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FAMU Family Mourns Death of a Student Drum Major

2011-12-14T07:35:00.001-08:00

The Florida A&M University (FAMU) family is mourning the death of Robert Champion, one of the drum majors in FAMU Marching "100," who passed away on Saturday.

According to Ginette Rodriguez, spokeswoman for the Orange County Sheriff's Office, "after the game, the band returned to the Rosen Plaza Hotel (9700 International Drive) and the victim reportedly threw up in the parking lot and started complaining of not being able to breathe. Friends of the victim called 911 and administered CPR. The victim was transported to Doctor Phillips Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. This is an ongoing investigation. There is no sign of foul play at this time."

"We are deeply saddened by this loss," said FAMU President James H. Ammons. "Our hearts and our prayers go out to Mr. Champion's family. This is a major loss for our student body, the Marching "100" and the University."

Champion, a music major from Atlanta, served as one of six drum majors for the 375-member Marching "100" band who traveled to Orlando this weekend for the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Classic. A drum major since spring 2010, Champion had performed in the Classic's half-time show earlier in the day.

"We are in shock," said FAMU Band Director Julian White. "He was a very fine drum major who was of excellent character and very trustworthy. I had not told him yet, but he was slated to be the head drum major next year."

White met with band members early Sunday morning to inform them of Champion's death. The university is preparing to provide grief counseling for band members and other students through the University Counseling Center.

FAMU College of Law Receives $10,000 Gift from Wells Fargo Bank

2011-12-14T07:34:00.001-08:00

ORLANDO, Fla. - Valerie Hendriex, vice president, Senior Community Development Officer at Wells Fargo (third from right), presented a $10,000 commemorative check to FAMU’s College of Law Dean LeRoy Pernell (second from left). The funds will be used to host a mortgage foreclosure workshop through the FAMU Legal Clinic under the direction of Associate Professor Ann Marie Cavazos (right). Also pictured: Mildred Graham, FAMU College of Law Director of Development and Alumni Affairs (left) and Eunice Cassuade-Garcia, visiting instructor and coordinator of the FAMU Housing Clinic (second from right).

CIS Student Awarded NCWIT Student Seed Fund

2011-12-14T07:33:00.002-08:00

The National Conference on Women in Information Technology (NCWIT) has selected Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) African-American Women in Computer Science (AAWCS) Scholarship Program to receive the Return Path Student Seed Fund Grant.

The grant, valued at $500, has been awarded to Olivia Wilson, a junior computer and information sciences student from Tallahassee, Fla.

“I am happy and honored to get this fund,” she said. “With it, I can do more to help recruit for not only our department, but for this field as well.

The grant is to be applied toward activities designed to recruit and attract women to the field of computing. The award will also be announced at the next national NCWIT event.

With this funding, Wilson plans to develop and implement several initiatives to recruit women to the field, including a Showcase of Women in Information Technology Luncheon, that will feature women in computer science and information technology speaking to high school and college women. In addition, prizes and mini-scholarships will be offered.

“Coming into the technology field, I noticed that there is a shortage of women here—especially minority women,” said Wilson. “With the grant, I plan to do something that draws high school students, specifically women, to the field and show them that they can be successful as well.”

Jason Black, AAWCS principal investigator and Wilson’s adviser, said he is proud of Wilson and her accomplishment.

“This is an exciting offer,” said Black. “We are already dedicated to this goal and this funding will definitely aid in our efforts to increase these numbers.”

Wilson works with the Students and Technology in Academia, Research and Services Program, where she uses the information she gathers from her programs for research to assist in recruiting women to the technology field.

FAMU Student Reamonn Soto Invited to the White House to Participate in a Community Leaders Briefing Series

2011-12-14T07:33:00.000-08:00

Reamonn Soto, a senior majoring in physics at Florida A&M University, has been invited to the White House to participate in the White House Community Leaders Briefing Series on November 10 for Florida leaders.

The briefing series is a unique opportunity for grassroots leaders to come to Washington to hear directly from White House officials on the issues that are affecting communities across the country and learn more about the President’s priorities and initiatives from the people that work on them every day.

In return, Administration staff will learn what is going on in cities and towns across the country directly from the experts – the grassroots leaders.

“I'm very excited to be invited to the White House to have dialogue with White House officials and most importantly with community leaders throughout Florida,” said Soto. “Although, many are looking forward to meeting President Obama, I look forward to learning more about the issues from the communities that have not been heard in popular political conversation. I don't believe government should solve all of our problems, but the government should at least understand them, and the invitation to participate in the White House Florida Community Leaders Briefing will make that conversation possible.”

Participants are local leaders who are currently involved in their cities and towns at the grassroots level – in their neighborhoods, schools, churches, non-profit organizations, environmental groups, activist and advocacy groups, etc. and who are continuously invested in improving their own communities.

The White House is looking for those that can bring their successes, challenges, and ideas directly to the White House to help improve the conversation between the grassroots and Washington.

FAU and FAMU Partner to Establish Medical Honors Program for Outstanding High School Seniors

2011-12-14T07:32:00.000-08:00

BOCA RATON, Fla. —The Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University has partnered with the Florida A&M University (FAMU) in Tallahassee to establish a first-of-its-kind Medical Honors Program (MHP) between the two institutions. FAU and FAMU have signed an affiliation agreement to formally establish the MHP with the overall goal of attracting and enrolling outstanding high school seniors who have made an early and informed decision to ultimately pursue a doctoral degree in the field of medicine. The primary goal of this program is to admit academically talented high school students to the MHP at FAMU, with a conditional acceptance to FAU’s College of Medicine. The students will have to successfully complete the MHP and satisfy the requirements of the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC), American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) and FAU’s College of Medicine.

“We are very pleased to be working jointly with FAMU on the Medical Honors Program, which is distinguished by the strength of both our institutions,” said FAU President Mary Jane Saunders. “We will be able to offer aspiring doctors who excel academically with a competitive program that ensures a seamless route from undergraduate study to medical school.”

The MHP is a four-year curriculum, which will focus on professionalism, ethics, problem-based learning and inter-professional (team building, communication and leadership skills) education. MHP students will also be required to fulfill non-classroom extracurricular requirements such as clinical education, physician shadowing, working with patients in a hospital, clinic or physician’s office, and participating in health related community service. The program is designed to enable students to gain an understanding of the intellectual, emotional and physical demands incumbent upon medical students, and to train socially conscious and humane physicians.

“Florida A&M University is excited to join forces with Florida Atlantic University in this endeavor,” said FAMU President James H. Ammons. “The Medical Honors Program reinforces the commitment of both universities to identify and engage in strategies to meet the health needs of underserved populations. Through this program, the citizens of Florida will benefit as well as the MHP students.”

To be eligible for the MHP at FAU/FAMU, applicants must have an un-weighted high school average of at least 3.50, an SAT 1 composite minimum score of 1100 and must be in their last year of high school at the time of application. Up to ten total FAMU students will be admitted each year beginning in fall 2012. A MHP committee jointly composed of faculty from FAU and FAMU has been established to oversee the administration and admissions of this cooperative and integrated program.

“Educating and training underrepresented students who are outstanding academically is critical to helping address our physician shortage in Florida and the U.S., and ultimately providing first-rate medical care among our underserved populations,” said Julie C. Servoss, M.D., M.P.H., assistant dean of diversity, cultural and student affairs in FAU’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine and chair of the MHP committee.

According to the American Medical Association (AMA) in 2008, the total number of African-American physicians in the U.S. was 33,781 or 3.5 percent of the total physician population. Hispanic physicians in the U.S. total 46,507 or 4.9 percent of the total physician population.

One of America’s newest medical schools, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at FAU welcomed its inaugural class of 64 students in August. The College has developed a new and innovative curriculum, which features early and continuous community-based clinical experiences and problem-based learning with emphasis on small-group and self-directed learning. The curriculum includes a student-centered and patient-focused approach and clinical experiences with local physicians, health departments and hospitals, and a state-of-the-art simulation center. A key component of the innovative curriculum is early exposure to patients and the actual practice of medicine. To that end, the College has established relationships with several prominent area hospitals that are serving as sites for clerkships, hospital-based electives and residencies. During clinical trainings, students have the opportunity to work side-by-side with physicians in the diagnosis and treatment of patients, applying knowledge learned from the first two years of study to real-life situations.

– 30 –

About Florida Atlantic University:
Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. In commemoration of its origin, FAU is celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout 2011. Today, the University serves more than 29,000 undergraduate and graduate students on seven campuses and sites. FAU’s world-class teaching and research faculty serves students through 10 colleges: the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, the College of Business, the College for Design and Social Inquiry, the College of Education, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Graduate College, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. FAU is ranked as a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. For more information, visit www.fau.edu.

About Florida A&M University:
Florida A&M University (FAMU) was founded on October 3, 1887, as the State Normal College for Colored Students. Today, FAMU offers 52 bachelor’s degrees and 27 master’s degrees and one specialist degree program. The university has 13 schools and colleges, and one institute. FAMU has 11 doctoral degree programs including 10 Ph.D. degrees. The Ph.D. degrees include the following: biomedical engineering; chemical engineering; civil engineering; electrical engineering; mechanical engineering; industrial engineering; pharmaceutical sciences; physics; educational leadership; and environmental science.

With a distinction as a doctoral research institution, Florida A&M University has an enrollment of more than 13,000 students. Florida A&M University is part of the State University System of Florida and is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. For more information, visit www.famu.edu.

Lyceum Series to Present The Munich Symphony Orchestra

2011-12-14T07:31:00.000-08:00

The Florida A&M University (FAMU) Lyceum Series is proud to present the Munich Symphony Orchestra featuring Maestro Philippe Entremont, Saturday, November 12, at 7:30 p.m. in Lee Hall Auditorium.

Tickets are now available through ticketmaster.com and the FAMU Ticket Office located in the Alfred Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center and Teaching Gymnasium for $20, $15 and $10, depending on the location of the seats.

The Munich Symphony Orchestra is one of Munich’s four symphony orchestras. It was founded in 1945 as “Symphonieorchester Kurt Graunke” and – with its four subscription series in Prinzregententheater, Herkulessaal and the Philharmonie am Gasteig – is regarded as one of the high-profile ensembles of the city of Munich.

For more than 10 years, the Munich Symphony has been a cooperative partner to the opera festival at Gut Immling in Chiemgau with two major opera productions each summer. Attractive productions of film scores (for example, a live concert of the score of “The Lord of the Rings”) and show productions (Roncalli’s “Circus Meets Classic”) add to the profile of the Munich Symphony Orchestra.

The exceptional career of Entremont began at the age of 18 when he came to international attention with his great success at New York’s Carnegie Hall playing Jolivet’s piano concerto and Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1. Since then, he has pursued a top international career as a pianist, and for the last 30 years, on the podium as well.

The 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 seasons have taken Entremont all over the world, with many orchestral tours including the Munich Symphony Orchestra, the Israel Festival Orchestra, the Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie, and the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra. He will also guest conduct European and American orchestras as well as perform numerous piano and chamber music concerts. Moreover, in the 2010-2011 season, Entremont became principal conductor of the Boca Raton Philharmonic and Lifetime Laureate conductor of the Munich Symphony Orchestra.

His is renown as an orchestral conductor and his dedication to developing orchestras’ artistic potential have led to numerous international tours, playing before full houses: 10 tours in the U.S. and seven in Japan with the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, a tour of 11 concerts with the Orquestra de Cadaqués in capitals of countries in Asia, and a tour in Switzerland and Germany conducting the Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra.

One of the most recorded artists of all time, Entremont has appeared on many labels, including CBS Sony, Teldec and Harmonia Mundi, and he has garnered all of the leading prizes and awards in the industry. His 2008 releases include Mozart’s Concertone; Concerto for Violin and Piano with the Wiener Kammerorchester; Strauss’ lieder with Sophie Koch (mezzo-soprano); and Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2 with the Orquesta del Festival Musical de Santa Domingo.

Known as Great Cross of the Austrian Republic Order of Merit, Officer of the French Legion of Honor, Commander of the Order of Merit, Commander of the Order of Arts et Lettres, Entremont has also been awarded the Arts and Sciences Cross of Honor of Austria. He is president of the International Certificate for Piano Artists, president of the Bel’Arte Foundation of Brussels and is director of the famed American Conservatory of Fountainebleau, a post formerly held by the legendary Nadia Boulanger.

For more information, visit www.FAMU.edu/Lyceum.

Thomas J. Haynes Named Vice President of University Relations

2011-12-14T07:30:00.000-08:00

Florida A&M University (FAMU) President James H. Ammons has appointed Thomas J. Haynes as the new vice president for University Relations.

“I am confident that Thomas Haynes will demonstrate strong leadership and fundraising skills for University Relations,” said Ammons. “He has experience with capital campaigns and a thorough knowledge of marketing and grant solicitation. We look forward to working with him as we take FAMU to the next level in higher education.”

Haynes, who officially begins at the end of the October, has worked at the university in various roles from 1977-2003.

“I’m excited about returning to FAMU,” Haynes said. “It’s a place I know and am passionate about. I am committed to its mission and looking forward to working with the president, board of trustees, faculty, staff, students and alumni as we position the university to continue to achieving its mission.”

Haynes is an experienced senior fundraiser with a strong strategic and entrepreneurial vision and passion for organizational success. He has been recognized in the industry as one with a proven record of success and a high standard of professional integrity and ethics. His expertise includes strategic planning and marketing for external support; grant solicitation and acquisition (public and private sources); capital campaign development and execution; development of collaborative corporate and community partnerships; innovations in curriculum development; international experience in developing education/business partnerships.

Haynes said one of his first goals is to begin to develop a fundraising infrastructure that will not only meet the Capital Campaign goal, but also position the university in terms of resource development.

“I bring a strong fundraising background to this position,” Haynes said. “I understand the value of creating partnerships for higher education. I bring a special set of skills—especially around resource development.”

Haynes earned his bachelor’s degree in 1976 from Shaw University in Raleigh, N.C.; his master’s degree from FAMU in 1977; and his doctorate in education leadership with specialization in educational policy, planning and analysis in 1991 from Florida State University.

While an employee at FAMU, he served as a career development specialist, student affairs coordinator, assistant professor in the College of Arts and Sciences, assistant professor / executive director of
the Career and Cooperative Education Center, associate vice president for University Relations, and the executive director of the Business Industry Cluster.

While working with University Relations, he and his team were responsible for developing the strategic plan to raise $50 million in a capital campaign (results exceeded $75 million in assets). He also managed development of foundation proposals (public and private) and stewardship activities. With the Industry Cluster, he provided leadership that resulted in one of the most benchmarked Industry Cluster programs (business/education partnership) in the country.

From 2003-2008, he served as the Montclair State University vice president for University Advancement and executive director of the University Foundation in Montclair, N.J. There he provided vision, leadership and management for the following functional areas: communications and marketing, alumni relations, public and media relations, community relations, career services, development and advancement services, foundation services, web services and publications. He developed infrastructure and internal and external relationships required to achieve the strategic goal of transitioning from a Master’s Comprehensive University to a Doctoral Research Intensive University.

From 2008-2010, he served as Coppin State University vice president for Institutional Advancement and executive director of the University Foundation in Baltimore, Md.

Prior to returning FAMU, he has been working as a fundraising consultant where he provides consulting services to small to mid-sized non-profit organizations in the areas of: strategic planning, capital campaign planning, implementation and, feasibility studies, major gift and fundraising counsel, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship, design, implementation and management of planned giving programs, fundraising assessment and audits, executive coaching, grant writing, research and administration, interim staffing solutions, donor data base analysis and prospect development, corporate and foundation relations, annual fund management, and foundation operations and management.

Haynes says he is looking forward to meeting the staff and getting reacquainted with the university again.

“The most important thing to me is getting back to campus and raising the resources needed to keep FAMU a premier institution in this country.”

NOAA Awards FAMU $15 Million to Train a New Generation of Scientists

2011-12-14T07:28:00.001-08:00

Florida A&M University (FAMU) has been awarded an education and research grant totaling $15 million from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to meet the agency’s workforce needs in areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) that support NOAA’s mission. This is the largest single grant awarded in the history of the University.

“One of the highest criteria used to determine the quality of a university is the level of extramural funding and quality of research taking place by faculty and the funding obtained for them to conduct research on a regular basis,” said FAMU President James H. Ammons. “This announcement proves that Florida A&M University meets that standard of excellence.”

With 30 percent of the grant designated for scholarships, FAMU has partnered with Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Delaware State University, Jackson State University, University of Texas at Brownsville, and Creighton University as well as three National Estuarine Research Reserves; Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary; the Gulf of Mexico Alliance; and, the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System. The grant will provide funds to support students as they pursue NOAA-relevant education, research, and training in environmental science. This grant supports enhancing environmental literacy from K-12 to the doctorate level.

“Our education efforts will focus on training and graduating under-represented minorities and utilize research as a vehicle to educate students, and develop skills relevant to the new economy,” said Michael Abazinge, professor and interim director of the School of the Environment who also serves as the principal investigator for this
significant award.

The award will support the NOAA Environmental Cooperative Science Center (ECSC), FAMU as the lead institution with its partners to focus on the following goals:

Increasing the number of well-trained and highly qualified scientists and managers, particularly from under-represented minority groups entering the NOAA workforce and other resource management entities;
Improving the scientific bases for coastal resource management and to develop tools and research products to characterize, evaluate, and forecast coastal and marine ecosystem responses to natural and human induced stressors; and,
Facilitating community engagement related to the function and relevance of coastal ecosystems and the services they provide to society.

“The magnitude of this environmentally-focused research and training award is critical to our region, nation and to the world, as we develop best practices to govern us in all areas of our existence,” said K. Ken Redda, professor and acting vice president for research.

The ECSC was established in 2001 at FAMU through a national competitive process. This five-year award was made to a team of academic institutions led by FAMU. Through this award, ECSC will increase the number of scientists, particularly from under-represented minority groups in environmental, coastal, and oceanic sciences. Of the over 180 postsecondary student participants, ECSC has graduated 19 Ph.D. degree recipients, 41 master’s degree holders, and 56 bachelor’s degree recipients, since 2006. Graduates of ECSC, a part of FAMU’s School of the Environment, has a 100 percent placement rate. Eight are working as employees of NOAA, while others are employed by state or other governmental employees or as researchers in university settings.

“We’re committed to developing problem-solving skills as we engage undergraduate majors and graduate students from varied disciplines, including biology, chemistry, physics, math and other STEM areas needed to address and resolve environmental issues,” said Charles H. Jagoe, distinguished professor in the School of the Environment.

Those problem-solving skills are being put to use in the laboratories in the School of the Environment.

Currently, two students, LaTrisha Allen and Kali Farris, are conducting research under the leadership of Jagoe. Allen, a second-year Ph.D. research student, and Kali Farris, a third-year master’s degree student majoring in environmental science marine toxicology, are examining and conducting different analysis of several fish species to determine their exposure to the oil released in the BP Oil Spill.

This grant will also provide educational opportunities for students and teachers in the local K-12 school districts through summer workshops, Brain Bowl competitions and others enrichment activities. K-12 student participants will learn how environmental decisions impact the social and economic structure of their communities.

The Environmental Sciences Institute, which is currently referred to as the School of the Environment, was established in 1995 and became a school in 2011. It is one of several new innovative programs at Florida A&M University. The FAMU School of the Environment is a multidisciplinary unit that offers a wide range of services to students, governmental agencies, private sector companies, communities and other organizations.

The grant awarded to the School of the Environment is budgeted over the next five years, ending on June 30, 2016. For more information on NOAA’s Environmental Cooperative Science Center at Florida A&M University visit http://www.ecsc.famu.edu.

U.S. House Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn to Keynote Fall Commencement Ceremony

2011-12-14T07:26:00.001-08:00

House Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn will serve as the 2011 Florida A&M University (FAMU) fall commencement speaker on Friday, December 16 at 6 p.m. in the Alfred Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center and Teaching Gymnasium.

Clyburn is the leadership liaison to the Appropriations Committee and one of the Democratic Caucus' primary liaisons to the White House. Working with the internal caucuses, he plays a prominent role in messaging and outreach.

When Clyburn came to Congress in 1993, he was elected co-president of his freshman class and quickly rose through leadership ranks. He was elected chairman of the congressional Black Caucus in 1999, and his reputation as a leader and consensus-builder helped him win a difficult three-way race for House Democratic Caucus vice chair in 2002.

Three years later, he was unanimously elected chair of the Democratic Caucus. When Democrats regained the House majority in 2006, Clyburn was elevated by his colleagues to House Majority Whip.

As a national leader he has worked to respond to the needs of America’s diverse communities. He championed rural communities supporting the development of regional water projects, community health centers, and broadband connections. He has supported higher education by leading the charge for increased Pell grants and invested millions in science and math programs and historic preservation at historically black colleges and universities.

He has encouraged economic development by securing funding for Empowerment Zones; invested in green technology development such as nuclear, wind, hydrogen and biofuels; and directed 10 percent of Recovery Act funding to communities 20 percent under the poverty level for the past 30 years. Clyburn was instrumental in advancing into law measures to resolve historic discrimination issues, significantly reducing the statutory disparity in cocaine sentencing and compensating African and Native American farmers who suffered racial discrimination under the USDA loan program.

Clyburn and his wife, Emily, have three daughters, Mignon, Jennifer Reed and Angela Hannibal; two sons-in-law, Walter Reed and Cecil Hannibal; and two grandchildren, Walter A Clyburn Reed and Sydney Alexis Reed.

CBS “60 Minutes” Correspondent Byron Pitts Encourages FAMU Students to Dream Big

2011-10-20T08:36:00.001-07:00

CBS “60 Minutes” correspondent Byron Pitts told the up-and-coming journalists of Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) School of Journalism and Graphic Communication to “do you” during the CBS Harold Dow Professor Luncheon on Friday, October 14 at Hotel Duval.

“Be the best that you can be,” he stressed to them. “Be excited about life and all of its opportunities.”

Pitts served as keynote speaker during the event, which was also an official welcome for the inaugural CBS Harold Dow Visiting Professor Benjamin Davis. Davis is a two-time Columbia-Alfred du Pont award winner who has 30 years of experience working for major broadcast companies such as NBC Universal, ABC, CBS, Fox and National Public Radio.

The position was named after long-time CBS News Correspondent Harold Dow, who died in August 2010.

Davis described the position that bears Dow’s name as standing in a giant’s footprint because of the legacy that Dow left on the field of journalism.

“FAMU is the mother load of students looking for success,” said Davis. “At the end of the day, I hope to help produce good journalists. I have to imagine what Harold Dow would expect and then I push (the students) a little further. He has a giant’s footprint.”

CBS officials announced last year they would donate funds to support hiring a visiting professor as part of their diversity initiative and as a tribute to Dow.

“Harold was my friend and mentor,” said Susan Zirinsky, executive producer for CBS 48 hours and Dow’s former supervisor. “There wasn’t a single story that he didn’t see the merit. It was more than losing a colleague — it was losing a member of the CBS family.”

FAMU President James H. Ammons said he was grateful to CBS for investing in the university.

“CBS wouldn’t put this professorship anywhere,” he said during the luncheon. “They put it at Florida A&M University because of its tradition of academic excellence. The students at the
School of Journalism and Graphic Communication are indeed fortunate. We have somebody special. We got it right.”

Dow’s widow, Kathy Dow, also attended the luncheon. She gave the students advice that she felt her late-husband would give.

“Always remember to dream big,” she said with tears in her eyes. “Be disciplined; be determined.”

College of Law Moot Court Team Places Second in National Competition

2011-10-20T08:35:00.001-07:00

A team of law students from Florida A&M University (FAMU) College of Law went undefeated in the E. Earle Zehmer Worker’s Compensation National Moot Court Competition’s preliminary and semifinal rounds, and finished the competition in second place. The team argued against Florida Coastal before a panel from the Florida First District Court of Appeals. The team was composed of third-year law students Clifton Dortch and Tayo Popoola, and was among 14 teams participating in the competition held in Orlando, Fla. The team was coached by Associate Professor William Henslee and College of Law alumna Elizabeth Henslee.

The E. Earle Zehmer Worker’s Compensation National Moot Court Competition is widely known for its complex issues and concepts designed to immerse the student in worker’s compensation law. Schools represented at the competition included Stetson University College of Law, Florida Coastal School of Law and the University of Florida Levin College of Law.

“I’m glad we competed as well as we did,” said Dortch, who also serves as chair of the College of Law Advocacy Board. “This was definitely another step in the right direction. We’re progressing; however, we need to continue to the point where we are winning entire competitions.”

Although finishing second place in a national moot court competition is an enormous achievement, both Dortch and Popoola are no strangers to success in moot court competitions. Dortch received the award for Second Best Oral Advocate in the 2010 Appellate Lawyers Association Moot Court Competition, and Popoola was a finalist in the 2009 Navy JAG (Judge Advocate General) National Moot Court Competition.

Second-year law student M. Taylor Tremel and third-year law student Joan Matthews also represented FAMU at the E. Earle Zehmer Worker’s Compensation National Moot Court Competition.

The team, along with its coaches, thanked attorneys J. Michael Matthews, Shawn Diederich, Morgan Indek, D. Paul McCaskill, Monte Shoemaker and Associate Professor Nicky Boothe-Perry for their assistance.

The FAMU College of Law was founded in 1949 on the main campus in Tallahassee. After graduating 57 lawyers, the law school was closed by the state of Florida in 1968. The Florida Legislature voted to reopen the law school in 2000 and Orlando was selected as the location. The re-established FAMU College of Law opened its doors in 2002 and is now housed in a state-of-the-art facility in downtown Orlando’s Parramore neighborhood. The FAMU College of Law received full accreditation from the American Bar Association in July 2009, and has consistently been ranked in the top five for Diversity by U.S. News & World Report since 2007 -- achieving the top rank on three occasions.

President Ammons Awards Scholarships at the Harlem Children Zone

2011-10-20T08:34:00.002-07:00

Florida A&M University (FAMU) President James H. Ammons awarded $175,000 in scholarships to students at Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ) in New York, NY. Ammons met with the administration of HCZ as well as with parents and students to award scholarships on the spot to students who meet scholarship requirements. Five students, who will be the first generation in their family to attend college, were recipients of the scholarships.

Dominique Bradham-Riddy was awarded a Life-Gets-Better Scholarship totaling more than $100,000. This presidential scholarship provides four years of tuition and fees, room, board, books, $500 per semester stipend, internships and a laptop. Bradham-Riddy plans to major in engineering and pre-med. The other students included:
Falilou Barry, business and engineering;
Jainelle Gailard, psychology;
Brittany Williams, science/pre-med; and
Deloris Witcher, science/pre-med
According to Geoffrey Canada, president and CEO of HCZ, this is first time a university has offered scholarships to students at HCZ.

“We have worked with these students since they were in sixth grade to make sure they were academically prepared for college and the high-skills job market,” said HCZ President and CEO Geoffrey Canada. “By offering our students these scholarships, Florida A&M University is knocking down one of the biggest remaining barriers to success for these kids. We are thrilled that the college is giving our kids this opportunity.”

President Ammons said the students at the Harlem Children Zone are talented.

“The students at the Harlem Children Zone are talented and driven,” said Ammons. “Florida A&M University can help them discover who they can become and succeed to their fullest potential.”

The funds for the scholarships come from private donations.

About the Harlem Children Zone
Under the visionary leadership of its President and CEO, Geoffrey Canada, HCZ continues to offer innovative, efficiently run programs that are aimed at doing nothing less than breaking the cycle of generational poverty for the thousands of children and families it serves.

All HCZ programs are offered free to the children and families of Harlem, which is made possible by donations.

Byron Pitts of “60 Minutes” to Speak at CBS Harold Dow Professor Luncheon

2011-10-20T08:34:00.000-07:00

Byron Pitts, a CBS “60 Minutes” correspondent, and other CBS executives will speak to Florida A&M University (FAMU) journalism students and faculty as part of the CBS Harold Dow Professor Luncheon on Friday, October 14 at Hotel Duval.
“This professorship adds exceptional value to our program,” said the FAMU School of Journalism and Graphic Communication (SJGC) Dean James E. Hawkins. “We’re delighted that Byron Pitts and other representatives of CBS are here to help us launch this partnership.”
In addition to Pitts, other CBS executives expected include:

• Kim Godwin, a CBS Evening News senior producer, outstanding SJGC alumna and member of the SJGC Board of Visitors;
• Crystal Johns, CBS News director of development and diversity; and
• Susan Zirinsky, executive producer for CBS 48 hours and a former supervisor for Harold Dow
Dow was a long-time CBS News correspondent who came to FAMU and spoke to students as part of the Journalism Division’s 35th anniversary in 2009. Dow died unexpectedly in August 2010, and CBS officials announced last year they would donate funds to support hiring a visiting professor as part of their diversity initiative and as a tribute to Dow. His widow, Kathy Dow, is expected to attend the luncheon.

Benjamin Davis, an award-winning broadcast journalist and digital journalism professor, has been hired as the inaugural CBS Harold Dow Visiting Professor at FAMU. Davis, a two-time Columbia-Alfred du Pont award winner, has 30 years of experience working for major broadcast companies such as NBC Universal, ABC, CBS, Fox, and National Public Radio. He also was an adjunct professor at Rutgers University School of Journalism in New Jersey, where he gained nine years of experience teaching courses in broadcast and digital journalism. Davis is an entrepreneur who developed the Digital Media Pyramid writing style and founded Mediafriendly.com, a company that helps major media companies locate diversity experts.

Audra Burch is the 2011 Recipient of the Thelma Thurston Gorham Distinguished Alumnus Award

2011-10-20T08:25:00.001-07:00

The School of Journalism and Graphic Communication (SJGC) announces that Audra D.S. Burch is the 2011 recipient of the Thelma Thurston Gorham Distinguished Alumnus Award.

The award will be presented to Burch at the school’s annual Grads are Back Luncheon, Thursday, Oct. 6 at 12:30 p.m. in the SJGC Gallery.

Burch is an award-winning and enterprise writer for the Miami Herald. She has been nominated three times for the prestigious Pulitzer Prize and she was part of a team that published a book on hurricanes.

“We are so proud of Audra’s professional accomplishments,” James Hawkins, SJGC dean, said. “Anyone who knows Audra knows her commitment to journalistic excellence.”

The 1988 graduate currently writes on a range of stories for the Miami Herald. Most recently, she covered the Casey Anthony murder trial and wrote stories on prescriptive drug abuse in Florida.

Burch launched her career at the Post Tribune in Gary, Ind. There she covered police, county government and legal affairs. She then joined the Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale and was on a two-person team that won several national awards for a series exposing menu fraud at South Florida restaurants.

“The Thelma Thurston Gorham Distinguished Alumnus Award bears the name of FAMU’s first instructor of journalism—Thelma Gorham,” Hawkins said. “The award is given to an alumnus who has excelled professionally and demonstrated a commitment to giving back to the University.”

Burch is a former deputy regional director of the National Association of Black Journalists Association. She chaired the NABJ Region IV conference in 1999 and she is a former president of the Palm Beach chapter. Over the years, she has mentored numerous aspiring journalists and has served as a teacher/coach at several FAMU summer journalism programs.

She lives with her husband in Hollywood, Fla.

College of Law Ranked Nationally for Clinical Opportunities

2011-10-20T08:24:00.000-07:00

Orlando, Fla. – Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) College of Law was recently ranked 17th in the nation for providing clinical opportunities by National Jurist magazine, beating out other law schools such as Harvard, University of Kansas, and all Florida law schools. The FAMU College of Law is one of only two historically black colleges or universities (HBCU) to make the list.

“There is a need in Central Florida and around the nation for legal representation for underrepresented populations,” said LeRoy Pernell, FAMU College of Law Dean. “I am pleased that we can be recognized for the opportunities we provide to law students knowing that our efforts impact the surrounding community to a positive end.”

The September issue of the magazine for law students ranked the top 20 American Bar Association (ABA) law schools based on the total number of full-time clinical course positions offered per the number of full-time students. National Jurist used information from the Official Guide to ABA Approved Law Schools, 2011 and 2012 edition to compile the list.

The FAMU College of Law’s Legal Clinic Program is under the direction of Assistant Professor Ann Marie Cavazos and includes Guardian Ad-Litem, Public Defender, Prosecution, Judicial Externship, Homelessness and Legal Advocacy, Death Penalty, Housing and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Community and Economic Development. Information sessions are held regularly to inform students of available opportunities. Students participating in the legal clinics have assisted Orlando’s indigent population with numerous court cases, and have been recognized for their winning efforts.

“Consistent with the law school mission to provide legal services to the underrepresented population our primary objective is to create and increase opportunities for law students to get hands-on experience,” said Ann Marie Cavazos, associate professor and director of the FAMU College of Law Legal Clinic. “In a down economy, the poor and underrepresented are faced with myriad of legal issues and employers are looking at law school clinics to teach students practical skills and professionalism, so they can hit the ground running.”

During the 2010-2011 academic year, three College of Law students participating as legal interns worked with Jim Kallinger, former Florida Chief Child Advocate with the Governor's Office of Adoption and Child Protection, to compose a proposed bill that would require parents of children in state custody to pay child support to the State of Florida, if it were to become law. Additionally, students participating in the Housing Clinic and Homelessness and Legal Advocacy Clinic were specially trained to conduct a canvassing project to warn Orlando area homeowners of loan modification and foreclosure rescue scams. The Legal Clinic received a $40,000.00 grant for the initiative. Also, for the past five years, the Legal Clinic has received a grant from the Florida Bar Foundation to fund Public Service Fellowships to law students interested in providing and promoting pro bono and public service.

Mr. and Miss FAMU Committed to Shaping Future Generations

2011-10-20T08:22:00.001-07:00

Miss and Mr. FAMU 2011-2012 NaKena Cromartie and Frederick Johnson, have laid out a platform to assist in recruiting the best and brightest students, while shaping current students into young professionals with superb etiquettes.

The Miss and Mr. FAMU coronation was held on Sunday, October 2 in Lee Hall Auditorium followed by the coronation ball in the Grand Ballroom.

Cromartie, 22, said that she had to look within herself to see if she possesses the qualities Miss FAMU should emulate: a woman of character, a well-rounded person, self assured and able to advocate on behalf of the university.

Cromartie plans to start the “Keen Machine” which is a vocabulary enhancer project that will assist students to expand their vocabulary.

Her goal is to help students when they are out on job interviews or meetings to not only look the part. As part of the initiative, she plans to donate a book scholarship to a student who correctly spells and defines the words. In addition, she plans to spearhead several community service projects.

“Community service is really important to me,” said Cromartie, a first-year MBA student from St. Petersburg, Fla. “I want students to join me in “Cromartie on your Corner,” go into the community and participate in giving back by visiting soup kitchens, nursing homes and shelters; whatever we need to do to help.”

Cromartie has also launched “TRULY FAMU." This initiative is intended to “acknowledge the legacy of FAMU and help preserve the history and traditions that once served as the guiding light for the State Normal College for Colored Students.”

Students will have the opportunity to make personal quilt squares which will be stitched into a larger quilt and displayed in the Black Archives.

Serving on the Royal Court with Cromartie and Johnson are Dominique James, freshman attendant; Micka Chavre, sophomore attendant; Sheree Oats, junior attendant; Nadia Deravine, senior attendant; Jasmine Miles, graduate attendant; Jean Altidor, king of Orange and Green, and Ciera Hall, queen of Orange and Green.

Johnson, 21, based his platform on chivalry and targeting young men by encouraging them to appreciate women. He plans to implement a monthly event where the students will be groomed on their etiquettes of courtesy.

“I’m glad it worked out in my favor,” said Johnson, a fourth-year business administration student from Dallas, Texas. “I definitely believe the things I plan to implement will bring about a positive change to the university and I am ecstatic that the student body has put their faith in me to be a male ambassador for them.”

As part of Johnson’s campaign, he selected 20 males to demonstrate chivalry wearing his signature - the letter F representing his first name - on a cardigan while walking around campus holding doors open and handing out roses to young ladies.

One of his initiatives is to encourage the royal court to exercise continued communication with prospective students they meet during recruitment trips.

FAMU will Build a Paradigm for the Future

2011-10-20T08:21:00.001-07:00

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Legacy Continued: FAMU Building Paradigm for the Future was the message Florida A&M University (FAMU) President James H. Ammons delivered during his state of the university address to a filled to capacity audience in Gaither Gymnasium consisting of administrators, faculty, staff, students, alumni and retirees.

“As we begin this year, we are building a new paradigm for FAMU’s future by focusing on areas that will continue to distinguish us from our peers while continuing our tradition of using our research and the creation of new knowledge to meet the needs of our neighbors locally and globally,” said Ammons.

Ammons stated that FAMU Board of Trustees and he have identified a list of mutual goals to achieve this academic year.
To become internationally recognized, FAMU must strengthen the University’s performance and presence in the professional worldImprove the environment in two critical areas of operations and services (housing facilities and customer service)FundraisingEnhance enrollment management by providing services that will retain and assist students in their movement from enrollment to graduation“I am so proud of FAMU and all of our accomplishments over the past year,” said Markia Butler, a senior from Jacksonville, Fla. “President Ammons’ speech not only encouraged me to succeed in the classroom, but to succeed in the workforce once I graduate this fall.”

“I look forward to the President’s convocation,” said Kayana Lewis, an administrative information management major. “It gives me a lot of inspiration for the fall semester.”
Speaking of inspiration, it seems that the freshman class are a group of inspiring individuals.

According to Ammons, the average GPA for the class is 3.2 and the average ACT score is 20.5.

“You are an outstanding class and will be torchbearers for FAMU,” said Ammons.

Ammons concluded his message by sharing how important it is for everyone to work together in order for the university to more forward.

“Without your support our future is limited; with your support we can make this a stellar year. Join me as we charter new territories of greatness for our students, our alumni and generations to come.”

Following the president’s address, volleyball coach Tony Trifonov and Darlene Moore, women’s cross-country and track and field coach, and men’s track and field and cross country coach Wayne Angel introduced their team. Joe Taylor, head football coach, introduced the coaching staff and the Rattler Football team to the university community. Julian White, director of Bands, introduced the Marching “100.” The convocation concluded with the singing of the alma mater.

FAMU Kicks Off Homecoming with the Rattler 5K Urban Challenge

2011-10-20T07:53:00.001-07:00

FAMU will kick off homecoming with the second annual Rattler 5K Urban
Challenge, a run/walk and youth fun run, on Saturday, October 1. The
run/walk will start at 8 a.m. and registration begins at 6:30 a.m. at
the Hansel E. Tookes Sr. Student Recreation Center. A wellness expo is
scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon at the recreation center.

The Rattler 5K Urban Challenge has a course filled with walls and
hills to climb, cars to jump over and a mud pit to scramble through.

Following the race, the Wellness Expo will feature community
organizations and businesses devoted to helping individuals to be more
active, eat healthier and improve their overall wellness. During the
Expo, the FAMU Women’s Center will announce the winners of the new
campus bicycle program. Twenty-eight students will receive bicycles
to help increase their physical activity and serve as role models for
other students.

Registration for the race is $20 for runners, $10 for walkers and $5
for college and high school students. There is no charge for children
12 and under for the fun run. The registration fee includes a T-
shirt. Prizes include cash, gift certificates, FAMU apparel and
participant medals.

For more information about the Rattler 5k Urban Challenge, contact

George Heimbach at (850) 412-7281 or by email at george.heimbach@famu.edu

FAMU Alumni Rob Hardy and Will Packer Launch Bounce TV

2011-10-20T07:52:00.002-07:00

Florida A&M University (FAMU) alumni Will Packer and Rob Hardy will launch Bounce TV this fall, the first African-American digital multicast broadcast network geared toward African Americans in the 25-54 age range.

Bounce TV will feature a programming mix of theatrical motion pictures, sporting events, documentaries, specials, inspirational faith-based programs, off-network series, original programming and more.

Hardy will serve as the chief content officer, and Packer in the chief strategy and marketing officer position. Other founders include Martin Luther King III, former United Nations Ambassador and Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young and Andrew “Bo” Young III.

Packer and Hardy started their production company, Rainforest Films, in 1994. One of their most successful projects, “Stomp the Yard,” grossed more than $65 million and held the No. 1 position at the box office for two weekends in January of 2007. Later that year, the company produced “This Christmas,” which made $50 million. The success of both projects landed the duo amongst the “Top 25 Entertainers and Moneymakers” in Black Enterprise magazine in 2008.

In 2010, Packer and Hardy were named as one of FAMU’s 40 alumni Under 40 years old. The duo have also begun production of the movie, “Think Like a Man,” a comedic adaptation of actor and comedian Steve Harvey’s New York Times best-selling book, Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man.

Entertainment Industry College Outreach Program

2011-10-20T07:52:00.000-07:00

The Florida A&M University School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, the School of Business & Industry and leverageup.com will host the "Entertainment Industry College Outreach Program" on October 11, 2011 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. in Lee Hall Auditorium. S

ALL FAMU STUDENTS AND FACULTY ARE INVITED!

This programs seeks to develop a pipeline from HBCU campuses into the auxiliary enterprises that make up the Entertainment Industry. This is for students who desire a career, outside of performance, in the industry that is large, but very exclusive.

From architecture, engineering and business, to music, content and research, this program is reaching out to ALL MAJORS!!! This is a great opportunity for those students interested in lighting, set-design, sound and music production, film scores, script writing, technology, animatronics, publishing, history, construction, business, marketing, finance, architecture, animation and the various other areas of theater, film, studio and theme park production.

Faculty are also invited to a FACULTY RECEPTION to network with industry representatives. The reception will be held at the Meek-Eaton Black Archives from 4 p.m.-6 p.m.

Faculty and students must register at www.famusjgc-oip.com. Click the "Entertainment Forum" tab. You do not have to be logged in to view the site.

Industry representatives include: • CBS • Disney • Dreamworks Animation SKG • NBC Universal • OWN • Sony

For more information, contact Yanela Gordon at yanela.gordon@famu.edu or 850.412.5395.

Editor-in-Chief of JET Magazine Mitzi Miller will Keynote Homecoming Convocation

2011-10-20T07:51:00.000-07:00

lorida A&M University (FAMU) will host its annual Homecoming Convocation Friday, October 7 at 10:10 a.m. in Jake Gaither Gymnasium. This year’s keynote speaker is Mitzi Miller, editor-in-chief of JET magazine and FAMU alumna.

Miller joined the Johnson Publishing Company family as the editor-in-chief of JET magazine in May 2011. An award-winning journalist, Miller is the bestselling author of five books, including the wildly popular Scholastic/Point 3-book teen series, Hotlanta. She also has extensive television experience including regular appearances on VH1’s humorous list shows, as well as ABC’s top-rated morning show, Good Morning America, BET and The Food Network.

Most recently, Miller served as editor-in-chief of the independent athletic lifestyle publication, SET Magazine.

The New York native worked at HONEY Magazine, where she started her career in 2001 as an unpaid intern before quickly becoming the girl-around-town columnist for the hip magazine’s monthly feature, “Road Trippin.” Readers quickly grew addicted to her many quirky, fun-filled adventures. Mitzi remained at HONEY for two years, during which she became the entertainment editor, received an honorable mention from the National Association of Black Journalists and ultimately became the face of HONEY magazine.

Miller is a skilled public speaker who speaks regularly on several nationally syndicated radio shows including The Warren Ballentine Show and has delivered the keynote address at various conferences and seminars nationwide including the 2009 Young Women’s Empowerment Summit at Long Island University; Mayor Daley’s 2009 Annual Book Club Conference in Chicago; and Essence Magazine’s Image of Black Women in Media Panel. She sits on the Board of Directors for the New York City based non-profit organization, Hip Hop 4 Life.

Miller currently resides in Chicago, IL.

Lyceum Series to Present Gospel Music Group The Clark Sisters

2011-10-20T07:49:00.001-07:00

The Florida A&M University (FAMU) Lyceum Series is proud to present award-winning gospel singers, The Clark Sisters, Friday October 7, at 7:30 p.m. in Lee Hall Auditorium.

Tickets are now available through ticketmaster.com and the FAMU box office for $45, $30 and $20, depending on the location of the seats.

This is the fourth time this year that all sisters will perform together. Furthermore, this is only the second time the Clark Sisters have performed on a college campus since their last performance at FAMU in the 90s.
With a compelling, commanding fusion of styles as diverse as blues, jazz, R&B and classical, the Clark Sisters, which consists of sisters Jacky, Twinkie, Karen and Dorinda, created a sound that was new, fresh and entirely their own.

On Live – One Last Time, their newest release and first album together in more than 12 years, is truly landmark work. The project is an epic undertaking of unprecedented scope.

With virtually unlimited range, dazzling dynamics and multi-textured runs, riffs, and scats that have long been hallmarks of their singular vocal style, the Clark Sisters sound has given inspiration to countless singers of today. With millions of album sales to their collective credit, that select circle includes gospel, mainstream R&B and pop stars.

The sisters, born between 1951 and 1960, all showed prodigious musical talent from early childhood, and were raised under the careful musical and moral tutelage of their pastor father and mother.

The seeds for what would become Live – One Last Time were first planted by Karen’s husband when he suggested the foursome reunite to give posterity and the flocks of still-faithful Clark Sisters fans a taste of some new “sisters” material, as well as new, live renditions of a large number of Clark standards.
Live – One Last Time was recorded in July 2006, before a sell-out crowd of 6,000 in Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Center.

For more information, contact the Office of Communications at (850) 599-3413.

Benjamin Davis is the CBS Harold Dow Visiting Professor

2011-10-20T07:47:00.000-07:00

Benjamin Davis, an award-winning broadcast journalist and digital journalism professor, has been hired as the CBS Harold Dow Visiting Professor at Florida A&M University (FAMU).

Davis, a two-time Columbia-Alfred du Pont award winner, has 30 years of experience working for major broadcast companies such as ABC, CBS, Fox, MSNBC.COM and National Public Radio. He also was an adjunct professor at Rutgers University School of Journalism in New Jersey, where he gained nine years of experience teaching courses in broadcast and digital journalism. Davis is an entrepreneur who developed the Digital Media Pyramid writing style and founded Mediafriendly.com, a company that helps major media companies locate diversity experts. He also worked with students at Rutgers to create www.itsonbad.com, a website geared to 16- to 25-year-olds.

“I hope to live up to the expectations that Harold Dow would have wanted, which are pretty high,” said Davis.

Dow was a long-time CBS News correspondent who came to FAMU and spoke to students as part of the Division of Journalism’s 35th anniversary in 2009. Dow died unexpectedly in August 2010. CBS officials announced last year they would donate funds to support hiring a visiting professor as part of its diversity initiative and as a tribute to Dow.

Crystal Johns, CBS news director of development and diversity, said, “We are very happy to support a program that will be such a wonderful recognition of all that Harold Dow embodied.”

Davis will be teaching broadcast news writing and broadcast announcing classes. He also plans to “teach students about the digital media pyramid, which is a model I created to replace the more than century-old inverted pyramid...”

A luncheon reception to honor Davis is scheduled for Oct. 14 with the FAMU School of Journalism and Graphic Communication Board of Visitors (BOV) and faculty.

The CBS Harold Dow Visiting Professor position will be funded for three years by CBS, according to SJGC Dean James Hawkins, Ph.D.

“This professorship will strengthen the quality of our broadcast journalism program, to another level,” Hawkins said. “Our students will be even more competitive when they are ready to enter the world of work.”

Hawkins also thanked Kim Godwin - who is a senior producer for the CBS Evening News, an SJGC alumna and BOV member for lobbying CBS for this professorship.

The School of Journalism and Graphic Communication was founded in 1982. Its Division of Journalism was the first journalism program at a historically black university to be nationally accredited by the ACEJMC. It offers four journalism sequences: newspaper, magazine production, broadcast (radio and television) and public relations.

FAMU Kicks Off 125th Anniversary during the President Gala

2011-10-20T07:46:00.000-07:00

Florida A&M University (FAMU) will kick off its yearlong 125-year Anniversary Celebration during the President’s Gala on Friday, October 7, 2011. This year’s gala theme is “Marching for Excellence” and will pay tribute to the life of William P. Foster, the “Dean of America’s Band Directors,” and the incomparable Marching “100.”

The Marching “100,” a leader in marching bands, has appeared in films, commercials, Super Bowls, the Grammys, numerous magazine and newspaper articles and nationally televised performances. In 1985, the “100” was the recipient of the Sudler Trophy, the Heisman Trophy for marching bands, which is the highest honor a collegiate marching band can receive. It is awarded to a college or university marching band, which has demonstrated the highest of musical standards and innovative marching routines and ideas. FAMU is the only historically black college or university to receive that award.

“As we celebrate our 125 years of existence, we want to highlight all of the icons of our brand including the Marching “100,” our great presidents, Dr. Foster and others who helped FAMU to become a household name and brand,” said Sharon Saunders, chief communications officer and chair of the 125th Anniversary Celebration.

Foster, who was also called “The Law” and “The Maestro,” was the founder and creator of the noted Marching “100.” He served as the band’s director from 1946 to his retirement in 1998. He is credited with revolutionizing marching band techniques and reshaping the world’s concept of the collegiate marching band. Foster brought more than 30 new techniques to the band that have now become standard operating procedure for high school and college bands nationwide.

In 1998, Foster retired after 52 years of service to the university, the State of Florida, the nation and the world. On August 28, 2010, the FAMU family and this nation mourned the loss of Foster, who was 90-years old.

During the 2011-2012 academic year, FAMU will host several anniversary events including a community-wide picnic, a health symposium, an artist in bloom festival and much more.

“This is an exhilarating and monumental milestone in Florida A&M University’s history,” said FAMU President James H. Ammons “As we honor FAMU’s quasquicentennial and reflect on the university’s achievements, I can not think of a better way to signal the commemoration’s official launch than to honor a legend [William P. Foster] who was a key figure in the life and history of FAMU.”

Since October 3, 1887, FAMU has grown from its initial 15 students and two instructors to now educating more than 13,000 students. The University now offers 53 bachelor’s degrees, 28 master’s degrees, three professional degrees and 12 doctoral degrees. The three professional degrees include the JD, PharmD, and the Doctor of Physical Therapy.

FAMU prominently resides atop the highest of Tallahassee’s seven hills and is the only historically black university within the eleven-member State University System of Florida.

Gala tickets are $125 per person. Tickets can be purchased online at www.FAMU125.com or by calling (850) 599-3860.

FAMU Mourns the Loss of a Student Athlete

2011-10-20T07:45:00.001-07:00

lorida A&M University (FAMU) is mourning the loss of Shannon Washington, a student and women’s basketball player.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to Shannon’s family and members of the Lady Rattlers Basketball Team,” said FAMU President James H. Ammons. “For Shannon to be killed in the prime of her life is tragic and senseless. She had so much promise as a student athlete. This is a great loss for the university and our athletic program.”

The FAMU Student Government Association will have a vigil tonight at 8:30 p.m. at the FAMU Eternal Flame to celebrate the life of Washington.

According to the Tallahassee Police Department (TPD), they responded to a report of a stabbing at 3025 South Adams Street, Sunday, September 4, at approximately 2:03 a.m. Officers located the victim, Washington, in the apartment with a knife wound to her neck. The victim was initially treated by TPD officers on the scene until EMS arrived. She was then transported to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital where she succumbed to her injuries.

A suspect, Starquineshia Palmer, 20, was detained and transported to TPD where she was interviewed and subsequently charged with first degree murder. Palmer was visiting Washington for the weekend, noted TPD.

Washington was a standout basketball player at Illinois Valley Community College (IVCC) earning All-American honors both seasons at IVCC. A native of Sarasota, Fla., her success at IVCC earned her the distinction of having a replica of her jersey to be honored in the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tenn. Washington transferred to FAMU and was expected to play this fall as a shooting guard.

“It is truly a trying situation to lose a student-athlete that has come to us to further her education and excel at her sport,” said LeDawn Gibson, FAMU’s Head Women’s Basketball Coach. “As a coach, this is the kind of incident you just
hope you never have to deal with — the death of one of your players at such a young age.”

“The closeness of the students, coaches and staff at FAMU Athletics resembles that of a family,” said Derek Horne, FAMU’s director of Athletics. “Losing a family member is never easy. Our task now is to make sure we learn from this, and make as much effort at preparing our student athletes for all situations that may occur.”

TPD Victim Advocates have been working with the FAMU Athletic Department, and the victim’s teammates.

FAMU Continues to Provide Assistance for the Haiti Earthquake Victims

2011-10-20T07:44:00.001-07:00

Florida A&M University (FAMU) continues to have a very active role in helping the victims of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

Following the incident, the university raised approximately $25,000 through a mobile giving campaign, a Haiti Relief Benefit Concert and other means of fundraising, as well as collecting necessities and medical supplies for the victims.

“It is important for FAMU to continue to help Haiti because it will still take many years before Haiti and its most important asset--its people-- fully recover from the devastation caused by the earthquake,” said Henry Kirby, chair of the FAMU Haiti Relief Committee. “Haiti has a rich and proud history. We have a number of students from Haiti that are attending FAMU and are eager to return to their homeland and use their education and experiences at FAMU to help rebuild the country and assist their family members and fellow citizens.”

According to Kirby, $10,000 will be donated to a United Nations sponsored orphanage in Haiti. The remaining $15,000 will go toward the Historically Black College/University (HBCU) Consortium that will help to fund scholarships for students to attend the State University of Haiti. The goal of the consortium is to raise $12 million to construct a classroom building equipped to receive telecourses taught by the faculty from the HBCUs. The group also plans to raise money so the State University of Haiti can hire replacements for professors who died in the earthquake.

Grape Harvest Festival was a Sweet Success

2011-10-20T07:41:00.001-07:00

The temperature reached a scorching 100 degrees, but that did not stop a crowd of more than 700 from attending Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) 11th Annual Grape Harvest Festival. The festival provided fun for all ages and excitement.

The festival kicked off with the First Lady Run/Walk-a-Thon. Nearly 100 runners and walkers joined Judy Ammons, the first lady of FAMU. The first lady of Tallahassee Community College, Sara Murdaugh, also joined Ammons as well as the FAMU men’s and women’s track and field and cross-country teams.

“I want to thank all of you for joining me,” Ammons said. “What a great way to start the Festival.”

The festival had an assortment of fun-filled activities for both young and old. Some of the events included the much anticipated hula hoop contest; the ever so precise grape throwing game; a wine-tasting session featuring FAMU’s own and Florida commercial wineries; a water slide that kept the young cool and happy; and the highlight of the festival, the good old-fashioned grape stomping contest, which had more than 20 teams participating.

This year, the festival featured a health fair with more than 20 Tallahassee community health care organizations such as UnitedHealth Care, the Leon County Health Department, Neighborhood Health Services and 211 Big Bend. FAMU’s College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences was on hand providing participants with blood pressure checks and glucose screenings.

Some of the health care participants thought the festival was really great.

“This is my first time here,” said Rebecca Whitehead, with the 211 Big Bend. “I will come back next year.”

Her co-worker echoed her comments.

“It [festival] is great and a lot of fun,” said Katherine Melo. “It has a lot of exciting things to see and do.”

FAMU students took part in the festival by either volunteering, enjoying in the festivities or performing. The incomparable Marching “100” took center stage by keeping the attendees excited and dancing.

A student volunteer Bianca Ainn, a pharmacy major from Snellville, Ga., said the festival was a great community event.

“This is a great way to get the community together,” said Ainn. “The festival has some fun things for all ages.”

Katie Melo, a resident of Tallahassee, best summed up the festival while smiling from ear to ear.

“Oh my God, this is awesome,” said Katie Mayo, who participated in the grape stomping contest. I have never been here before but this is really cool. I am really impressed. I will definitely be back here next year.”

Next year’s festival is scheduled for August 25, 2012.

The Annual FAMU Grape Harvest Festival is a community event being sponsored by FAMU and coordinated through its Center for Viticulture and Small Fruit Research.

Incoming Rattler Follows in the Footsteps of Her Five Sisters to Attend FAMU

2011-10-20T07:38:00.000-07:00

Some students choose to attend a university based off of academic programs, distance from home or tuition. But for Zanaba Smith, following in her five sisters’ footsteps by attending Florida A&M University (FAMU) this fall, it is all about tradition.

“FAMU to me is a home away from home,” said Smith, a 2011 graduate of Bayside High School in Palm Bay, Fla. “My sisters all expressed to me the joy and experiences that they have had at FAMU and how much I will love the atmosphere there.”

While Smith has chosen to continue her family’s legacy on ‘The Hill,’ the 17-year-old scholar will soon be writing a story of her own.

As a junior in high school, Smith became involved in Collegiate High, a dual enrollment program with the local community college. She admits that life became a juggling act—balancing college courses, high school homework and her household chores.

That dedication paid off this past May when Smith earned her associate’s degree while maintaining a 3.7 grade point average (GPA). One week later, she donned a cap and gown again when she graduated from high school with a 4.2 GPA.

“A quality education is very important to me,” said Smith, who earned a George W. Gore Scholarship from FAMU. “My mother has always expressed the importance of a good education, so that I wouldn’t end up working two jobs to provide for my family like she had to. I want to be a very successful woman and the only way I know how to be that is to get the best education that I can.”

Smith was rewarded a $3,000 scholarship per year with an additional $2,000 annually because of her major.
Her sister, Naashon Ducille, said she told her baby sister that FAMU was the only school of choice, even though Smith applied and was accepted to Florida State University (FSU) and Jacksonville University.

“I wanted her to experience the love and family that I did,” said Ducille, who earned her bachelor’s degree in health science from FAMU in 2007. “I know FAMU will help her grow to be who she is destined to be. She is strong, intelligent and very special. Now when we go back to FAMU for Homecoming, it will truly be a family affair.”

A native of Hollywood, Fla., Smith plans to study industrial engineering in the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. She was first attracted to FAMU while visiting her older sister, Sarah Ducille, during the summer of 2001 when Smith was just eight years old.

“When I was younger I wanted to be so many things and I was always changing my mind,” she said of her career path. “First I wanted to be teacher, but I realized I didn’t have much patience. Then I wanted to be a doctor because of all the cool medical shows, but I soon realized I didn’t like blood. As of two years ago, I decided I wanted to be an engineer like my big sister because I enjoy math and science.”

Smith said she believes people associated with FAMU bring a true sense of pride and community to the campus.

“I feel as though it is deeply embedded in the roots and I want to learn and become a part of that,” she said. “It already feels like home.”

FAMU is Ready to Welcome Students this Fall

2011-10-20T07:36:00.001-07:00

Ready to provide “Excellence with Caring,” Florida A&M University (FAMU) is starting off the 2011-2012 school year with a makeover for its bookstore, new distance-learning programs and upgraded facilities.

This fall, male students will be returning to Sampson and Young Residence Halls, which have been closed since 2003. The two historic dormitories were recently renovated to house a total of 238 male students. Each building has a mix of social spaces and amenities such as a lounge, public restrooms, laundry, storage, a computer lab and offices.

During meetings FAMU President James H. Ammons had with the students in the residential halls last school year, many wanted the laundry facilities updated.

The university has made some significant changes, equipping the laundry rooms with new energy efficient washers and dryers. These up-to-date washers and dryers are connected to the Internet, giving residents the ability to pay for each wash or dry cycle with a debit card, credit card or coin, eliminating the chore of finding the correct number of quarters, or the need to keep track of or replenish a laundry card. For those students who prefer to use coins, there are several high volume bill change machines.

The laundry rooms in each residence hall will also be equipped with a Laundry View 3-D monitoring system, which will allow students to check the availability of washers and dryers before going to the laundry room, and to get a text message after their laundry is done.

What is also new on FAMU’s campus is the distance-learning offerings. This fall, FAMU will offer master’s degrees in nursing, public health and business. University officials are expecting 271 students during the first year of the program. The courses will be hosted on www.hbcusonline.com.

This fall, FAMU will offer students some cost-saving options and expanded services at the University bookstore. The bookstore now includes an expanded convenience food section, gifts, Rattler shop for FAMU clothing, and unmatched textbook options. Along with installing new fixtures, countertops, and lighting, the renovations have incorporated the school colors – orange and green – into the design of the bookstore along with images and accents that evoke the proud history of our university.

“The expansion of the convenience area has been very popular,” said bookstore manager Angela Williams. “Everyone that has come into our store loves the new look and we’re thrilled that we can offer our students more of what they want and need right here on our campus.”

The bookstore will now be a full-service operation, offering students textbook options that include new, used, rental and digital books. Students will also have the option to order textbooks online, at any time.

Florida A&M University to kick off its 125th Anniversary Celebration on October 3, 2011

2011-10-20T07:34:00.001-07:00

Florida A&M University was originally founded as the State Normal

College for Colored Students that served the underrepresented and

underprivileged. Today, Florida A&M University boasts an

extraordinarily diverse student body including citizens from across

the State of Florida and the globe. For nearly 125 years, Florida A&M

University has served as a beacon of hope for thousands of talented

young men and women seeking to improve their lives through the pursuit

of a college education. To celebrate its rich history, Florida A&M

University will kick off its 125th anniversary on October 3, 2011. The

University is proud of its history and is dedicated and committed to

providing “Excellence with Caring” to a new generation of scholars.

A year-long series of special events are planned to celebrate the

aspirations and accomplishments achieved over the past 125 years as

well as illuminate the university’s vision for its future.

FAMU Yesterday. FAMU Today. FAMU Forever.

For more information, contact the Office of Communications at (850)

599-3413.

Florida A&M University to Celebrate its Annual Grape Harvest Festival

2011-10-20T07:33:00.001-07:00

Celebrating its 11th year, Florida A&M University (FAMU) will host its Annual Grape Harvest Festival Saturday, August 27 at the Viticulture and Small Fruit Research Center located at 6505 Mahan Drive in Tallahassee. This year’s theme is “A Vintage Year: Stomp, Rattle and Roll.”

Judy Ammons, first lady of FAMU, will serve as chairperson of the FAMU Grape Harvest Festival along with Jane Marks, first lady of Tallahassee, and Mary Barley, a wellness coach and author, as co-chairpersons.

The festival will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the First Lady Vineyard Run/Walk will kickoff with registration at 7 a.m.

The Annual FAMU Grape Harvest Festival is a community event being sponsored by FAMU and coordinated through its Center for Viticulture and Small Fruit Research.

“We are pulling all plugs to provide an entertaining day of discovery and fun that helps to build stronger relationships between the university and the community as well as families and friends throughout Florida and beyond,” said Bobby Phills, festival coordinator.

This year’s festival will have an assortment of fun-filled amusements, educational displays and informative demonstrations for both young and old. The schedule includes the following: the hula hoop contest; grape throwing games; winemaking demonstrations/workshops; blood bank donations; a health fair with exhibits from the FAMU Schools of Nursing, Allied Health, and Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences; an invitational wine-tasting session featuring FAMU’s own and Florida commercial wineries; and an exciting and highly popular old-fashioned grape stomping contest.

Participants will have an opportunity to pick grapes at a specified time and place. Bags will be provided; but no buckets will be allowed. The festival promises to be jammed packed with fun-filled excitement for the entire family.

Admission is $5 per person and $2 for children 12 and under. The pre-registration fee for the 1K and 5K is $10 for children and students with valid ID on or before August 26 and $15 the day of race. The pre-registration fee for adults is $15 on or before August 26 and $20 the day of the race. The fee for the wine tasting is $2 and interested individuals must be 21 and have proper ID.

For more information, contact Angela Harper at (850) 599-3996.

FAMU's Weightless Students Return to Earth

2011-10-20T07:32:00.001-07:00

After testing their self-designed and constructed experiments on-board a gravity-defying aircraft, five students and a faculty member from Florida A&M University (FAMU) were busy evaluating their data after experiencing weightlessness at NASA Johnson Space Center’s Ellington Field in Houston, Texas. “This was a unique opportunity for a team from FAMU to work on a true interdisciplinary project, one that has relevance to NASA and the future of space exploration,” said Clement Allen, associate professor in FAMU’s Computer and Information Sciences. “The team brought together many skills — mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science. This was a chance for them to understand how scientific and engineering problems are approached in the real world.” This experiment was part of NASA’s Reduced Gravity Education Flight Program (RGEFP), which gives teams of undergraduate students from across the nation the opportunity to propose, design, build, fly and evaluate a reduced gravity experiment. The team was selected from more than 70 proposals based on scientific merit and education outreach potential. FAMU students that participated in the experiment included the following: Brian Johnson, a computer and information sciences major; Victoria Moore, a computer and information sciences major; Paolo Clavijo, a electronic engineering technology major; Obie Obakporo, a mechanical engineering major; Twan Capehart, a mechanical engineering major; and Stacy Tinner, a electronic engineering technology major“I gained a whole lot from this experience,” said Obakporo. “I was exposed to the multiple strenuous tests that engineers have to go through at the professional level. Consequently, it forced me to be extremely meticulous and thorough in every aspect of my work, to ensure the best chance of success for our experiment and guarantee a safe work environment. Although the work proved to be challenging and even tedious at times, the difficulty of each task only added to the gratification and satisfaction of achieving such an accomplishment ... having our experiment approved by NASA!” The team tested their experiment aboard NASA’s “Weightless Wonder,” a microgravity aircraft that can produce periods of weightlessness lasting 18 to 25 seconds at a time by flying a series of about 30 parabolas – a steep climb followed by a free fall – over the Gulf of Mexico. The student team flew their experiment, “Pseudo-Gravity Application for Autonomous Mobile Robot in a Microgravity Environment,” at Ellington Field. The experiment consisted of testing a robot that could create its own gravity in a weightless environment using a series of propellers, enabling the robot to remain grounded and traverse a surface even when there is reduced gravity. The team will issue a final report to NASA analyzing the experiment’s effectiveness, scientific findings and the conclusions that were drawn from the results.

FAMU Alumna Frances Wooten Scruggs Succumbs

2011-10-20T07:22:00.001-07:00

Florida A&M University (FAMU) alumnus and a former student body president Frances Wooten Scruggs passed away on Aug. 1 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. She was 90.

A memorial service for the fallen Rattler will take place, Saturday, August 13 at Mt. Hermon AME Church in Fort Lauderdale.

After graduating from Broward County’s Dillard High School, she enrolled in Florida A&M College (FAMC), where she served as student body president. At FAMC, she met and married the co-captain of the football team, Frank Scruggs Sr.

After earning her bachelor of science degree, she and her husband joined the faculty of Dillard High School. She received her master’s degree from Ohio State University. She concluded her working years as a guidance counselor at Piper High School, Sunrise, Fla.

Scruggs was a charter member of the Delta Eta Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. in Ft. Lauderdale, which honored her by creating the Frances Scruggs Scholarship in 1997. She had two sons, Frank Scruggs Jr. and Joshua David Scruggs.

In lieu of gifts, the family is asking for donations to the Frances Scruggs Scholarship, Zeta D.O.V.E. Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 15811, Plantation, Florida 33318.

FAMU Student Journalists Have Been Invited to the White House

2011-10-20T07:20:00.001-07:00

Ten students from the Florida A&M University (FAMU) School of Journalism and Graphic Communication (SJGC) will depart from Tallahassee on Friday, Aug. 26, for a four-day trip to the White House to meet the nation’s highest level of press officials.

“We’re very grateful for students to be able to go behind the scenes because we understand the impact and power of communication and media,” said SJGC Assistant Professor and Director of Internship/Placement Yanela Gordon. “We recognize how vital it is for students to see this from a federal level. That is not something we can teach in class.”

The students will have an opportunity to ask questions and meet with White House senior communication officials, directors of congressional communications and other press officials. They will also get a tour of the White House as well as the briefing room where a number of government officials such as President Barack Obama convene to speak with the press.

“It signals we are investing in opportunities for students that are immediately rewarding,” said James Hawkins, dean of the SJGC. “It’s an indication that we are providing a quality education for our students.”

The students selected to attend include: Alexandria Collins, a junior broadcast journalism student from Tallahassee; Aria Aaron, a junior broadcast journalism student from Nashville, Tenn.; Clarece Polke, a senior print journalism student from Archer, Fla.; Duane Robin, a journalism student from Cay Bay, St. Maarten; Denecah Nickerson, a senior public relations student from Houston, Texas; Kari Knowles, a senior broadcast journalism student from Tampa, Fla; Tiffany Bain, a senior public relations student from Miami, Fla.; Jordan Culver, a senior newspaper journalism student from Winter Garden, Fla.; Wandoo Makurdi, a graduate broadcast journalism student from Lagos, Nigeria; and Brittany Holman, a senior broadcast journalism student from Leesburg, Fla.

Collins, who works in the FAMU Student Government Association’s executive branch communications department, is excited about the opportunity and said the trip will help her with her duties in SGA.

“It’s an amazing opportunity to visit the White House, witness the political process and be a part of history,” Collins said.

According to Gordon, FAMU alumni who work in the communications field are abundant on Capitol Hill. She also believes that having students meet with the communications professionals “will open students” minds to potential careers that are going to impact people’s lives.

“By accepting this invitation from the White House, not only are students going to gain valuable insight from communications and press professionals of the highest levels, this also helps FAMU strengthen and further grow relationships with the White House,” said Gordon.

About FAMU’s School of Journalism and Graphic Communication

The School of Journalism and Graphic Communication was founded in 1982. Its Division of Journalism was the first journalism program at a historically black university to be nationally accredited by the ACEJMC. It offers four journalism sequences: newspaper, magazine production, broadcast (radio and television) and public relations.

FAMU Named a Best in the Southeast College by The Princeton Review

2011-10-20T07:19:00.001-07:00

Florida A&M University (FAMU) was named one of the best colleges in the Southeast by The Princeton Review. It is one of 134 institutions The Princeton Review recommends in its “Best in the Southeast” section of its website feature, “2012 Best Colleges: Region by Region.”

“We're pleased to recommend Florida A&M University to users of our site as one of the best schools to earn their undergrad degree,” said Robert Franek, Princeton Review's senior vice president and publisher. “We chose it and the other terrific institutions we name as ‘regional best' colleges mainly for their excellent academic programs.”

The 134 colleges and universities The Princeton Review chose for its "Best in the Southeast" designations are located in twelve states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. The Princeton Review also designated 220 colleges in the Northeast, 153 in the Midwest, and 121 in the West as best in their locales on the company’s “2012 Best Colleges: Region by Region” lists. Collectively, the 629 colleges named “regional best(s)” constitute about 25 percent of the nation's 2,500 four-year colleges.

“It is an honor to be named as one of the best colleges in the southeast by The Princeton Review,” said FAMU President James H. Ammons. “At Florida A&M University, we continue to strive for excellence while providing a first-class education for our students. We take pride in this recognition, and will continue to build on our reputation as one of the nation's premier institutions of higher learning.”

From several hundred schools in each region, The Princeton Review winnowed its list based on institutional data collected directly from the FAMU, visits to schools over the years and the opinions of its staff, plus college counselors and advisors.

“We also take into account what students at the schools reported to us about their campus experiences at them on our 80-question student survey for this project,” Franek said. “Only schools that permit us to independently survey their students are eligible to be considered for our regional 'best' lists.”

This past April, FAMU was selected as one of The Princeton Review’s “311 Green Colleges: 2011 Edition.” The university was the only historically black college or university (HBCU) to make the list, which focused solely on colleges that have demonstrated a strong commitment to sustainability in their academic offerings, campus infrastructure, activities and career preparation.

The Princeton Review has been a pioneer and leader in helping students achieve their higher education goals for 30 years through college and graduate school test preparation and private tutoring. The Princeton Review partners with schools and guidance counselors throughout the U.S. to assist in college readiness, test preparation and career planning services, helping more students pursue postsecondary education.

FAMU Alumnus Alvin Davis Named Florida 2012 Teacher of the Year

2011-08-09T10:46:00.001-07:00

For FAMU alumnus Alvin Aureliano Davis, there is no greater or more honorable profession than being a teacher. Davis, a music teacher at Miramar High School in Broward County, describes education as the cornerstone of the “American Dream” and teachers have the rewarding opportunity to not only make a difference, but also change lives.

Davis’ commitment to his craft has not gone unnoticed. In July, he was named the 2012 Macy’s Florida Department of Education’s Teacher of the Year.

“It is an honor and humbling experience to be chosen by my peers and fellow educators to be their voice for the next year,” Davis said. “People forget sometimes that educators are preparing generations not to just appreciate and imbibe a liberal art, but learn how to live and be successful in whatever becomes their chosen profession. We are preparing students to be the leaders, doctors, CEOs and even presidents of tomorrow.”

Each year is a new and exciting adventure in Davis’ classroom at Miramar High School. As a music educator for the past 11 years and current director of bands at Miramar High School, he believes that it is not enough to just teach music, he believes it is his duty to reinforce the skills learned in other classes to not only to achieve in his classroom, but in life. By actively encouraging students and keeping them engaged on obtainable goals, his students find success that permeate the entire classroom, which not only creates high moral standards and quality of character, but musical and academic achievement. Davis said he makes sure that his students receive one-on-one counseling to ensure that a successful academic pathway has been set for each of his students.

“He was a great teacher and when it came to music and school, he meant business,” said James Alcine, a 2008 Miramar High School graduate and one of Davis’ former students. “Mr. Davis cares about us and really wants what’s best for the students. To this day, he continues to push us and asks, ‘How is school going?’ or ‘How are your grades?’ He really deserves this recognition.”

Davis earned his bachelor’s degree in music in 2000 from FAMU and was a member of the Marching “100” during his time at the university.

“’Excellence With Caring!’” Those simple three words describe my experience at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University,” he said. “Under the leadership of Dr. William P. Foster and Dr. Julian E. White, I had the opportunity to be a member of the incomparable Marching “100” where the simple yet important ideals that resonate through the historic walls of the Foster-Tanner Complex were imbedded into my persona.”

White, FAMU’s director of bands, said Davis was one of the finest students he has ever taught.

“Alvin was a very fine student when he was at Florida A&M University,” said White, FAMU director of bands. “He was very scholarly. I was proud to have him as a student. After he graduated, he blossomed. He really cared for the students— not just musically but academically and personally. His care and concern for the total student is why I believe he was named teacher of the year.”

Davis was selected from thousands of public school instructors for his outstanding teaching skills and will be awarded $10,000 from Macy’s and an all-expenses paid trip to New York City to attend the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. He will also serve as an ambassador to education, representing teachers throughout the state and conducting workshops and conference during a sabbatical year of service.

“Due to the award, I will be taken away from the classroom for a year to be the Florida Department of Educations’ ambassador for education,” Davis said. “ I am sure my students will miss me; however, I now have the opportunity to make a difference on a larger scale.”

FAMU Host Fourth Annual President's Cup Golf Tournament to Raise Scholarship Funds

2011-08-09T10:43:00.000-07:00

Florida A&M University (FAMU) and Turner Construction Company will host the fourth annual President’s Cup Golf Tournament at the Killearn Country Club located at 100 Tyron Circle, Tallahassee, Fla., at 1 p.m. on Thursday, September 1. Proceeds from the golf tournament will benefit the FAMU Presidential Scholarship Program.

The cost of the tournament is $125 per person. This includes green fees, cart, breakfast, complimentary on course beverages, lunch, a framed photo keepsake, an official tournament polo, a post event DVD and a tournament gift. Checks should be made payable to the FAMU Foundation, Inc. and mailed to: 2011 President’s Cup Golf Tournament, Florida A&M University Foundation, Inc., P.O. 6562, Tallahassee, Fla. 32314.

For more information on the President’s Cup Golf Tournament, call (850) 599-3860.

Great Grandmother of Eight to Earn Her Master's Degree in History at FAMU

2011-08-09T10:42:00.001-07:00

In August 2008, Juanita Isom, 69, was encouraged by her daughter, Leesa, to go back to school and attain her master’s degree in history. After the death of her daughter, just two months later, Isom continued and earned her bachelor’s degree from Southern University. Now, she is on her way to earning her master’s degree from Florida A&M University (FAMU) in a field she and her daughter both loved, history.

“When we started this, Leesa said, ‘Mama, don’t quit! Promise me that you will keep going,” Isom said. “We weren’t thinking anything was going to happen to her. After she passed away, I could have done a lot of things, but I didn’t. I had to keep my promise to her. She told me to go as far as I could go.”

On August 5, more than 450 candidates will walk across the stage in the FAMU Alfred Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center and Teaching Gymnasium during FAMU’s 2011 Summer Commencement Ceremony. Isom has kept her promise she once made to Leesa —she earned her master’s degree in history this summer.

The mother of four, was born in Tampa, Fla. At the age of 11, she said, is when education really took a front seat into her life. Her foster parents, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Charles Monford, were two of her biggest inspirations. In the early 1960s, she and her husband moved to New Orleans, La., where she worked as a nurse for 35 years.

“My family has always stressed education and that you are never too old to achieve your goals,” Isom said. “When I was a little girl, I wanted to be a nurse. My grandmother was a diabetic and I would love to give her shots and take care of her. As I went on, history grew on me.”

Isom, who had interned with the Meek-Eaton Southeastern Regional Black Archives Research Center and Museum, said she has met some great people during her years at the university. From her church family, to the teachers and the students, she thanks the historically black institution for its friendly atmosphere. She added that the young people seemed to be drawn to her and would ask questions about morals, principles and other advice.

“The students are very nice and respectful,” said Isom. “I was sitting outside Tucker Hall one day and a group of young boys walked by. One had used a little profanity. After he and his friends saw me, he came over and apologized and hugged me. He said, ‘I am so sorry; I will do better.’”

Isom plans to go back to New Orleans “to rest and recuperate for awhile.” Following that, she hopes to work part time in archival and museum management.

In her spare time, she enjoys reading books by Helen Steiner Rice, sewing and restoring antiques.

For those who do not believe that college may be right for them, Isom suggests they just give it a try.

“They should give it their all,” said the grandmother of 12. “Once they do that, they will know ‘This is what I need to be doing.’ Education is the key for African-American children. They need to keep going as far as they can. If they are not educated, then they are not going to make it.”

Great Grandmother of Eight to Earn Her Master's Degree in History at FAMU

2011-08-09T10:35:00.000-07:00

Tickets for 2011 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Classic Now on Sale

2011-08-09T10:13:00.000-07:00

Tickets for the 32nd Annual Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Classic (BCBS), the traditional showdown between historically black institutions Bethune-Cookman University (B-CU) and Florida A&M University (FAMU), are now on sale to the general public. Tickets to America’s preeminent HBCU football game may be purchased at Ticketmaster.com, at the Amway Center box office, by telephone at (407) 839-3900 or any Ticketmaster outlet. This year’s game will be played on Saturday, November 19, at 2:30 p.m. in Orlando’s Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium while being televised nationally on ESPN Classic.

Tickets are available for as low as $10.75 (3rd level, corner), while other seats are available at great price levels ($27 end zone, $37 goal line or lower-deck corner). Priority seating for the game is available with season ticket packages purchased through either B-CU or FAMU. For Wildcat ticket information, call (386) 481-2202 and for FAMU, call (850) 599-3141.

Student tickets are available for $27 and may be purchased through the student’s respective school.

Group tickets (20 or more) may be purchased through Florida Citrus Sports by calling (407) 423-2476 or at the FCSports Box Office, located in the South end of the stadium which is open Monday and Wednesday, from noon to 4 p.m.; Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Parking is on sale and available by visiting www.ClickandPark.com.

Fans should purchase their tickets at one of the approved locations listed above. Buying from any alternative source increases the risk of receiving a counterfeit ticket.

Proceeds from the BCBS of Florida Classic and all official ancillary events support the participating institution’s mission of providing educational opportunities through scholarships for all students.

FAMU Alumna Named National Press Secretary for the Democratic National Committee

2011-08-09T10:10:00.001-07:00

Melanie Roussell, a 2001 graduate of the Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) School of Journalism and Graphic Communication (SJGC), has been named the National Press Secretary for the Democratic National Committee (DNC) for the upcoming presidential election cycle.

The honors graduate begins her new assignment this week. In addition to serving as chief spokesperson, she will help direct the rapid response unit for the committee.

“We are so proud Melanie has been entrusted with this responsibility,” said James Hawkins, dean of SJGC. “Melanie is an exceptionally talented person. It’s no surprise that her talents have earned the attention of the DNC.

Roussell was the committee’s Southern Regional Communications Director for Obama of America in 2008.

A native of New Orleans, La., Roussell received her M.A. in public communication from American University.

Last year, Roussell was a recipient of the FAMU Young Alumni Award for her significant career achievements.

The Educational Research Center for Child Development Awarded Three Grants

2011-08-09T10:09:00.000-07:00

The Florida A&M University New Beginnings Educational Research Center for Child Development (NB-ERCCD) has received three different grant awards this year from three different funding sources.

“NB-ERCCD is very excited about all of the program enhancements that we anxiously anticipate completing for our families, staff and the FAMU community,” said Reva Myers, director of FAMU’s NB-ERCCD.

NB-ERCCD was awarded $10,000 for The Home Depot’s “Retool Your School” initiative. The competition, among historically black colleges and universities, was part of The Home Depot’s long-standing efforts in support of the black community. Grants were awarded to colleges and universities for school improvement projects. The panel of judges for this competition also scored and heavily weighted the narrative section of all the applicants.

NB-ERCCD intends to use The Home Depot’s funding to install outdoor playground lighting for the evening care program, enhance the outdoor learning environment and make interior building repairs and upgrades that promote energy conservation.

The second grant awarded, the Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) initiative, is a multi-year grant awarded by the United States Department of Education (USDOE). The primary purpose of this grant is to provide incentives for attracting and retaining low-income students/parents that wish to pursue a post-secondary degree. Funding is used to subsidize the cost of childcare tuition fees for Pell grant students.

The CCAMPIS initiative also allows NB-ERCCD to plan and implement programs and activities that are based on low-income students/parents “needs assessments” and “customer satisfaction,” which were compiled from survey responses.

The Early Learning Coalition (ELC) of the Big Bend Region awarded the final grant. The ELC award will allow New Beginnings to establish an outdoor classroom that would extend the indoor classroom to a naturalistic environment. The outdoor classroom enhances children’s natural curiosity about nature, but allows children to engage in specifically designed developmentally appropriate learning activities that keep them actively involved and excited about learning.

The Center provides services for 93 families in the pre-school program and 20 families in the after-school program. The center is staffed by 17 well-trained individuals with operating hours from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for pre-school children, 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. for school age children and 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. for evening care students during fall and spring semesters.

For more information on FAMU’s New Beginnings, call (850) 599-3267.

FAMU Announces its Football Season Host Hotels

2011-08-09T10:08:00.002-07:00

TALLAHASSEE,Fla. - Florida A&M University (FAMU) announces the host hotels for the 2011 football season. The hotels listed below include hotels for games in Tallahassee as well as travel games for the Rattlers. Interested individuals can download the listing by clicking here.

September 3, 2011
Sports Hall of Fame Weekend
Tallahassee, Florida
FAMU vs. Fort Valley State
Bragg Memorial Stadium - 6 p.m.
Hilton Garden Inn
1330 Blair Stone Road
Tallahassee, Florida 32301
Phone: 850-893-8300
Rate: $139
Cut-off date: September 1, 2011

September 8, 2011
Hampton, Virginia
FAMU vs. Hampton University
Armstrong Stadium - 6 p.m.
Springhill Suites
1997 Power Plant Parkway
Hampton, Virginia 23666
Phone: 757-310-6333
Rate: $89 single/double occupancy
Cut-off date: September 1, 2011

September 17, 2011
Tampa, Florida
FAMU vs. South Florida
Raymond James Stadium - TBD
Renaissance Tampa International Plaza
Hotel
4200 Jim Walter Blvd.
Tampa, Florida 33607
Phone: 813-877-9200
Rate: $99 single/double occupancy
Cut -off date: September 1, 2011

September 24, 2011
Atlanta Classic
Atlanta, Georgia
FAMU vs. Southern University
Georgia Dome - 3:30 p.m.
Atlanta Marriott Marquis
265 Peachtree Center Avenue, NE
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Phone: 404-521-0000 or 1-800-266-9432
Rate: $123
Cut-off date: September 13, 2011

October 1, 2011
Prince Hall Shriners Diabetes Classic
Tallahassee, Florida
FAMU vs. Delaware State
Bragg Memorial Stadium - 6 p.m.
Hotel Duval
415 North Monroe
Tallahassee, Florida 32301
Phone: 850-224-6000
Rate: $109
Cut-off date: September 15, 2011

October 8, 2011
FAMU Homecoming
FAMU vs. Howard University
Bragg Memorial Stadium - 3 p.m.
Aloft Hotel
200 North Monroe
Tallahassee, Florida 32301
Phone: 850-513-0313
Rate: $199
Cut-off date: September 20, 2011
(Call the Office of Alumni Affairs for additional hotels at 850-599-3707)

October 15, 2011
Savannah, Georgia
FAMU vs. Savannah State
Ted A. Wright Stadium - 7 p.m.
Hampton Inn & Suites Savannah Midtown
20 Johnston Street
Savannah, Georgia 31405
Phone: 912-721-2305
Rate: $109
Cut-off: September 23, 2011

October 22, 2011
FAMU vs. South Carolina State
Oliver C. Dawson Stadium - 1:30 p.m.
Embassy Suites
200 Stoneridge Drive
Columbia, SC 29210
Phone: 803-252-8700
Rate: $119
Cut-off date: October 7, 2011

November 5, 2011
Youth and Community Day
Tallahassee, Florida
FAMU vs. North Carolina A&T
Bragg Memorial Stadium - 6 p.m.
Spring Hill Suites
1300 Executive Center Drive
Tallahassee, Florida 32301
Phone: 850-325-1103
Rate: $79
Cut-off rate: October 25, 2011

November 12, 2011
FAMU vs. North Carolina Central
O’ Kelly -Riddick - 2 p.m.
Hilton Garden Inn Durham Southpoint
7007 Fayetteville Road
Durham, North Carolina 27713
Phone: 919-544-6000
Rate: $104
Cut-off date: October 26, 2011

November 19, 2011
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida
Florida Classic
Orlando, Florida
FAMU vs. Bethume-Cookman University
Citrus Bowl - 2:30 p.m.
Hilton Orlando
6001 Destination Parkway
Orlando, Florida 32819
Phone: 407-313-8400
Rate: $112
Cut-off date: November 4, 2011

Donald Palm Named American Council on Education Fellow

2011-08-09T10:08:00.001-07:00

Donald Palm, assistant vice president for Academic Affairs at Florida A&M University (FAMU), has been named an American Council on Education (ACE) Fellow. Molly Corbett Broad, president of the ACE, announced that Palm is an ACE Fellow for the academic year 2011-2012.

“I am truly honored to be nominated and selected as a 2011-2012 American Council on Education Fellow,” said Palm. “The ACE Fellows Program provides a wonderful opportunity for my personal growth as a leader and to network with national figures in higher education. This transformational experience will ultimately benefit Florida A&M University.”

The ACE Fellows Program, established in 1965, is designed to strengthen institutional capacity and build leadership in American higher education by identifying and preparing promising senior faculty and administrators for responsible positions in college and university administration. Fifty Fellows, nominated by the presidents or chancellors of their institutions, were selected this year in a national competition.

“We are extremely proud of Dr. Palm’s accomplishments and I anticipate that his role as an ACE Fellow will be of benefit to him as well as to Florida A&M University,” said FAMU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Cynthia Hughes Harris.

Sharon A. McDade, Ed.D., director of the ACE Fellows Program, noted that most previous Fellows have advanced into major positions in academic administration. Of the more than 1,700 participants in the first 46 years of the program, more than 300 have become chief executive officers and more than 1,100 have become provosts, vice presidents or deans.

“We are excited to welcome the new class of Fellows,” said McDade. “The program offers individualized, accelerated learning that advances leadership readiness while building institutional capacity. We are eager to embark on this transformational leadership journey with the members of the class of 2011-12.”

Palm earned his doctorate in pharmacology from Pennsylvania State University (Hershey Medical School) and his B.A. degree in chemistry from Lincoln University of Pennsylvania. He completed his training as a post-doctoral research fellow at Brown University Medical School/Rhode Island Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery/Neuroscience. A professor of basic pharmaceutical sciences in the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences with a research focus in the area of neurodegeneration, Palm has garnered several million dollars in funding and has received many research and teaching awards. In his current position, he provides academic administrative oversight to the schools, colleges, institutes and ancillary service departments that report to the office of Academic Affairs. He is also heavily involved with new program development in which he is currently spearheading, along with several national experts, FAMU’s quest to develop a College of Dental Medicine.

Each ACE Fellow will focus on an issue of concern to the nominating institution while spending all or part of the next academic year working with a college or university president and other senior officers at a host institution. The ACE Fellows Program combines retreats, interactive learning opportunities, campus visits, and placement at another higher education institution to condense years of on-the-job experience and skills development into a single semester or year. The Fellows are included in the highest level of decision making while participating in administrative activities and learning about an issue of benefit to Florida A&M University.

Fellows attend three week-long retreats on higher education issues organized by ACE, read extensively in the field, and engage in other activities to advance their knowledge about the challenges and opportunities confronting higher education today.

About the American Council on Education
Founded in 1918, ACE (www.acenet.edu) is the major coordinating body for all of the nation's higher education institutions, representing more than 1,600 college and university presidents, and more than 200 related associations, nationwide. It provides leadership on key higher education issues and influences public policy through advocacy.

FAMU to Host its Inaugural Executive Leadership Summit

2011-08-09T10:07:00.000-07:00

Florida A&M University (FAMU) will host its inaugural President’s Executive Leadership Summit on Thursday, July 21 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Alfred Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center and Teaching Gymnasium. The theme for the summit is “Facing Extraordinary Challenges: Collaborating to Produce Extraordinary Outcomes.”

More than 100 business executives from Tallahassee and the region have agreed to attend.

The purpose of the President’s Executive Leadership Summit is to bring regional and local executives and business persons together to dialogue with FAMU leadership regarding current trends and key issues that are impacting business and educational institutions alike.

The agenda for the Summit includes university presentations from Dean Shawnta Friday-Stroud, School of Business and Industry; Dean Rodner Wright, School of Architecture; and Delores Dean, director of the Career Center. Devoe Moore, owner of the Tallahassee Antique Car Museum, will serve as chair of the Summit. Other participants on the program include Sue Dick, president of Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce; Alfred “Al” Lawson Jr., president of Al Lawson & Associates, Inc.; Steve Ghazvini, president of Premier Commercial Development; and Lawrence Saunders, senior vice president and diversified commercial manager for SunTrust Bank. David Blanding, tech fellow, Subsystems Technology for Boeing Corporation, will make a corporation presentation.

FAMU will host its next summit on August 25, 2011 on health care. For more information, contact the Office of University Relations at (850) 599-3860.

William Hudson Jr. Named Vice President for Student Affairs

2011-08-09T09:04:00.000-07:00

Florida A&M University (FAMU) President James H. Ammons has appointed William E. Hudson Jr. as vice president for Student Affairs

“I am confident that Dr. Hudson will provide strong leadership for the Division of Student Affairs,” said Ammons. “He has the experience and the background in higher education to help us achieve a level of excellence in the area of student support services. We look forward to him implementing initiatives that will help our students to become well-rounded citizens and leaders.”

Hudson shared his thoughts on how honored he is to lead the Division of Student Affairs.

“I feel very honored in my selection as the vice president for Student Affairs by President Ammons,” said Hudson. “It has always been my desire to give back to the institution that assisted in my development. I have many mentors that helped me to mature and transition as an undergraduate to graduate student. It is because of those influences I am passionate about helping students and parents of this generation.”

Hudson said some of his goals in this new position include developing university-wide collaborations to improve customer service by leveraging technology, improving retention, progression and graduation rates. He also plans to continue the strong tradition of developing leaders and promoting positive critical thinking in students.

“To create the atmosphere of a global community, all stakeholders, students, faculty and staff must be involved; we definitely support a team approach,” he said.

Hudson received his bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s degree in counseling education from FAMU. He went on to earn a specialist degree in counseling and human services and a Ph.D. in rehabilitation counseling from Florida State University.

He has extensive experience counseling students with academic, personal and career issues. He is a specialist in the recruitment and retention of minority students and provides consulting to small colleges and universities. As an adjunct professor at FAMU, he educates students on rehabilitation, disability, vocational training and services, community transition and empowerment.

He is a certified rehabilitation counselor, a member of the American College Counseling Association, National Association of Academic Advising Association (NACADA), and the Florida Association Educational Opportunity Program Personnel (FAEOP), among other professional organizations.

“I will work hard and encourage input from students, faculty and staff,” said Hudson. “Positive change does not occur overnight, but in time you will definitely see improvements that will ultimately produce significant results.”

FAMU will Host the CEO Experience - A Music and Entertainment Industry Conference

2011-08-09T09:03:00.002-07:00

The former president of Motown Records joined Florida A&M University (FAMU) officials during a press conference to announce the Creativity Education Opportunity (C.E.O.) Experience, a music and entertainment industry conference scheduled for November 3 and November 4, 2011 on the campus. The conference will offer new artists, producers, journalists, graphic designers, public relations and business students direct access and inside information on launching and sustaining a successful career in the music and entertainment business.

“As Florida A&M University moves toward its 2020 vision with courage, we are charged with providing pedagogical experiences that appeal to the interests of the current and future FAMUans,” said FAMU President James H. Ammons. “This new Music Industry Studies program addresses the industry’s need for technically qualified, socially and liberally educated individuals who are trained to work in interdisciplinary settings in a fast-changing global workplace.”

At the press conference, music industry executive Al Bell announced plans to establish a partnership with the university, which will provide resources for the FAMU Institute for Hip Hop and Music Industry Studies as well as scholarships for students pursuing careers in music and entertainment industries.

Bell will be the keynote speaker for the C.E.O. Experience conference. Bell, who started in the entertainment business as a radio broadcaster, became owner and chairman of Stax Records and former president of Motown Records. He is recognized as one of the “Most Influential African Americans in Radio” and was recently honored with the Grammy Trustee Award for his significant contributions to the recording field.

“History will record that Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University embraced, with informed intellectual commitment, the broad and diverse asset value of America’s hip-hop culture, its music, and it unparalleled multi-billion dollar music, fashion, technological, and diverse business industries,” said Bell. “And history will show that Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University educated – for the positive future benefit of America – the music, social, cultural, educational, economic, political, and business leaders of tomorrow. I wholeheartedly applaud President James Ammons and FAMU for having the vision and the courage to address today’s dire and critical leadership needs of our American society, American culture and the American music industry.”

Conference session panels will include discussions on the following: career development, the digital age of media, video production, record companies 101, and public relations. The Professional Networking Fair allows participants the opportunity to meet and greet representatives from various music and media companies.

Nina Packer, general manager of Bryant Management, the company behind Lil’ Wayne, Drake and Lil’ Twist, will facilitate a workshop on artist management. Music executive Amir Windom will give participants an inside look into the role of A&R in records and music supervision in television and film.

“The C.E.O. experience will provide our students with an incredible educational opportunity to learn from key entertainment industry insiders,” said Kawachi Clemons, Ph.D., who serves as the director of the Institute. “Having someone like Al Bell put his name and reputation behind this type of programming is a true blessing.”

James Hawkins, dean of FAMU’s School of Journalism and Graphic Communication, expressed how this will be a wonderful opportunity for students.

“The School of Journalism and Graphic Communication is excited to partner with Dr. Clemons on this project,” said Hawkins. “Bringing leaders from the music and entertainment industry to campus will foster the cultivation of internships and other opportunities for our students.”

Hip-hop icon Christopher “Play” Martin, of Kid ‘n Play fame, who currently serves as a professional-in-residence with the Institute for Hip Hop and Music Industry Studies, stated how honored he is to be a part of the conference.

“I am very excited and honored to not only be a part of an event like this, which is long overdue, for the advancement of the music industry,” said Martin.

About the Institute for Hip Hop and Music Industry Studies
The Institute for Hip Hop and Music Industry Studies was created to actively promote and advance the knowledge about hip-hop arts and culture and its relational position as an extension of black and African-American artistic cultural traditions. The Music Industry program major within the bachelor of science in music degree is designed to acquaint students to the concepts and methodologies of the music and entertainment industry. The four-year program combines studies in music and business.

About the School of Journalism and Graphic Communication
The School of Journalism and Graphic Communication was founded in 1982. Its Division of Journalism was the first journalism program at a historically black university to be nationally accredited by the ACEJMC. It offers four journalism sequences: newspaper, magazine production, broadcast (radio and television) and public relations. Its Division of Graphic Communication offers instruction in graphic design and photography.

CBS News Senior Producer Kim Godwin will Deliver Keynote Address for the Summer Commencement

2011-08-09T09:03:00.001-07:00

Florida A&M University (FAMU) alumna and CBS News Senior Producer Kim Godwin will be the keynote speaker for FAMU’s 2011 Summer Commencement. The ceremony is scheduled for Friday, August 5 at 6 p.m. in the Alfred L. Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center and Teaching Gymnasium.

Doors will open for the general public at 5 p.m. and the line of march will commence at 5:30 p.m.

Godwin joined CBS News as senior producer in April 2007. In her current role on the CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley, she is exclusively in charge of planning future CBS News editorial coverage of day-to-day and major news events, both domestically and internationally, including most recently, the launch of the final Shuttle mission from Kennedy Space Center. In her previous role on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, Godwin was in charge of domestic news, overseeing editorial coverage and story production for all CBS bureaus in the United States, excluding Washington, D.C.

Recently, Godwin received a 2010 Emmy Award for “Outstanding Business and Economic Reporting in a Regularly Scheduled Newscast” for her groundbreaking series “Financial Family Tree.” The unique series provided viewers with an in-depth, analytical look at the immediate and long-term ripple effects of the recession.

Prior to CBS News, she worked at WCBS-TV as the assistant news director. At WCBS-TV, Godwin was second in charge of more than 200 staff members, oversaw day-to-day editorial direction and newscast production, and hired all new producers and writers for the station. She also directed and managed news internships and apprentice programs.

Prior to WCBS-TV, Godwin served as interim director for the Division of Journalism in FAMU’s School of Journalism and Graphic Communication. In that role, while directing the academic programs of the school, she also helped in planning the design of the current journalism facility, which includes two television studios and a multimedia newsroom.

Prior to FAMU, Godwin served as vice president and news director of KNBC-TV in Los Angeles, and vice president of News Operations for NBC Television Stations for Atlanta and New York. Prior to those appointments, she was vice president and news director of KXAS-TV in Dallas; news director for the Duopoly at WOIO-CBS 19 and WUAB-UPN 43 in Cleveland, Ohio; assistant news director for WCAU-TV in Philadelphia; executive producer at WNBC-TV in New York; news producer for WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, Penn.; anchor, investigative reporter and producer for WPTV-TV, West Palm Beach, Fla.; and executive producer of WTXL-TV in Tallahassee.

Godwin began her career as a midday disc jockey and evening news anchor for WAMF-AM at FAMU, and moved on to be a news writer for the morning drive at WTNT-AM in Tallahassee.

She is the recipient of two New York Association of Black Journalists Awards for producing “Conquering Cancer” and “The Changing Face of AIDS.” She also received an Emmy nomination for “Conquering Cancer.” In her prestigious career, she has won numerous awards for excellence in journalism, including a Los Angeles area Emmy for Investigative Journalism for the report “One Gun,” in which one handgun was linked to multiple violent and deadly crimes.

Godwin was born in Panama City, Fla. but grew up in Queens, New York. She graduated from FAMU with a bachelor of science degree in broadcast journalism. Godwin currently resides in New York City and in the Poconos, Penn. with her two children Kimberly and Kirsten.

New Superintendent Named to Lead the Development Research School

2011-08-09T09:02:00.001-07:00

Patricia C. Hodge is the new superintendent of Florida A&M University Developmental Research School (FAMU DRS).

“I am very excited about the opportunity,” said Hodge, a Pompano Beach native. “This school has a long history of educating African-American students and I am excited to be a part of that.”

Hodge, who previously served as the principal for Florida Atlantic University Schools, said some of her goals include increasing the research opportunities for FAMU faculty and FAMU DRS faculty; expanding the educational opportunities for students at DRS, such as dual enrollment; increasing advanced placement type programs; and increasing the early education programs for the school’s pre-K and elementary students.

“Dr. Hodge will be a remarkable addition to FAMU DRS,” said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Cynthia Hughes Harris. “She is very driven and dedicated to education. Her commitment to students makes her a perfect match for the research school. We are fortunate to have her leadership and look forward to working with her to take FAMU DRS to the next level.”

Hodge earned her bachelor’s degree in 1986 from the University of Florida in Gainesville; her master’s in 1989 from Atlanta University in Atlanta, Ga.; a specialist degree in educational leadership in 2000 from Florida Atlantic University (FAU) in Boca Raton, Fla; and her doctorate in 2008 from FAU.

Prior to serving as the principal for FAU Schools, she worked as the assistant principal for the school system. While working with Lloyd Estates Elementary School in Broward County, her major functions were administration, supervision, fiscal management, grant writing and parent and community involvement.

During her tenure, from 2002-2004, the school achieved an A school rating, achieved AYP annually and created the Targeted Assistance Program, which helped students who were having difficulties with their academics. She also supervised all expenditures, authored various competitive grants and served as the interim chair of transition for the School Advisory Board.

She is a member of the Education Law Association, Florida Association of School Administrators, National Association of Elementary School Principals, National Association of Laboratory Schools, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and Kiwanis Club International.

Founded in 1887, FAMU DRS, formerly known as Lucy Moten, was established as a Teacher Training School for FAMU. The mission of the K-12 school is to conduct research, demonstration and evaluation of the management of teaching and learning. FAMU DRS places curriculum emphasis on mathematics, science, technology and foreign languages. The faculty and staff are committed to providing a quality education for students by promoting rigor and innovative strategies for teaching and learning.

“I will be calling everyone on campus as soon as I get the opportunity,” she said. “I hope they can speak with me so we can begin to work to make FAMU DRS the school I know it can be.”

FAMU Researcher Receives Patent to Treat Cancers

2011-08-09T08:59:00.000-07:00

Nazarius Saah Lamango, an associate professor of medicinal chemistry in the Florida A&M University (FAMU) College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, received a patent to treat cancers using compounds that block the activity of a unique enzyme. The activity of this enzyme is elevated in some tumors. Specifically, inhibiting the excess amounts of this enzyme would diminish its ability to process the target protein into the forms that promote tumor cell growth.

Lamango further explains how this patent can benefit society.

“The patent describes compounds that can be used to inhibit the activity of an enzyme that we have found to be abnormally high in the tumors of some patients,” said Lamango. “By being able to use these compounds to bring the abnormally high enzyme activities in the tumors down to normal physiological levels, their ability to spur tumor growth will also be inhibited. When further developed into drugs, these compounds will constitute a new class of anticancer drugs with a novel mechanism of action.”

Lamango’s work was funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIH is the agency of the U.S. Federal Government tasked with managing the biomedical research budget.

According to Lamango, this enzyme, which is the target of the compounds described in the patent, is a member of a biochemical pathway for processing proteins, some of which regulate cell growth. Some of these proteins have been known for over a decade to play roles in some cancers and are said to be oncogenic, the potential of a gene to cause cancer.

Lamango explained that while conducting research on Parkinson’s disease, he found that this pathway may be involved, albeit in an opposite fashion, in degenerative disorders.

“It was astonishing that researchers have not paid more attention to the fact that degenerative disorders may share some common biochemical pathways with cancers,” he said. “Suspecting that this key enzyme may be suppressed in degenerative disorders, we began making inhibitors that could be used to inhibit it and see if cultured nerve cells will degenerate in a similar fashion as in degenerative disorders. The thought that these inhibitors could be useful in anticancer treatment solidifies what we have been pursuing ever since.”

What inspired Lamango to pursue this patent? He expressed that any research that will contribute to diminish cancer needs careful attention.

“I know people who have had cancer and passed away from the disease,” said Lamango. “The thought of being diagnosed with a cancer is always scary. The statistics that more than 12 million people were diagnosed with cancer worldwide in 2008 and that more than 7 million people actually died from it is a daunting statistic. According to the American Cancer Society Cancer Facts and Figures for 2010, 1.5 million cancer diagnosis and almost 600,000 cancer deaths were estimated to have occurred in the United States last year. Although Florida is only the fourth largest state in the U.S., population wise, it comes second only to California in the number of cancer diagnoses. Therefore, no matter how you look at it, cancer is never far from the mind. As a researcher, any thought or research finding that could lead to a contribution in diminishing the impact of cancer on society is always worthy of careful attention.”

Lamango is an individual that is no stranger to securing patents. He has one patent that is licensed by a private biotechnology company.

In 2002, he received a patent (US patent number 6,372,793) regarding a method for treatment of a neurological disease characterized by an impaired neurological function. In 2006, it was licensed to Signum Bioscience, Inc.

Lamango received his bachelor of science degree in agricultural chemistry and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Leeds, United Kingdom. He also received postdoctoral training from Louisiana State University Medical Center in New Orleans, La.

He holds memberships with the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the America Association for the Advancement of Science.

General Counsel Featured Among Florida's Legal Elite for Fourth Consecutive Year

2011-08-09T08:57:00.000-07:00

Florida A&M University (FAMU) General Counsel Avery McKnight was selected by his peers as one of the top government/non-profit attorneys in Florida Trend Magazine’s 2011 Florida Legal Elite for the fourth consecutive year.

“I am overwhelmed to be once again recognized by Florida Trend among so many outstanding barristers in this great state,” McKnight said. “As a graduate of FAMU, it reaffirms the university's powerful legacy of nurturing the best and brightest to serve with great distinction. It is also a testament to President James H. Ammons' battle cry that ‘our best work is yet to come!’”

In addition, McKnight was selected by Tallahassee’s LIVE Communications, Inc. as one of Twenty-five Leaders You Need to Know.

McKnight is charged with the responsibility of providing legal advice and counsel to the Board of Trustees, president and administration. A 1987 magna cum laude FAMU graduate and former SGA attorney general, he gained experience in misdemeanor prosecution at the state attorney's office and served in various capacities in FAMU's Office of the General Counsel between 1992 and 2005. Prior to returning as FAMU's General Counsel in 2007, he honed his litigation skills as a senior associate with the labor and employment law firm of Allen, Norton & Blue, P.A., and successfully represented both public and private entities.

He has been recognized as a 2002 NAACP Achiever and was a Virgil Hawkins Fellow at the Florida State University College of Law from 1989 to 1992.

FAMU Alumnus Makes History at Vanderbilt

2011-08-09T08:51:00.000-07:00

Florida A&M University (FAMU) alumnus Larry O. Rivers became the first African American to successfully defend a doctoral dissertation in Vanderbilt University’s Department of History. Rivers, who currently teaches history at Augusta State University in Augusta, Ga., recently returned to Nashville, Tenn. to participate in his graduate alma mater’s commencement ceremony.

“My FAMU education really helped me refine my skills as a researcher, writer and critical thinker,” Rivers said. “That solid foundation prepared me to excel in the rigorous environment of a top-level national research university.”

Larry’s parents watched proudly as he received his doctoral hood and crossed the stage. His mother, Betty H. Rivers, formerly worked in administrative positions for the City of Tallahassee and finished her career as business services manager for the Tallahassee Regional Airport. His father, Larry E. Rivers, taught history at FAMU and served as dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. He is now the president of Fort Valley State University. Larry also has one younger brother, Linjé, who is a legal counsel for the Florida Department of Financial Services.

“Vanderbilt provided me with many phenomenal educational experiences,” Rivers said. “Not only did this institution give me an opportunity to work with leading national experts in the field of African American religion, it also permitted me to study with living legends of the struggle for educational equality and civil rights.”

One of those “living legends” was former FAMU President Frederick S. Humphries, who served as a Distinguished Visiting Research Professor at Vanderbilt’s Peabody College in 2007-2008. Another was the Rev. James M. Lawson, Jr., a Distinguished Visiting University Professor who was one of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s lieutenants during the Civil Rights Movement.

Rivers, a recipient of the prestigious Harold Stirling Vanderbilt Fellowship, wrote his dissertation on the late Rev. Dr. James Hudson, a former professor of philosophy and university chaplain at FAMU from 1946 to 1973. The biography focuses on Hudson’s role in launching the 1956 Tallahassee Bus Boycott and setting the foundation for Martin Luther King, Jr.’s rise as the premier spokesman of the Civil Rights Movement.

Vanderbilt Professor Dennis C. Dickerson, who holds the James M. Lawson, Jr. Chair in History and also serves as the Historiographer of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, advised Rivers’ research.

“The Rivers dissertation, done at Vanderbilt University, will be a book and a scholarly statement about engaged African-American intellectuals and their connection with those less fortunate than themselves,” Dickerson said. “Dr. Rivers, at his young age, has already distinguished himself as a scholar to watch in coming years.”

Throughout the course of his research, Rivers relied heavily upon the James Hudson Papers Collection compiled by FAMU Professor E. Murell Dawson, director of the Carrie Meek-James N. Eaton, Sr. Southeastern Regional Black Archives Research Center and Museum.

At FAMU, Rivers majored in public relations. He was a National Achievement Scholar, Presidential Distinguished Scholar, and John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Journalism Scholar. The School of Journalism and Graphic Communication named him the “Outstanding Student in Journalism” (2003), “Outstanding Student in Public Relations” (2004), and “Outstanding Public Relations Writer” (2004). Additionally, Rivers was elected FAMU student body president for the 2003-2004 school year. In 2003, he won Seat IV on the Ochlockonee River Soil & Water Conservation Board with 28,870 votes, becoming the youngest elected official in Leon County, Florida. Rivers was also a member of the Beta Nu Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. As a college freshman, he authored a book chronicling the history of the FAMU College of Law which was published by the FAMU Foundation, Inc.

FAMU Board of Trustees Meeting

2011-08-04T09:26:00.000-07:00

During the Florida A&M University’s Board of Trustees Committee and Board meetings, there were two important items that were discussed and presented.

Item One

President Ammons Provided Update regarding Budget Cutting Exercise  

During a Florida A&M University (FAMU) Board of Trustees Committee meeting Wednesday, FAMU President James H. Ammons provided an update on how the university would account for a 10 percent reduction if implemented for the 2012-2013 academic year.

According to Ammons, the Governor’s Office and Legislature has asked state agencies and universities to identify recurring budget reductions that can be made for the fiscal year 2012-2013 in an event that budget reductions are necessary.   

“The reduction should total at least 10 percent of the 2011-2012 recurring revenues which is $7,858,247 and 10 percent for recurring trust funds or lottery which amounts to $1,195,588,” said Ammons. “All reductions should be recurring, program/issue specific and cannot be across-the-board percentage reductions. All programs must be fully evaluated. As you are well aware, any reductions to our budget will require looking even closer at each and every unit on campus.”

Ammons also told Board members that reductions of this magnitude would again require a layoff of personnel. The other possibilities, he said, include looking at combining or eliminating functional areas, reviewing non-academic/non-credit generating units, analyzing the next level of low productivity programs with the goal of cutting total programs and seeking alternative arrangements for students to complete their degrees at other institutions.  

“Such cuts may have to be “deep” and would also interfere with enrollment goals,” said Ammons. “Nothing is off the table. However, any potential reduction will harm recruitment of the best and brightest students and the retention of great faculty. We would eliminate current less than critical vacancies within each administrative and academic unit, and consider additional administrative cuts, across the university, with an accompanying increase in shared resources.”

FAMU has been asked to send this information to the Board of Governors by August 19, 2011.    

Item Two

Board of Trustees Approves of the Proposal to Establish at Doctor of Dental Medicine Degree Program at FAMU  

The Florida A&M University (FAMU) Board of Trustees unanimously approved the proposal to offer a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree at FAMU. This proposal now goes before the Florida Board of Governors for consideration.

The proposal addresses the need for a new college of dental medicine in Florida and addresses the disparities regarding access to dental services, workforce diversity, dental education models, including operating and capital costs, and plans for creating a College of Dental Medicine. On Wednesday, the committee head from President James H. Ammons, FAMU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Cynthia Hughes Harris; Donald Palm, assistant vice president for Academic Affairs at FAMU; and Howard Bailit, the consultant for the project who is professor emeritus at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and former chair of the Department of Health Administration and Policy at Columbia University.

Bailit noted during his presentation the community-based model would place students in community clinics and in real care systems, where the students would gain more clinical experience. The faculty would teach and practice in the clinics. According to Bailit, this model is less expensive than the traditional model, where students gain experience in teaching labs.

Balit emphasized that this model will have a positive impact on providing dental services, especially in the rural communities. The proposal envisions that a large number of potential students would be from disadvantaged, low-income families, rural communities and underrepresented minorities. The proposal also addresses estimated costs of the College and potential funding opportunities.  

Because of its innovative, community-based clinical education model, the College of Dental Medicine will require much less State support than traditional schools. An annual operating subsidy of about $10.3 million will be needed. This is substantially less than state support for dental schools of this size nationally and in Florida.

The next step in the approval process is the submission of the proposal to the Florida Board of Governors at its next meeting in September 2011.

Area Youth Conquer Summer Brain Drain with Science Adventure

2011-06-29T09:30:00.000-07:00

Area middle school students are curing the summer “brain drain” this year with a heavy dose of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fun at the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp hosted by Florida A&M University (FAMU). The hands-on program offers students an exciting way to beat the heat as they design space suits while experiencing life on a college campus.

Founded by veteran astronaut Dr. Bernard A. Harris, Jr., the program targets underserved youth. It is a two-week, all-expenses-paid residential camp that encourages math and science. The ExxonMobil Foundation provides funding and expertise of talented engineers to support the educational experience.

“Summer learning opportunities are crucial to continued academic success,” said Dr. Bernard A. Harris, Jr., veteran astronaut and camp founder. “In partnership with the ExxonMobil Foundation, we are able to offer students a tremendous opportunity to hone the math, science, communications and leadership skills needed to realize their full potential. Our goal is to inspire them to reach beyond the classroom and pursue careers in critical technology fields.”

For the sixth consecutive year, the ExxonMobil Foundation has partnered with Harris and his nonprofit organization, The Harris Foundation, to provide residential camps to underrepresented and underserved middle school students at 25 universities across the country. This is the second year FAMU has had the honor of participating in the program.

“ExxonMobil is committed to inspiring the next generation of creative thinkers and innovators who will be critical to our nation’s economic success,” said Suzanne McCarron, president of ExxonMobil Foundation. “By partnering with Dr. Harris, we are able to provide talented young students with hands-on experiences that could lead them to a career in math, science, engineering or technology.”

During a recent “Space Day” event, students were treated to a visit by Harris where they heard first-hand about his inspirational journey to become the first African American to walk in space and the extreme elements he encountered during his historic spacewalk.

“At Florida A&M University, we understand the importance of partnering with ExxonMobil and others to fuel the pipeline of students needed to keep our state and country competitive,” said FAMU President James H. Ammons. “We are building the next generation of scientists and engineers and we are proud to be a part of the effort.”

Campers were then given the opportunity to become space suit engineers for the day. Students were tasked with designing and creating a space suit swatch capable of absorbing the impact of space debris. Using household items to mimic essential protective materials, students assembled a test sample to submit for friendly competition. Using an “impact tester” to imitate the rigors faced during spacewalks, students were able to test the durability of their sample.

The demand for workers with strong math and science skills is significant as eight out of 10 of the fastest growing occupations in the nation are in STEM fields, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The camp program aims to fill this critical need by offering a curriculum that features hands-on experiments, team competitions and field excursions to help students build essential skills. Campers receive quality instruction from local educators and hear from ExxonMobil engineers about the exciting and rewarding aspects of their profession.

“We have seen this experience positively impact youth in our community, and look forward to witnessing our students’ dramatic growth as they gain valuable knowledge and a passion for math and science this summer,” said Edith Davis, director of FAMU’s ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp. “At FAMU, we understand the important role STEM programs such as these play in preparing students for the high-tech careers of tomorrow.”

About ExxonMobil Foundation
ExxonMobil Foundation is the primary philanthropic arm of the Exxon Mobil Corporation in the United States. The Foundation and the Corporation engage in a range of philanthropic activities that advance education, health and science in the communities where ExxonMobil has significant operations. In the United States, ExxonMobil supports initiatives to improve math and science education at the K-12 and higher education levels.

In 2010, together with its employees and retirees, Exxon Mobil Corporation, its divisions and affiliates, and ExxonMobil Foundation provided $237 million in contributions worldwide, of which more than $110 million was dedicated to education. Additional information on ExxonMobil’s community partnerships and contributions programs is available at www.exxonmobil.com/community.

About The Harris Foundation
Founded in 1998, The Harris Foundation is a 501 (c) (3), non-profit organization based in Houston, Texas, whose overall mission is to invest in the community through innovative education, health and wealth programs. The foundation supports programs that empower individuals and their communities, in particular minorities and economically and/or socially disadvantaged, to develop and pursue their dreams.

The Education Mission of the Harris Foundation is to enable youth to develop and achieve their full potential through the support of social, recreational, and educational programs. The Harris Foundation believes that students can be prepared now for the careers of the future through structured education programs and the use of positive role models. More than 10,000 K-12 students participate and benefit from THF programs annually. www.theharrisfoundation.org.

Four Journalism Professors Earn Prestigious Summer Fellowships

2011-06-29T09:26:00.000-07:00

Four professors in the Florida A&M University (FAMU) Division of Journalism have earned prestigious fellowships this summer to expand their skill sets in advertising, mobile media, crisis reporting and social media.

Gina Kinchlow, an assistant public relations professor, recently returned from a two-week Visiting Professor Fellowship sponsored by the Advertising Education Foundation at Deutsch, a multinational advertising agency in New York City.

Kinchlow, who serves as the adviser for PRodigy, the award-winning student-run public relations firm, presented research titled “Five Years With the PRodigy PR Firm: Observations on a Student-Run Company and Valuable Lessons On Its Usefulness in the Academy and Beyond” in June at the Hawaii International Conference on Social Sciences.

Dhyana Ziegler, a journalism professor, was selected to receive the American Press Institute’s Minority Educator Fellowship and she will attend the API seminar titled “Mobile Media: Opportunities On The Move” July 18 through 19. She also will participate in the American Biographical Institute and the International Biographical Centre’s World Forum June 28 through July 3 in San Francisco. She will present a research paper titled “Social Networking and Globalization: Evolution and Revolution” during the World Forum.

Andrew Skerritt, an assistant journalism professor and adviser to the award-winning Famuan student newspaper, earned a 2011 Dart Center Academic Fellowship at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism in New York City. He received additional in-depth training on trauma and crisis reporting.

Leonard Horton, a visiting assistant journalism professor and adviser to News20 at Five, earned a Journalism Educator Fellowship for “Writing in the Age of Twitter” at the Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, Fla., in May.

“I’m going to have students tweet breaking news updates and collaborate using hashtags on similar stories,” said Horton.

According to Horton, a new website, FAMUTVNews.com, will be launched by fall.

“Keeping our students current with industry practices is a high priority,” said James Hawkins, dean of the FAMU School of Journalism and Graphic Communication. “Faculty involvement in these activities support that effort.”

The School of Journalism & Graphic Communication was founded in 1982. Its Division of Journalism was the first journalism program at a historically black university to be nationally accredited by the ACEJMC. It offers four journalism sequences: newspaper, magazine production, broadcast (radio and television) and public relations.

Marching 100 to Host Annual Band Camp and Parade

2011-06-29T05:32:00.001-07:00

The Florida A&M University (FAMU) Marching “100” will host its 2011 Band Camp from Saturday, July 9 through Saturday, July 16. The “100” will lend its talent to hundreds of the nation’s best high school band students.

A myriad of students from throughout the United States will arrive for the week-long camp in order to prove their dedication to excellence by emulating the style of the world-renowned Marching “100.” The participants will showcase their new skills and moves to the Tallahassee community at the annual band camp parade scheduled for Thursday, July 14, at 2 p.m.

Each year, the parade features a variety of community schools, organizations and local participants for a unique and enjoyable celebration.

The parade route will begin at Bragg Memorial Stadium traveling north on Wahnish Way; a right onto Gamble Street; then another right on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., before ending on “The Set” at the viewing stand.

The Super Summer-Fest Finale Performance, taking place at Bragg Memorial Stadium, is scheduled for Saturday, July 16, at 10 a.m. The show will feature pre-game and halftime performances by the campers. Current and former members of the Marching “100” will also perform in the highly energized “Bring–It-On” session. The community is invited to attend.

Other events include the following:

Wednesday, July 13
8 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Talent Showcase
Gaither Gymnasium

Friday, July 15
3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Ensemble Concert
Lee Hall Auditorium

7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Symphonic Band Concert
Lee Hall Auditorium

Saturday, July 16
11 a.m.
Awards and Presentations
Bragg Memorial Stadium

To request a band camp application or for more information, call the FAMU Department of Band at (850) 599-3024.

FAMU Alumnus James Bland Wins Shadow and Act Black Filmmaker Showcase

2011-06-15T05:49:00.000-07:00

Florida A&M University (FAMU) alumnus James Bland was recently recognized as the winner for Round 1 of the inaugural Shadow and Act Black Filmmaker Showcase. Bland’s short film entry, “Cocoa Love,” garnered 46.7 percent of the 14,220 votes.

“It felt incredible to win Round 1 of the Shadow and Act Digital Filmmaker's Showcase,” he said. “It's one of the most respected entertainment and film blogs amongst the industry and it's really a privilege to have my work featured on the site. I discovered my passion for film while a student at FAMU. My film roots are deeply connected to FAMU and the university helped me to realize my potential.”

Bland earned his degree from FAMU’s School of Business and Industry in 2008. While a student, the multi-talented filmmaker wrote and directed his first feature film, “Dreaming in Color.”

“I’ve grown tremendously as a filmmaker since ‘Dreaming in Color,’” he said. “I often say that I'm cut from a different cloth than my peers, and I realize that it was the FAMU experience that sharpened me. Being a student at FAMU showed me what excellence looked like and taught me that mediocrity as a standard was unacceptable.”

Bland, a Titusville, Fla. native, said he feels the best way to learn anything is by simply doing it.

“One of the first pieces of advice I received when I was just an aspiring filmmaker was from (director and FAMU alumnus) Rob Hardy,” he said. “I told him I wanted to make films and he told me to pick up a camera and shoot something.”

Following graduation, Bland moved to Los Angeles, Calif. and received his first big studio opportunity working as an intern for producer and FAMU alumnus Will Packer on the movie, “Takers.” Finding a home at Sony Screen Gems, Bland continued to work on the production side of films, such as “Death at a Funeral,” Priest” and “Burlesque.”

“Cocoa Love” has competed in many film festivals around the country, winning Best-Comedy at the Urban Media Makers Film Festival, and airing on the season two finale of Black Entertainment Television’s “Lens on Talent” show.

Currently, Bland serves as co-president of Hometeam Entertainment. The first project to be released under the Hometeam banner is the web series, “FAIL,” where Bland acts and serves as one of the executive producers. He is also directing a documentary titled, “Mission Swaziland,” which is a look at American volunteers on a mission to help the Kingdom of Swaziland, but culture, tradition and politics get in the way.

“I took a hiatus from Hollywood last year and went on a mission trip to the Kingdom of Swaziland, which is one of Africa's poorest countries and the last absolute monarchy,” he said. “My documentary will focus on American volunteers who are committed to helping the Swazi people help themselves as they face challenges from the country’s culture, tradition and politics.”

FAMU Will Welcome Young, Gifted High School Males to Campus

2011-06-15T05:41:00.000-07:00

This Sunday, June 12, Florida A&M University (FAMU) will welcome to its campus 24 gifted African-American male high school students from around the United States for the 2011 Distinguished Young Gentlemen of America, Inc. (DYG) National Summer Academy.

The two-week program will feature an innovative accelerated student curriculum focusing on the following topics: advanced African studies and communal values; financial literacy and entrepreneurship; foreign affairs and globalization; leadership and communication; and professional and personal development.

“I applaud and commend these determined and ambitious young men,” said FAMU President James H. Ammons. “It is imperative that we give them support and the necessary skills to be the leaders of tomorrow.”

Distinguished Young Gentlemen of America, Inc. is a national non-profit entity fully committed to addressing a myriad of multi-dimensional issues permeating throughout the world.

The incoming youths, all with grade point averages above a 3.0, will have the opportunity to develop and implement strategies to provide effective leadership on critical issues, learn tangible life skills (oratorical, culinary, mechanical, technical and etiquette) cultivate their entrepreneurial spirit, and broaden their intellectual capacities through reading and analyzing relevant essays, poems and books.

“These young African-American males understand that an education is an essential ingredient to succeed in life,” said William E. Hudson, Jr., interim vice president for the Office of Student Affairs. “This two-week program will provide some of those extra ingredients needed to be the next CEO, doctor, teacher, scientist, lawyer or entrepreneur.”

This year’s participants are as follows:

* Ashton De’Angelo Brown, Jacksonville, Fla.;
* Bakari Ahmad Powell, Edgewater, Md.;
* Hassan Hoza Anderson, Chicago, Ill.;
* Brandon Jerome Bunkem, Charleston, S.C.
* Brian Emerson White, Laurel, Md.;
* Dana Smith, Jr., Lake Park, Ga.;
* Devin Ace Austin, Chicago, Ill.;
* De’Ron Marcus Young, Bowie, Md.;
* Fitzgerald Deshong Light Jr., Jacksonville, Fla.;
* Michael Isaiah Hardy, Jacksonville, Fla.;
* Marcus Alexander Davis, Douglasville Ga.;
* Marckenley Daniels, Palm Coast, Fla.;
* Nyle Jordan Rice, Jacksonville, Fla.;
* Onetha Jonathan Wheeler, Atlanta, Ga.;
* Deedat Kokori Ahmed, Baltimore, Md.;
* Roderick Veney, Beaumont, Texas
* McDonald Michael Fingall, Ellenwood, Ga.;
* Ryan Kendall Blackwell, Chicago, Ill.;
* Samuel Cole, III, Atlanta, Ga.;
* Kendall Martin, Tallahassee, Fla.;
* Jonathan Matthew McMillan, Rex, Ga.;
* James Wesley Jackson, Atlanta, Ga.;
* Vincent JaQuez Williams, Tallahassee, Fla.; and
* Wesley Tyler Rollins, North Charleston, S.C.

FAMU Teams Up With FSU and Havana Community to Establish the Health and Wellness Service and Training Center

2011-06-09T14:07:00.001-07:00

Officials from Florida A&M University (FAMU), alongside Florida State University’s College of Medicine, are working with the Gadsden County School Board and the Gadsden County Health Department to develop a 4,000 square feet state-of-the-art Health and Wellness Service and Training Center at Havana Middle School.

To provide quality health care for students, Havana School Board employees and the citizens of Havana are at the forefront of Shirley Aaron’s, chair of the steering committee, agenda. Aaron is working tediously to congregate FAMU, FSU, Tallahassee Community College, Gadsden County officials and the community to decrease the number of individuals affected by inadequate healthcare in Havana. A large population of the community is living without insurance or receives Medicaid.

“It has been my dream for a long time to have a health and wellness center that serves the people who are underserved, or served in a limited way in Havana,” said Aaron.

According to Aaron, there is one practicing medical provider in Havana, which does not provide medical services for individuals receiving Medicaid.

“We decided to create a center where we have students from pharmacy, allied health, dental hygiene, nursing, physical therapy and medicine working together,” said Dr. Maggie Blackburn, a committee member and director of rural health in FSU’s Department of Family Medicine and Rural Health.

In December 2010, Yvonne Nelson-Langley, program coordinator for FAMU Community Health Alliance, was brought on board bridging the gap between the committee and the university.

“FAMU President [James H. Ammons] and Provost [Cynthia Hughes Harris] really thought it was important that FAMU be involved in health initiatives that are going on in the community so that we can provide support and technical assistance,” said Langley. “Also, we want to know what is happening as we provide different types of training for students as well as activities and community service.”

Langley provided an additional fraction that was necessary for the committee to move forward with restructuring the vacant space into a sustainable state-of-the-art facility by bringing officials from the FAMU School of Architecture to the table.

Gretchen Miller, visiting assistant professor in the FAMU School of Architecture, along with a group of students and professors, met with the steering committee to brainstorm ideas that will maximize the use of space by creating a sustainable facility. The group created three charrettes – architecture models - for the committee.

“We basically made them [the steering committee] better clients by educating them,” said Miller. “A group of students, teachers and advisors took the existing shell of the industrial center with some of the existing walls and created three floor plan scenarios for them to evaluate.”

In addition, the committee received a grant from the Department of Health’s Office of Minority Health to conduct focus groups in Havana to get input from the community on what their needs are. Langley plans to have three graduate students from FAMU’s School of Allied Health, the Department of Social Work and the Institute of Public Health to participate in conducting these focus groups.

“I’m making sure that FAMU’s interest is involved and that there is a voice advocating for our students; I am that voice,” said Langley. “I’m not only excited, but I feel it is imperative that we are involved.”

The program is currently awaiting feedback on two grants that will provide funding for the projects. The New Access Point grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration includes funding for the project as well as supplemental funds to finance renovations. The committee anticipates the facility will open August 2011; initially providing services for Havana students and employees before branching out to the local community.

2011-06-09T14:04:00.000-07:00

Marvin E. Green Named Director of Student Activities

2011-06-06T09:53:00.000-07:00

Marvin E. Green Jr. has been named Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) new director for Student Activities. Green will officially begin his new position on July 1.

“I am honored and excited that I can serve my alma mater at this capacity,” Green said. “I am excited about the challenges and look forward to helping to produce that millennial student. We have special students at FAMU who are ready to learn to be productive and it is our responsibility to mold and help them to bring out their creativity.”

Green, who currently serves as the FAMU men’s golf coach, said some of his goals include helping with FAMU’s retention and graduation rates.

“I think FAMU is a special place,” he said. “We are always going to bring in the best and brightest minds. We must find a way to keep our students active outside the classroom, which will help make them better students.”

For nearly 20 years, Green has established a notable career at FAMU in intramural/recreational sports and golf. During that time, he has been instrumental in shaping and developing not only the Department of Campus Recreation, but also the highly successful Men’s Golf Program at the university.

“I am very pleased that Mr. Marvin Green was selected as the director of Student Activities,” said Henry Kirby, “Mr. Green will bring the necessary experience, professionalism, vision, energy and team spirit to the position as well as take the Office of Student Activities to a higher level of performance and excellence.”

A Chicago, Ill. native, Green attended FAMU’s School of Business and Industry (SBI) majoring in business administration. While in college, he was active in several groups and organizations including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP); the Upsilon Psi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.; the Pan-Hellenic Council in which he served two terms as president; and FAMU Student Government Association (SGA).

“The fact that I have been around students affairs at FAMU for so long through SGA, Greek life, and campus recreation, I’ve had the opportunity to deal with the different facets of student life,” Green said. “Now is my time to take all those things I’ve learned and give back in a way.”

After completing his master’s degree in sports and leisure management at FAMU, Green worked as an adjunct professor at the university, teaching introductory and intermediate golf courses. In 2001, Green became the head coach for the men’s golf team, a position he has held ever since.

In 2002, he became the first college golf instructor in the country to earn the Golf Teacher/College Golf Coaching Certification from Trahan’s Swing Surgeon Group, Inc.

For the past 10 years, Green has coached the FAMU Women’s Flag Football Team, “Simply Marvelous.” The nationally recognized team has won a total of six National Championships for both the National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) and American College Intramural Sports (ACIS). The team’s accomplishments have been documented on CBS Sports for the past three years.

Green serves as president of the National Black Golf Coaches Association and holds memberships in the NIRSA, J.R.E. Lee, Sr. Masonic Lodge No. 422, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., and the FAMU National Alumni Association. He also is a past advisor for the Pan-Hellenic Council and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Green and his wife, Cecka Rose Green, have three children: Marhee, 10, Chaela, 8, and Marvin III (Tre), 5.

Clemon Johnson Named Head Coach of Men's Basketball Team

2011-06-06T09:52:00.000-07:00

Florida A&M University (FAMU) welcomed home one of its sons to lead the men’s basketball program. Clemon Johnson was officially presented to alumni, fans and family at a pep rally and press conference in his honor. The world-famous Marching “100” and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) coed Champions Cheerleaders were on hand to add to the excitement

Johnson was a star basketball player for the Rattlers from 1974 to 1978. He was an All-SIAC (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) and All-American selection his senior year at FAMU with several of his records still standing to this day. Johnson went on to a solid career in the NBA, winning a world championship with the Philadelphia 76ers. He later started coaching in the high school ranks before being hired at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks.

FAMU Interim Sports Information Director Vaughn Wilson presided over the event. FAMU Director of Athletics Derek Horne gave the welcome from the FAMU Athletic Department and FAMU President James H. Ammons welcomed the crowd of nearly 300 and introduced new head basketball coach Clemon Johnson.

Horne was excited to have the search completed and a Rattler hired to guide the team.

“It’s a great day for not only FAMU, but our athletic department,” said Horne. “We have an alum coming back to the hill that we think will do a great job for us.”

Ammons expressed that it was important to regain championship composure for the basketball program.

“We wanted someone who could come back and ignite that ole Rattler spirit,” said Ammons. “When you think about Rattler sports, you immediately think about some of the great student-athletes who have been a part of this campus. You think of Althea Gibson, Bob Hayes and legendary coach Jake Gaither. When you think about basketball, you think about Clemon Johnson.”

To the sounds of the Marching “100,” Johnson approached the podium with a smile as wide as it could go. This was a full circle moment for Johnson. From the late 1970s as a player for FAMU coach Ajac Triplett to this opportunity to take the helm himself, Johnson has prepared himself for his dream job.

“I know a lot of people had a lot to do with helping to get me here,” said Johnson. “It’s been a long journey. I’ve been preparing myself for this since I left here in 1978.”

He told a story of legendary coach Jake Gaither, who was the athletic director when he arrived at FAMU.

“I caught the tail end of the blood, sweat and tears of coach Gaither,” said Johnson. “We were in Atlanta, Ga. playing Albany State in the SIAC championship, and we were beating Albany State by 20 points at halftime. Coach Gaither came to the locker room and said, ‘Kill a mosquito with an ax.’”

The interest in Johnson’s return could be the boost the FAMU basketball program needs. With his ties to FAMU Development Research School, Monticello and Quincy, the interest in the basketball program in and around the Tallahassee area will be increased as his roots are spread deep in the area.

Last season, the Rattlers finished 12-20 with a first round exit in the MEAC Tournament.

Johnson’s goal is to return the team back to the championship caliber that was commonplace while he was a player and was repeated by former basketball coaches Willie Booker, Mickey Clayton and Mike Gillespie.

Several current players on the Rattlers squad were in attendance.

“Ladies and gentlemen I am looking forward to this opportunity,” concluded Johnson. “As I’ve said before, I am prepared for it. I’m ready for it and we’re ready to go to work. We need you to grab a friend and join us in the Lawson Center to come cheer the Rattlers on.”

Associate Professor to Participate in Faculty Development in International Business Program in Brazil

2011-06-06T09:49:00.000-07:00

Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) School of Business and Industry (SBI) Associate Marketing Professor Roscoe Hightower Jr. will participate in the Faculty Development in International Business Program in Brazil later this month.

The 10-day program will introduce participants to the major emerging economy of Brazil, with a more specific focus on the challenges of long-term sustainability. During the excursion, the 13 faculty members and 10 graduate students from institutions of higher education across the United States will travel to Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, the country’s two largest urban centers.

“I hope to learn about Brazil... and the Brazilian perspective of doing business, focusing on the economy and the cultural norms,” said Hightower.

According to Shawn Conner, associate director at the Indiana University Institute for International Business, participants were selected based on their specific interest in Brazil, as stated in a series of essays submitted with the program application. A selection committee assessed each applicant’s professional interests and goals, ultimately selecting participants that best matched with the objectives of the program.

Hightower said it is a great feeling to be selected to participate in the prestigious program and to know “that your colleagues from around the country value what you do with respect to teaching, research and service.”

Through the program, sponsored by Indiana University's Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER), Hightower will have the opportunity to strengthen his understanding of the country's unique business challenges through a structured itinerary of visits to domestic and multinational companies, tours of cultural and historical sites and presentations by researchers and professionals.

“IU CIBER’s faculty development program to Brazil aims to provide a value-added, short-term international experience for U.S. faculty in order to gain a basic understanding of how business is evolving in this particular emerging economy,” said Conner. “We hope participants will return to their home institutions, incorporate aspects of their experience in the business classroom, and consider expanding the scope of their research to include Brazil. We will also meet with faculty experts, entrepreneurs, and seasoned business professionals to discuss ongoing challenges for women and minorities.”

While in Brazil, Hightower plans to gather data for an ongoing research project dealing with a Green Servicescape instrument that has been tentatively accepted for the Fourth International Congress for Facilities Management in Vienna, Austria in November 2011.

“Right now, FAMU is No. 1 in the world in correctly conceptualizing and measuring the servicescape construct,” he said. “It is up to me to get this message out to the community-at-large, and this trip helps to enable me in accomplishing this by providing opportunities to talk to the public about my research.”

FAMU Associate Professor Merlin R. Langley Accepted into the Management Development Program at Harvard

2011-05-24T16:21:00.000-07:00

Florida A&M University (FAMU) associate professor and chair of the Department of Social Work Merlin R. Langley has been accepted to the Management Development Program (MDP) at Harvard. The program is scheduled for June 5 through June 17.
Langley, who serves as the coordinator of the Human Behavior and Social Environment sequence in the master’s of social work program in community based social service administration at FAMU, has held faculty appointments at Roxbury Community College, Lesley College and Harvard Medical School.

“I am pleased to have been selected for this prestigious management development program,” said Langley. “The opportunity to be involved in the MDP will permit me to assist the FAMU administration in moving forward important initiatives related to the historic mission of the University. I am confident that my participation in the MDP will enable me to enhance my leadership and academic management skills that will benefit both my department and our University.”

The Management Development Program prepares administrators to become better leaders of their respective units, departments or colleges, as well as a more valuable contributor to broader institutional goals. Through real-world case studies, small group discussions and interactive presentations, MDP teaches individuals to think beyond their own discipline and lead in ways that support larger institutional objectives.

Langley’s education and training in the social and behavioral sciences are interdisciplinary in nature. He has taught over the past two decades undergraduate and graduate students from diverse background in several disciplines. His research interests are in the areas of leadership development, higher education and social work administration, civic engagement, and health and mental health disparities among racial and ethnic minorities. He has been the principal investigator of a number of state and federal grants and has written several refereed journal articles and book chapters in the abovementioned areas.

Langley earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from City University of New York - The City College; master’s degree in counseling and guidance from Boston University; certificate of advanced graduate study in counseling psychology and family systems therapy from Northeastern University; a master’s degree and Ph.D. in clinical psychology with a minor in social work from The Florida State University; and post-doctoral clinical fellowships at Harvard Community Health Plan and Harvard Medical School.

Three Alumni Elected into Top Leadership in Florida Black Caucus Positions

2011-05-18T08:50:00.000-07:00

The Florida Conference of Black State Legislators recently elected three Florida A&M University (FAMU) alumni to top leadership positions within the organization.

Rep. Mia Jones, D-Jacksonville, is the newly elected chairwoman of the Black Caucus. Sen. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, is the new vice-chairwoman of the Caucus and Rep. Alan Williams, D-Tallahassee, was elected treasurer.

As Jones, who earned both her bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1991 and master’s degree in business administration in 1992 from FAMU, takes the helm, she is expected to focus on a number of Caucus priorities, including wide discrepancies in the areas of health care and high school graduation rates facing the African-American community. The Caucus also remains committed to addressing disproportionate incarceration and high pregnancy rates affecting black youth.

“I will be a strong advocate for our Caucus and for the residents throughout Florida that we represent,” Jones said.

Democratic Leader Pro Temp Joyner, an attorney who was first elected to the Senate in 2006, will join a leadership team that has identified a number of issues affecting the African-American community. Joyner earned her bachelor’s degree in 1964 from FAMU and her juris doctor from the FAMU College of Law in 1968.

Williams, who graduated from FAMU with a bachelor’s degree in 1998 and a master’s in business administration in 2003 from the FAMU School of Business and Industry, was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in November 2008.

Williams was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in District 8, encompassing parts of Leon and Gadsden Counties. Williams serves on the Energy and Utilities Policy Committee, Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee, the Joint Committee of Public Council Oversight, State Affairs Committee and the Senate Redistricting Subcommittee.

The Florida Legislative Black Caucus consists of 24 African-American state senators and representatives. As a not-for-profit organization, one of its goals is to champion legislation as well as community issues that affect the less fortunate constituents its serves.

LTC Eurydice S. Stanley tells FAMU Cadets All I Ever Really Needed to Know I Learned at FAMU

2011-05-18T08:48:00.000-07:00

Florida A&M University (FAMU) alumnae Lt. Col. Eurydice S. (Stephens) Stanley returned to Tallahassee to present the Army ROTC Rattler Battalion commissioning address. The speech provided the unique opportunity to consider what she would have said to herself 20 years ago when she was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army.

“There were so many lessons learned that I became overwhelmed,” said Stanley. “I asked some of my friends what they would say and realized that many of their responses had been given to me as a student by professors and mentors. I just didn’t realize the importance at the time. I wanted to give an address that would help the officers recognize what they had already been given by the caring instructors and staff at FAMU, encourage them to pat themselves on the back for doing what it took to make it this far and prepare them for what may lie ahead.”

Stanley shared life lessons that she did not necessarily realize when she left FAMU in a speech titled “All I Ever Really Needed to Know I Learned at FAMU” based on the poem by Robert Fulghum. She addressed several relevant points, such as the faithfulness of God and the importance of mentors, who Stanley sees as a requirement, not an option.

“I had so many mentors – COL Hendricks, COL Joe, Dr. Taylor, Dr. Wilson, Dr. Clark…there were too many to name, but they all really cared and permanently imprinted their expectations of excellence by example,” said Stanley.

She continues to be driven by the encouragement of her mentors.

“During our freshman convocation, President Humphries told us ‘You don’t have to prove yourselves to me, I already know you’re good, now just go do it.’”

She mentored the new officers, noting, “…the same holds true for you. You have proven yourselves, you are here, you are exceptional – now just go do it.”

Stanley, who followed in the footsteps of her father, LTC (Ret.) Quewanncoii C. Stephens, was trained by the FAMU Army ROTC Rattler Battalion. Her grandmother, Mrs. Emmarhaye P. Mitchell, is a graduate of FAMC.

“As it turns out, the ONLY historically black college is FAMU,” joked Stanley.

Her children were present at the speech, allowing Stanley to plant seeds in the hopes of continuing the Rattler legacy within her daughter Grace, age 8 and son Christian, age 5. Stanley’s great-great-great uncle, Elias G. Evans, was the first alumni president of FAMU. This year, the family will celebrate the 110th year of his service to FAMU and will present a scholarship in his name to the university at their family reunion in July.

Stanley graduated from FAMU in 1991 with a degree in public management and with a minor in military science and political science and received a certificate of labor relations. An active Rattler, she participated in Army ROTC and served as senior class president and a member of the Miss FAMU court, numerous honor societies, organizations and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

“There was nothing at FAMU that I wanted to do that I did not have the opportunity to do,” she said. “I was in a nurturing, supportive environment that allowed me to flourish.”

Upon graduation, Stanley was granted an educational delay to postpone attending the Adjutant General Corps officer basic course. She accepted a scholarship to the University of Minnesota where she graduated with a master of arts in industrial relations in 1994. Stanley later pursued her Ph.D. while on active duty, graduating summa cum laude in 2000 from Louisiana Baptist University.

She has served in the military for 18 years, primarily in the personnel arena. She has published three books, founded a non-profit organization and traveled the globe conducting human relations training for the Department of Defense. She is most proud of her work training senior leaders, to include conducting training for the South African National Defense Force after Transformation. She was recently promoted to Lieutenant Colonel by the Honorable Dr. Clifford L. Stanley, Undersecretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness) at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and was awarded the 2010 Department of Defense Blacks in Government Meritorious Service Award and the Adjutant General’s Corps Achievement Medal in 2011 for exceptional service.

Lt. Col. Stanley currently serves as the Reserve Component Advisor at the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) in Pensacola, Florida, where she assists military personnel in pursuit of their educational goals. Appropriately, she made the cadets pledge to pursue their master’s degrees within six months of reporting to their new assignments, and encouraged them to start building their retirement savings.

FAMU Journalism Student Selected To Participate in the 2011 Student Freedom Ride

2011-05-18T08:02:00.000-07:00

Florida A&M University (FAMU) student Stephanie Burton knew that spending a few weeks out of her summer on the bus with the original Freedom Riders would be one of the highlights of her college career.

Burton said, “I was thinking, ‘what a way to complement what I’ve learned in the classroom!’”

Burton, a senior journalism student from Montgomery, Ala., was selected for the 2011 Student Freedom Ride, an experiential learning opportunity for college students in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the original May 1961 Freedom Rides. Over a 10-day journey, the Ride will be a moving classroom in which 40 college students from across the country will retrace the route of the original Freedom Rides. Accompanied by filmmaker Stanley Nelson, original Freedom Riders and others, the Ride will engage students in this important era in America’s history, as they learn about the commitment and courage of the individuals who took part in the Freedom Rides.

“I applied for the 2011 Student Freedom Rides because as a Montgomery native, HBCU attendee and African-American woman, I realize the value and importance of civil rights history,” said Burton. “During my application process, I read that we would be required to blog and shoot video. As a journalism student, those assignments particularly stood out and motivated me to apply as well.”

The Student Freedom Riders were chosen from nearly 1,000 applicants and represent a diverse cross-section of America, much like the original Freedom Riders, who were black and white, men and women, and who, in 1961, used public transportation as a means of challenging segregation in the South.

Burton was selected on the basis of her essay, describing the reasons for wanting to participate, her thoughts on the role of social media and technology in civic engagement today and extracurricular activities.

“I hope to gain a better understanding of the Freedom Riders Movement,” said Burton. “It is such an outstanding story of courage, determination, resilience and fearlessness! Besides understanding, I would also like to find a sense of purpose and organization.”

Burton said she plans to start a non-profit in Montgomery, Ala. for teens and young mothers.

“I also want to be a community organizer, attacking issues in our society such as homelessness, obesity, poverty and illiteracy,” the strong-minded individual said. “But I think I can learn from the original freedom riders the best way to go about doing that.”

The participants will travel through Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, and into Louisiana, stopping along the way at historically significant locations. The journey will end in New Orleans, the intended destination of the 1961 Freedom Riders.

“I’m most looking forward to meeting the 39 other students who have been selected,” said Burton, who plans to use social media as a means to chronicle her trip and share her adventure with the public. “We can bounce ideas off of each other. We all want to help make the world a better place.”

Rattler Insider - 2011 Spring Commencement

2011-05-11T07:16:00.000-07:00

Florida A&M University's Office of Communications continues to serve as the official source of news and information regarding the university. Today, the Office of Media Relations launches its latest production, Rattler Insider. The host of the program, Marvin "Marv News" Newsome Jr., will deliver the inside and in-depth news on special events and programs relating to the university community.

Alumna Mitzi Miller Named Editor in Chief of JET Magazine

2011-05-10T06:15:00.000-07:00

Chicago, Ill. - Johnson Publishing Company (JPC) CEO Desiree Rogers named award-winning journalist, editorial consultant and bestselling author, Mitzi Miller as editor-in-chief of JET magazine. Miller, a graduate of Florida A&M University (FAMU), will take the reins of the enduring publication effective today, May 9, 2011.

“We continue to implement our corporate strategy of placing industry veterans in key management roles at Johnson Publishing,” said Rogers. “Mitzi brings an impressive journalistic record to her role and will begin the process of assessing the future of JET as she takes on the leadership of the magazine.”

Miller brings to JET her expertise as an editorial consultant for Juicy and SET Magazines and her writing skills as a contributor to Essence, VIBE, Uptown Magazine, among others. She started her career at HONEY Magazine where she was the entertainment editor and wrote the popular girl-around-town column, “Road Tripping,” From there, the Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University graduate joined the Jane Magazine staff as an Associate Editor. Miller was also a TV and culture critic for VH1 and the Food Network.

“I am honored to join the Johnson Publishing family and look forward to re-energizing the JET brand,” said Miller. “For 60 years JET has consistently delivered news about Black America. It is my priority to meet the evolving media needs of our loyal base of readers in exciting and entertaining ways.”

Miller has authored five books. The first book, The Angry Black Woman’s Guide to Life was released in 2004 to rave reviews in The New York Times, Boston Globe and Newsweek Magazine. Lifetime Television Network optioned her second book, The Vow, for production. Her teen series, Hotlanta received multiple awards from the American Library Association and was optioned for production by The CW Television Network.

Miller is a board member of the non-profit, Hip-Hop 4 Life. A skilled public speaker, she has appeared at various forums and se

ABOUT JET
JET, a publication of Johnson Publishing Co., Inc., is celebrating 60 years of being the go-to-source for a unique take on news and entertainment in Black America. With more than 8 million readers, JET connects the Black community through timely information with a trusted point-of-view. JET is credible, smart, and entertaining. If it’s in JET, it’s what’s happening.

ABOUT JOHNSON PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC.
Johnson Publishing Company, Inc. (JPC), a family-owned business, now in its seventh decade, produces the most widely read publications about African-Americans. EBONY, a monthly magazine, and JET, a weekly magazine, have a combined readership of nearly 20 million people. EBONY celebrated its 65th anniversary in 2010. JET celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2011. The company also produces Fashion Fair Cosmetics, the leading line of makeup and skin care created to meet the unique needs of women of color. Linda Johnson Rice is chairman and daughter of legendary founder, John H. Johnson and savvy businesswoman and style maven, Eunice W. Johnson.

FAMU Unveils the William Patrick Belin Endowed Plaque and Recognition Wall

2011-05-10T06:13:00.000-07:00

One year after the death of William Patrick Belin, Florida A&M University (FAMU) President James H. Ammons was accompanied by Patrick’s parents, Steve and Lynn, wife, Lauren, brother, Stephen, family members and friends for the unveiling of the William Patrick Belin Endowed Plaque at the Eternal Flame and the William Patrick Belin Donor Recognition Wall in the New Pharmacy Building. The ceremony was part of the William Patrick Belin Memorial Endowed Scholarship, which was established by the Belin family to commemorate and preserve Patrick’s legacy.

During the unveiling, Steve Belin recalled the process of establishing the scholarship. Soon after receiving the life changing news, Patrick’s family set in motion the steps of establishing a scholarship in his honor. Through the continuous communication with the College of Pharmacy, the FAMU Foundation, as well as a visit from Carla Willis, FAMU’s former vice president of University Relations, the scholarship was created.

“I want to thank you,” said Steve Belin. “Each one of you connected to the FAMU community has contributed tremendously to the process. Not once did you say this can not be done. It was through your support and commitment that we have been successful in creating this scholarship in Patrick’s honor.”

With donations totaling more than $100,000, the Endowed Scholarship will provide resources for students who demonstrate a strong desire and passion for the field of pharmacy and will also share many of Patrick’s attributes. It was those attributes that Patrick’s brother, Stephen, spoke about as he shared stories of Patrick’s commitment and drive for perfection. “Patrick faced everything head on and would not let anything get in his way,” said Stephen. “Not once would he let go of a project that was less than perfect.”

William Patrick Belin was born in Jacksonville, Fla. on June 11, 1987, but grew up in Valrico, Fla. After graduating from Joe E. Newsome High School in Lithia, Fla. in 2005, he entered the University of South Florida and graduated in 2009 with a bachelor’s of science in biomedical sciences with a minor in public health. Also in 2009, he married his high school sweetheart, Lauren Rhyce, who is currently enrolled in the FAMU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Patrick was scheduled to attend the FAMU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in the fall 2010 semester before he became a victim of a fatal car accident.

Patrick’s many interests included basketball, karate, piano, drums, guitar and music recording. He served the local community through his volunteer work at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, tutored students in the Urban Scholars Outreach Program and assisted at the Emergency Care Health Organization in Brandon, Fla.

“I didn’t know William Patrick Belin personally, but I did know him on paper and I remember the most impressive thing on his application was the amount of community service he engaged,” said Henry Lewis III, former dean of the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. “Everyone that knows me knows that I pride myself on community service.”

The William Patrick Belin Memorial Endowed Scholarship will allow others to walk in Patrick’s shoes while continuing his legacy.

Alumna Rachel Melson Selected as the 2011 Florida School Related Employee of the Year

2011-05-10T06:12:00.001-07:00

lorida A&M University (FAMU) alumna Rachel Melson, a 21st Century site coordinator at Bond Elementary School in Tallahassee, Fla., was selected as the 2011 Florida School-Related Employee of the Year. Melson was selected from among four other finalists who were considered based on their unique ability to help their respective schools be successful while also providing outstanding service to the teachers and students they work alongside.

“The announcement that I was named the School Related Employee of the Year for the entire state of Florida really sent me on a whirlwind of emotions.” she said. “I was already elated to have been named the district winner, but to receive such an honor out of 67 counties in the state is simply amazing to me. As a passionate educator, I do what I do, not for any recognition, but for the success and growth of my students. The reward is in seeing each of their daily successes and triumphs.”

Leon County Superintendent Jackie Pons expressed how Melson sets a great example for public education.

“Ms. Melson goes above and beyond as coordinator of after-school program activities at Bond Elementary, so it’s an honor that she’s been named the Florida School Related Employee of the Year,” said Pons. “She has not only enriched program offerings for Bond’s students, but also has developed strong relationships with local businesses and community organizations.”

Melson earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration in the spring of 2008 and masters in educational leadership in the spring of 2010. She recently applied for the doctoral cohort in educational leadership at FAMU, and is excitedly waiting to hear back from the College of Education about her acceptance.

“FAMU is truly a training ground for future leaders of our world,” she said. “I remember vividly the first day I ever stepped foot on the illustrious campus. FAMU has taught me to think globally and to position myself and those around me to be catalysts for positive change in the world. There is nothing like inspiring a child to be better or lighting a spark in them that turns into an eternal flame of thirst for knowledge. FAMU has prepared me for my position today academically, mentally, socially and more. Each day on the “Hill” was a step into a promising future for me. I thank FAMU for all it’s done to inspire me!”

The Florida School-Related Employee of the Year receives an award of $1,000 from the Department of Education, and each finalist receives an award of $475. In addition, each district nominee receives an award of $100. The program recognizes outstanding education support personnel for the significant contributions they make to their schools and district school systems. Award selection is based on an application showing the nominees' efforts to go beyond the basic requirements of their duties and contribute to the academic success of students, schools and the district.

Atlanta Mayor M. Kasim Reed Tells FAMU Graduates it is Time to Do Extraordinary Things

2011-05-10T06:09:00.000-07:00

A mortarboard with orange letters spelling out “Dan the Man” and individuals shouting “I love you” and “Halleluiah,” FAMU graduates were inspired by words of encouragement from keynote speaker Mayor M. Kasim Reed of Atlanta, Ga.

“Do not miss your time to do extraordinary things,” said Reed. “Don’t let people distract you right now. This is your opportunity to get it together.”

Reed also encouraged the graduates to remember to give back.

“When you see a little girl’s face or little boy’s face that looks like yours, you have to help them get what you have,” said Reed.

Graduates expressed their thoughts on Reed’s speech as well as receiving their degrees.

“It was a great ceremony,” said Eboni Blakley, from Moultrie, Ga. “I really enjoyed Mayor Reed’s speech today.”

Blakley graduated with her bachelor’s of science in electrical engineering and will be working for Southern Company in Pensacola, Fla.

“I encourage students to continue to move forward in their discipline,” said Blakley.

“I still remember coming to FAMU as a freshman,” said Dennard Smith, a native of Newark, N.J., who graduated with his bachelor’s of science in English with a minor in history education. “I cannot believe how fast these four years have flown by.”

Three law graduates were also ecstatic and thankful to receive their degrees.

Charmaine Neal, Kerene Tayloe and Dorothy Smith were all involved in some form of natural disaster as it related to their road toward receiving their juris doctorate.

Both Neal and Tayloe were in Japan participating in a study abroad program through Temple University attempting to complete their requirements for graduation when the major earthquake and subsequent Tsunami struck placing their timely completion in jeopardy.

Smith was an undergraduate student in New Orleans at the time when Hurricane Katrina devastated the area, losing all of her possessions in the process – placing her livelihood, let alone her completion of an undergraduate degree in jeopardy.

“Riding the bus to Tallahassee, getting dressed, lining up outside the stadium, taking photos with my College of Law Class of 2011 and proceeding down the aisle in the new recreation building for commencement felt so surreal today,” said Smith. “Walking across the stage, receiving my degree, shaking all the appropriate people’s hand and hearing my named called as a juris doctorate recipient actualized my dream of graduating from law school. Feelings of excitement, sadness, honor, praise, thankfulness and joy all rushed to me all at once because of my great accomplishment as a first generation lawyer of the Smith family. Tear!”

After the graduates received their degrees, FAMU alumnae T’Keyah Crystal Keymáh received a Doctor of Humane Letters.

“I am so overwhelmed,” said Keymáh, who graduated in 1984 and was recruited to FAMU as a National Merit Scholar. “I am happy to have started this month [April] and end this month in Tallahassee.”

Earlier this month, FAMU honored Keymáh with the unveiling of the Endowed T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh Theatre Scholarship. The unveiling was part of the College of Arts and Sciences' celebration honoring alumni into its Gallery of Distinction.

Keymáh was an original cast member of the comedy series “In Living Color” but is perhaps best known for her roles as Erica Lucas on the CBS sitcom “Cosby” and as Tanya Baxter on the Disney Channel sitcom “That’s So Raven.”

To close out the commencement exercise, President James H. Ammons charged the graduates to make their respective marks on the world.

“Make the most of it,” he said. “Go out and change the world. There is no higher calling than to show compassion to your fellow man.”

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson Tells FAMU Graduates to Know the Pursuit of We and Us

2011-05-10T06:04:00.000-07:00

Florida A&M University (FAMU) graduate Erin Blake said it felt like a breath of fresh air to walk across the stage during the 2 p.m. commencement ceremony on April 30 in the FAMU Alfred Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center and Teaching Gymnasium. Blake was one of nearly 1,400 students to graduate.

“I feel that the weight has been lifted off of my shoulders and I can now conquer the challenges of the real world,” said Blake, an occupational therapy graduate from Atlanta, Ga. “The speaker emphasized that there will be challenges on the road of life. The true challenge is to overcome and succeed that challenge.”

The commencement speaker was Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson. She encouraged the students to know the pursuit of “me and I” is not as important as the pursuit of “we and us.”

“I know the real world seems hard,” she told the graduates. “The people sitting here today helped you to get here. I stand here because people did not say ‘I and me.’ When we talk about struggle, we say ‘We shall overcome.’”

Jackson added that a new world of opportunity was available for the graduates.

“I am honored to be with you—marking a milestone in your lives,” she said. “A day like today, you are No. 1. You made it and you should be happy.”

FAMU President James H. Ammons presented Jackson with the President’s Award. She was also honored with a Doctor of Humane Letters.

“You remain committed to air and water quality,” said Ammons. “Florida A&M University is proud to add to your long list of accomplishments.”

University Trustee Solomon Badger asked the graduates to think back to their first day on the “Hill.” He compared the nurturing faculty, parents and environment similar to that of a cocoon.

“Spread your wings and take flight,” he said. “Your preparation and time has turned you into orange and green butterflies. Take flight and soar.”

Former Miss FAMU Authors Children's Book About Learning Disability

2011-05-10T06:02:00.000-07:00

When Florida A&M University (FAMU) alumna and former Miss FAMU Stephanie Evans first began teaching, she said she found several students who lacked enthusiasm about reading. In an effort to give students a new outlet, she authored her first book, “Steven James: I Just Can’t Pay Attention.”

“I have always loved to read,” said Evans, a fourth grade teacher at Fairview Elementary School in Miramar, Fla. “I especially like reading fiction books. Fictional books allow readers to let their imaginations run wild. I want to be able to give students the same interest that I have by writing books that are relatable.”

In the book, the title character, Steven James, is having the worst day of his life. He gets all of the answers wrong on his homework, misplaces things and struggles in class. James, like many of today’s youth, suffers from Attention Deficit with Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The book targets children ages 6 to 8 years old.

“My older brother, Stephon, suffered from this disorder,” said Evans, who was raised in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. “I witnessed the many struggles he faced at school and at home. There was no outlet for him. Also, when I began my career as a teacher, I had several students who were facing the same problems as my brother. As a teacher, I come across a plethora of children’s books. I have never seen a book targeted for children such as my brother. I want to serve as an advocate for children like Stephon and the students I teach.”

Evans said the best part of her job is inspiring students.

“They look at teachers in a different light. Every day I remind myself that I am a role model to the students at my school. Now that I am a published author, my students hold me to an even higher standard. I read the book to my students immediately after I received the first copy of my book. They were so proud of my accomplishment. They think that I am a celebrity now, so they asked if I was going to continue to be their teacher. Several of them have bought copies and some are saving their allowance to purchase a copy. It is a wonderful feeling to hear positive comments from my little critics.”

Evans earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from FAMU in the spring of 2007 and her master’s degree from Nova Southeastern University in the spring 2009. She served as the 2006-2007 Miss Florida A&M University.

“Attending Florida A&M University was one of the best decisions that I have ever made,” she said. “There is nothing like my esteemed university. While attending FAMU, I learned a lot of valuable knowledge from my peers. There were so many movers and shakers at the university while I was there. I was motivated by the goals that were being achieved by my fellow Rattlers. That motivation is ongoing because the alumni of FAMU are incomparable.”

ARMY ROTC Said Farewell to One Officer and Welcomed Another

2011-04-29T12:35:00.002-07:00

Gathered at the Eternal Flame, Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) Army ROTC hosted its Change of Command ceremony, as the Rattler Battalion said farewell to the outgoing commander Lt. Col. Jeffery Williams and welcomed incoming commander Major Joseph Kelly.

The cadets of FAMU Army ROTC, the Marching “100,” along with friends and family of both officers shared an emotional moment with Lt. Col. Williams as he reflected on the dedication and passion innate in the college cadets he has worked with throughout his tenure at FAMU.

Williams came to FAMU in July 2008 as the professor of military science. After serving a three-year term and passing the FAMU ROTC commanding torch to Major Kelly, Lt. Col. Williams, his wife and three sons will relocate to Washington, D.C. for a position at the Pentagon.

“This is emotional for me because it deals with lives and changing lives,” said Lt. Col. Williams. “When I see young people come into the destiny that God has for them and the purpose, it makes me emotional. We have some young people who are doing some great things, and being able to watch that brings me to tears.”

During the ceremony, FAMU President James H. Ammons thanked Lt. Col. Williams for his leadership, passion and dedication to not only the FAMU Army cadets, but also the country.

“This ceremony is a proud and honored tradition of the U.S. military. Although this historically signifies the transfer of leadership from one officer to another, this moment at FAMU signifies a moment of great pride,” said Ammons. “I want to congratulate Lt. Col. Williams for the outstanding work he has accomplished during his duty here on the “Hill,” and you will always be cherished by Rattlers.”

Receiving the Rattler Battalion, Major Kelly’s wife was given a dozen yellow roses representing friendship and a warm welcome from the battalion, his daughter was given a single yellow rose and two sons were given a coin.

“This is an honor and privilege,” said Major Kelly. “Lt. Col. Williams has done an outstanding job building up what we have here today, that is why he was so emotional during his presentation; he really put his heart and soul into these cadets and they returned the favor by producing, exceeding and excelling in what they do.”

In 1987, Lt. Col. Williams enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves as a personnel management specialist. In 1991, he was commissioned into the Signal Corps and branched detailed into the Field Artillery Corps as a Distinguished Military Graduate from Lamar University located in Beaumont, Texas with a bachelor’s of science in criminal justice. He also was assigned to the 36th Signal Battalion in Camp Walker, South Korea. In November 2002, he was assigned to the 4th Infantry Division Support Command located in Fort Hood, Texas as the brigade S6 and deputy G6 for support. From August 2005 through June 2008, Lt. Col. Williams served in a joint assignment as the systems branch chief of USSTRATCOM JFCC-ISR where he was the recipient of the U.S. Strategic Command Field Grade Officer of the Year Award in 2006.

Major Kelly, a native of Washington, D.C., has traveled across the country as a military dependent including Germany, Korea and Eustis, Va. His first assignment was to Mannheim, Germany as a platoon leader and company executive officer in the 68th and 70th Transportation Companies within the 28th Transportation Battalion. After completing his initial assignment he attended the Combined Logistics Officer Advance Course located in Fort Lee, Va. Later he was tasked to be the 7th Provisional Battalion S3, which comprised more than 2,000 soldiers. Further along in his military career, he was selected to become the executive officer and support operations officer of the 536D Aviation Support Battalion, 159th Combat Aviation Brigade.

Lt. Col. Williams closed his remarks with a final chant to the cadets, “Committed to excellence.”

“Second to none,” replied the cadets.

Mother and Daughter Scheduled to Graduate

2011-04-29T12:35:00.001-07:00

Susan Dunbar will share a significant milestone with her daughter, Ayonna Dunbar, as they both graduate from Florida A&M University (FAMU).

On Saturday, April 30 nearly 1,400 candidates will join the Dunbars to receive their diploma during the Spring Commencement ceremony in the Alfred Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center and Teaching Gymnasium.

Atlanta Mayor M. Kasim Reed will serve as the keynote speaker for FAMU’s 9 a.m. Spring Commencement ceremony and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa P. Jackson will serve as the 2 p.m. speaker. Doors will open for the public at 8 a.m. for the 9 a.m. ceremony and at 1 p.m. for the 2 p.m. ceremony.

Susan Dunbar, 50, stated that it was a little tough coming back to school, juggling her family and church; however, she does not regret her decision.

“My family and friends supported me throughout my tenure at FAMU,” said Susan Dunbar. “When I thought that I could not do it, they encouraged me.”

Susan Dunbar, a nursing major, graduated from FAMU 28 years ago with a bachelor’s of science in nursing before enrolling into the master’s program in 2009; two years after Ayonna Dunbar started her first semester and the same semester her son Darius Dunbar, 20, started classes at FAMU.

“The three of us attending FAMU was an advantage,” said Susan Dunbar. “We would check on each other to make sure we completed projects and papers, and often compare our GPA’s [grade point average].”

Ayonna Dunbar, 23, who is also excited about graduating alongside her mother, plans to get her master’s degree in mental health at FAMU. Her passion for health derives from her mother’s community outreach.

“My mother is known for always helping someone,” said Ayonna Dunbar, a senior psychology major. “She’s naturally an humanitarian.”

Last year, Susan Dunbar coordinated a health fair in the Housing Community in Tallahassee where she educated residents and facilitated a variety of health screenings.

“This is really exciting because I thought I was going to experience the excitement of graduation alone,” said Ayonna Dunbar. “I’m glad to have my mother to share this moment with me.”

Susan Dunbar, who is graduating with honors, is scheduled to receive her diploma during the 2 p.m. ceremony, and Ayonna Dunbar will receive her diploma during the 9 a.m. ceremony.

“This is the greatest Mother’s Day gift I could ever receive,” said Susan Dunbar. “Having my daughter and myself graduate at the same time is awesome.”

Velencia Witherspoon Named Recipient of the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship

2011-04-29T12:33:00.000-07:00

When Florida A&M University (FAMU) student Velencia Witherspoon was told she was selected as the recipient of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP), she ran up and down the hallways of the FAMU-Florida State University College of Engineering building while doing her “happy dance.”

This is the most prestigious award a graduate can receive to pursue his or her doctorate in the sciences and engineering. As a recipient, Witherspoon will receive a $30,000 annual stipend, a $10,500 cost-of-education allowance and international research and professional development opportunities.

“I was really excited; it was elating,” said Witherspoon, a Jacksonville native. “I didn’t think life could get any better. I had just got accepted into the University of California-Berkley. It was really competitive. I was up against people from Georgia Tech and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. I did my happy dance and then I had to go back to working on my design project but it lasted about 20 minutes.”

Witherspoon, who has a 3.91 grade point average, is a Life-Gets-Better scholar. She is scheduled to graduate on April 30 with a degree in chemical engineering.

Witherspoon’s research proposal was regarding highly functionalized polymer membranes for fuel cell application.

This study would be applied towards the formulation in the production of hybrid composite materials for fuel cell membranes. It also enhances the current understanding of the interaction between ionic liquids and polymer nanocomposite systems. Witherspoon said the combination of these dissimilar materials would help to create a more economical, environmentally friendly, energy efficient and sustainable membrane for electrochemical applications.

“I believe that a true scientist is not only one who pursues knowledge, but one who shares it and encourages its pursuit by others,” Witherspoon said. “A fiery passion for the pursuit of knowledge, a love of the potential applications, and a belief that we all have the potential to contribute to this amazing journey for humanity is what I have to offer. I cannot tell what my future holds because it is not defined by my present state; it is defined by my actions and decisions of tomorrow. I do desire to serve as an inspiration to other young African-American females who not only possess great potential but dream of becoming scientists. I will continue to strive for excellence until I can make the dreams of others as tangible as my own.”

The NSF’s GRFP helps to ensure the vitality of the human resource base of science and engineering in the United States and reinforces its diversity. The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees at accredited United States institutions.

“I think that FAMU taught me how to speak, how to market myself and what about me makes me so different,” said Witherspoon, who was a freshman senator in FAMU’s Student Government Association. “The university also taught me to manage my time and gave me the willingness to risk it all. I don’t think about the risk of losing—I just try! The mentoring has been great. The older students and FAMU professors take it upon themselves to push you. FAMU has given me a lot of opportunities.”

FAMU Makes List as a Princeton Review Green College

2011-04-29T12:32:00.000-07:00

Florida A&M University (FAMU) was selected as one of The Princeton Review’s “311 Green Colleges: 2011 Edition.” The university was the only historically black college or university (HBCU) to make the list, which focused solely on colleges that have demonstrated a strong commitment to sustainability in their academic offerings, campus infrastructure, activities and career preparation.

“This accolade is indicative of the work of many,” said FAMU Environmental Health and Safety Department Senior Environmental Specialist Ryan Mitchell. “Our sustainability efforts include input from facility operations, academics and administrative oversight from the Environment and Sustainability Council. However, the real impetus here is in providing our students with a healthy, eco-positive space within which to work, study, live and thrive.”

This was FAMU’s first year on the list.

“Our Rattlers are leading the charge for clean energy and sustainability in the nation, in HBCUs and in frontline communities like ours,” said Mitchell, who added that his goal is to see FAMU become the No. 1 HBCU for sustainability. “Increasingly, students are making their choice of college based on that school’s commitment to the environment and being green. As students become more eco-conscious, so do their choices.”

FAMU Green Coalition student leader Ariana Marshall said she is appreciative of the university community’s hard work toward making FAMU a “green” school.

“Being the largest HBCU, we always knew we were capable of driving the momentum of the ‘green’ movement on campuses similar to ours,” said Marshall, an Environmental Sciences Student Organization (E.S.S.O) member and a Ph.D. student in the Environmental Sciences Institute. “By exemplifying our inherent methods of sustainability and through this ranking, we hope to continue to focus our campus and other HBCUs on the necessity of sustainability.”

To view the full list of the “green colleges,” visit www.princetonreview.com/green-guide.aspx.

TV 20 Debuts New Political Show, The Washington Report

2011-04-29T12:30:00.000-07:00

Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) TV20 has added a new political show to its weekly programming, “The Washington Report.” This show is a 30-minute program that analyzes the politics and policy decisions that lead to new legislation at both the state and federal level. Anchored by John Washington, attorney and director of the FAMU Pre-Law Program, the program airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m.

“The program offers viewers an understanding of how politics and policy concerns influence legislation,” said Ernest Jones, general manager, FAMU-TV 20. “We believe our viewers will appreciate the informed discussion and analysis this program will provide.”

Janeia Daniels, an attorney and assistant dean of the College of Law at Florida State University, and the Dean of the FAMU College of Law LeRoy Pernell join Washington as highly regarded panelists on the program.

“This is a different kind of program from the personality driven programs we often see,” said James Hawkins, dean of the FAMU School of Journalism and Graphic Communication. “We are so fortunate to have such a highly regarded team to share their perspectives about legal matters of the day.”

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FAMU TV-20 is an educational access channel operated by the School of Journalism & Graphic Communication at Florida A&M University. It reaches more than 80,000 households via Comcast Cable in Northern Florida. Its diverse program schedule includes student-produced newscasts, educational programming, cultural events, business and celebrity lectures, FAMU football and basketball games, as well as university graduation and convocation ceremonies.

FAMU TV 20 to air Interview with Chancellor Frank T. Brogan

2011-04-25T07:09:00.000-07:00

Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) TV20 announces the airing of “An Interview with the Chancellor.” The 30-minute program features an interview with Frank T. Brogan, Chancellor for the State University System of Florida. The program will air on FAMU-TV 20, Tuesday, April 26 at 8 p.m.

Taped earlier this month, the program offers insight into the chancellor’s views and vision for higher education. Ericka Anderson, FAMU-TV20 producer, asked the chancellor his thoughts about higher education in the state in the midst of pending budget reductions for state agencies including the State University System.

For more information on the program, “An Interview with the Chancellor,” contact FAMU-TV20 at (850) 412-5426.

FAMU TV-20 is an educational access channel operated by the School of Journalism and Graphic Communication at Florida A&M University. It reaches more than 80,000 households via Comcast Cable in Northern Florida. Its diverse program schedule includes student-produced newscasts, educational programming, cultural events, business and celebrity lectures, FAMU football and basketball games, as well as university graduation and convocation ceremonies.

Office of Counseling Excellent Practice Leads to Re-Accreditation

2011-04-25T07:08:00.000-07:00

After being evaluated by the International Association of Counseling Services, Inc. (IACS) against high standards of counseling practice, Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) Office of Counseling Services was re-accredited and found to offer competent and reliable professional services to students.

The approval by IACS depended upon evidence of continuing professional development as well as demonstration of excellence in counseling performance, which traces back to FAMU’s practice of excellence with caring.

“Our ongoing accreditation is due to the professionalism and dedication of the counseling staff in providing a host of services that far exceed what one would expect for an office our size,” said Yolanda Bogan, director of the Office of Counseling Services. “The ongoing collaboration we have with student organizations and departments in student affairs and academic affairs insures that we are responsive to the mental health needs of our students through prevention and treatment efforts.”

The Counseling Office offers individual, group, and couples counseling along with community outreach, emergency, and psychiatric services for FAMU students. Counseling benefits students by assisting them in gaining and improving social and emotional skills that contribute to retention. Counseling allows students to address a variety of concerns in a confidential, professional environment so that they can work toward their goals including college graduation. Learning adaptive ways of coping is a skill that benefits students life-long, contributes to a stronger student body, and enhances the safety of the college environment.

The IACS was established in 1972 to encourage and aid counseling agencies to meet high professional standards through peer evaluation and to inform the public about counseling services that are competent and reliable.

Counseling is free to all FAMU students for up to twelve sessions per semester. Counseling Services is a department within the Division of Student Affairs.

For more information on the FAMU Office of Counseling Services, contact Bogan at 850-599-3745.

FAMU Launches Online Store, e-Rattler.com

2011-04-25T07:06:00.000-07:00

President Ammons (at the podium) announced the launch of FAMU's new online store during a press conference. FAMU students participated by modeling some of the specially designed apparel.

Today, Florida A&M University (FAMU) announced the launch of its new online store, e-Rattler.com. The new online store, powered and supplied through Cintas, will afford Rattler students, faculty, alumni and supporters the opportunity to purchase specially designed apparel online.

“Today, Florida A&M University is proud to partner with Cintas in launching the e-Rattler.com,” said FAMU President James H. Ammons. “e-Rattler.com will allow our campus community and alumni from all over the world as well as our friends and supporters to purchase FAMU attire with the click of a mouse on their computers. This is a great opportunity for FAMU and our supporters.”

FAMU receives 17.5 percent from Cintas for all online sales. Proceeds from the online sales will be used to support the university.

“Cintas is very excited that we have collaborated with FAMU to further expand our relationship through the exclusive launch of e-Rattler.com,” said J. Phillip Holloman, president and COO, Cintas Corporation. “We want e-Rattler.com to be a buyer-friendly experience that showcases Rattler pride – today, tomorrow and forever.”

Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Cintas Corporation provides highly specialized services to businesses of all types throughout North America. Cintas designs, manufactures and implements corporate identity uniform programs, and provides entrance mats, restroom supplies, promotional products, first aid and safety products, fire protection services and document management services to approximately 800,000 businesses.

A fashion show, “Collegiate Couture: FAMU Swag with an Ivy League Tag,” was held to showcase the various apparel. Some of FAMU’s student modeling troupes modeled the apparel.

As part of the promotional celebration, individuals were provided with scratch off tickets that provided special discounts on their first purchase. Several restaurants in the Tallahassee community participated in the kick off of e-Rattler.com by distributing tickets to their patrons. The participating restaurants included Zaxby’s on Apalachee Parkway and West Tennessee Street; Lindy’s Fried Chicken on South Monroe Street; Wendy’s on S. Monroe Street; Burger King on South Monroe Street and Kentucky Fried Chicken on Paul Russell Road.

For more information, call (850) 599-3413 or visit e-Rattler.com.

FAMU Announces Collaboration with the Ramogi Institute of Advanced Technology

2011-04-25T07:01:00.000-07:00

From left to right — Florida A&M University President James H. Ammons and the Rt. Hon. Raila Amollo Odinga, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya and Professor Crispus M. Kiamba, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, prepare to sign the Memorandum of Understanding as FAMU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Cynthia Hughes Harris (standing) looks on.

Today, Florida A&M University (FAMU) President James H. Ammons met with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya Raila Amollo Odinga and signed an agreement that would launch a new partnership in Africa that would benefit FAMU students and faculty.

Odinga was part of a 25-member delegation that helped to pen the agreement that would seek to develop a process for implementing engineering and health sciences training systems at the Ramogi Institute of Advanced Technology in Kenya.

Among the group accompanying the Prime Minister were Professor Crispus M. Kiamba, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology; and Elkanah Odembo, the Kenya ambassador to the United States.

“Florida A&M University is proud to sign this memorandum of understanding between the government of Kenya,” said FAMU President James H. Ammons. “We are looking forward to exposing our faculty and students to this beautiful country. We believe that through this agreement Ramogi Institute of Advanced Technology will become a stronger institution and help FAMU as we strive for excellence in a new era as we develop the millennial FAMUan, a Florida A&M University student who is a citizen of the world.”

FAMU and RIAT agreed to work collaboratively to contribute toward mitigating the national/regional inadequacies in human resource capacity. The selected areas of interest include curricula development and training in engineering, pharmacy, nursing and allied health sciences, environmental science; environmental research collaboration; joint medicinal research; joint grant writing; staff and student exchanges; and funding for facilities development.

“I am very humble and delighted to be here today,” said the Rt. Hon. Raila Amollo Odinga, who is a mechanical engineer by profession. “It is honor to sign this agreement with FAMU.”

Florida State Senator Anthony C. "Tony" Hill Sr., District 1, was in attendance and expressed the importance of the partnership.

“I was glad to have the opportunity to participate in the program today where this historic and important agreement between one of our own great universities---Florida A&M University--- and the Ramogi Institute of Advanced Technology in the Republic of Kenya,” said Florida State Senator Tony Hill, District 1. “This is a great opportunity to provide some of Florida’s and this nation’s best and brightest students to become fully immersed in a true global partnership.”

About the Ramogi Institute of Advanced Technology
Ramogi Institute of Advanced Technology (RIAT) is one of the pioneer Technical Training Institutes in Kenya. RIAT was founded in 1968 and the first cohort of students was admitted in 1976. Since then, the institute has trained middle-level professionals in various business fields. RIAT is managed by a Board of Governors (BOG) appointed by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology.

RIAT is located in Kisumu, the third largest town in Kenya and one of the fastest growing urban centers in the country. The town is uniquely positioned on the shores of Lake Victoria, the world’s second largest fresh water body. Also, the town is close to countries in the lake basin, which presents the potential for becoming the leading commercial and administrative center and the opportunity to serve as a transportation hub linking the East African Region by air, rail, water and road.

FAMU Wins National Championship at the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge

2011-04-25T06:55:00.000-07:00

Florida A&M University (FAMU) won the 22nd Annual Honda Campus All-Star Challenge (HCASC) Monday, April 11 becoming the 2011 champions.

Averaging more than 455 points per game, the most of any team, FAMU won the top prize of $50,000 in university grants for their national championship win.

FAMU won the national championships in 2005, 2003, 1999, 1998, 1996 and 1991.

“We were very excited to be able to bring the seventh championship home to FAMU,” said Atty. Chuck Hobbs, who served as head coach of the FAMU team. “Out of 22 years of having the tournament, we have won a third of the awards under my mother’s leadership and this year under my own. One of the highlights was the fact that this turned into a FAMU weekend. At the opening banquet, Honda honored my mother’s six national championship wins.”

Vivian Hobbs, a retired FAMU professor who coached the team for 21 years, received the “Coach of the Year” award. As the first recipient, she received the award for her commitment to coaching young men and women for the competition.

“This championship is another example that Florida A&M University has some of the best and brightest students in the nation,” said FAMU President James H. Ammons. “I applaud Atty. Hobbs and our students for doing such an outstanding job. This win is a testament to their hard work, character and commitment as well as the academic preparation they are receiving at FAMU.”

The Annual HCASC is the largest academic competition of its kind, bringing students from historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) from around the country together to participate in the two-day tournament that tests their knowledge, skills and ability to quickly and accurately answer questions on world history, science, literature, and popular culture.

FAMU’s All-Star team included Trenton J. Johnson, the team’s captain, who is a senior majoring in computer engineering; Dwight Williams II, a junior mathematics major; Stefan Jenkins, a junior biomedical engineering major and Paul Kayemba, a junior English major.

During the annual two-day tournament in Orlando, Fla., 48 HBCU teams competed in a modified round robin format. Each school showcased their skills and intellect by quickly and accurately answering questions on world history, science, literature, religion, the arts, social sciences, popular culture and African-American history and culture. The top teams from the events eight divisions advanced to the "Elite Eight Playoffs” and went head to head in a round single elimination. The final two teams then competed for the National Champion title in a best 2- out of 3- final series.

“The Honda Campus All-Star Challenge is one of Honda’s largest and longest running philanthropic initiatives here in the United States, and we are proud to be able to give more than $300,000 each year to deserving Historically Black Colleges and Universities,” said Steve Morikawa, assistant vice president, Corporate Community Relations, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “Maintaining this program allows us to invest in one of the country’s largest pipelines for professional and academic talent, and even in these tough economic times, it is important that we continue to support our nation’s future leaders.”

Since 1989, HCASC has brought together the nation’s best and brightest academic competitors from America’s top HBCUs. Throughout its history, HCASC has been the only annual academic competition between the nation’s HBCUs, touching more than 50,000 students and awarding more than $6 million in grants.

Board of Trustees Unanimously Approves the University Restructuring and Reinvesting Plan

2011-04-08T08:20:00.000-07:00

Today, before a standing room only audience comprised of faculty, staff, students, alumni and the community, the Florida A&M University (FAMU) Board of Trustees approved of FAMU President James H. Ammons’ Restructuring and Reinvestment Plan.

The goals of the plan are to strengthen academic programs and academic structure while contending with fiscal constraints; increase academic and administrative efficiencies and productivity; and reinvest in focused areas of strength.

“What Florida A&M University will look like years from now will be the result of the hard work of faculty, staff, students and campus leaders who developed a bold, brilliant and progressive course for FAMU for this decade and years to come,” said Ammons. “We are proud of this restructuring and reinvestment plan because it has helped us to align the strategic plan with the comprehensive restructuring decisions to ensure that FAMU is an environment that nurtures the Millennial FAMUan.”

According to Ammons, the Millennial FAMUan is someone that thinks critically, solves complex problems and is conversant in global issues.

The Restructuring Plan outlines a new academic structure as follows:

* College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
* College of Law
* College of Engineering
* School of Journalism and Graphic Communication
* School of Nursing
* School of Allied Health Sciences
* School of Business Industry
* College of Health Professions
* College of Education
* School of Environmental Sciences
* School of Public Health
* School of Architecture
* College of Agriculture
* College of Science, Technology and Mathematics
* College of Behavioral Sciences, Arts and Humanities

The notable changes are that the Colleges of Pharmacy, Law and Engineering and the Schools of Journalism, Nursing and Allied Health will remain in tact. The School of Business and Industry will remain as stand alone, but will add a Division of Economics. The College of Education will now house all the teacher education programs. The two institutes will be elevated to become the School of Environmental Sciences and the School of Public Health, which will increase their national visibility and prominence. The School of Architecture will incorporate the Engineering Technology Program from the College of Engineering Sciences, Technology and Agriculture (CESTA). The College of Agriculture will be reorganized which will allow the University to focus on this important aspect of the University’s mission and work. The College of Science, Technology and Mathematics was created from programs in the College of Arts and Sciences as well as CESTA. The College of Behavioral Sciences, Arts and Humanities is made up of programs in the College of Arts and Sciences.

The newly created University Programs will provide non-degree granting units that are essential to the work of retention, distance education, international studies and the Honors Institute. The University created this organization to create an academic environment that will be nurturing. Also, it is relevant for modern education to prepare our students to work in a collaborative manner. Implementing this structure will take a few years.

The academic units that will lose some of their programs are as follows: College of Education; College of Arts and Sciences; School of Journalism and Graphic Communication; School Architecture; and the School of Business and Industry.

Ammons noted that most of these programs will continue for another one to two years in order to “teach out” currently enrolled students.

“We will permit those students with more than 60 hours in their major to complete these programs,” said Ammons. “Incoming freshmen will not be permitted to declare these programs as a major.”

The unfortunate part of the plan is that 242 positions will be terminated. Of the 242 positions, 109 employees are on federal stimulus money, which these individuals are scheduled to lose their jobs on June 30, 2011. These individuals were given a year’s notice. Of the 242 positions, 44 are vacant.

FAMU will re-engineer its business processes by using the T3E (Transformation Through Technology Enhancements) process, which will re-engineer 15 administrative processes to reduce manual processes. The University also will develop a centralized unit called Administrative Services Assistance Program or “ASAP,” which will eliminate repeatable processes across the campus. This unit will handle business processes such as travel, purchasing, hiring and payroll.

“This is a painful but necessary process,” said Richard A. Dent III, vice chair of the Board of Trustees.

As the University moves forward, the future steps for FAMU will be to reduce the operating budget by 10 percent, generate revenue by increasing tuition and use any cost savings to reinvest in critical areas such as manage current and future reductions, support academic success initiatives, optimize technology, and increase faculty and staff compensation.

FAMU to Offer Distance Learning Courses in August

2011-04-08T08:19:00.000-07:00

Today, Florida A&M University (FAMU) Board of Trustees unanimously approved the one-year contract with the Tom Joyner Online Education (TJOE) for its distance-learning program.

The online program will offer master’s degrees in nursing, public health and business. These programs will commence in August 2011 and university officials are expecting 271 students during the first year of the program. The courses will be hosted on www.hbcusonline.com.

“The need for distance education programs is first and foremost because of student demand," said Director for Instructional Technology Franzetta D. Fitz. “Many students are seeking educational opportunities outside of the traditional campus environment in order to qualify for advancement in their careers while continuing to fulfill their daily obligations. An online distance education program allows FAMU to compete with other institutions to provide the same quality of education online that our traditional students receive. In addition, it allows us to increase our global presence as a 21st century, state-of-the-art institution.”

The three graduate programs were selected as the pilot programs because they are in high demand. According to Fitz, the university plans to start with these graduate programs as the university builds its infrastructure to prepare to offer more online degree programs.

“Once we launch these online programs, we will move to the second phase of our plan which is to offer more graduate degree programs as well as undergraduate degree completions,” said Fitz. “The online degree completions program will initially be developed for previous FAMU students who have stopped out of school for various reasons to have the opportunity to complete their degrees online.”

Over the past two years, FAMU has created a comprehensive distance education program. The university solicited information from companies that could provide the technological infrastructure, costs and marketing support necessary for the successful delivery of online degree programs. TJOE was the most qualified company to take on the task.

FAMU will be provided with marketing and recruitment assistance, student enrollment services, non-academic student support, consulting services and academic program development by TJOE.

TJOE will provide 50 hours per year of consulting assistance during the Term of the Agreement to the university, in an effort to better prepare students for success with distance education programs. These consulting services include technology support, academic program and faculty management, academic distance education quality control, and administrative and student support issues.

For admission requirements or further information, contact Franzetta D. Fitz in the Office of Instructional Technology at (850) 599-3460 or by email at oit@famu.edu.

FAMU Cuts Orange and Green Ribbon for the Hansel E. Tookes Sr. Student Recreation Center and Recreational Fields

2011-04-08T08:16:00.000-07:00

Florida A&M University (FAMU) hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Hansel E. Tookes, Sr. Student Recreation Center and Recreational Fields. The ceremony celebrated the opening of Phase Two and Phase Three of the three-phase project. Construction for Phase Two began in spring 2010 and Phase Three began in summer 2010.

The Phase Two additions, which cost approximately $2.7 million, include two indoor multi-functional basketball courts, two racquetball courts, a wellness suite and a 36-foot indoor rock-climbing wall.

Wilson Blue, a senior criminal justice major from Miami, Fla. expressed that he is excited that the recreation center now has a rock-climbing wall.

“This is something that the university needed to move forward,” said Blue. “The rock-climbing wall is my favorite addition. I am excited about trying it out.”

The Phase Three additions, which are outdoor add-ons, include three basketball courts, two turf flag football fields, a softball and baseball field, a soccer field, two sand volleyball courts, a field house and a pavilion. Phase Three was approximately $5 million.

The recreation center was first opened in 2006 as part of a three-phase project that promotes the wellness and overall health of the FAMU campus community. Part one of the project was completed in 2006 and is a mostly student-run operation and funded through Student A&S Funds. The 40,000 square foot building houses a 16,500 square-foot workout area, a bicycle spinning classroom, a massage area and an exercise and aerobics room on two floors.

“These amenities will aid in our constant pursuit of ‘Excellence with Caring’ to improve our students’ educational and recreational experience at FAMU,” said FAMU President James H. Ammons.

The Recreation Center was designed by JRA Architects, Inc. David Vincent, senior vice president of JRA Architects, Inc. and a FAMU alumnus, was present for the ribbon cutting ceremony. The Cook Brothers, Inc. constructed the recreational fields and Childers Construction Co. built the recreation additions.

The center is named after Hansel E. Tookes Sr., who was on the 1942 Florida A&M College (FAMC) football team. The team had an unprecedented season going undefeated, untied and won the national championship. Tookes was also captain of the FAMC basketball team that won a national championship. He received a B.S. degree from FAMC.

Tookes was later hired as an assistant coach and rose to the ranks of athletic director at FAMU. During his tenure, he became the co-founder of the Florida Classic football game and founder of the FAMU Sports Hall of Fame. He also started the National Summer Youth Sports Program in Tallahassee.

In 1960, he was appointed by President John F. Kennedy to serve on the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. He was the first African-American member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Executive Rules Committee and the NCAA Golf Committee.

Ain’t Misbehavin’ “Swings” to the Charles Winter Wood Theatre

2011-03-24T11:26:00.000-07:00

Florida A&M University (FAMU) Essential Theatre’s guest director and choreographer Harry Bryce will showcase his version of the reputable Tony Award© winning musical revue “Ain’t Misbehavin’: Fats Waller Musical Show” starting Friday, April 1 through Sunday, April 3 in the Charles Winter Wood Theatre in Tucker Hall.

The show is comprised of 30 of Thomas “Fats” Waller’s classics. Some are comical like “Your Feets Too Big,” some poignant and political like “Black and Blue,” which is a commentary on racism, and others are just toe-tappers like his famous “The Joint is Jumpin.” The show will be nostalgic for those who are familiar with Waller’s music. The revue is a way to exposing “swing” music to a new generation, and like most songs, the messages in the lyrics are relatable to everyone.

“These are all songs this generation would not naturally know,” said Bryce. “That is why we continue to do these plays, so these songs and production can be introduced to new generations. We have to include these classic and our contributions to American music theatre.”

The original play is a lightly staged Broadway production without a plot. However, Bryce created a storyline for “Ain’t Misbehavin’” that involves a love triangle between three women and two men. He has included a few additional characters specifically for the FAMU production.

“If you like good music and like to have fun, then this will be the place to be,” said Kimberly Harding, associate professor of theatre. “This will be a taste of the sounds of the Harlem Renaissance, but more importantly a good time.”

According to Bryce, this will be a high-energy production that will keep the audience at the edge of their seat.

“Ain’t Misbehavin’ is filled with gallivanting, strutting and a bunch of lies and propaganda because you can’t believe a thing they are saying,” said Bryce. “The storyline is built around this Fats Waller boisterous character.”

Preview performances are scheduled for Wednesday, March 30 and Thursday, March 31. Admission prices are $5 for general admission and free for students with a valid I.D. Friday, April 1 and Saturday, April 2 performances start at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. General admission is $15 for adults, $12 for senior citizens and $10 for students and children.

For more information on Essential Theatre’s “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” contact Kimberly Harding at (850) 561-2425.

Eminent Historian and Scholar Darlene Clark Hine to Speak at FAMU

2011-03-24T11:22:00.000-07:00

In honor of National Women’s History Month, Florida A&M University (FAMU) History and African-American Studies Department and the Meek-Eaton Black Archives Research Center and Museum will host the “African-American Women: Their Struggles, Achievements and Contributions” forum Thursday, March 24 at 6 p.m. in Lee Hall Auditorium.

Eminent historian and scholar Darlene Clark Hine will serve as the keynote speaker. Hine is the chair of the Department of African American Studies Board of Trustees Professor of African-American Studies and professor of history at Northwestern University. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, past president of the Organization of American Historians and of the Southern Historical Association.

Hine received her bachelor’s degree at Roosevelt University in Chicago, Ill., her master’s degree and Ph.D. from Kent State University, Kent, Ohio. Hine has taught at South Carolina State University and at Purdue University. She was a fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University and at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Studies at Harvard University.

She is the author and/or co-editor of 15 books, most recently The Harvard Guide to African-American History. She coedited a two volume set, A Question of Manhood: A Reader in Black Men’s History and Masculinity; and with Jacqueline McLeod, Crossing Boundaries: Comparative History of Black People in Diaspora.

She won the Dartmouth Medal of the American Library Association for the reference volumes coedited with Elsa Barkley Brown and Rosalyn Terborg-Penn, Black Women in America: An Historical Encyclopedia. She is the author of Black Women in White: Racial Conflict and Cooperation in the Nursing Profession, 1890–1950. Her forthcoming book is entitled The Black Professional Class: Physicians, Nurses, Lawyers, and the Origins of the Civil Rights Movement, 1890–1955.

The event is free and open to the general public.

FAMU and FSU SGA Co-Sponsor the State of the Student Summit

2011-03-24T11:06:00.000-07:00

Florida A&M University (FAMU) has teamed up with Florida State University (FSU) for the second annual State of the Student Summit. The summit will bring together a diverse compilation of today’s top leaders from around the nation in business, academia, media, politics and education to attack major issues affecting America's students domestically and globally. The Summit is scheduled for Sunday, March 27, at 6 p.m. at the Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center.

“The purpose of the Student Summit is to bring a variety of panelist to empower students on various issues such as budget cuts, health care, entrepreneurship and environmental sustainability. It’s imperative that we keep our students up-to-date with current issues not only in the U.S. but the world,” said Breyon Love, a junior accounting student and vice president of FAMU’s Student Government Association.

The event will feature a panel discussion and open-dialogue with the audience. The panelists for the Summit are as follows:

* Kirk Franklin – seven-time GRAMMY® Awards winning gospel music artist and host of SUNDAY BEST, Black Entertainment Television’s original series.
* Mike Huckabee – former governor of Arkansas, former Republican presidential candidate, author and the host of Huckabee on FOXNews.com.
* Van Jones – environmental activist, attorney and professor
* Kelly Layman - executive director of Communications and Development for the State University System, Florida Board of Governors
* Dom Sagolla – co-founder of the social media website Twitter

The discussion is one way to bridge the gap between FAMU and FSU students, and to hear how they feel about the issues affecting the student body.

General admission for the Summit is free and open to the general public.

For more information, contact (850) 599-3624.

ABA National Appellate Advocacy Team Defeats Five Law Schools to Advance to National Finals

2011-03-14T11:34:00.001-07:00

The Florida A&M University (FAMU) College of Law American Bar Association (ABA) National Appellate Advocacy Competition (NAAC) Team went undefeated in five rounds of regional competition to earn a spot in the national competition later this spring. The team composed of second-year law students Jason Duey and Jenny Liabenow, and third-year law student Dominique Young as bailiff, was among 31 teams representing 20 ABA-approved law schools at the regional competition held in Washington, D.C. The team was coached by Visiting Professor Joseph Richard Hurt.

“The outstanding performance of our students in this and other competitions is a direct reflection of the caliber of our faculty and how seriously we take our advocacy training,” said LeRoy Pernell, dean of the FAMU College of Law.

The NAAC is one of the largest and most prestigious competitions in the nation with 217 teams having entered NAAC competition this year. Only 24 teams advanced from six regional competitions to the national competition. Schools represented in the Washington, D.C. Regionals included Harvard University, Georgetown University, American University, The College of William & Mary, and Temple University.

FAMU defeated teams from Barry University, University of Richmond, and William & Mary in the first three rounds of competition to earn the number two seed in the semi-finals consisting of 16 teams. In that round, FAMU defeated Campbell University to advance to the final round where the team defeated American. Two teams from Liberty University and one from the Charleston School of Law also advanced to the national competition in Chicago, which will be held April 7-9, 2011.

In addition to the team’s 5-0 record, Liabenow was recognized as third best advocate and Duey as fourth best advocate out of 62 students who participated in the competition.

“Our win is a testament to the volunteer professors and students who helped us practice, the exemplary guidance of our coach, Professor Hurt, and a fantastic team,” said Duey. “Without these factors, our success stood little chance of realization.”

FAMU Competing in the Home Depot Retool Your School Project

2011-03-14T11:07:00.000-07:00

Florida A&M University (FAMU) needs the community’s votes as it competes against other historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to win $150,000 in campus improvement grants from The Home Depot. One $50,000 major grant and 10 $10,000 minor grants will be awarded.

The competition is part of The Home Depot’s long-standing efforts in support of the black community. The grant money will go towards a school improvement project that “will have an enduring impact on the lives of students, faculty and alumni for generations to come.”

For the $50,000 grant, FAMU’s New Beginnings Childcare Facility proposes to install the first solar energy system on campus. For the $10,000 grant, FAMU’s New Beginnings intends to install outdoor lighting, make interior building repairs and expand and enhance the outdoor learning area.

To win either the $50,000 or one of the $10,000 grants, FAMU must receive more online votes than any other HBCU in the competition. Last spring, the university was awarded a $10,000 grant, which assisted in the creation of FAMU’s first “Green Space.”

Online voting is now open and ends Friday, April 22, at 11:59 p.m. Each individual may vote only one time per day until the deadline. To vote for FAMU’s grant proposals, go to http://retoolyourschool.com.

Screenwriter and Actor Kelsey Scott will Facilitate a Screenwriters Workshop

2011-03-14T11:05:00.000-07:00

“A Crash Course in Writing for the Screen” is a three-day workshop hosted by the Florida A&M University (FAMU) School of Journalism and Graphic Communication (SJGC), March 24 through 26. Accomplished screenwriter and actor Kelsey Scott will facilitate the workshop intended to teach aspiring screenwriters how to develop a story concept into a completed screenplay. Workshop registration is free to the first 25 FAMU students. Registration for other students at FAMU, FSU and TCC students is $15. Non-student registration is $25.

Scott, a FAMU alumna, is based in Los Angeles. Among her credits are the Sony Pictures thrillers Motives and Motives 2, starring Vivicia A. Fox (Kill Bill, Two Can Play That Game), Shemar Moore (Criminal Minds, Diary of a Mad Black Woman), and Brian White (Stomp the Yard, Daddy’s Little Girls). Her impressive acting credits include Grey’s Anatomy, House M.D. and The Young and the Restless – along with a host of stage and musical theatre credits. She is currently at work on the harrowing true story of former Hampton University student Kemba Smith for Rainforest Films.

“SJGC is pleased to host this screenwriting workshop,” said James Hawkins, SJGC’s dean. “Kelsey brings an impressive list of experiences that will be valuable to our students as well as the Tallahassee community.”

The workshop is scheduled for Thursday, March 24, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Friday, March 25, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, March 26, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event concludes with a 6:30 p.m. screening of short films, written and directed by FAMU alumni followed by a question and answer (Q&A) session with the filmmakers. The screening and Q&A are free and open to the public.

Persons interested in registering should contact the FAMU SJGC at (850) 599-3379. The registration deadline is March 21, 2011.

About Kelsey Scott
Scott holds a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from the FAMU SJGC and a master’s degree from the Florida State University (FSU) College of Motion Picture Arts. She parlayed her experience as a script consultant to spearhead the first screenwriting curriculum at Golden West College in Orange County, Calif., and was subsequently invited to return to FSU as a visiting filmmaker in residence. As a child, Scott was a series regular on the ABC sitcom, The Robert Guillaume Show.

FAMU Kicks off President's Tour in The Villages with Awarding $168,000 in Scholarships

2011-03-10T07:59:00.000-08:00

The stage was set and the lights were on Florida A&M University (FAMU) at the Seabreeze Recreation Center in The Villages, Fla., as FAMU awarded $168,000 in scholarships to students including two Distinguished Scholarship Awards.

With a room filled with students, parents and alumni, FAMU President James H. Ammons shared with the audience his mission for his tour.

“At FAMU, we are going to put you on a path to the good life,” said Ammons. “We are here today to recognize and acknowledge you [students].”

The parents of Alex Hull, a Distinguished Scholarship recipient, stated they were surprised their son was presented with a scholarship.

“We decided to come today to get more information,” said Alicia Hull, mother of Alex. “We are very proud of him.”

Her husband, Kenneth, expressed his thoughts.

“This [scholarship] shows that his hard work is finally paying off,” said Hull.

Alex is interested in the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. President Ammons shared with Alex that if he takes the SAT or ACT again and get a slightly higher score, he could be eligible for the Life-Gets-Better Scholarship valued at more than $70,000.

“I am taking the ACT next month,” said Hull, with a smile on his face.

Sydney McCullough-Stevenson, who also received the Distinguished Scholarship Award, was surprised.

“I’m still in awe,” said Stephenson. “I had to do a double take when they called my name. I didn’t expect to receive a scholarship this big. Today, I saw a different side to FAMU. I saw FAMU as welcoming and fun. I plan to go to FAMU to study psychology.”

President Ammons is traveling throughout the state of Florida offering scholarships to some of the state’s best and brightest students.

Accompanying Ammons on the tour were university recruiters, administrators, student leaders and members of the FAMU Connection, a group of talented students who tell the university’s story through song and dance.

Funds for the tour came from private donations.

Distinguished Scholarship Award - $48,000

Alex Hull, Villages Charter High School
Sydney McCullough-Stevenson, West Port High

George W. Gore – $16,000

Arvn Ramnarain, Mount Dora High
Ashee Falconer, Leesurg High

George W. Gore - $12,000

Dominique Charles, Wekiva High
Aletha Beckford, Dunnelllon High

George W. Gore - $8,000

Tabitha Hickman, Gainesville High

Presidential Special Scholarship - $4,000

Diamond Connnelly, Leesburg High
Quonsonay Erving, Wildwood High