Three FAMU Alums Elected to the Florida House of Representatives

Three Florida A&M University alumni have been elected to the Florida House of Representatives — Representative Dwight M. Bullard, District 118, Miami; Representative Mia L. Jones, District 14, Jacksonville; and Representative Alan B. Williams, District 8, Tallahassee.

Bullard, a teacher in Miami, received his bachelor’s degree in history in 1999.

His father, Edward B. “Ed” Bullard, was a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 2000-2008 and his mother, Larcenia J. Bullard, was a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1992-2000 and has been a member of the Florida Senate since 2002.

Bullard is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Richmond-Perrine Alumni; Redlands Democrats; Richmond Heights Homeowners Association; Ron Brown Democratic Caucus; and the South Dade Democrats. He is also a life member of the NAACP.

The former director for Minority Business Affairs for the Duval County Public Schools, Representative Jones received her bachelor’s degree in 1991 and a MBA in 1992.

Jones’ affiliations include Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Leadership Florida, and Leadership Jacksonville. She is a board member for the Essential Capital Board of Directors and the Healthy Start Coalition Advisory Board. She is a life member of the FAMU National Alumni Association.

In 2003 and 2007, Jones was elected to the Jacksonville City Council.

Williams, a marketing and business consultant, received his bachelor’s degree in 1998 and his MBA in 2003.

His public service includes the City of Tallahassee Airport Advisory Board; a community relations aide to Mayor John Marks; the Florida Selective Service Board; and the Florida Advisory Committee for the United States Commission on Civil Rights.

Some of Williams’ affiliations are as follows: chair of the Board of Governors for
Leadership Tallahassee; current member for the Council of Advisors for Leadership Florida; life member and chapter president for the FAMU Alumni Association; a member for the board of directors for the Challenger Learning Center and the United Way of the Big Bend; a board member for the Florida Advisory Committee, United States Commission on Civil Rights; and a board member for Tallahassee Boys Choir.

Williams’ accomplishments include Brother of the Year and past Polemarch for alumni for the Alpha Xi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.; founded FAMU Campus Venom Shuttle Service; Leadership Tallahassee Distinguished Leadership Awards Finalist; recipient of the Rattler Pride Award in 2007; and from 1993 through 1998, a student senator for the FAMU Student Government Association. In 2003, he was featured in Ebony Magazine’s “30 Future Leaders under 30.”

From left to right: Representative Dwight M. Bullard, District 118, Miami; Representative Mia L. Jones, District 14, Jacksonville; and Representative Alan B. Williams, District 8, Tallahassee.

Judge Glenda Hatchett to Keynote FAMU’s 2008 Fall Commencement

Glenda Hatchett will keynote Florida A&M University’s 2008 fall commencement scheduled for Friday, December 12, at the Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center at 6 p.m. Hatchett presides over the syndicated show “Judge Hatchett” now in its 8th season.

After graduating from Emory University School of Law and completing a coveted clerkship in the U.S. Federal Courts, Hatchett accepted a position at Delta Air Lines as the company’s highest-ranking African-American woman. She served in dual roles as a senior attorney for Delta, litigating cases in federal courts throughout the country, and manager of public relations, supervising global crisis management, and media relations for all of Europe, Asia and the United States. In fact, her outstanding contributions were recognized by Ebony Magazine, which named Hatchett one of the “100 Best and Brightest Women in Corporate America.” She made the difficult decision to leave Delta Air Lines to accept an appointment as Chief Presiding Judge of the Fulton County, Georgia Juvenile Court. Upon accepting the position, she became Georgia’s first African-American Chief Presiding Judge of a state court and the department head of one of the largest juvenile court systems in the country.

Hatchett is a graduate of Mt. Holyoke College and has been recognized as a distinguished alumna and awarded an honorary degree by the college. She also attended Emory University School of Law and because of her commitment to excellence and service within the community, she was awarded the Emory Medal, the highest award given to an alum by the university.

She is the author of the national bestseller, “Say What You Mean, Mean What You Say” (HarperCollins). She has previously served on the Board of Directors of Gap, Inc., the Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), and the Service Master Company.

Hatchett is a board member of the Atlanta Falcons Football Organization and serves on the Board of Advisors for Play Pumps International. She also serves on the Boys and Girls Clubs of America National Board of Governors.

She resides in Atlanta, Ga. with her two sons.

FAMU Student Designs Program Cover for the Walt Disney World Florida Classic Presented By State Farm

Florida A&M University (FAMU) student Roderic Edwards is the design contest winner for the Walt Disney World Florida Classic XXIX football game and the State Farm Battle of the Bands program covers.

This makes the second consecutive year a FAMU School of Journalism and Graphic Communication (SJGC) student has won the contest.

“We applaud Roderic for this recognition,” said Dean James Hawkins, SJGC. “This award reflects the caliber of our students and will motivate other students to continue to set the standard of excellence in the graphics industry.”

Edwards, a 23-year-old senior graphic design student and Pensacola, Fla. native, said a classmate told him about the contest.

“I am elated to win and thankful for the opportunity to demonstrate my God-given talent,” said Edwards.

In addition to having his work featured on thousands of programs, Edwards will receive two tickets to the Florida Classic

XXIX football game (BCC vs. FAMU) in Orlando on November 22 and two tickets to the Battle of the Bands.

Edwards’ career goal is to eventually own a graphic design company.

Music Is My Business CEO and Former Sean “Diddy” Combs Exec. at FAMU

Aaron Arnold, chief executive officer for Music Is My Business, will speak to Florida A&M University (FAMU) journalism students on Thursday, October 9, at 11 a.m. in FAMU’s School of Journalism and Graphic Communication (SJGC) Lecture Hall. His presentation is part of the fall journalism colloquium series. The presentation is open to the public.

“The music, entertainment, television and multi-media industries are of high interest to many students,” said Dorothy Bland, journalism division director. “We’re delighted that Mr. Arnold will share some of the lessons he’s learned about the business of music production, television/film and multi-media with our students.”

Arnold, a former member of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ executive team, has appeared on Cable News Network for being a “Young Person Who Rocks.” The show honored people under the age of 30 who impact and inspire the world. He is also on VH1’s new show “I Want to Work for Diddy.”

Arnold’s firm is based in Atlanta and houses several divisions including:

•MIMB Music (houses artists, producers and writers)
•MIMB TV & Film
•MIMB Marketing & Brand Development

MIMB is home to the Million Dollar DJs and has consulted for brands such as ESPN, Heineken, Billboard Magazine, The United Nations’ World Food Organization, Grammy Winner Bryan-Michael Cox and MTV’s Making The Band and platinum-selling artist Danity Kane.

Prior to working at Bad Boy Records, Arnold was an executive at Hill & Knowlton in New York.
Arnold graduated from the FAMU School of Journalism and Graphic Communication in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in public relations.

For more information on colloquium and upcoming guest speakers, contact Dorothy Bland (850) 599-3719.

Victoria’s Secret PINK and FAMU Combine to Strike PINK!

With a little Rattler spirit from Florida A&M University (FAMU) and a touch of style from Victoria’s Secret (VS) PINK, FAMU President James H. Ammons, VS PINK chief operating officer, FAMU alum and Board of Trustees member, Richard Dent, announced the extension of VS PINK Collegiate Collection.

“This is a day when my past and my present meet; a day when two important elements in my life converge; a day when I feel like the broker, of sorts, for a very powerful partnership,” said Dent. “I can’t think of a better place to roll out this new line than right here on the Rattler Yard.”

The PINK collection will incorporate some Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), including FAMU, Howard, North Carolina A&T State, and Southern Universities, and is slated to launch in mid-December.

“This year we have been working to expand our licensed products and this new partnership with Victoria Secret PINK will place merchandise with our logos and marks in area stores and provide access to a broader audience through on-line purchases,” said Ammons. “This will generate revenue for the university that we can use to enhance operations.”

Ammons spoke about how FAMU students can benefit from this historic partnership. Students from FAMU’s student-run public relations firm, PRodigy were able to get to practice basic integrated marketing and communication skills by working on the Strike PINK account, taking what is learned in the classroom and putting it to use with a real life client.

Three FAMU students will also be selected as VS PINK brand ambassadors, gaining valuable experience promoting the company on the campus and receiving compensation for their work.

In recognition of the occasion PRodigy hosted, alongside VS PINK, a “Recycle Your Sweats” clothing drive. A total of 1,100 clothing items have been collected so far and will be donated to Mothers in Crisis.

According to Dent, FAMU set the record for collecting the most clothing items by any group VS PINK has work with.

Pastor Rosalind Tompkins, founder and Executive Director for the Mothers In Crisis charity, was on hand to accept the donation.

“I am very grateful for this generous donation,” said Tompkins. “I assure you that every article of clothing donation will be put to good use.”

The clothing drive continued throughout the day at the VS Pop-Up Store. This weekend PRodigy students will deliver all of the collected items to Mothers In Crisis.

Lindsey Johnson, a junior pubic relations student and the PRodigy associate that presided over today’s event, introduced FAMU student models showing off VS PINK Collegiate Collection designs for FAMU, Howard and Southern Universities.

As the program came to a close, Johnson reminded the crowd that the VS Pop-Up Store, full of VS merchandise, was also on campus for the FAMU community to enjoy.