experience possible

for our students,” said Mangum,

who recently announced during the

President’s Convocation that FAMU

Village and the new Living-Learning

Communities were just the beginning

of new facilities and programs that are

soon to be introduced to the campus,

including a new Student Affairs Center.

“We have focused with laser-like

precision on improving our graduation

and retention rates, and enhancing

the overall quality of student life on our

campus,” she said.

Through academic connections,

service-learning experiences, and in-hall

On the hot summer morning of August 20, 2014, not even the humidity

could dampen the excitement surrounding Move-In Day. Hundreds of anxious

students eagerly awaited their turn to move into the University’s newest,

state-of-the-art living facility. As families emerged from their jam-packed

vehicles and volunteers helped carry piles of luggage, new Rattlers stood

in amazement as they looked up at the place they would now call “home” –

an 800-bed, six-story building that personified the beginning of their higher

education. FAMU Village had arrived.

3 A NEW ERA OF CAMPUS LIVINGStudents in FAMU’s honors, business, journalism, graphic design, STEM, and allied health programs represent the first cohort of living-learning community residents.

It Takes a Village: FAMU Introduces Living-Learning Communities

“T

COVER STORY

4


education, the LLCs are creating a platform for FAMU

students, faculty, and staff to work together through

classroom curriculum and personal interaction at

“home.”

This year, the LLC program features five communities

for first-time-in-college students. This pilot group of LLCs

are available for students that are in the University

Honors Program; majoring in science, technology,

engineering, or mathematics (STEM) related fields; or

who are majoring in fields of study that fall within the

School of Allied Health Sciences, the School of Business

and Industry, or the School of Journalism & Graphic

Communication.

Brenda Spencer, Ph.D., is the newly appointed LLC

coordinator, aligning perfectly with her role as the

director of the FAMU Undergraduate Student Success

Center’s Academic Integration and Student Transitional

Services Program.

According to Spencer, LLCs provide multiple support

systems for students that create a sense of community

and help them learn how to work together.

“At its core, this program is about creating

communities within the FAMU community, that offer our

students wrap-around support,” said Spencer, explaining

that each LLC consists of a University faculty liaison and

two student resident assistants (RAs). The deans and

directors of the aforementioned divisions, schools, and

college carefully chose their respective faculty liaisons.

“The faculty mentors were carefully selected based

upon their ability to provide effective mentorship and

guidance to the students,” said Maurice Edington, dean

of the College of Science and Technology.

A University housing committee used the same

precision to select this year’s RAs for the LLCs. In

keeping with the theme of high scholastic standards, all

of the RAs have at least a 3.0 GPA.

Dean Edington expressed his appreciation for the

enhanced opportunities the LLCs provide for STEM

majors. He applauded the program for its ability to

extend support to students throughout the academic

year and especially after business hours.

“I am excited that we will be able to play a pivotal role

in helping to implement the President’s vision of creating

a 21st-century living-learning environment,” Edington

said. “The LLC participants will receive exposure to

co-curricular activities that will enhance their academic

performance and increase their awareness of the

career opportunities available in STEM disciplines.”

A Focus on Success

For decades, higher education researchers have

conducted studies that show positive growth and

outstanding results in undergraduate students who live

in learning communities. In 2008, George D. Kuh, the

director of the National Institute for Learning Outcomes

Assessment, conducted a notable study that identified

the use of LLCs as a “high-impact educational practice.”

Kuh’s findings suggested that these practices have

proven to be highly effective in maximizing the learning

experiences of American college students.

“These practices typically demand that students

devote considerable time and effort to purposeful tasks,”

Kuh said in his report. “Most require daily decisions that

deepen students’ investment in the activity as well as

their commitment to their academic program and the

college.”

Another reason Kuh insisted that high-impact

educational practices, like LLCs, are so effective is

because of the student-faculty relationships that are

formed.

“The nature of these high-impact activities puts

3 THE GIFT OF TIMECounselors in the LLCs take time after normal work hours to engage with students and provide support ranging from career guidance to tutoring.

students in circumstances that essentially demand that

they interact with faculty and peers about substantive

matters, typically over extended periods of time,” Kuh

noted in his study. “A human-scale first-year seminar

makes anonymity impossible, fosters face-to-face

interaction, and fuels feedback.”

These findings, which were published in a report by

the Association of American Colleges and Universities,

were widely tested across many students from diverse

backgrounds. The research also focused on another key

finding: “student development is a cumulative process

shaped by many events and experiences.” For this

reason, recent research on the relationships among

student characteristics show that college experiences

affect students differently based on various factors

including their personal experiences.

“Many of the effects of college are conditional in that

some students appear to benefit more than others

from the same educational programs or practices,”

Kuh noted. “At the same time, there is growing evidence

that—when done well—some programs and activities

appear to engage participants at levels that elevate their

performance across multiple engagement and desired

outcome measures such as persistence.”

In 2007, the Association of American Colleges and

Universities published a report, titled “College Learning

for a New Global Century.” The report listed living-

learning communities as one of the 10 most promising

high-impact activities, along with activities such as

first-year seminars, service learning, and capstone

projects, all of which are now being emphasized at

FAMU.

Dean Edington highlighted that these studies further

prove that LLCs will benefit FAMU in multiple ways.

COVER STORY

4

5 INSPIRATIONAL LEADERSHIPAs the coordinator of the Living-Learning Communities Brenda Spencer, Ph.D., is adamant about being actively involved with the daily activities of the program.



“The LLCs will help to enhance the critical thinking, problem-solving, and

communication skills of all student participants,” Edington said. “In addition,

establishing LLCs at FAMU helps us to remain competitive with other

institutions in Florida and across the nation.”

Prominent universities like Yale and Syracuse are nationally recognized

for their use of living-learning communities. Ranking organizations like

U.S. News & World Report have praised universities who have adopted

this model and are helping students thrive in the new landscape of higher

learning.

“FAMU must be inventive when it comes to meeting the needs of our

students,” Mangum said. “The implementation of our LLCs provides a

glimpse into the many programs we will undertake to ensure that FAMU

achieves its goal of becoming a best-in-class, doctoral research university

with a global presence.”

Life-Changing Experiences

Spencer explained that implementing the new LLCs has been a

rewarding challenge that has allowed her to work with academic advisors

from other institutions of higher learning. Through research, training,

conferences, and meetings, she said she has been able to learn what will

work best for FAMU’s LLC program so that incoming FAMU students can

experience a life-changing educational environment.

“Pretty amazing.” That is how freshman James Menefee III, a biology

pre-med student, explained his reaction upon learning about FAMU’s LLCs.

Menefee and his parents were already sold on FAMU throughout his

college application process, but learning about the LLCs helped to seal the

deal.

“I’m actually living with other people that desire to do the exact same

thing that I want to do,” said Menefee about what attracted him to the

program, expressing the importance of collaborating with fellow students.

Menefee knows first-hand the importance of a well-rounded learning

experience.

Throughout high school, he was a member of the Biotech Program and

the National Honor Society. In addition to his scholastic achievements,

the St. Augustine, Fla., native took Kung Fu classes and volunteered at the

hospital where his mother works.

His mother, Shirley Menefee, was excited to have her son enroll in the

program. She understands the importance of creating a balance between

academics and activities while simultaneously creating close bonds with

classmates. As a FAMU alumna and former pharmacy student, Menefee

remembers the important role that her classmates played in helping her

to stay focused and motivated. She wants the same for her son James,

who she affectionately calls Nathan.

“I think that having access to faculty and upper-class students will

help Nathan to matriculate better, help him to engage, and learn how to

COVER STORY

communicate better,” Shirley Menefee said.

The experiences and benefits gained from living in LLCs are

priceless, but the University is willing to make large investments

in the fulfilling of its goal to adopt the living-learning philosophy

throughout campus. During a presentation to the Board of Trustees,

Sameer Kapileshwari, associate vice president for facilities, planning,

construction, and safety, explained that the LLCs are just one

component of the University’s long-term goal to provide high-quality,

living- learning facilities that promote retention and graduation.

Kapileshwari noted the importance of providing fully equipped

facilities in order for the University’s LLCs to make its full impact.

“Creating such communities require modern facilities that

provide amenities that ‘Millennials’ and their parents demand as

part of their educational experience,” said Kapileshwari during the

presentation.

The overall project involves four phases to help meet student

needs. It includes the renovation of out-of-use female living spaces

and the Jackson Davis Hall to create a new student complex,

shopping and food venues, more parking options, and additional

Living-Learning Communities similar to FAMU Village. The complex

will include the new Center for Access and Student Service, and the

overall project is estimated to cost more than $200 million.

For now, FAMU’s new approach to the living-learning environment

will thrive in the student living facility that has served as a “village” for

multiple FAMU students. A perk that James Menefee Jr., the father

of James Menefee III, called “the icing on the cake.”

“When I went through school it was very difficult because I had

little guidance,” James Menefee Jr. recalled about his personal

college experiences. “But if you’ve got that reinforcement of positive

influence and everybody is working to help each other get there,

it makes it easier to get through school. It’s like a family getting

through school instead of just an individual.”

This year’s move-in day was a lot like last year’s—it was hot and

humid, families trekked up and down hills to help their loved ones

move into their new home, and incoming students were noticeably

eager, as they often are. From the outside looking in, FAMU Village is

exactly the same as it was a year ago but one step inside will reveal

a new sense of community—one of living and learning. Through the

new Living-Learning Communities, FAMU is changing the landscape

for student development and is doing so with the support of the

entire community because after all, it does take a village.



For the past six years, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University has reaped the support of a dedicated advocate and champion in Tommy Mitchell Sr., president of the FAMU National Alumni Association. As his tenure comes to an end, many alumni and friends will fondly remember Mitchell’s contributions as one of the University’s most vocal brand champions who successfully led the NAA even when “dark clouds” grew on the horizon.

Mitchell is no stranger to the FAMU community and social activism. The decorated 1961 alumnus is the founding

president of the 100 Black Men of Tallahassee Area, Inc., a past president of the Leon County and New York

chapters of the FAMU NAA, former president of the Florida Athletic Sports Association, and former president of

the Council of National Alumni Associations. He retired from FAMU after 28 years of service as director of Alumni

Affairs (1979-1990), the director of the Black Male College Explorers Program (1990-2007), and the director of

the Community Development Corporation (2002-2004).


2010, Mitchell’s passion for FAMU led him to

pursue the FAMU NAA presidency with a goal to

increase communication with alumni, increase alumni giving,

increase membership, and enhance FAMU advocacy. Although

these goals were achieved with the support of a solid executive

board, the next six years would be filled with peaks and valleys

as FAMU addressed challenges from all sides.

FAMU’s Executive Director of Alumni Affairs Carmen

Cummings-Martin has had the pleasure of working with Mitchell

throughout his tenure. She watched him rise to every occasion

and rally alumni during the unexpected challenges that sprung

forth, including reaccreditation procedures, several University

leadership changes, and an attempt to decouple the FAMU-FSU

College of Engineering, to name a few. She describes Mitchell

as a leader with bulldog tenacity.

“It has been a tumultuous tenure for President Mitchell

during these two terms of office,” recalls Cummings. “He knew

we had to sustain the mission of FAMU, and we’re still rallying

to strengthen alumni support. Yet, not once did I ever hear him

say that he wished it could be someone else. He truly believes

that FAMU must live forever.”

As a champion for philanthropy, Mitchell has used his

presidency to encourage consistent alumni giving. No speech

or presentation by Mitchell is complete without his signature

appeal describing how easy it is to give a little in order for FAMU

to gain a lot. “If an alumnus donates $3.85 twice a month, that’s

$100 a year. If 70,000 graduates participated, that would be

$7 million dollars a year,” exclaims Mitchell. “As much as I

would like people to join [the NAA], it’s more important to give

to FAMU.”

To enhance the ease of giving, Mitchell created the Rattler

Check Program, a check debiting system that allows the FAMU

Foundation to deduct routinely a set amount from a checking

account, per the donor’s instructions.

Mitchell is excited to know that the drumbeat for dollars is

catching on through his requests and the appeals of others.

During the FAMU National Convention in Houston, alumni gave

more than $200,000 to FAMU. Mitchell recalls how one shy

alumna didn’t want to announce the size of her gift during the

traditional parade of checks. However, after hearing Mitchell’s

requests, she went to the microphone and announced a

$20,000 gift to FAMU. Afterward, he was informed that two

non-FAMU grads were so moved by the tributes that they

decided to become life-members.

“I’m proud of the increase in giving and life membership that

we’ve experienced,” says Mitchell. “At last report, we’ve raised

$1,194,000 in the life membership [endowment fund]. The

greatest feeling is when I get stopped by alumni who tell me

how proud they are of what the NAA is doing and that they plan

to join.’”

Finally, Mitchell is a true champion of the FAMU brand and

a virtual walking database of FAMU accomplishments. Years

ago, he noticed a need to set the record straight regarding the

great things happening at FAMU that weren’t getting picked

up in the media’s coverage. Therefore, prior to every speaking

engagement, he makes it a point to contact the FAMU Office

of Communications and External Relations or Alumni Affairs to

ask for a copy of the latest University accolades so he can share

them in his presentations. At any given time, one may hear him

rattling off FAMU’s latest rankings from Forbes magazine,

the Princeton Review, or the College Database. He pointedly

reminds everyone that FAMU has continuously been ranked

among the best universities in the nation for many years.

“Everywhere I go, I talk about how great FAMU is with ‘facts,’

not rumors,” Mitchell explains. “No one is doing what we are

doing to enhance the middle class. We are producing the John

Thompsons, Pam Olivers, and Will Packers of the world and

people need to hear that.”

Although President Mitchell’s term concludes in December,

he plans to remain active in the FAMU NAA and help the team

that worked so diligently by his side.

“Once I leave, the work will go on because we have

tremendous people in place,” says Mitchell. “Let’s continue

to expose our children to FAMU just like we were exposed

because the institution will do even greater things for them

than it did for us.”

In

FAMU ChampionTOMMY MITCHELL SR. Ends Historic Reign as NAA President

BY [Thomas L.K. SIMS ]


THERE’SA RATTLER

IN CHINA


rom an eager business student to an international

motivational speaker and founder of the Global

Citizen Community, Elijah John Bowdre is the ultimate

definition of a global Rattler.

Global Citizen Community (GCC) was established by

Bowdre and his wife Raushanah with the desire to be

a catalyst for Americans (especially those not typically

exposed to such experiences) to discover China and life

abroad. The Bowdres founded the organization with a

determination to dispel myths and showcase the benefits of

living and working abroad to students and professionals in

America.

Through GCC, John Bowdre organizes niche

excursions and study abroad opportunities in China. He

often travels to speak to both youth and adults in such

places as Hong Kong, Shanghai, Wenzhou, Los Angeles,

New York, Miami, Atlanta, and of course Tallahassee, to

empower them with the knowledge that no matter their

background or demographic they too can become a global

citizen.

But Bowdre, who received a bachelor’s degree in

business administration with a concentration in finance

from FAMU in 2008, wasn’t always so knowledgeable

about the possibilities available from studying and working

aboard. It was an experience in FAMU’s School of Business

and Industry (SBI) that made him realize that becoming a

global citizen was the future of doing business.

“It was not until I was blessed to attend SBI that my

interest began to transform into the realm of possibility,”

Bowdre said.

As a student, Bowdre participated in SBI’s student-led

Chief Financiers Organization (CFO) Wall Street initiatives,

which produced the highest number of banking-related

internships and permanent full-time employment offers in

FAMU’s history.

With the success of the student-led CFO, participants

were encouraged to take the knowledge and successes

they had gained beyond the U.S. and into the global

marketplace. As a result, by the time Bowdre had reached

his senior year he received a grant from the FAMU Office

of International Education and Development to study

economics and Mandarin courses for a semester at

Shanghai University.

The skills he learned at FAMU and overseas, would

later serve as a lifeboat when financial crisis began to

hit the U.S. In 2008, Bowdre graduated from FAMU and

began his professional career in New York. But, his bright

future on Wall Street seemed initially dimmed by a financial

crisis facing the U.S. The crisis threatened the failure of

large financial institutions, and although a bailout of banks

by national governments occurred, stock markets still

dropped, and in many areas, the housing market also

suffered.4

The most important thing I have learned, that has

become resoundingly clear, is that the next level in education is a

global experience...- Elijah John Bowdre

F

BY [Lissa JULES ]


“Imagine if you’d saved all of your money and purchased

a ticket for a luxury voyage on the biggest, shiniest, and safest

ship in all the land – only the name of the ship is the Titanic,”

said Bowdre, about the bleakness of trying to kick-start a

career in the midst of a financial crisis.

However, Bowdre’s disappointment did not last long.

He began to tap into the resilience and creativity that was

instilled in him as an SBI student. He came up with an idea

that would not only help him reach his career goals, but also

provide support to small to mid-sized businesses in the U.S.

He developed strategic partnerships in Shanghai and created

a brand strategy group helping others to build strategic

relationships within China.

“China was a glaring focus of the banking community,”

Bowdre said. “This far away land definitely intrigued me.

Similar to Wall Street, the ‘Great Wall’ held the allure as an

even further goal for me to discover.”

Bowdre is currently thriving in China. He is the youngest

member of the prestigious International Advisory Board, and

has provided professional training, coaching, or motivational

presentations for a gamut of corporations and organizations

including: Dragages Construction, J.P. Morgan, HSBC, Sun

Hung Kai Financial, BP Petroleum, and the Los Angeles Urban

League.

“The most important thing I have learned, and that has

become resoundingly clear, is that the next level of education

is a global experience,” Bowdre expressed.

As a young African-American entrepreneur living

in Shanghai, Bowdre realized that his culture was often

misrepresented, misunderstood, and at times invisible. This

awareness resulted in the formation of his informal social

group “HeiRen,” meaning, “Black people” in Mandarin.

HeiRen is a network for the small population of Black

people in Shanghai. Through many interactions, Bowdre

learned about the amazing accomplishments of the Black

community and realized that it had failed at telling its own

story.

“We, as a collective unit of Blacks living outside of our

home countries, had not put much effort into the crafting of

our story or promoting our place in the global community,”

Bowdre said.

This newfound consciousness drove Bowdre to create

an International Black History Month that would educate,

commemorate, and celebrate the international Black

Diaspora within the local and global community in China. His

work to create the awareness month was recently highlighted

in Black Enterprise.

Bowdre has been a champion for FAMU’s place in the

global marketplace, and his company, GCC, recently hosted

President Elmira Mangum, Ph.D., who joined several other

HBCU presidents, during a four-city tour of China as a part

of the HBCU-China Scholarship Network. The network is

a partnership with the China Education Association for

International Exchange, and works to create study abroad,

exchange, and cultural exposure opportunities.

As a leading global professional, Bowdre acknowledges

that FAMU taught him the importance of perseverance,

strategic patience, and uplifting others.

“FAMU has always been a leader,” Bowdre said. “SBI

inherently instilled in me a responsibility to compete and

achieve at the highest level.”


With the support of the

Florida Legislature and alumni

like former U.S. Rep. Carrie P.

Meek, Eaton collected documents

and memorabilia of the African-

American experience. He housed

these items in the Black Archives

and Museum, which is now called

the Meek-Eaton Black Archives or

MEBA. In addition to impacting the

lives of thousands of young adults

in the classroom, Eaton introduced

hundreds of students to the field

of historic preservation. And in the

early ‘80s, Eaton would recruit a

special scholar, who would go on to

follow in his footsteps in more ways

than one.

Elizabeth Murell Dawson, Ph.D.,

is a FAMU professor of African-

American history and a MEBA

research associate. For many years,

she served as MEBA’s interim

director and is arguably one of

Eaton’s most influential scholars in

the history of FAMU and in the state

of Florida.

Deep Roots

In a city not too far away from

Tallahassee, Fla., Dawson’s story

begins in Jacksonville, where she

grew up in a household with nine

older siblings. As the baby of the

bunch, Dawson said that she was

always the mediator of her siblings

and was a child who never required

much.

“I have always been a

peacemaker,” Dawson recounted. “I

wanted everyone to get along [so] if

it was someone’s time to wash the

dishes, and they were arguing over

it, I would just wash the dishes.”

Family, church, and school were

the pillars of Dawson’s upbringing

and she excelled academically

Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a ‘keeper’ as a protector, a

guardian, a custodian of all things worth cherishing. Throughout the

existence of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, many

Rattlers have achieved greatness and made history but few have taken

the charge of preserving it. In 1975, the late James Eaton, a beloved

history professor at FAMU, created the Southeastern Regional Black

Archives Research Center and Museum.

Elizabeth Murell

Dawson:KEEPER OF THE DREAM

BY [LaCrai Mitchell]

FEATURE STORY

4


“When I look back on it now, some great

personal sacrifices were made but that’s called

inheritance... It was my duty to carry on his

legacy and his work to the best of my ability.

- Elizabeth Murell Dawson


and athletically. As a state

volleyball champion and

softball player, Dawson was

a standout in many ways.

However, in a house with nine

children, she said it’s hard to

get a lot of attention. So in

time, she discovered another

talent that she said provided

her with the perfect outlet to

voice her opinions.

“My greatest gift was

that I could write [and] I had a

beautiful skill and a desire to

write,” Dawson recalled.

A skill and a desire

that would play a huge role

during a time when African

Americans were working to

integrate white schools in

Jacksonville, Fla. Dawson grew

up during the latter years

of integration, which was a

dangerous time for children of

color in America. At a young

age, she took a front seat to

the violence and cruelty that

marked the Civil Rights era

and writing provided her with

the freedom that she needed

to express herself. Her

personal experiences would

shape her core beliefs in

regards to how people should

be treated.

“It was shocking to me

to watch my older brothers

and sisters or community

friends come home bloody

and bruised,” Dawson

reminisced. “I think that left an

impression on me in regards

to inclusion—everybody has

the right to be included, to

seek out our own life worth,

whatever that may be.”

Dawson’s exceptional

writing skills and innate ability

to teach enabled her to help

her classmates during the

difficult times of integration.

“In Jacksonville, Fla.

when we were integrated, a

lot of times we were ‘taught

over’ and so some of my

friends in elementary or

middle school would say I

can’t read,” Dawson recalled.

“[But] whatever the subject or

material type, I could connect

it to their world experiences.

While Dawson was

helping her friends pass

classes and sharpen critical

skills, she also managed to

deal with her own personal

struggles. Despite losing

her mother in high school,

Dawson didn’t use tragedy as

an excuse to stop striving for

success. She said her parents

had always wanted their

children to be independent—

especially the girls.

“Because there were

a lot of girls in the family,

they raised the girls to be

extremely independent,”

Dawson said. “Failure was

not an option—if you wanted

something, you went out there

and you worked hard and you

got it.”

So she did.

Marked Paths

Dawson made high

scholastic marks in high

school and earned a

scholarship to attend FAMU.

Upon her arrival, she didn’t

know what she wanted to

major in, but she knew that

her gift had always been

writing. With the guidance

of influential instructors like

the late Thelma Thurston

Gorham, Dawson received

a bachelor’s degree in

journalism. She would later

work as a general assignment

reporter for the Tallahassee

Democrat, where she said

she was normally assigned

stories that were related

to the African-American

community.

While pursuing her

journalism degree she also

picked up a minor in history,

after taking a class taught by

none other than Prof. James

Eaton. Eaton would later

recruit Dawson along with

others to train under him at

MEBA.

“The students came

from his classes and they

absolutely loved and adored

him, Dawson said. “They called

it being ‘Eatonized’.”

As she had done with

others many times before,

Dawson made a positive

impression on Eaton because

of her thoroughness and hard

work ethic. This enabled her

to continue working under

Eaton as a graduate student

while she obtained a master’s

degree in history.

“One thing about me and

Mr. Eaton’s relationship was

that he was a man with such

a dynamic and charismatic

personality that sometimes

people wouldn’t tell him ‘no’

or tell him the truth,” Dawson

said. “I think he appreciated

me because I always told him

the truth.”

Many of the students

that Eaton cultivated, wanted

to work in the museum so

they could showcase the

artifacts. Few took the charge

of working with documents

and research in the archives.

Dawson, of course, took that

road because it was the less

travelled one.

“The archives are very

intense, time-consuming,

detailed work and a lot of

people didn’t want to be

bothered with that,” Dawson

said. “As a student I helped

set up the basic archival

system that we have here

today.”

Upon receiving her

master’s degree, Dawson

married her college

sweetheart—a former FAMU

pharmacy student that she

met in school—and moved

to North Carolina to start a

family.

New Beginnings

In North Carolina,

Dawson worked as a librarian

at Fayetteville State University.

She lived there with her

husband and their two

children for almost six years. It

wasn’t until a family member

became sick in Jacksonville

Elizabeth Murell Dawson:KEEPER OF THE DREAM


that Dawson would return home

for a couple of years. All the

while, Eaton had not forgotten

about his hard-working student.

So when there was an electrical

fire in the old Carnegie building

and Eaton wanted to rebuild the

museum, it’s no surprise that he

made a call to Jacksonville and

invited Dawson to come help

take on the challenge.

“It was a life-changing

choice that I made,” Dawson

remembered. “[Dr. Eaton] knew I

was a defender of Black history,

of the institution, and I think he

needed someone who was not

self-serving.”

With that phone call from

Eaton, Dawson was back in

Tallahassee just as quickly as

she had left.

Leading the Dreamers

When Dawson returned

to Tallahassee to help build

up MEBA in the early 1990s,

she also worked as an adjunct

professor. Just like she had

done many years ago in

Jacksonville with her classmates

who couldn’t read or write,

Dawson was helping FAMU

students to pass their course

work, plan their careers, and

chase their unrealized dreams.

One of Dawson’s students

in the mid-1990’s was a young

journalism student, who would

later follow in her footsteps

to become a FAMU assistant

professor and an associate

for MEBA. Yanela McLeod, a

former assistant professor in

the FAMU School of Journalism

& Graphic Communication, said

Dawson makes such an impact

because she opens students up

to history while teaching them

about themselves.

“She’s one of those

professors that when you go to

college, you’re blessed to get,

and you never forget,” McLeod

said. “She has a heart for people

and a commitment to FAMU

students—a commitment that

involves them living a rewarding

life.”

While working for MEBA

and teaching at FAMU, Dawson

returned to the classroom as

a student to obtain a doctorate

in information sciences from

Florida State University. She

credits Eaton for teaching her

how to excel in the craft of

FEATURE STORY

A PERSONAL TOUCH5Elizabeth Murell Dawson develops nurturing

relationships with many students at FAMU, inspiring them to become preservers of the

African-American culture.

4


Elizabeth Murell Dawson:KEEPER OF THE DREAM

history preservation and she

also thanks him for showing her

how to make a difference in the

lives of the students.

“When I see young people

come to this campus, I am so

serious and so intense that

they get all that FAMU has

to offer,” Dawson said. “This

is an opportunity not only to

pull themselves up…but [also]

generations of people that come

before them and hundreds of

people who are just around

them.”

In 2003, Eaton, who had

also served as a former chair of

FAMU’s Department of History

and African-American Studies,

retired from FAMU. A year later,

he unexpectedly passed away

and the future leadership of

MEBA was suddenly unclear.

Inheritance

There was no succession

plan in place for a new leader

after Eaton’s death. So

naturally, the job of maintaining

the operations of MEBA was

placed upon someone who

could undoubtedly do the job.

Dawson said, she inherited the

job of interim director with the

expectation of remaining in that

role for only a short amount

of time. More than a decade

later, Dawson found herself

still serving in that same role

because of her commitment to

MEBA and the late, great Eaton.

“When I look back on it

now, some great personal

sacrifices were made but that’s

called inheritance,” Dawson said.

“It was my duty to carry on his

legacy and his work to the best

of my ability.”

To whom much is given,

much is required and Dawson

will be the first to tell you that

the position of interim director

required a lot of her time. Over

the next 12 years, Dawson and

dedicated staff members would

make tremendous strides for

MEBA but sometimes it was at

the cost of the things she loved

most. She did not recognize it

at the time, but Dawson said

important things like family

were oftentimes put on the

backburner.

“There were a lot of times

that I was here working and

I was away from my family,”

Dawson remembers with a hint

of pain in her voice. “[My job]

came at such a tremendous

personal sacrifice that many

people will never know.”

Although Dawson would

have liked to spend more time

at home with her biological

children, her students at school

provided her with a unique

opportunity to stand in the gap

and be a guardian for her other

children.

Samuel Flagler, a senior

facilities management student

from Clearwater, Fla., said that

Dawson is a mother figure to

him and that she is the reason

that he has stayed in college and

will be graduating in December.

“Dr. Dawson has been

the driving force behind my

FAMU career, literally from the

beginning to the end,” Flagler

said. “Throughout work study

and being my teacher … she’s

just been everything for me.”

Dawson’s impact on the

University far extends the

four walls of her classrooms.

Valencia Matthews, Ph.D.,

who is the dean of the College

of Social Sciences, Arts and

Humanities, said that she is

inspired by Dawson’s spirit

and her ability to connect with

people. After working together

on various projects, like the

annual Artists in Bloom Festival,

Matthews insisted that Dawson

adds value to whatever she

does through her passion and

dedication to MEBA.

“I am enraptured and

engaged as she tells the stories

[of African-American history],”

Matthews recounted. “Even

though she has gone through

that archives countless times,

it’s like the first time [every time

she tells a story].”

From managing the overall

operations of MEBA to making

information more accessible

to the public, or even being

influential in the historical FAMU

markers posted across the city,

Dawson’s list of contributions to

MEBA is seemingly never-ending.

Still, she insisted that everything

that she’s accomplished at

MEBA could not have been done

without the help of others, like

her right-hand partner Myra

Perry. Perry has served as the

coordinator of Administrative

Services for MEBA for the last

decade.

“Nothing that I have done

here has been done by myself,”

Dawson readily admitted.

“People have helped me every

step of the way.”

LaTanya White, the new

interim director of MEBA, said

that in her current role she is

constantly learning from both

Perry and Dawson. White also

said she has big shoes to fill

when it comes to following in the

footsteps of Dawson.

“I never had her as a

professor, but I am a student of

hers,” White said.

In her new position, White

is working with Dawson to

communicate the vision of

MEBA to a new age of Millenials.

White is also tasked with

helping the next director of

MEBA transition smoothly into

their new role. Still, she proudly

acknowledged that Dawson is

vital in this process, even though

she now serves primarily as a

research associate.

“There are some things

that Dr. Eaton envisioned for the

facility that no one else knows,”

White explained. “Without [Dr.

Dawson] being able to have that

knowledge…there’s no way that

we could serve the people that

we serve in the capacities that

we serve them.”

A Living Treasure

As with most dynamic

people, Dawson’s story is a living

tale with many moving parts.

Her story is one of a woman

who had an extraordinary skill

for writing and a bigger-than-

life personality that allows her

to connect with everyone she

encounters. Her story is one of


a scholar, who used her love for research to make groundbreaking

moves in a field that was new during her time. Her story is a story of

unexpected inheritance and personal sacrifices in the name of social

responsibility.

A ‘keeper’ by definition, Murell Dawson is the custodian of

African-American history and the guardian of past and future

dreams. Dawson, a true preservationist, said her role is simply to

facilitate the dreams of others.

“I don’t want to be the keeper of the dream,” Dawson said. “I

want to be the passer of the dream.”

After decades of doing what she has had to do, Dawson finally

gets the chance to pursue some of the things she wants to do.

Back in the classroom with her students teaching them how

to research and break down information is exactly where

Dawson said she wants to be. With tons of personal

projects on the horizon, she described her current

position as truly having come full circle.

Those who have been impacted by her most,

maintain that she is the heartbeat of MEBA and

is indeed a keeper of unrealized dreams.

“Dr. Dawson is a living treasure trove

of FAMU history,” McLeod declared. “She

not only houses the legacy of FAMU in

the Black Archives—she carries it in

her heart.”

FEATURE STORY


ublic service and the empowerment of citizens and

communities rest at the core of the mission of Florida

Agricultural and Mechanical University. With a reinvigorated

focus on achieving its mission, the University has announced the

launch of its inaugural FAMU Day of Service (FAMUDoS).

FAMUDoS is a four-day service event culminating on

Monday, January 18, 2016. In addition to honoring the legacy of

Martin Luther King Jr. and the national holiday observance, the

event will connect FAMU alumni around the world, and serve to

inspire service to their respective communities in the spirit of the

University’s mantra, “College of Love and Charity.”

“FAMU Day of Service is the vision of President Elmira

Mangum and was created to encourage and showcase the great

work that FAMUans are doing to serve the world,” said John

Michael Lee, Jr., Ph.D., assistant vice president for alumni affairs.

“FAMU has a long history of instilling a sense of service in its

students and we’re hoping to engage Rattlers across the world

during this event. It’s also a great way to spotlight our alumni’s

passion for charity.”

Lee says the FAMU Day of Service will include a series of

campus activities right after the University’s Annual Martin

Luther King, Jr. Convocation, including service projects for

students, faculty, alumni, and friends throughout the Tallahassee

community. Simultaneously, FAMU NAA chapters in various cities

will host service projects in their respective communities, and

individuals may opt to organize their own groups for charitable

service.

Acclaimed alumna, actress, and producer T’Keyah Crystal

Keymáh will serve as the honorary co-chair for the event. She says

it is an honor to work with the University and shine light on a rich

legacy of Rattler community service.

“FAMU has a history of graduating more African-American

baccalaureate degree holders than any other college,” says

Keymáh. “That means there are more Rattlers in the world than

graduates from any other HBCU. So, it is incumbent upon us to

be leaders, not just in industry or entertainment or science, but

in service.”

Keymáh has fond memories of the love and charity she

received from her teachers and mentors as a FAMU student. As

an adult, she now appreciates the values they instilled in her, and

how they operated as her extended family away from home.

FAMU CALLS UPON ALUMNI FOR INAUGURAL

“DAY OF SERVICE” Alumna, Actress T’Keyah Crystal Keymáh to Serve as Honorary Co-chair


P

4


“Dr. Ronald O. Davis in the theater department,

Dr. Beverly Barbe, leader of Orchesis Contemporary

Dance Theatre -- every teacher that I had at FAMU

was service-minded,” Keymáh recalls. “They went out

of their way to keep up with me. That is what people

are supposed to do. To work very hard and live a life of

service when you can.”

The FAMU Office of Alumni Affairs will partner with

the FAMU National Alumni Association and its chapters

to create FAMUDoS projects. Regional representatives

will be assigned to work with and support the chapters

as they develop their plans for the initiative. Many

chapters may opt to conduct a project with charities

that they are already affiliated with, such as homeless

shelters, nursing homes, or youth mentorship

programs. Others will use this as an opportunity to do

something new specifically designed for the occasion.

The details for each activity will be compiled and listed

on a central website, dayofservice.famu.edu.

“This is not the type of event where everyone has to

do the same thing,” says Lee. “We want participants to

give in the way that they feel most passionate about.”

Lee says FAMUDoS is not just for alumni currently

active in local chapters. It is a movement to bring

together ALL alumni, from those who never joined a

local chapter to those who haven’t connected with the

University since graduation. It’s for those who conduct

their community service work with other non-profit

organizations and those who have never volunteered

before.

Keymáh says this is the perfect opportunity to

reconnect with old friends.

“I would really like Rattlers who are connected to the

NAA to reach out to the Rattlers who are not active,”

she says. “Tell them they don’t have to join the chapter,

just participate in this activity and see how it feels. Take

this opportunity to reach out to that line sister, your frat

brother, someone you knew at FAMU and haven’t seen

since. Look them up now. That might be your service

project once you find them.”

In addition to the FAMU Day of Service activities,

the chapters are encouraged to culminate the day

with a social gathering, such as a picnic or BBQ, to

fellowship and exchange stories about the experience.

All participants are asked to chronicle their projects

and share them with the University through social

media and by submitting photos via the Day of Service

website.

“We’re hoping to engage all Rattlers across the

country and the world, and we ask that they use social

media and the web to display their commitment and

inspire others,” says Lee. “Don’t forget to deck out in

your best orange and green, show the world your Rattler

pride, and use the hashtag: #FAMUDayofService.”


institutions of higher

learning compete for

top scholars; there is an

increasing movement to offer

students a global experience that

will prepare them for the competitive

workforce. Universities like FAMU, sign

Memoranda of Understanding with

colleges in distant lands so students

can take advantage of study-abroad

programs, research opportunities, and

experience other economies.

Academic institutions diversify their

student bodies to foster an environment

for cultural exchange. The benefits

of these strategies are evident at

FAMU, where students hail from more

than 70 countries, including several

African countries, the Bahamas, Brazil,

Indonesia, China, and the United Arab

Emirates, to name a few. Often these

students return back to their home

countries to utilize their new degrees.

Now, an additional option to maximize

globalization efforts will be added to

the list, as the FAMU National Alumni

Association (FAMU NAA) launches the

West Africa Native Land Chapter, the

first international chapter.

The idea to create a new alumni

chapter in Africa was inspired by

alumnus Kwabena Boateng, a 2002

electrical engineering graduate who

works for Chevron Corporation in Africa.

He traveled across the globe to attend

the 2014 National Alumni Convention

in Louisville, Ky., and was inspired to

start the chapter so alumni would have

a stronger connection back to the

institution.

“I am proud of my HBCU, African

heritage, and identity,” says Boateng.

“I hunger and thirst to see FAMU

positioned as the gateway for African

students seeking an American college

education.”

This summer, FAMU signed an

MOU opening the door to enhancing

educational and research opportunities

between the Univeristy and Siaya County,

Kenya, which will provide a roadmap for

further expansion by FAMU in Africa.

Boateng expressed that there are

many FAMU alumni in Ghana, Nigeria,

Kenya, and South Africa, who are working

in the fields of engineering, education

leadership, business, and finance. He

says he’s excited to see FAMU bring its

agricultural research and expertise to

the country.

Although it is an exciting and welcomed

addition, creating an alumni chapter

in Africa posed a unique challenge for

the FAMU NAA. The existing bylaws do

not cover the formation of international

chapters since all current chapters

operate in the United States. Therefore,

a new region must be formed through an

official vote by the membership.

“The NAA members will vote to

modify its bylaws and create an inter-

national region, which will pave the way

for the Africa chapter to be approved,”

says FAMU NAA General Counsel Reggie

Mitchell. “The vote will take place during

the 2016 National Convention in Tampa,

Fla. It is one of the first items on the

agenda.”

FAMU NAA President Tommy

Mitchell, Sr. says the Africa chapter

further emphasizes the global

impact that FAMU alumni have on

the world.

“I was delighted to learn that

there was interest in forming

an alumni chapter in

Africa,” says Mitchell,

Sr. “I don’t think

there is any place in the world that

you can go without running into FAMU

alumni.”

Mitchell Sr. says the FAMU NAA

strives to make it easier for alumni to

participate where they are and in the way

that best serves their needs. Recently,

the NAA approved a new chapter in Las

Vegas, Nev., and an affinity chapter for

the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering,

which will become part of the Florida

region. The NAA is also eyeing potentional

chapters in the Bahamas, Dominican

Republic, Brazil, and China, as there have

been a rise in students coming from

these locations and alumni moving to

these locations.

“We want to expand our involvement

so that we don’t exclude anyone,” says

Mitchell Sr.

Reflecting on his efforts to stimulate

international alumni involvement,

Boateng says it has always been about

living out what FAMU

instilled in him:

using his “Head,

Heart, Hand,

and Field” to

serve Africa

and the next

generation.


As


Whether on social media, in team practices, at games, or around the community, one is sure to hear

the echoing of the Department’s new mantra developed by Overton upon his arrival: “Building champions

in the classroom, on the field, and in life.”

“Florida A&M University’s passion for excellence in academics and athletics clearly align with my

personal mission to inspire young leaders to make a difference in our nation and around the globe. I

believe that a first-class education combined with a great student-athlete experience helps

mold champions,” Overton said.

According to President Elmira Mangum, Ph.D., Overton’s approach is

aligned with her vision for FAMU Athletics.

“Milton Overton demonstrates the level of excellence, academic

leadership, and sound administrative experience needed to lead FAMU’s

Department of Athletics,” said Mangum. “I am impressed with his pro-

fessional narrative and the type of role model that he has already

become to our student-athletes and the FAMU community.”

While FAMU holds championship MEAC titles in baseball,

women’s cross country, women’s outdoor track and field, softball,

and cheerleading, Overton is focusing on building champions from the

inside out. And he’s building upon the previous academic successes

of such teams as women’s track and field with a GPA of 3.1, women’s

bowling with a GPA of 3.0., and men’s tennis with a GPA of 3.5.

“FAMU has a great group of student-athletes, coaches, and staff in

place,” Overton said. “I can promise—confidently—to deliver the kind of results

necessary to live up to the rich legacy of this premier University.”

Overton was preceded by a multi-year NCAA Accelerating Academic Success

Program Comprehensive Grant for $675,000. The funding was timely, as it was just what

was needed to provide support for improving the University’s Academic Performance Rate and imple-

menting its improvement plan. The grant is already being put to great use, as it is helping to support

initiatives to help student success, graduation, and retention. He has coupled the opportunities provided

through the grant and alumni and community support, with new initiatives that provide leadership and

professional development for student-athletes.

Under Overton’s watch, the focus of every practice, every meeting, every study session, and at every

event is to build the whole student-athlete.

It has been nearly five months since long-time administratorMilton Overton was selected to lead FAMU’s 16 intercollegiate athletics programs and oversee the University’s corrective action plan to improve academic progress. And within this short time, Overton has already been successful in infusing a culture of academic excellence within the University’s Department of Athletics.

FAMU ATHLETICS FOCUSES ONWINNING IN THE CLASSROOM


“The NCAA and the University have

made a financial commitment to ensure

our student-athletes have the resources

that they need to be successful in the

classroom, and I encourage everyone

in the Rattler Community to join us,”

Overton said.

New and revamped programs

being implemented include the

Enhanced Academic Support

Monitoring Program, Rattler Summer

Institute, and Ready to STRIKE, a

fifth-year exhausted eligibility degree

completion initiative.

TEAM WORK

MAKES THE DREAMS WORK

According to Overton, each of the

programs have one thing in common –

teamwork. He often touts that it takes

teamwork to build a well-rounded stu-

dent-athlete, and most of all to build a

true championship program. Overton

echoes this sentiment to the FAMU

Athletics staff during team meetings.

“Either we rise together, or we fall

together… the choice is ours,” he says.

While the focus on academic

achievement, and developing the whole

Rattler, may seem like a lot to balance

while working to improve FAMU’s

outcomes on the field, Overton points

to one team that shows anything is

possible.

“The FAMU tennis team is a prime

example of how we want our teams

to achieve academically. Our first tier

to building champions is academics.

Without strong academics, on-court (or

on-field) successes are marginalized,”

he said.

Five FAMU tennis players, as well

as the entire team, recently earned

the prestigious Intercollegiate Tennis

Association’s 2014-2015 All-Academic

Award. In order for a team to receive

this honor, each player’s GPA. must be

at least 3.5 or above.

Head Tennis Coach Carl Goodman,

Ph.D., takes pride in the academic

success of his student-athletes.

“They are truly scholar-athletes,”

Goodman said. “They go hard in practice

and find time and energy to go to their

rooms or library to study. It’s rare to

see a whole team like that.”

According to Overton, one of

the key players in executing the new

vision for FAMU Athletics is the De-

partment’s staff, such as the proposal

team for the NCAA grant (Associate

Athletic Directors E. D’Wayne Robinson

and Angela Adams Suggs, Assistant

Director for Access and Athletic

Academic Support Joycelyn Ellenwood,

Director of University Assessment

Mark Howse, Ph.D., and Faculty Athletic

Representative Ebenezer Oriaku,

Ph.D.). Not to mention, Academic

Advisor Anthony Williams, who proudly

represented the University as he was

recognized by the National Association

of Academic Athletic Advisors during its

annual institute.

As the FAMU community

looks to the Rattlers to

bring home some big wins

this fall and throughout the

year, the FAMU athletics

team remains hopeful that

Rattler fans will not

only be proud of

their work on the

field, but more

importantly be

inspired by their

performance

as scholars and

community

servants off the

field.

Get to Know Milton Overton

By FAMU Sports Information

Milton Overton’s career spans 20 years

in intercollegiate athletics administration. At

the University of Alabama, Overton provided

oversight of a $25 million budget, including

seven business units. These units included the

No. 1 trademark licensing program for intercol-

legiate athletics, Crimson Tide Productions, and

the ESPN SEC Network, marketing and branding,

outbound ticket sales, and event technology.

Overton is a 2009 graduate of the NCAA

Pathway Program. A four-year starter as an

offensive lineman at the University of Oklahoma,

Overton earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology

in 1995. He then went on to earn two master’s

degrees in 1998, one in higher education and

administration, and the other in human relations.

Overton worked in academic services and as

the CHAMPS/LifeSkills Coordinator for the OU

Sooners before joining the Athletics Department

at Texas Christian University in 1999. Overton

was director of Academic Support at

TCU, where he also served as an

adjunct professor.

He joined Texas A&M University

as assistant athletics director for

Academic Services in 2002 before

being promoted to associate

athletics director for Sports

Administration and Technology

Advancement in 2003. He raised

$250,000 for men’s tennis facility

upgrades and led renovations and

construction for several other facilities,

including Kyle Field. He also provided oversight

to seven TAMU Sports programs.

Overton was the founder and CEO of Enki

System Inc. from 2000-2011, which provided

software solutions for athletic-academic

support programs across the country.

BY [Issac MORGAN ]

After serving as the assistant athletic director at

the University of Central Florida for the past four years,

Courtney Vinson has accepted the associate athletic

director and senior woman administrator position at the

University of Memphis. University of Memphis Athletics

Director Tom Bowen said he was excited to welcome

Vinson to the university, where she will oversee the

operations of the Athletics Office of Compliance.

“We conducted a national search and had an

incredible group of qualified candidates for this position,”

Memphis Director of Athletics Tom Bowen said. “We

were pleased that Courtney decided to be a part of the

process.“

Vinson, who is a distinguished 2003 graduate of

FAMU’s School of Journalism & Graphic Communication,

will also serve as the sports administrator for several

of the university’s programs and be responsible for

supporting the operations of the CHAMPS Life Skills

Program. Her role also includes working with academic

advising as a liaison.

At FAMU, the Long Island, N.Y. native was a member

of the track and field team and graduated with a

bachelor’s degree in journalism. Her career spans four

years with UCF, overseeing the athletics compliance

office, and serving as the director of compliance at

Clemson University (2008-11). Vinson earned her

master’s degree in athletic administration from Marshall

University in 2006.

applause

The Root selected Meredith Clark as one of its

prestigious top 100 African-American “achievers and

influencers” between the ages of 25 and 45 who’ve

affected the landscape of the year. While pursuing a

doctorate degree in the School of Journalism and Mass

Communication at the University of North Carolina

- Chapel Hill, Clark wrote her dissertation on “Black

Twitter.” She is currently celebrated for her research and

commentary on the #BlackLivesMatter movement.

Clark is currently an assistant professor at the

Mayborn School of Journalism. She has subsequently

served in various capacities such as a reporter,

columnist, editorial board member and community

newspaper editor at newspapers including the Capitol

Outlook, the Tallahassee Democrat, and the Raleigh

News & Observer. She received her bachelor’s degree in

political science and her master’s degree in journalism

from FAMU.

Clark was joined on the list by fellow Rattlers from

various industries, including Mayor Andrew Gillum, Rob

Hardy, Will Packer, Dee Rees, Common, and Umi Selah,

formerly known as Phillip Agnew.

Courtney Vinson Hired as Associate AD at University of Memphis

Meredith Clark Named on the Root 100 List of African-American “Achievers and Influencers”


Pastor Tom Hafer, director of

spiritual services for Gulf Coast

Village, recently received national

recognition as the recipient of the

Volunteers of America Leadership

in Ministry Award.

Following his motto, “Caring

for Yourself to Better Care for

Others,” Pastor Tom Hafer gives

advice on ways ministers and their

communities can lead a better and

more active lifestyle. Pastor Hafer

preaches about why it is important

for ministers to be physically fit.and

travels the country empowering

various communities. He received

his bachelor’s degree from FAMU

in physical therapy. He attended

the Lutheran Theological Seminary

of Philadelphia and received a

master’s degree in religion in

2006.

Tom Hafer Receives Volunteers of America Leadership in Ministry Award

At the 2015 Florida Dental

Association Convention in Orlando,

Fla., the Florida Dental Association

(FDA) presented Dr. Robert Hayling

with the Special Recognition Award.

In 1951, shortly after

graduating from Florida A&M

University, Robert Hayling enlisted

in the United States Air Force

where he earned a commissioned

officer rank of first lieutenant

before pursuing a career in

dentistry. In 1960, Hayling

graduated from Meharry Medical

College School of Dentistry in

Nashville with a dental degree.

Hayling was the first African

American in Florida to become

a member the American Dental

Association with all rights and

privileges of membership. He was

also instrumental in Florida’s Civil

Rights Movement.

Civil Rights Leader Robert Hayling Honored by Florida Dental Association

Smith Joseph was selected

last November to finish the

remainder of North Miami Mayor

Lucie Tondreau’s term. He was

recently re-elected after earning

7,058 votes, just over 54 percent

of North Miami voters. Joseph

is excited about the opportunity

to foster “real change” in North

Miami.

He received his doctorate in

pharmacy in 1991 from FAMU. He

went on to become a registered

pharmacist at Walgreens, then a

clinical pharmacist at Miami Heart

Institute. In 2010, he enlisted the

help of a few doctors and nurses

and funded one of the few Haitian-

American led medical mission

teams that assisted in the Haiti

earthquake relief efforts.

North Miami Re-elects Smith Joseph as Mayor

FAMU alumna Dee Rees, who is the director of the

HBO film “Bessie” starring Queen Latifah, was recently

nominated for an Emmy Award. Her nomination marked

the first time in history an African-American woman was

nominated simultaneously for “Writing For a Limited

Series, Movie or a Dramatic Special” and “Directing For a

Limited Series, Movie or a Dramatic Special.”

Rees received her MBA from FAMU before attending

New York University’s graduate film program. She has

written and directed several short films including Orange

Bow and Pariah. Pariah was a finalist for the 2009

Sundance/NHK International Award.

Dee Rees Receives Historic Emmy Nomination for HBO Film “Bessie”


Voorhees College President

Cleveland Sellers named Teesa

Brunson assistant vice president for

Institutional Advancement.

In her new role, Brunson will

be charged with implementing all

fundraising efforts, such as annual

fund campaigns, special events and

other fundraising initiatives.

She previously served as

director of communications and

was responsible for overseeing the

college’s marketing efforts. She

has been employed with Voorhees

since 2007. In 2005, Brunson

received her master’s degree in

print journalism from Florida A&M

University. She is currently pursuing

a doctorate in higher education

leadership from Nova Southeastern

University.

Voorhees College Names Teesa Brunson AVP for Institutional Advancement

For many years, Shawn Robinson,

J.D., has been an active member in

his community and has invested his

time in the Kiwanis Club of Tampa,

Ybor City Development Corporation,

Ybor City Chamber, Hillsborough

Kids, the Early Learning Coalition,

and Florida A&M University’s

College of Law Board of Visitors.

As a result of his labor

and dedication Robinson, who

currently serves as the Ybor City

Campus president of Hillsborough

Community College, was awarded

“Alumnus of the Year” by the FAMU

College of Law.

Robinson completed his juris

doctorate degree at the College of

Law in December 2005. He served

fifteen years at Valencia Community

College in Orlando, Fla., where he

served in various capacities from

mathematics professor to dean.

The University of Florida (UF)

College of Veterinary Medicine

named its 2015 Distinguished

Award winners and FAMU alumnus

Glen Wright was among the

selected honorees. Glen Wright,

D.V.M, a 2006 graduate of UF

veterinary medical college, received

the Outstanding Young Alumni

Award.

Wright earned his bachelor’s

degree from FAMU in 2002,

and he was recruited back to

FAMU for the job he now holds

as the director of the Veterinary

Technology Program. He was

instrumental in leading the FAMU

program through accreditation by

the American Veterinary Medical

Association. Currently, Wright

serves on the UF veterinary college

admissions committee.

HCC Ybor City Campus President Shawn Robinson Awarded Alumnus of the Year

Glen Wright Honored with UF Outstanding Young Alumni Award

‘The Daily Show has selected comedian and FAMU Alumnus

Roy Wood Jr. as one of its newest correspondents. While

attending Florida A&M University in 1998, Wood began his

journey into comedy at the early age of 19. Roy Wood Jr., a

Birmingham native, joins the show as a regular contributor,

along with Ronny Chieng and Desi Lydic. The standup comedian

has been celebrated as “a standout” by The Hollywood Reporter.

Entertainment Weekly describes his style as “charismatic

crankiness.” A proud 2001 graduate of FAMU’s School of

Journalism & Graphic Communication, Wood has been featured

regularly on many national TV shows such as “Conan” and

ESPN’s “Sports Nation,” to name a few.

Comedian Roy Wood Joins the Daily Show


Attorney and current FAMU

College of Law Alumni Alliance

President LaDray Gilbert was

recently given the school’s

Distinguished Alumni Award in

Orlando, Fla.

Gilbert’s dedication and service

to the law school were among the

highlights listed when he received

the award, which was the first of its

kind given by the FAMU College of

Law since it re-opened at its Orlando

location.

Since graduation, Attorney

LaDray Gilbert has established a

bar prep scholarship at the law

school that is given each year to a

deserving student as a resource to

help them cover expenses during

the bar exam. He was elected as

the president of the school’s alumni

organization earler this year.

Attorney LaDray Gilbert Receives Distinguished Alumni Award

FAMU Board of Trustees

member Torey Alston was

recently listed by Legacy Magazine

among its 2015 “40 Under 40”

influencers. Alston received his

bachelor’s degree and an MBA with

a concentration in marketing and

management from FAMU.

While at FAMU, he served in

various leadership roles including

two terms as class president,

student senator, and president of

the FAMU Student National Alumni

Association.

Alston is a life member of

the NAACP, FAMU National

Alumni Association, and Province

Life Member of Kappa Alpha

Psi Fraternity, Inc. He resides

in Gainesville and is the newly

appointed equal opportunity director

for the City.

Legacy Magazine Names Torey Alston Among its 2015 “40 Under 40” List

FAMU graduate Melton Mustafa

was selected as a quarter-finalist

for the 2015 Grammy Music

Educator Award. This is his second

nomination, and he placed in the top

200 out of 7,000 teachers.

Mustafa is from a musically

inclined family. His father performed

with Duke Ellington and Count Basie,

among others. Currently, Mustafa

works as a professor of music at

Florida Memorial University in Miami

Gardens. In addition, he teaches six

classes at Parkway Middle School,

and helps other young instructors

who are trying to establish their

own programs by making himself

available for personal mentoring,

clinics, and workshops.

Melton Mustafa Selected as Quarter Finalist for Grammy Educator Award

Community activist, alumnus, and Miami native Christopher C. Smith

started his career at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, Fla. as a clinical

pharmacist. Smith realized that he had a passion for clinical practice areas

such as critical care, emergency medicine, and psychiatry.

After several years of working in these fields at Memorial Regional

Hospital, Smith redirected his focus on a more administrative role and was

first promoted to clinical supervisor, and then operations coordinator in the

inpatient pharmacy in 2010. From there the rest is history. He is the first

African American to hold the lead pharmacy operations position at Memorial

Regional Hospital. As the director of Clinical Pharmacy Operations, he is

responsible for overseeing the Memorial Regional Pharmacy’s operations and

finances in its entirety.

Memorial Regional Hospital Names Christopher Smith New Director of Pharmacy


From The Bookshelf

Guzmán Chronicles the Life of L.A. Nixon

In the fall of 1999, Will Guzman met Maceo C. Dailey, Ph.D., the director

of the African-American Studies program at the University of Texas at El Paso

(UTEP), during a visit to FAMU’s campus. Guzmán was taking graduate courses

at the time, and Dailey encouraged him to enroll in UTEP’s new history doctoral

program, mentioning the possibility of writing the biography of activist and

physician Lawrence A. Nixon.

Eventually, Guzmán decided to begin his doctoral studies at UTEP and work on

the Nixon biography. After completing nearly three years of research, Guzmán

said his decision to write the biography was one that he would never regret.

Guzman’s new book, “Civil Rights in the Texas Borderlands: Dr. Lawrence A.

Nixon and Black Activism,” highlights some of Nixon’s major accomplishments

including his efforts in challenging the laws that prohibited African

Americans from voting in the democratic primary

elections, cofounding his local NAACP chapter,

and pursuing a college degree during

a time when few African Americans

were able to attend institutions of

higher learning.

“As the nation celebrates the 50th

year of the Voting Rights Act, signed into

law in August 1965, it is only fitting that L.A.

Nixon’s life story is published this year as well,”

Guzmán said.

Guzmán said his students have directly benefited from

the knowledge and experiences he gained while conducting

research and writing the book. He explained that the publication

process required an abundance of patience and fortitude, but

he has transferred this into his lectures and assignments to enhance the

classroom environment.

“The experiences I have gained at FAMU, both as a student and as an

assistant professor for the Department of History and Political Science, have

been tremendously invaluable,” Guzmán said. “They have enriched me personally

and most importantly intellectually. The name and brand that comes with FAMU

has cachet which has afforded me many opportunities and thus allowed my

career to grow.”

“Civil Rights in the Texas Borderlands: Dr. Lawrence A. Nixon and Black

Activism” can be purchased at a number of places including amazon.com,

the FAMU bookstore, and by calling 1-800-621-2736 or visiting the website

go.illinois.edu/s15guzman.

5WILL GUZMÁN, PH.D.

As the nation celebrates the 50th year of the Voting Rights Act, signed into law in August 1965, it is only fitting that L.A. Nixon’s life story is published this year as well...

- Will Guzman, Ph.D.


5ARIAN SIMONE

Bereola Drops Knowledge for the ‘Gentlewoman’

After his first book, “Bereolasque: The Contemporary Gentleman & Etiquette Book for the Urban

Sophisticate,” debuted in the top five on the iTunes self-improvement book list in 2009 and became

an Amazon Kindle bestseller, Enitan Bereola II decided to follow the same formula for his second

release, this time focusing his attention on the ladies.

Bereola, a 2006 graduate of the FAMU School of Business and Industry,

recently debuted “Gentlewoman: Etiquette for a Lady, from a Gentleman.”

While the book focuses on women, it is written from a male perspective

and provides commentary on the evolution of femininity in contemporary

society. In his “author’s letter,” Bereola said his book explores the demise of

femininity and class in contemporary society.

Though he is offering women advice throughout the book, Bereola said

he remains sensitive to the fact that men do not experience the world from

the same viewpoint of a woman. In an effort to provide the most meaningful

advice to women of all ages and backgrounds, Bereola conducted research

and engaged in conversation with a variety of women from his speaking and

book tours and on social media.

Releasing “Gentlewoman: Etiquette for a Lady, from a Gentleman” took

Bereola three years preparation time. After debuting as the No. 1 “Hot New Release” in

all of its categories and becoming a bestseller on Amazon, Bereola said he considers this

to be his most important book to date and the work of which he his most proud of producing.

“Gentlewoman: Etiquette for a Lady, from a Gentleman” is available on Amazon.com. It is

also available at Barnes and Noble online.

The book is also available at www.bereolaesque-online.com.

Simone Pens Book on ‘Fabulous, Fearless’ Journey

Upon graduating from the FAMU School of Business and Industry in 2003,

Arian Simone had huge career aspirations. She landed a job in Los Angeles in

2004, but was laid off after just one month of employment. Simone was forced to

live out of her car, selling her clothing and belongings to pay for gas and food, but

she did not let that stop her from making her dreams of success come true.

After seven months of being homeless, Simone began receiving referrals for her

public relations and marketing work. She went on to do work in the film industry for

movies such as “Stomp The Yard,” “This Christmas,” “Takers,” “Quantum of Solace

007,” “Hancock,” “Seven Pounds,” “First Sunday,” “Taking of Pelham 1 2 3,” and

many more.

Now, Simone has released a new book about her journey to success entitled

“My Fabulous and Fearless Journey: From Homeless to Hollywood.” Discussing her new release,

Simone explained that she chose to transparently share her story because she wants it to serve as

an inspiration for all readers to continue to pursue their dreams despite the hurdles they may have to

overcome.

Simone currently hosts “Fearless Discussions,” where she focuses on an array of topics including

beauty, fame, character, and love. In addition to her speaking tours, Simone recently wrapped up her

book tour for “My Fabulous and Fearless Journey.”

“My Fabulous and Fearless Journey: From Homeless to Hollywood” is available on iTunes,

Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, and at www.ariansimone.com.


Campus NotesFAMU Faculty Members

Publish Patent

Congratulations are in

order for inventors Mehboob

B. Sheikh, Ph.D., Devaiah

Kambiranda, Ph.D., and

Hemanth KN Vasanthaiah,

Ph.D., who recently published

their patent on genes from

muscadines and Florida

hybrid grapes. This invention

relates to protection against,

and resistance to, pathogen

attacks in grapes. Their

patent number, 9,051,381

was issued June 9, 2015.

Sheikh is a professor of

plant biotechnology at the

FAMU College of Agriculture

and Food Sciences’ Center

for Viticulture and Small Fruit

Research. The field-grown

muscadine and Florida

hybrid bunch grape cultivars

maintained at the Center’s

vineyard were used for field

and bioassay studies.

FAMU is Home to Six

Prestigious McKnight

Fellowship Recipients

Six Florida Agricultural

and Mechanical University

(FAMU) students have been

selected to participate in

the Florida Education Fund

(FEF) McKnight Dissertation

Fellowship and McKnight

Doctoral Fellowship programs.

The 2015-2016

Dissertation Fellowship

recipients include Felicia

Williams, whose area of focus

is educational leadership, as

well as Jason Caldwell and

Krystal Pree, whose areas of

focus are in the environmental

sciences.

This fellowship provides

one year of financial support

by way of a stipend for up

to $12,000 for students

completing their dissertation

in STEM disciplines. Awardees

demonstrate superior

academic achievement and

are committed to careers in

teaching and research at the

university or college level.

FAMU students Niya King

and Brandon Moton were

both selected to participate

in the McKnight Doctoral

Fellowship Program. King is

pursuing a doctoral degree in

civil engineering, and Moton

is pursuing a Doctor of Public

Health degree. Kimberly

Barber, who is pursuing a

Doctor of Pharmacy degree

in pharmaceutical sciences

with an emphasis in medicinal

chemistry, was named an

Affiliate McKnight Doctoral

Fellow.

The Doctoral Fellowships

provide full tuition or up to

$5,000 per year to awardees,

and an annual stipend of

$12,000 for students

pursuing doctoral degrees in

the fields of arts and sciences,

business, engineering, visual

and performance arts, health

sciences, and nursing at

one of nine approved Florida

universities.

The program is

designed to address the

underrepresentation of

African-American and

Hispanic faculty at colleges

and universities in Florida

by increasing the number

of minorities with doctoral

degrees to ensure greater

eligibility for teaching at the

college and university levels.

White House Names Two

FAMU Students HBCU

All-Stars

The White House Initiative

on Historically Black Colleges

and Universities (HBCUs)

has named two Florida

Agricultural and Mechanical

University (FAMU) students

2015 “HBCU All-Stars.”

The U.S. Department

of Education recently

announced the names of 83

undergraduate, graduate, and

professional students from 70

HBCUs who have been tapped

to serve as ambassadors to

the White House by providing

outreach and communication

with fellow students about the

value of education.

FAMU graduate students

Gilda Brown and Jennifer

Smith were selected as

All-Stars from a pool of more

than 450 applicants.

According to the initiative’s

executive director, Ivory A.

Toldson, this year’s class

of All-Stars will serve as

representatives of the talent

that HBCUs cultivate and

will help the White House

“meaningfully engage with

students, showcase their

talent, and advance our

agenda to advance academic

excellence at HBCUs.”

FAMU President Elmira

Mangum, Ph.D., recognized

Brown and Smith before the

University community during

her recent “State of the

University,” address.

As ambassadors, Brown

and Smith will assist President

Barack Obama in achieving

his goal of increasing the

percentage of African

Americans who complete

college. Also, the students

will have the opportunity to

engage with other HBCU

scholars to showcase their

individual and collective talents

across the HBCU community.

They will also be

responsible for promoting

the initiative’s programs on

FAMU’s campus, social media,

and at regional and national

events.

Brown is a second-year

pharmacology student in the

FAMU College of Pharmacy

and Pharmaceutical Sciences

master’s degree program.

Smith, an Atlanta native, who

is pursuing her master’s

degree in curriculum and

instruction.

FAMU’s School of Nursing

Listed Among Nation’s Top

Programs

The Florida Agricultural and

Mechanical University School

of Nursing’s fall semester is

off to an incredible start. Not

only did its graduate program

recently receive the maximum

eight-year reaccreditation

from the Accreditation


4

Commission for Education

in Nursing (ACEN), but the

school has also been ranked

among the top 20 best value

nursing programs in the U.S.

by BestValueSchools.com,

and among the top 25 (No.

21 out of 1,189 entries)

nursing programs in the

eastern region by The Nursing

Journal.

The BestValueSchools.com

ranking system was created

using the National Center

for Education Statistics’

College Navigator Database

to identify the most affordable

competitive institutions

offering undergraduate

nursing degrees. The site

also applauded FAMU for

its ideal location and giving

nursing majors easy access

to fieldwork in large hospitals,

small community clinics, and

other facilities.

The Nursing Journal’s

ranking system recognizes

America’s top nursing

programs that offer the

best value for its students,

including a high-quality

education at a reasonable

cost, and educational options

that make it easier for today’s

busy students to attend.

Passage rates and student

satisfaction are also among

the metrics used to identify

the best programs the nation

has to offer. Only three other

Florida universities made

the top 25: the University

of Florida, University of

South Florida, and Florida

International University.

FAMU’s School of Nursing

currently offers the following

degrees and programs:

a Bachelor of Science in

Nursing (BSN), the Fast-Track

Registered Nurse-BSN

Program, a Master of Science

in Nursing (MSN); and the

Doctor of Philosophy in

Nursing Science Cooperative

Program with the University

of Florida and Florida State

University.

Also, post-degree

certificate programs for

students with master degrees

in advanced practice nursing

(APN) and non-APN roles are

offered.

FAMU is Top HBCU for

Research and Development

A National Science

Foundation (NSF) report

lists Florida Agricultural and

Mechanical University (FAMU)

as the No.1 historically Black

college or university (HBCU) in

the nation for total research

and development (R&D)

expenditures.

The NSF recently released

data from its Federal Science

and Engineering Support to

Universities, Colleges, and

Nonprofit Institutions study,

which reveals that the top 20

HBCUs combined, had total

R&D expenditures of $455.1

million, while FAMU alone

accounted for a staggering

$51.1 million of that amount.

The work of FAMU’s

research community will be

on display this fall during the

Inaugural Discovery on Parade

Showcase, a collaborative effort

between FAMU, Florida State

University, and Tallahassee

Community College. The event is

scheduled for Dec. 1 at 5 p.m. at

the Augustus B. Turnbull Florida

State Conference Center.

FAMU is One of Forbes’ Top

American Colleges

Florida Agricultural and

Mechanical University (FAMU)

has been named by Forbes

magazine as one of “America’s

Top Colleges” for 2015. Forbes

also listed FAMU as one of its

“Best in the South” colleges.

Universities and colleges

appearing on the list are

recognized for providing their

students with the best return-on-

investment in categories such

as student satisfaction, post-

graduate success, academic

success, career success,

nationally competitive awards,

student debt, retention, and

graduation rates.

Other universities and

colleges listed included Pomona,

Princeton, Harvard, Yale, Brown,

Columbia, and Cornell.

The rankings are prepared

exclusively for Forbes by the

Center for College Affordability

and Productivity, a Washington,

D.C. think tank founded by Ohio

University economist Richard

Vedder.

President Receives Global

Honor

Celebrating Women

International named FAMU

President Elmira Mangum, Ph.D.,

a 2015 Women of Distinction

Global Leadership Award in

Education honoree.

Celebrating Women

International is an organization

that aims to mobilize and inspire

women across the globe and to

recognize and celebrate their

contributions. The organization

has also been instrumental in

the fight against cancer and

HIV/AIDS.

President Mangum was

recognized on Oct. 3, the date

of the University’s founding

in 1887, during the annual

Women of Distinction Awards

ceremony in Paradise Island,

Bahamas.

During the ceremony, women

from around the globe who have

made significant contributions

to art, business, education,

finance and trade, religion, law,

civics, media, and sports were

recognized.

President Mangum was

honored alongside global leaders

such as Muriel A. Howard,

Ph.D., president of the American

Association of State Colleges

and Universities; Donna E.

Shalala, former United States

Secretary of Health and Human

Services; Sheikha Lubna Bint

Khalid Al Qasimi, minister of

International Cooperation and

Development for the United

Arab Emirates; Nontombi Naomi

Tutu, race and gender justice

activist; Sandra Granger, first

lady of Guyana; Joyce Banda,

former president of the Republic

of Malawi; Whitney Houston

(posthumously), music icon;

and Sheryl Lee Ralph, activist,

actress, and producer.


Campus NotesFAMU Small Business

Center Receives High Honor

Since its inception, the

Florida Small Business

Development Center at Florida


University has assisted

thousands of North Florida

businesses from startup to

company growth.

In recognition of its

profound impact on Florida’s

small business community,

the Center’s Associate

Director Aundra’ McGlockton

Sr., was recently honored

at the Florida SBDC 2015

Performance Excellence

Awards. McGlockton received

the “Florida Star of the Year”

award. The Star Award is the

highest given by the SBDC to

employees who have made

extraordinary contributions to

their state network.

In 2014, McGlockton was

instrumental in helping the

Center’s clients obtain equity

investments and loans totaling

more than $3.6 million.

He also assisted his clients

in creating and retaining

144 jobs. In total, 298

entrepreneurs and business

owners were serviced by the

Center in 2014, translating

into 5,481 consulting hours,

884 jobs, $27.8 million in

government contracts, and

$4.8 million in investment

capital.

McGlockton was

recognized at the 35th Annual

America’s SBDC Conference

in San Francisco, Calif. this

September.

The Florida SBDC at

FAMU professional staff of

consultants and trainers

provides comprehensive,

confidential business

consulting services that are at

no cost to the client.

The Center is funded in

part through a cooperative

agreement with the U.S. Small

Business Administration and

Florida A&M University. The

SBDC at FAMU serves eight

counties within the Northwest

Florida region, from Leon to

Madison.

FAMU, Domi Station

to Provide Innovation

Opportunities for Students

FAMU has signed a

historic agreement with

North Florida’s Domi Station,

located at 914 Railroad Ave.

in Tallahassee, to provide

its students with a space to

incubate their business ideas.

FAMU’s School of Business

and Industry (SBI) facilitated

the partnership with Domi

Station. It offers incubator

and co-working space with the

goal of establishing a makers

community and inspiring the

development of high-impact

startup companies among

students. The incubator

program invests in early-stage

entrepreneurs and

accelerates their growth by

providing access to a network

of mentors, investors, and

collaborators.

Through the partnership,

graduate and student

entrepreneurs of all ages will

be exposed to experiential

learning and have access to

the many services offered by

Domi Station.

These services include four

dedicated incubator spaces

for FAMUans to house their

businesses at Domi, where

they will receive mentoring on

the viability of their business

models, and on the funding

and staffing needs for their

businesses, according to

Shawnta Friday-Stroud, Ph.D.,

dean of SBI.

According to SBI and

Domi Station organizers,

students get exposed

to all sides of business

administration as well as

in-depth industry knowledge

in developing a product or

service. Additionally, they

will be eligible for all the

rights and privileges of any

Domi member, including

spending time with and having

access to professionals with

backgrounds in intellectual

property law, strategic

marketing, and venture

capital.

FAMU Makes History with

Two Black Female Doctoral

Graduates in Physics

Florida Agricultural


continues to be the top

producer of doctoral

degrees awarded to African

Americans in science,

technology, engineering,

and mathematics-related

programs (STEM), according

to the FAMU Annual

Accountability Report.

Staci R. Brown from

Chicago, Illinois and Patrice

Jackson-Edwards from

Jacksonville, Florida both

received their doctoral

degrees in physics during the

2015 Spring Commencement

exercise. Doctoral degrees

in physics received by Black

women are a rare and

uncommon occurrence.

According to data provided by

the Integrated Postsecondary

Education Data System

(IPEDS), there were

approximately 1,600 doctoral

degrees awarded in physics

in 2013-2014; none were

received by women, and only

two were received by Blacks,

both of which were earned at

FAMU.

Both women received

undergraduate degrees

in physics from FAMU

and presented research

on various topics such as

detection sensitivity and

the use of K-shell X-ray

Fluorescence (KXRF).

FAMU Researchers Win

1st Place at NSF Innovation

Competition

A team of Florida


University (FAMU)

researchers took home

the first place award at the

National Science Foundation

Innovation Corps (NSF I-Corps)

competition held in Atlanta.

The competition brought

together 21 teams from

across the Eastern U.S.


comprised of the most

innovative researchers.

Researchers were challenged

to transfer their knowledge

into products and processes

that benefit society, and show

the potential for broader

applicability and impact in the

commercial world.

Principal Investigator Y.

Ping Hsieh, Ph.D., a professor

in the FAMU College of

Agriculture and Food Sciences

Center for Water and Air

Quality led FAMU’s team.

Biochemist Xiaoling Ding,

Ph.D., served as the team’s

entrepreneur lead, and

Lawrence Tinker, Ph.D., of

the Florida Institute for the

Commercialization of Public

Research, served as the

team’s mentor.

The FAMU team of

innovators represented

the only historically Black

university or college (HBCU)

selected to participate

in the competition. The

University outpaced several

of the nation’s top research

programs, including Harvard,

with their project titled, “Multi-

Element Scanning Thermal

Analysis” or MESTA.

According to Hsieh, the

rapid MESTA technology

is poised to benefit society

in areas such as domestic

security and environmental

health. Within just 30

minutes, MESTA can

characterize and analyze the

materials that comprise a

variety of complex compounds

from the air and crude oil to

mysterious white powders

and wetland soils.

MESTA is funded by a

$50,000 grant from the

NSF. According to Hsieh, the

next step is to determine the

best commercial uses and

best options for taking the

technology to market.

FAMU and Siaya County,

Kenya Governor Sign MOU

FAMU Provost Marcella

David and Siaya County, Kenya

Governor Cornell Rasanga

Amoth signed a memorandum

of understanding (MOU) today.

The MOU will open the door

to enhancing educational

and research opportunities

between FAMU and Siaya

County as well as provide

a roadmap for further

expansion by FAMU in Kenya

and East Africa. The MOU

will enhance access to quality

education for the people

of Siaya County. It will also

provide for joint educational

and research activities,

exchange of students and

scholars, and increased

funding opportunities for the

College of Agriculture and

Food Sciences (CAFS) from

agencies such as USAID,

the U.S. Department of

Agriculture, and other global

organizations.

Siaya County is located in

the southwest part of Kenya

and has a population of more

than 840,000. It is one of 47

counties in the nation. Under

the Constitution of Kenya,

county governments oversee

county health services, trade

development, pre-primary

education, implementation of

specific national government

policies, and public work and

services.

David praised CAFS

Dean Robert Taylor, Ph.D.,

and his staff for forging

the agreement that will put

FAMU at the forefront of

U.S. land-grant institutions

in terms of fostering

collaborative ventures with

African nations.

The MOU also supports

President Barack Obama’s

initiative to improve food

security in Siaya County.

President Obama’s

grandmother is currently an

ambassador of food security

in Siaya County.

FAMU Leading the Way

in Mental Health First Aid

Training

The Florida Agricultural


(FAMU) Center for Ethnic

Psychological Research and

Application (CEPRA) is training

North Florida citizens and

organizations to possess

skills that are in high demand

across the nation in the wake

of recent tragedies.

The mission of the Center

is to promote mental health

wellness, enhance mental

health literacy, and improve

overall behavioral/mental

health for all individuals with

special emphasis on African-

American and underserved

populations. The Center is

a part of the Department of

Psychology and is housed in

the College of Social Sciences,

Arts, and Humanities.

Under the Center’s

leadership, FAMU now offers

the Mental Health First Aid

Course and the Youth Mental

Health First Aid Course.

Mental health first aid is the

assistance an adult provides

for another adult who may

be experiencing a mental

health challenge, and youth

mental health first aid is the

assistance an adult gives a

young person who may be

developing a mental health

problem or experiencing

a mental health crisis.

Participants taking each

course receive a certificate

following the eight-hour

training.

The Center recently

completed trainings with

representatives from the

Gretna Police Department,

the City of Tallahassee, the

Florida Department of Law

Enforcement, the Florida Fish

and Wildlife Conservation,

Florida State University, and

Tallahassee Community

College.

In addition, 23 community

members became certified

youth mental health first

aiders during a training

provided by the Center

in conjunction with the

University’s Annual Imhotep

Interdisciplinary Student

Research Conference.



RattlersFallen

C. William “Bill” Jennings, October 2015

In 1969, Jennings earned a degree in mathematics from FAMU and

later served in the U.S. Army, having been a member of the FAMU ROTC.

During his stellar military service, Jennings worked his way up to the rank of

Lieutenant Colonel.

Jennings spent most of his 30-year professional career with the Greater

Orlando Aviation Authority (Orlando International Airport) and most notably

as its executive director for six years prior to his retirement. Jennings

served as an inaugural member of the FAMU Board of Trustees. His

service included four years as chairman of the Board. He received an honorary doctorate at FAMU’s

Fall 2013 Commencement Ceremony in recognition of his body of work and commitment to the

University. Jennings is recognized as being a significant driving force behind the establishment of the

American Beach Museum in American Beach, Fla., which commemorates the life and work of the great

businessman and entrepreneur, Abraham Lincoln Lewis.

Sybil Collins Mobley, Ph.D., September 2015

Mobley, dean emerita of the School of Business and Industry (SBI), came

to Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in 1945 as a secretary after

graduating from Bishop College in Marshall, Texas. She joined the FAMU faculty

in 1963, after earning an MBA degree from the Wharton School of Business at

the University of Pennsylvania in 1961 and a doctorate degree in accounting from the

University of Illinois in 1963. Mobley quickly rose through the ranks, from assistant professor to

associate professor, then full professor, and from department chair to founding Dean (1974-2003).

She transformed FAMU’s business department into a full-fledged school that garnered national acclaim

for its unorthodox approach and excellence, attracting Fortune 500 companies and international

brands.

Mobley did things her way, creating a five-year MBA program for high achieving high school graduates

who bypassed many introductory college course by acing college entrance exams and opting for an

accelerated, (then) one-of-a-kind graduate degree.

“Her biggest achievement is that she in fact has created a program that is bigger than herself,” says

Art Collins, a 1982 graduate of SBI, managing partner of theGROUP, and former University trustee.

Mobley gave her students a worldwide outlook, requiring students to take internships overseas in

addition to internships for credit with domestic companies.

“What makes ours especially hot is that we don’t let them go without the language, the economy, the

culture, the history…” Mobley once said about the program.


Moise Joseph, September 2015

Joseph graduated from Miami Norland Senior

High and received his higher education from

FAMU, obtaining both his bachelor’s and master’s

degrees in biology from the University. Moise was

a published scientific author and served FAMU

as the director of the Science Lab and a first-

year experience instructor. Joseph had hopes of

pursuing a career as a physician’s assistant and

would often take trips to Haiti with his mother to

visit his grandfather, a village doctor.

C.U. Smith, Ph.D., April 2015

Smith served FAMU for more than 40 years as a

professor, chair of the sociology department, and

director of graduate studies. He was also one of

the first African-American professors at Florida

State University, where he taught courses and

supervised doctoral students from 1966 to 1992.

During his tenure he was a steadfast faculty

supporter of the FAMU student-led Tallahassee

Bus Boycott of 1956. He was also the first

African-American chairman of the Leon County

Democratic Party, and was instrumental in the

planning and coordination phase of the FAMU Way

Extension Project. He earned a bachelor’s degree

from Tuskegee Institute, a master’s degree from

Fisk University, and a doctorate degree from

Washington State University.

George Cooper, Ph.D., July 2015

Cooper earned a bachelor’s degree in animal

husbandry from FAMU. He also earned a master’s

degree in animal science from Tuskegee University

and a doctorate degree in animal nutrition from

the University of Illinois – Urbana. Cooper most

recently served as the Executive Director of

the White House Initiative on Historically Black

Colleges and Universities. Prior to that, he served

as the 10th president of South Carolina State

University. His professional career included 17

years at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s

National Institute of Food and Agriculture and

faculty appointments at several universities.

Henry James, January 2015

James served as an employee in the FAMU Plant

Operations and Maintenance Division for more

than 40 years.

Laverne P. Davis, February 2015

Davis was a retiree who served as a faculty

member in FAMU’s School of Nursing for more

than 39 years.

Denise C. Jones, March 2015

Jones served as an administrative assistant to

the registrar at FAMU for 15 years. Prior to that,

she was employed in the sales department of

News Day, a daily newspaper in the metro New

York area and as a supervisor of classified ads for

Gannett News.

Florazelle S. Teele, April 2015

Teele served as a University Housing employee

and “Dorm Mother” for McGuinn Hall prior to her

retirement.

Ben J. Fleming, Sr., April 2015

Fleming earned a bachelor’s degree from FAMU

in 1973. As a student he was a member of the

Marching “100” and participated in many featured

performances including the 1969 Super Bowl III

“America Thanks” halftime show.

Chhagan R. Dalsania, May 2015

Dalsania served in several capacities at FAMU

during his career to include coordinator of the

Central Heating Plant in the Division of Plant

Operations and Maintenance.

Aaron Goodwin, May 2015

Goodwin was a graduate student in the School

of Architecture and Engineering Technology at

FAMU, where he also earned a bachelor’s degree

in architecture in 2014. He received his master’s

degree posthumously from the University during

the 2015 summer commencement.

Nellie Campbell, May 2015

Campbell served for many years as a custodian at

FAMU prior to her retirement.

Sarah Foster, Ph.D., June 2015

Foster served for many years as an anthropology

professor in the Department of Sociology and

Criminal Justice at FAMU.

Don Anderson, June 2015

Anderson served as an assistant men’s basketball

coach at FAMU, prior to that he served as director

of Basketball Operations at Jacksonville University.

During his career, he also served as head coach

at Gettysburg College, senior assistant head coach

at Mount Saint Mary’s College, and in additional

coaching capacities.

Elliot Treadwell, Ph.D., June 2015

Treadwell served as a professor of physics

at FAMU. As a professor he co-invented and

established a patent for a radioactivity detector.

Rev. Bernyce H. Clausell, June 2015

Clausell earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree

from FAMU and was heralded as one of the oldest

living alumni. She was known as Tallahassee’s

“Black Mother Teresa.”

James A. Joyner, M.D., July 2015

Joyner earned a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy

from FAMU and a degree from the Medical

College of Georgia. He served as a devoted

physician and chief of obstetrics at Flagler Hospital

in St. Augustine, Fla., where he was credited with

having a role in the delivery of every child born at

Flagler since 1986.

Virden Evans, Ph.D., July 2015

Evans served as professor emeritus of the

FAMU College of Education. During his tenure

at the University he also served as chairman of

the Health and Physical Education Division, as

assistant dean, and interim dean.

Ivradell W. Haugabrook, August 2015

Haugabrook earned a bachelor’s degree from

FAMU and an MBA from Indiana University. She

served as a department chair and teacher for the

Chicago Board of Education for 25 years.

David L. Daniels, August 2015

Daniels earned a bachelor’s degree from FAMU,

where he served as captain of the football team

and co-captain of the basketball team.

Joyce C. Jones-Miller, August 2015

Miller earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology

from FAMU and a master’s degree in social work

from Clark Atlanta University. She retired from the

Agency of Health Care Administration in 2006,

after more than 35 years of dedicated service.

Ruth Landers Morgan, August 2015

Morgan was a 1937 graduate of the FAMC

Beauty Culture Program. Morgan enjoyed giving

her time and talent to the community, and

attending Rattler football games.

Thyra Echols-Starr, August 2015

Starr earned a bachelor’s degree in business

teacher education from FAMU. She served

professionally as a case manager with the

Department of Student Intervention Services for

the Palm Beach County School District. She also

served as president of the Palm Beach Chapter of

the National Alumni Association.

fall 2015 a&m magazine

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