I AMM Scholars Visit Pacific Coast Museums

Students from Florida A&M University (FAMU) surveyed several museums, art and cultural centers in the Pacific Southwest, including Los Angeles’ famous J. Paul Getty Center and Villa, the California African American Museum and the Santa Monica Museum of Art. The students were also invited to visit the private home and personal art galleries of famed art collectors and philanthropists, Bernard and Shirley Kinsey, both FAMU graduates.

The educational excursion was supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Library and Museum Services (ILMS). The purpose of the grant is to recruit, train and mentor African-American master’s level students for work in the museum profession. Keena Callaway, Alisa Routh and Milan Thompson were selected as fellows and mentees in the Inspiring Authorities in Museum Management (I AMM) program implemented by FAMU’s School of Graduate Studies and the Carrie Meek – James N. Eaton, Sr. Southeastern Regional Black Archives Research Center and Museum.

One of the students’ major assignments was to study, survey and select memorabilia in the Kinsey Collection in preparation for an exhibition at the Meek-Eaton Black Archives later this fall during FAMU’s 2009 Homecoming. The Kinseys have expressed an interest in establishing permanent art and archival collections at FAMU. I AMM fellows and mentees will play major roles in accessioning, cataloging, installing, marketing and implementing public education programs developed from these unique artworks, historical memorabilia and archival records. The Kinseys’ traveling exhibition, formally known as “In the Hands of African American Collectors: The Personal Treasures of Bernard and Shirley Kinsey,” is comprised of more than 90 pieces. However, the couple’s complete collection of artwork, sculptures, historical documents, books and artifacts consists of more than 250 items. The extensive Kinsey Collection includes works by noted African-American artists such as Romare Bearden, Elizabeth Catlett, Sam Gilliam, William H. Johnson, Artis Lane, Jacob Lawrence and Henry O. Tanner. The collection also includes historical memorabilia and records relating to famous African-American figures such as Dr. George Washington Carver, Frederick Douglass, Matthew Henson, Zora Neale Hurston, Harriett Ann Jacobs, Alaine Locke and Malcolm X.

Artwork and items from the prestigious collection have been on display at numerous museums including the California Museum of African American Art, the DuSable Museum in Chicago, the Freedom Center Underground Railroad in Cincinnati and more recently, the Norton Museum in West Palm Beach. The collection helped the Norton capture the 2008 National Medal for Museum and Library Services. This is the nation’s highest honor for museums and libraries and is awarded annually by the White House and ILMS to institutions that have helped make their communities a better place to live. According to Norton officials, the museum had four times its usual number of visitors, which was credited to the Kinsey’s African-American art collection.

Tallahassee’s Mary Brogan Museum is hoping that the Kinsey Collection will garner similar record-breaking responses from North Florida audiences when the collection makes its Capital City debut in September 2009. The exhibition is scheduled to run through May 2010, and afterwards will be featured at the Smithsonian Institute.

The Kinseys explained to I AMM scholars that they had commissioned, purchased and gathered an exquisite collection comprised of artwork from leading historical and contemporary artists, and that the collection evokes personal fulfillment for them because it traces the African-American experience and the pieces speak to people of all ages and ethnicities.

“People’s experiences are seen, told, and preserved through their art and culture. The pieces that we collect help bring to life the diverse and inspiring journey of African Americans,” said Bernard Kinsey, a former Xerox executive and pioneer.

Kinsey’s wife of forty years said, “We began collecting because of our own personal desires to know more about ourselves and our people’s place in the world,” said Shirley Kinsey, a retired educator. She also emphasized that it was important for them to share these treasures with others.

Callaway, a FAMU graduate student who earned a fine arts degree and an inaugural I AMM fellow said, “The educational excursion was beyond anything I could have imagined. Besides visiting some of the most acclaimed museums in America, being invited to tour and study at the Kinsey’s home was equally impressive.”

This type of training and research is supported by FAMU faculty and administrators including Cynthia Hughes-Harris, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs and Chanta Haywood, dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Research.

“These types of innovative approaches to enhancing graduate education at FAMU are needed to help carry out the institution’s mission,” Hughes-Harris said.

Haywood, the grant’s principal investigator said, “The I AMM project demonstrates FAMU’s commitment to help produce more African Americans with advanced degrees in professions that are geared toward collecting and maintaining African-American cultural and historical artifacts.”

“This trip afforded students a personal entrance into the museum profession while offering them a realistic, on-hand training experience,” said Murell Dawson, director, archivist and curator of the Meek-Eaton Black Archives, who is responsible for the academic training and mentoring of all I AMM scholars.

Dawson concluded that the excursion launched opportunities for both students and the University.

For more information about the I AMM project, contact Dean Haywood at (850) 599-3505 or Murell Dawson at (850) 599-3020.

PHOTO CAPTION: FAMU student and I AMM mentee, Alisa Routh, shares a moment with Bernard and Shirley Kinsey at their Pacific Palisades home. A portrait of the Kinseys by Artis Lane is in the background.

FAMU College of Law Ranked No. 1 for Most Diverse Law SchoolTALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida A&M University (FAMU) College of Law was recently recogniz

The Florida A&M University (FAMU) College of Law was recently recognized by U.S. News and World Report for having the most diverse law school in the nation.

FAMU tied for the No. 1 spot with Texas Southern University with a diversity index of 0.65. U.S. News and World Report also recognized FAMU as the most diverse law school for the 2006-2007 academic year.

“We’re very proud of this ranking because it acknowledges our sincere efforts to fulfill our mission of increasing representation of minorities within the legal profession,” said FAMU College of Law Dean LeRoy Pernell.

According to U.S. News and World Report, to identify law schools where students are most likely to encounter classmates from different racial or ethnic groups, U.S. News has created a diversity index based on the total proportion of minority students—not including international students—and the mix of racial and ethnic groups on campus.

The index is calculated using demographic data reflecting each law school's student body during the 2008-2009 academic year, including both full- and part-time students. The groups that form the basis for the calculations are African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanics, American Indians, and non-Hispanic whites. The formula produces a diversity index that ranges from 0.0 to 1.0. The closer a school’s number is to 1.0, the more diverse is the student population. Law schools that enroll a large proportion of students from one ethnic group, even if it is a minority group, don't score high in this index.

To be included in the ranking, a law school must be accredited by the American Bar Association. The FAMU College of Law was provisionally accredited by the ABA in 2004. Because student-body ethnic diversity data are not consistently compiled and reported as yet for other types of graduate schools, U.S. News and World Report has prepared a diversity table only for law schools.

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 reestablished FAMU College of Law opened its doors in 2002 and is now housed in a state-of-the-art facility at 201 Beggs Avenue in downtown Orlando’s Parramore neighborhood.

FAMU Board of Trustees Approve Four-Day Work Week During the Summer

The Florida A&M University (FAMU) Board of Trustees (BOT) recently approved a four-day work week for FAMU employees starting May 29 and ending August 7.

The motion was approved by the FAMU-BOT during a call-in meeting on April 22.

The four-day work week calls for all FAMU employees to be on-duty from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., from Monday through Thursday. This measure will give FAMU an opportunity to save approximately $300,000 in utilities.

FAMU administrators believe the new work week for the summer will raise the morale among FAMU employees during these hard economic times.

“This is just one of the many measures we have put in place in reaction to the dwindling economy,” said FAMU President James H. Ammons. “We must continue to remain positive during these times and encourage our stellar faculty and staff members to do the same. We hope that we can accomplish this through the four-day work week.”

Florida A&M University Division of Journalism ‘Reeling In’ the Talent

Florida A&M University’s School of Journalism and Graphic Communication (SJGC) students will unveil their short documentaries Friday, April 24, at 7 p.m. Nine senior broadcast students in the specialized reporting class will showcase their semester film projects in the SJGC Lecture Hall.

Themed “Reeling in the Moment,” this semester’s student documentary night will celebrate the work of five student teams. Each team did the writing, videotaping, editing and production of a 15-minute documentary.

“Reeling in the Moment” is free and open to the public.

“The economy has created some very interesting challenges for us this semester,” said Professor Kenneth Jones, coordinator of the broadcast sequence in the FAMU Division of Journalism who also teaches the specialized reporting class where students are required to produce documentaries. “We couldn’t assume the money would be there to produce this event as it has been in the past.”

Thankfully, according to Jones, the student documentary night event is relatively inexpensive to produce. And, more importantly, even in the worst of economic times, the student filmmakers never fail to tap into their creativity and talent to produce a documentary.

This year’s documentaries deal with a close up look at families transitioning from welfare to work, new perspectives on black men, a comparative study of President Barack Obama and slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr.

“This is PRodigy’s fourth semester producing Student Documentary Night,” said Gina Kinchlow, an assistant professor and faculty adviser to the PRodigy PR Firm; the campus-based, student-run company that has promoted and executed the Student Documentary Night since the fall of 2007. “This is the first semester we’ve had to look carefully at our production budget and look for ways to cut costs.”

Parking is available directly in front of the School of Journalism and Graphic Communication as well as along Orr Drive.

The 15-minute documentaries selected for viewing this semester are:

“Doggy In The Window”
Reporter: Alicia Mitchell; Videographer / Editor: Stephanie Foster

“The Struggle for Independence”
Reporter: Brook England; Videographer / Editor: Walter Niles, II

“Killing Myths, Reviving Truths, About Black Men”
Reporter: DeNisha Yearby; Videographer / Editor: Larry Peters

“The Black Psyche”
Reporter / Videographer / Editor: Saundra Weathers

“Dream Again”
Reporter: Brent Hatchett; Videographer / Editor: Tsopie Trottie

For more information about the student filmmakers or to speak with a student filmmaker, contact:

Professor Kenneth Jones
(850) 561-2779
Kenneth.jones@famu.edu
Pbe7@hotmail.com

For more information about the event, contact:
Professor Gina Kinchlow
(850) 412-5389
Gina.kinchlow@famu.edu

For more information about the Division of Journalism, contact:

Professor Dorothy Bland
(850) 599- 3719
Dorothy.bland@famu.edu

FAMU Professor Selected as 2009 Fulbright Scholar

Ralph Wills Flowers, Ph.D., professor and research scientist in the Florida A&M University (FMU) College of Engineering Sciences, Technology and Agriculture, has been selected as a Fulbright Scholar grantee to Ecuador by the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FSB). As a Fulbright grantee, Flowers will join the ranks of approximately 300,000 distinguished participants in this program, which is made possible through annual funding from the U.S. Congress, partnering countries and the private sector.

This is the second time that Flowers has been selected as a Fulbright Scholar. The first honor was received in 2002-2003, when Flowers spent time teaching and conducting research in Costa Rica.

“This is a great honor,” said Flowers, whose faculty research is international in scope.

His employment with the FAMU College of Engineering Sciences, Technology and Agriculture began in 1975 as a member of the faculty in the entomology program.

“I came on board on the Ephemeroptera research team working with the late Dr. William L. Peters, former program leader of FAMU’s entomology program,” said Flowers.

Currently, Flowers is an accomplished research scientist in the FAMU Center for Biological Control. Since 1999, Flowers has worked in western Ecuador through a partnership between FAMU and Virginia Tech in the IPM-CRSP and SANREM-CRSP programs.

“Dr. Flowers has made a valuable contribution to international agricultural research, and I was pleased to support his Fulbright application,” said Harriett Paul, director, Office of International Agriculture Programs (FAMU-CESTA).

As a Fulbright Scholar, Flowers will be working in western Ecuador on the faculty at the Universidad Técnica Estatal de Quevedo, a small agricultural university. He will teach two classes on the advanced undergraduate level: Water Quality Bio-monitoring and Insect Biosystematics.

Throughout his 33-year tenure at FAMU, Flowers has made numerous accomplishments and is widely recognized for outstanding service in his area of expertise.

Makola Abdullah, Ph.D., dean and director, Land-Grant Programs, said, “Being selected twice for the very prestigious Fulbright scholarship firmly attests to Dr. Flowers’ record of excellence in international studies and research. The College is proud of the accomplishments he has made in higher education through his work in South America.”

For more information, contact Ralph Flowers, FAMU Center for Biological Control at (850) 561-2215 or by email at rflowers7@earthlink.net.

FAMU’s Former President Walter Smith is the First African American Recipient of the NEA 2009 Applegate-Dorros Peace and Int. Understanding Award

Walter Smith, Ph.D., Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) seventh president, is the first African-American recipient of the National Education Association’s (NEA) 2009 Applegate-Dorros Peace and International Understanding Award.

“The Human and Civil Rights Awards dinner is a product of the merger of the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Teachers Association (ATA),” said Sabrina Williams, manager for Business Affairs for NEA Human and Civil Rights Department. “More than 40 years ago, ATA, which was the teacher association for blacks, wanted NEA to keep the legacy of recognizing individuals, including minorities, women, and now gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT), for their human and civil rights contributions. Therefore, to recognize Dr. Smith as the first African-American recipient, I feel this award speaks directly to the vision of ATA in recognizing the social justice heroes.”

The NEA’s Applegate-Dorros Peace and International Understanding Award is presented to an NEA member whose activities in education contribute to international understanding and motivate youth to work for world peace.

“This is indeed a significant award that I have received,” said Smith.

While Smith was president of FAMU, the University grew from seven to 11 schools and colleges and a Division of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education. In 1984, the University was granted the authority to offer its first Doctor of Philosophy degree, the Ph.D. in pharmacology. The 80’s also saw the expansion of the Gaither Athletic Center, which included the construction of a new Women’s Athletic Complex equipped with a track, an Olympic pool, men’s and women’s weight training rooms, and softball and baseball fields. Bragg Memorial Stadium was renovated and expanded to provide seating for 25,000 spectators, and a modern field house was erected. New facilities were constructed to house the Schools of Allied Health Sciences, Architecture, Business and Industry and Nursing. Construction and renovation projects amounted to more than $34 million. As the University prepared to observe 100 years of its existence, the Smith administration launched the Centennial Celebration Fund to establish a University Endowment.

When Smith left the presidency of FAMU, in 1985, he was named a Senior Fulbright Scholar to the University of Malawi, in Central Africa. As he lectured and built graduate programs in educational management at Chancellor College, he also coached the male basketball team. His son, Andre, was the starting point guard on that team. They won the Malawi National Championship in 1986.

“I applaud Dr. Smith for being recognized by the NEA for his international endeavors,” said FAMU President James H. Ammons. “This prestigious award is a symbol of Dr. Smith’s commitment to youth, FAMU and to the people of this state and nation. He is a maverick whose pioneering spirit broadened the grasp and reach of this great university.”

Smith’s children also applauded their father’s accomplishments.

“I’m speechless,” said Andre Smith, son of Smith and a 1999 graduate of FAMU. “This is absolutely wonderful. He always taught people to never give up.”

Walter Smith, II, echoes his brother’s comments.

“This is outstanding,” said Smith, II, a 2006 FAMU graduate of the College of Engineering. “We feel that our father is very deserving of this award. He has always worked hard for civil rights and education.”

Smith’s daughter, who is a pharmacist, a 1991 graduate of FAMU, and an attorney, agreed with her brothers.

“Dad has given much of his life to the education of his children and to others around the world,” said Salesia Smith-Gordon. “It’s wonderful for him to honored for that which he had done for many. I honor him for the educational foundation he instilled in me. He has left his mark of excellence on the world!”

Smith has lived, traveled, studied and/or lectured throughout Africa, Asia, Europe and the Caribbean basin. He was an African American Institute Scholar and in 1971 studied at the University of Cape Coast in Cape Coast, Ghana, and the University of Lagos in Lagos, Nigeria, where he received a certificate in African Culture and History.

In 1994, Smith served as a “Monitor” for the 1994 election that brought Nelson Mandela to the presidency of the Republic of South Africa (RSA). In 1995, he returned to South Africa and founded the FUNDA Community College. It was the first American style community college built in the RSA and its founding was based on a feasibility study completed by Smith in 1992 when he first lived in the Republic of South Africa. During this time, Smith served as USA’s team leader in higher education.

In 1998, Smith was honored by the House of Commons in Great Britain along with the Minister of Education of the Republic of South Africa.

Notable among Smith’s numerous awards are the President’s Award by the National Conference of Black Mayors; IBM Corporation’s Red-X Award; 100 Black Men of Tallahassee’s 2008 Education Award; Urban League’s Scholarly Distinction Award; and Alumni of Distinction Awards by the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education, to name a few. Additionally, Smith has been inducted into the Florida Association of Community Colleges Hall of Fame, the FAMU Education Gallery of Distinction and the FAMU Sports Hall of Fame. He was also honored by Florida Memorial College with an honorary doctorate degree.

Smith earned his associate in arts degree from Gibbs Junior College, his bachelor’s of arts degree in biology and chemistry and a master’s degree in school administration from FAMU. In 1974, he earned a Ph.D. from Florida State University.

Smith retired in 2000 and now resides in Tampa, Fla. Since his retirement, he has established the Walter L. Smith Library in Tampa and the Commemorative Reclamation of Florida’s Black Junior Colleges.

Smith will receive the award on July 2, 2009, in San Diego, Calif. at the 2009 Human and Civil Rights Awards Dinner.

Irvamae Applegate was NEA president from 1966 to 1967 and was an executive committee member of the World Confederation of Organizations of the Teaching Profession (now Education International). Sidney Dorros was a consultant to the NEA Bicentennial Committee who worked tirelessly to promote international understanding and to involve young people in world peace efforts.

Smith and his wife, Barbara, are the parents of five children, four of whom are FAMU graduates: John, Salesia V. Smith-Gordon, Andre, Walter II, and Tracie.

FAMU Students Win the 2009 Ford HBCU Business Classic Competition

Florida A&M University (FAMU) students Emerson Naylor, School of Business and Industry (SBI), and Evan Anderson, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, won the 2009 Ford HBCU Business Classic Competition. As the grand prize winner, the student team won $35,000 in personal scholarships and $15,000 for FAMU.

“This is truly a great win given that Dr. Colin Benjamin, the team’s advisor, passed in January and was not with them at the case competition,” said Shawnta Friday-Stroud, interim dean of FAMU’s SBI. “This win is a testament to the character, determination, and academic preparation of FAMU students.”

This is FAMU’s second time winning the business classic competition.

An independent panel of judges, made up of influential entrepreneurs from the African-American business community picked the winners at the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) National Conference in Atlanta. The judges for the competition include George Fraser, chairman and CEO of FraserNet/author; Boris Kodjoe, actor/entrepreneur; Pat Lottier, CEO of Atlanta Tribune; Will Packer, Chairman and CEO of Rainforest Films/producer; and Randal Pinkett, Ph.D., chairman and CEO of BCT Partners/author. The event will be hosted by Kevin Frazier, TV anchor and entertainment correspondent.

To enter the competition, the student team, along with a faculty adviser, had to submit a business plan, which included the type of business, product or service, pricing considerations, target market and competition, and general operations. As a finalist, FAMU students had 25 minutes to present their business plans to the judges and prove that their plan can be converted into a viable business strategy.

The finalist competition will also premiere as a TV One special in May 2009. The “Ford HBCU Classic Special” will feature candid moments with the student teams as they prepare for the competition, highlights from each business plan presentation as well as the celebrity judges’ selection process to determine the 2009 winners. Students, alumni, parents and business professionals can visit www.tvoneonline.com for exact air date, local times and channel listings.

The Ford HBCU Business Classic launched in the fall of 2004 in response to Ford’s recognition of a need in the black business community to educate and develop the next generation of entrepreneurs. It was designed to offer students the opportunity to apply their classroom knowledge to real-world entrepreneurial experience. The competition was opened to historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) students nationwide, and received business plan submissions from students from more than 80 percent of the nation’s HBCUs.

FAMU Schedules Ribbon-Cutting for New Animal Healthcare Complex

The doors of opportunity will soon open wider for students seeking a career in animal science, pre-veterinary medicine and veterinary technology at Florida A&M University (FAMU).

On May 5, from 10 a.m. to noon, the FAMU College of Engineering Sciences, Technology and Agriculture (CESTA) will host a formal ribbon-cutting and building dedication ceremony for the recently constructed Animal Healthcare Complex, located at the FAMU Research and Development Center in Quincy, Fla.

The Complex is a teaching and research facility that features a fully functional animal medicine clinic with a wet laboratory for student instruction, a computer laboratory and classroom, and a surgery suite with video conference capability that provides access for students to view and participate in surgical procedures while simultaneously broadcasting the procedure to other institutions around the world.

With the completion of a new animal health care facility, FAMU is poised to make a significant impact on increasing the number of minorities prepared to be successful in the three academic program options and to continue in the field of veterinary medicine.

Thomas Peterson, D.V.M., extension veterinarian, is proud of the strategic plan underway to develop a stronger program for students through cutting edge resources.

“The Animal Healthcare Complex will be equipped with the most advanced veterinary diagnostic equipment such as our digital x-ray suite which will allow us to radiograph animals and instantly ascertain if there is a medical problem that needs immediate attention," Peterson said. “It is this state-of-the art equipment that will allow us to provide the best training for our students while delivering the highest level of medical treatment for the animals.”

Peterson said the facility enhances the university’s ability to implement the land-grant concept of teaching, research and extension. Students will be able to receive pertinent hands-on training as well as participate in the Cooperative Extension Program’s herd health program to support local small farmers and food processors.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Cooperative Extension Research funded the construction project for approximately $1.2 million. A Tallahassee architectural firm, Johnson and Peterson, conceptualized the design for the building.

The complex mirrors the most advanced technology for large animal clinics, and houses small ruminants, cattle, swine, and equine species for use in teaching.

For more information, contact Thomas Peterson, FAMU Cooperative Extension Program, at (850) 599-3546 or by email at thomas.peterson@famu.edu.

FAMU and FSU Host Student Symposium on Health Professions

The “Getting Prepared for Your Future Career: Student Symposium on Health Professions” will be held on Friday, April 24, from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in room 104, at the Florida A&M University (FAMU) New Pharmacy Building.

The symposium is jointly sponsored by FAMU and Florida State University (FSU), in conjunction with the Florida Alliance for Health Professions Diversity. The symposium targets undergraduate pre-health students at FAMU, FSU and Tallahassee Community College. Faculty, advisors and health professionals are welcome to attend. The event, which requires pre-registration, is free of charge.

The keynote speaker will be Deanna Wathington, M.D., MPH, interim associate dean for Academic and Student Affairs for the College of Public Health at University of South Florida. She will address developing a competitive application for graduate and the professional school.

In addition, a panel of graduates in the health professions will speak on their journeys to becoming successful. The panel will include Shayla Gray, M.D.; Makeba Earst, DDS; Dianne Speake, Ph.D.; and Marlon Honeywell, Pharm.D.

The closing session, led by Cathy Levenson, Ph.D., and a panel of students, will focus on identifying research and clinical experiences. It will also focus on garnering scholarships and fellowships.

About the Florida Alliance for Health Professions Diversity

The Florida Alliance for Health Professions Diversity was established in 2007 with the mission of increasing the number of diverse health professionals and researchers to mirror the composition of the state’s population and to reduce disparities in access to quality health care for Floridians.

The Florida Alliance fulfills this mission by 1) providing collaborative opportunities and creating innovative higher education partnerships among research universities, minority serving universities, community colleges, health-related corporations and medical specialty organizations; 2) promoting and accepting culture change and a climate to encourage research and clinical opportunities for underrepresented minority students and faculty; and 3) promoting health and prevention of disease for underrepresented minorities and other underserved populations. Health professions involved include allied health, dentistry, medicine, nursing, pharmacy and public health.

Currently, 14 universities, community colleges, and stakeholder organizations are members of the Florida Alliance.

Florida A&M University Develops Plan for its 9 a.m. Commencement Session

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida A&M University (FAMU) Commencement Committee has developed a plan for its 9 a.m. commencement session scheduled for Sunday, May 3, due to the expected turnout. Tickets are needed only for the morning session. The commencement speaker will be former President Bill Clinton, founder of the William J. Clinton Foundation and the 42nd President of United States. Graduates, faculty and the general public will not need tickets for the 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. commencement sessions.

The plan is as follows:

• Each graduate will be issued up to ten (10) tickets for family and friends.

• Graduates can pick up tickets at the Student Union Ticket Booth starting April 23 through May 1 from 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Graduates will also have an opportunity to pick up their tickets on Saturday, May 2, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• In order for graduates to pick up their tickets, they must have a Valid Rattler ID, a graduation card from the Registrar Office, and their name must be on the list to graduate in the 9 a.m. session.

• All participating faculty members can pick up one ticket from the Provost’s Office starting Thursday, April 23.

• A limited amount of tickets are available for the general public on a first-come, first-served basis. These tickets will be available at the FAMU Office of Communications located in Lee Hall, Suite 100, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  

“Our first priority is our graduates,” said Henry Kirby, chair of the commencement committee and associate vice president for Student Life and dean of students. “We want to ensure that members of their family have an opportunity to be seated. We have received an overwhelming number of calls from the general public who want to attend the 9 a.m. ceremony. We believe that we have developed a solid plan that will provide an opportunity for many to have access.”

The FAMU Schools and Colleges graduating at the 9 a.m. session include, the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Law, the School of Architecture and Environmental Sciences Institute. The line of march for this session will begin at 8:30 a.m. Graduates are to arrive at 7:30 a.m. and report to Bragg Stadium, and doors open for the public at 8 a.m.

Students in the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, School of Allied Health Sciences and the School of Nursing will be presented at the 2 p.m. session. The line of march for the 2 p.m. session is 1:30 p.m. Graduates are to arrive at 12:30 p.m. and report to Bragg Stadium, and doors open for the public at 1 p.m.

The final commencement exercise will include the School of Business and Industry, College of Engineering Sciences, Technology and Agriculture, College of Education and the School of Journalism and Graphic Communication. The line of march will start at 5:30 p.m. Graduates are to arrive at 4:30 p.m. and report to Bragg Stadium, and doors open for the public at 5 p.m.

The speaker for the 2 p.m. commencement session will be U.S. Congressman Kendrick Meek and the 6 p.m. speaker will be CNN Anchor/Special Correspondent Soledad O’Brien.

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

ROTC Cadet will Join U.S. Senior Military Leaders at National Security Seminar

Joshua Lakey, an Army ROTC cadet from Florida A&M University (FAMU), will join senior United States military leaders at a National Security Seminar.

Lakey, an Atlanta, Ga. native, will travel to Lexington, Va. along with key military officials including Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey and Secretary of the Army Pete Geren.

Lakey earned the opportunity to participate in the George C. Marshall ROTC Seminar by being selected as the top Army ROTC cadet at FAMU. While in Lexington, Cadet Lakey will have the opportunity to directly interact with the key leaders in attendance and discuss a variety of issues directly bearing on national security.

Lakey is scheduled to be commissioned on August 7, 2009. At that time, he will accept duties as a Combat Arms Armor Lieutenant.

“Cadet Lakey has been a shining example of leadership excellence during his time here,” said Lt. Col. Jeffrey N. Williams, professor of Military Science at FAMU. “In addition to his ROTC activities – where he currently serves as our Cadet Battalion Commander – he is active in the community and has earned academic honors three times.”

Lakey is proud to be chosen to attend such a prestigious seminar.

“I’m deeply honored to be selected from among all of the seniors in the Army ROTC program here at the FAMU Rattler Battalion,” he said. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I’m sure that it will give me insights that I can put to immediate use when I become a lieutenant in a few months.”

About the Marshall ROTC Seminar
The Marshall ROTC Seminar is in its 32nd year of existence. It is named in honor of George C. Marshall – who served as Army Chief of Staff during World War II. Subsequent to concluding his military career, Marshall served as Secretary of State and later as Secretary of Defense during the Truman Administration. His vigorous efforts to help the economies of Europe recover from the ravages of World War II earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1953.

FAMU Students Recognized as Best Delegation at Florida Student Education Policy Conference

Students from the Florida A&M University (FAMU) delegation of (Engaging Latino, African-American, and other Communities for Education) ENLACE Florida were chosen as the “Best Delegation,” and awarded $800 at the Florida Student Education Policy Conference.

ENLACE is a statewide network funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to promote college readiness, access and success for Latinos, African-American and other underrepresented students.

The students selected to be part of ENLACE Florida are:

• Willie Barnes, a public relations student from Lakeland, Fla.
• Kianta Key, a public relations student from Atlanta, Ga.
• Candace Hemphill, a healthcare management student from Pensacola, Fla.
• Alexandra Lee, a healthcare management student from Tallahassee, Fla.
• Gregory Woodall, a physics student from Atlanta, Ga.
• Mathia Sweet, a healthcare management student from Panama City, Fla.
• Vincent Evans, a political science student from Jacksonville, Fla.

About the Florida Student Education Policy Conference
Sixty-four college students from across the state of Florida convened for the first ever student education policy conference to deliberate the state of public education in Florida and recommend means by which it can be improved. Eight universities (FAMU, FAU, FIU, FSU, UCF, UF, UNF, and USF) studied and debated four critically important policy issues. The issues were adding rigor and relevance to Florida’s high school curriculum; reforming failing high schools; reforming the Bright Futures Scholarship Program; and expanding the system of higher education to accommodate increasing student demand and need.

A delegation from each university prepared recommendations for an assigned policy issue prior to attending the conference and presented the information to the entire group. The group debated and approved resolutions to present to the Florida Legislation.

ABA Team Observes Improvements During FAMU College of Law Site Visit

More than a month after an accreditation team from the American Bar Association (ABA) visited Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) College of Law, the law school community continues its spirited focus on improvements inside and outside the classroom.

Students, faculty, administrators and staff are still donning green “Destination: Accreditation” T-shirts in recognition of the theme that has come to symbolize a genuine culture change at the law school. What started out as a public awareness campaign in preparation for the ABA site visit has evolved into a long-term, campus-wide commitment to propel the FAMU College of Law to the next level of greatness with academic and administrative enhancements.

The changes – including 16 new faculty members and a new Center for International Law and Justice – were on full display in late February when the site team spent four days observing law school operations. The team of six legal education and university administrators will not determine compliance or non-compliance with the ABA’s Standards for Approval of Law Schools but will report its findings back to the ABA. A final decision on the law school’s application for full accreditation is expected by August.

Based on a wrap-up interview that included FAMU President James H. Ammons, Law School Dean LeRoy Pernell said reaction to recent improvements was generally positive.

“They appeared to be impressed with the progress we’ve made so far,” he said.

First on the team’s agenda was a tour of the campus, where the team noted the building’s technological advantages and witnessed facility upgrades including the FAMU Café, which opened in December 2008, and the FAMU College of Law Bookstore, which opened in January 2009.

The team reviewed University and law school policies while meeting with University officials, including President Ammons, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Cynthia Hughes Harris, Chief Financial Officer Teresa Hardee, Chief Information Officer Robert Seniors, and Vice President for University Relations Carla Willis.

The team also attended a reception hosted by the Orlando Magic, during which they were greeted by a cadre of community supporters including FAMU Board of Trustees Chairman C. William Jennings, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, other elected officials, members of the College of Law’s Board of Visitors, representatives of the law school’s Alumni Council, business leaders, judges and other constituents.

In-between visits to classrooms, where they spoke with law students in the full-time day and part-time evening programs, team members met with administrators to analyze organizational processes and with faculty to review curriculum and scholarship.

The ABA granted the FAMU College of Law provisional approval in August 2004. According to the ABA, a law “school that is provisionally approved is entitled to all the rights of a fully approved law school. Similarly, graduates are entitled to the same recognition afforded graduates of fully approved schools.”

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 reestablished FAMU College of Law opened its doors in 2002 and is now housed in a state-of-the-art facility at 201 Beggs Avenue in downtown Orlando’s Parramore neighborhood.

FAMU Journalism, Graphic, and Photography Students Win 14 Florida AP Broadcast and College Press Awards

Journalism, graphic and photography students at the FAMU School of Journalism and Graphic Communication (SJGC) collected 14 awards from the Florida Associated Press Broadcast (FAPB) contest and the Florida College Press Association (FCPA) Better Newspaper contest.

"We are thrilled about the awards the students have earned," said James Hawkins, Ph.D., dean of the FAMU School of Journalism and Graphic Communication. "We congratulate our students and the professors who guided their work."

Alexis Blackwell won a first place AP Award for "Best Radio Newscast" for WANM 90.5. She attributes her win to SJGC faculty support.

"I don't think I would have received the training, love, and support from any other school than the FAMU SJGC," said Blackwell, a 22-year-old December graduate from Fayetteville, Ga. "Professor Miles, in particular, has been the biggest supporter and has given me more motivation to pursue radio broadcasting as a career."

The list of winners "speaks volumes about what's happening in the classroom," said Keith Miles, general manager for WANM 90.5 radio and a broadcast journalism instructor. He noted that the radio station also won first place in the Best of the South competition covering a seven-state region earlier this year.

"This is just recognition of the hard work it took to move SJGC to the next level," said Miles.

FAPB Winners

1st Place - Best Radio Newscast, Alexis Blackwell for WANM 90.5, "WANM News"

1st Place - Best Photo Essay, Ashley Carnegie and Alexandra Dor for FAMU-TV 20, "Obama: Impact on America"

1st Place - Best Sport Feature for Radio, Dexter Johnson for WANM 90.5, "Primetime Sports"

1st Place - Long Hard Radio News Feature, Jermaine Fletcher for WANM 90.5, "AIDS: The New Black Plague"

1st Place - Short Light Radio Feature, Xion Lester for WANM 90.5, "Question of the Day"

1st Place - Long Light TV News Feature, Maria Osler and Markita Andrews for FAMU-TV 20, "In Their Eyes"

[Note: This documentary on blindness will be show during the Tallahassee Film Festival, April 16- 18, more details at www.tallahasseefilmfestival.com.]

2nd Place - Best TV Newscast, Saundra Weathers for FAMU-TV 20, "News 20 @ 5"

2nd Place - Best Sports Feature for TV, Alicia Mitchell for FAMU-TV 20, "FSU Basketball"

2nd Place - Long Light Radio News Feature, Dexter Johnson for WANM 90.5, "FAMU Football Coach"

FCPA Winners

1st Place - Best Feature Writing, Ashley Brown for The Famuan

1st Place - Best Photography, Taylar Barrington for The Famuan

3rd Place - Best College Newspaper, The Famuan

3rd Place - Best Front Page Design, The Famuan

3rd Place - Best General News Writing, The Famuan

FAMU Presents Five-Year Plan to Eliminate Athletic Deficit

Florida A&M University (FAMU) has developed a plan to make sure the athletic department is in the black in five years.

The university presented the plan to the FAMU Board of Trustees (BOT) Budget and Finance Committee on Wednesday, April 8.

In January, FAMU President James H. Ammons appointed the Division of Administrative and Financial Services to oversee the administrative and financial operations of the FAMU Athletic department.

“Our task is to prepare a reasonable, manageable and aggressive plan to reduce the financial deficits that now exist in the athletic department,” said Teresa Hardee, chief financial officer and vice president for Administrative and Financial Services.

Hardee worked with Carla Wills, FAMU vice president for University Relations, and Bill Hayes, FAMU athletic director, to develop a five-year plan that will eliminate a projected $5.7 million deficit for FAMU athletics.

At a recent FAMU Board of Trustees (BOT) meeting Hardee, Willis and Hayes presented this plan, an integrated approach, which included projecting current and new revenue and reducing expenses for the next five years.

“Trying not to dwell on the past or in the past, the question became how are we going to bring the athletic department into a positive balance as they continue to move their program to greater heights,” Hardee said.

The student fees projections were based on the 2008-2009 school year credit hours to reach 13,000 students by the year 2010-2011, with a five-percent increase annually in athletic fee, based on the 2009-2010 school year.

FAMU currently has the lowest athletic fee in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and the fourth-lowest in the State of Florida University System.

The sales projections were based on an annual increase of five-percent. The sales include gate receipts, football guarantees, season tickets and classics.

For other revenue sources, projections were also based on an annual five-percent increase.

Other revenue sources include contributions from FAMU boosters, annual fund raising initiatives, the 1,000 Strikes fund raising campaign and golf tournaments.

Expenditures average around $8.1 million. For the 2009-2010 school year, Hardee recommended a five-percent reduction of expenditures and thereafter a slight increase of two percent on the 2009-2010 base-year.

According to the five-year plan presented by Hardee, Willis and Hayes, the deficit will reduce by:

• Approximately $535,000 in the 2009-2010 school year;
• Approximately $1.1 million in the 2010-2011 school year;
• Approximately $1.5 million in the 2011-2012 school year;
• Approximately $1.3 million in the 2012-2013 school year;
• And present a positive fund balance of approximately $663,000 in the 2013-2014 school year.

President Bill Clinton, U.S. Congressman Kendrick Meek and CNN Anchor Soledad O’Brien Keynote FAMU’s 2009 Spring Commencement

Former President Bill Clinton will lead the line up of speakers scheduled for Florida A&M University’s Spring 2009 Commencement on May 3, 2009.

President Clinton, founder of the William J. Clinton Foundation will address students slated to receive degrees at the first of three sessions beginning at 9 a.m. in the new Multipurpose Center Teaching Gymnasium. Other speakers are: U.S. Congressman Kendrick Meek and CNN Anchor/Special Correspondent Soledad O’Brien.

Elected President in 1992, and again in 1996, President Clinton will share his life lessons with graduates and challenge them to “transform ideas into action.”

Since 2001, President Clinton has dedicated himself to philanthropy and public service through his foundation. He also joined forces with former President Bush with relief and recovery efforts following the tsunami in the Indian Ocean, and led a nationwide fundraising effort in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

During the early morning session, the University will present an Honorary Doctorate to Elder Ernest Ferrell, President of the National Primitive Baptist Church. Ferrell, a native of Tallahassee, is active in the community and also serves as president and CEO of the Tallahassee Urban League.

The second commencement session will be held at 2 p.m. Meek will address the graduating class. Meek an alumnus is one of two Floridians who serves on the Ways and Means Committee and the only Floridian Ways and Means member of the Democratic majority.

Meek earned a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice in 1989 from FAMU. An experienced legislator who served eight years in the Florida House (1995-1998) and Senate (1999-2002), Meek launched the initiative to reduce class sizes in Florida schools.

In 2007, Meek was appointed to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. He is one of only 12 members of Congress to represent the United States on the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. Meek is the son of former Congresswoman and alumna Carrie P. Meek.

At 6 p.m. O’Brien will offer words of advice to graduates. Since joining CNN in 2003, O’Brien has reported breaking news from around the globe. Her award-winning documentaries have helped the nation understand issues affecting the African-American community. One of her most recent projects include CNN Presents: Black in America, a ground breaking initiative that focused on the state of black America 40 years after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

O’Brien was part of the coverage teams that earned CNN a George Foster Peabody Award for its Katrina coverage and an Alfred I. duPont Award for its coverage of the tsunami disaster in Southeast Asia. She has also won an Emmy for her work as a co-host on Discovery Channel’s The Know Zone.

Completing the evening session, President James H. Ammons will present Art Collins, president and CEO for Public Private Partnership, Inc., with an Honorary Doctorate. Collins is a former member of the FAMU Board of Trustees. He served as Senior Political Strategist for President Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential campaign. Following the election he served as a public liaison with the Obama-Biden Transition Project.

The FAMU Schools and Colleges graduating at the 9 a.m. session include, the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Law, the School of Architecture and Environmental Sciences Institute. The line of march for this session will begin at 8:30 a.m. Graduates are to arrive at 7:30 a.m., and doors open for the public at 8 a.m.

Students in the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, School of Allied Health Sciences and the School of Nursing will be presented at the 2 p.m. session. The line of march for the 2 p.m. session is 1:30 p.m. Graduates are to arrive at 12:30 p.m., and doors open for the public at 1 p.m.

The final commencement exercise will include the School of Business and Industry, College of Engineering Sciences, Technology and Agriculture, College of Education and the School of Journalism and Graphic Communication. The line of march will start at 5:30 p.m. Graduates are to arrive at 4:30 p.m., and doors open for the public at 5 p.m.

FAMU College of Pharmacy Dean Receives American Pharmacist Association’s Hugo Schaefer Award

Henry Lewis III, Ph.D., dean and professor of pharmacy practice at Florida A&M University's (FAMU) College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (COPPS), is the 2009 recipient of the American Pharmacists Association's (APhA) Hugo H. Schaefer Award.

Established by APhA in 1964 in honor of its long time treasurer, the award recognizes outstanding voluntary contributions to the organization, the profession and society. The award will be bestowed upon Lewis at APhA's Annual Meeting and Exposition in San Antonio, Texas. APhA's awards program is pharmacy's most comprehensive recognition program.

About Henry Lewis, III

Lewis' pharmacy career spans more than 35 years. For the past 14 years, he has served as dean of the FAMU COPPS — his alma mater. He has also served as dean of the College of Pharmacy at Texas Southern University in Houston. A native of Tallahassee, Fla., he received his B.S. in pharmacy from FAMU and his doctor of pharmacy from Mercer University. He completed post-doctoral training in the Institute for Education Management at Harvard University.

Lewis is a past president of the Minority Health Professions Foundation. He is also past president of the foundation's sister agency, the Association of Minority Health Professions Schools. Under his leadership, these two organizations – representing all of the nations historically black medical, dental, pharmaceuticals and veterinary programs – have secured more than $100 million in support of programs, research and activities that improve the quality of education and the availability of health care to minority and under-served communities throughout the country. He has also served as president of the National Pharmaceutical Association, representing more than 10,000 minority pharmacists in the United States.

An accomplished biomedical researcher, Lewis has been the principal investigator or project director on research grants totaling more than $95 million. He has served as a consultant to such organizations as the Illinois Board of Higher Education, National Institutes of Health, and Health Resources and Services Administration. Dean Lewis has served on numerous local and national boards. In 2007, he received a four-year appointment to the National Advisory Council of the National Center for Research Resources at the National Institutes of Health by the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Lewis has testified before dozens of congressional subcommittees on health, research and education funding. In 1986, he made history by becoming the first African American elected to the Leon County Board of County Commissioners in Tallahassee. While a Commissioner, he spearheaded the creation of the County's Minority Business Enterprise Program, developed the branch health clinic network throughout the county, successfully advocated legislative funding for a $2.5 million clinic building, and located the new county public library downtown adjacent to the bus terminal making it accessible to all citizens of the city.

He has published more than 25 scientific papers, book chapters and abstracts. He has received many awards and honors throughout his career. Most recently, he was selected as the 2008 Statewide Onyx Award Recipient in the Health Initiatives Category hosted by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida and Onyx Magazine.

About the American Pharmacists Association (APhA)

The American Pharmacists Association, founded in 1852 as the American Pharmaceutical Association, represents more than 63,000 practicing pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists, student pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and others interested in advancing the profession. APhA, dedicated to helping all pharmacists improve medication use and advance patient care, is the first-established and largest association of pharmacists in the United States. APhA members provide care in all practice settings, including community pharmacies, health systems, long-term care facilities, managed care organizations, hospice settings, and the uniformed services.

FAMU EIT Receives $1.2 Million Grant Over Five Years

Florida A&M University (FAMU) Division of Enterprise Information Technology will receive a $1.2 million grant over a five-year period from CampusEAI.

This grant will cover the costs of hardware, software, project management, installation, training, support and services associated with the implementation and ongoing maintenance of a campus portal.

CampusEAI is a non-profit information technology services and consulting provider.

“In recognition of FAMU’s needs and requirements, the Consortium has extended an unprecedented CampusEAI OnDemand Portal grant to provide the institution with access to the best technology available and ensure the successful deployment of an enterprise portal solution for the campus,” said Anjli Jain, executive director of CampusEAI Consortium.

As a recipient of the grant, FAMU will receive a five-year cumulative total of approximately $1.2 million in CampusEAI myCampus software and services.

The CampusEAI grant will assist FAMU with the establishment of an enterprise portal for the primary purpose of providing better service to all its students, faculty, staff, researchers and other stakeholders of the institution such as, alumni, vendors, prospective students and certain collaborating entities.

“The implementation of the myCampus enterprise portal fits perfectly into EIT’s vision to deliver innovative IT services and cutting edge technology to the FAMU community,” said Robert Seniors, CIO and VP for Information Technology at FAMU. “The myCampus portal will allow us to provide a learning environment for the University’s students, faculty and researchers, that enables them to be competitive with other scholars in the historically favored and highly resourced higher education environments. It is critical to build and maintain the highest quality information technology infrastructure to support the University's mission."

FAMU will receive the following from the CampusEAI OnDemand Portal grant:

* QucikLaunch – Single-Sign-On integration to systems such as:
- PeopleSoft
- Blackboard
- Micrososft Exchange (Email)
- iTunes U

· ERP Integration – Includes the following integration to PeopleSoft
- Class Schedule
- Grades
- Unofficial transcript
- Account Summary

· Targeted Alerts – Notifies users of campus announcements through:
- Portal
- E-mail
- SMS alerts, (text messaging)

· Web 2.0 Social Networking unclosing:
- Community and person profile pages
- Blogs
- Wikis
- Friend walls
- Google Gadgets Integration

· IPTV – On Demand video player with variety of content including:
- OSTN campus news from OSTN=
- Associated Press world news

About CampusEAI Consortium Campus Portal Grants

1. The Grant offering provides in-kind software, project management, installation, support and training services necessary to install and operate a Campus Portal.

2. The Grant ranges between $250,000 to $1,000,000 in software, hardware, and services, depending on the size and requirements of the institution.

3. Full and Partial Grants will be awarded.
1. Full Grant: For those institutions that are awarded a Full Grant, CEAI shall underwrite all of the costs of the software, hardware and professional services.

2. Partial Grant: Institutions in receipt of a Partial Grant will be provided the in-kind software, hardware and professional services whereby a majority of the costs shall be underwritten by CEAI and a small percentage of the costs would be borne by the institution to support the initial and ongoing implementation of the Campus Portal.

More information on the Campus Portal Grant is available at http://www.campuseai.org/Grant/index.html.

About CampusEAI Consortium's myCampus

myCampus is a software-as-a service (SaaS) portal solution that provides students, faculty and staff with access to their academic and social information all in one place. For more information on myCampus, visit http://www.campuseai.org/Solutions/mycampus.html.

About CampusEAI Consortium

CampusEAI Consortium is a global not-for-profit information technology services and consulting provider focused on helping its members implement enterprise IT solutions cost-effectively and timely. More than 260 members belong to CEAI, including Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the City of Cleveland, Portland Public Schools, McGill University, AmTrust Bank®, the University of Exeter, the University of Montana, the Hong Kong Institute of Education and the University of Melbourne. For more information, visit http://www.campuseai.org.

FAMU’s AAPS 2009 Spring Science Carnival and Exposition

The Florida A&M University (FAMU) chapter of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) will host the second annual Spring Science Carnival and Exposition from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 4, at the New Pharmacy Building.

This community outreach event is free and open to the general public, specifically to all elementary, middle, and high school students.

Some local scientific organizations scheduled to attend include the Challenger Museum, Florida Department of Law Enforcement Crime Lab, the Florida State University’s Magnet Lab, the Tallahassee Museum, as well as various science departments from FAMU.

A campus tour, prizes, music and refreshments will be provided. For more information, contact Nzinga Mack at (786) 537-9938 or at nzinga1.mack@famu.edu.

About the AAPS

The APPS is a professional, scientific society of more than 12,000 members employed in academia, industry, government and other research institutes worldwide. Founded in 1986, AAPS provides a dynamic international forum for the exchange of knowledge among scientists to enhance their contributions to public health. AAPS offers timely scientific programs, on-going education, information resources, opportunities for networking, and professional development.

The FAMU student chapter was founded in February 2004 and has a membership that is comprised of more than 30 active graduate students and post-doctoral scientists from a wide array of pharmaceutical backgrounds. This chapter was created in accordance with the mission of AAPS to provide a more in-depth outlook on the academic and professional opportunities available in the pharmaceutical sciences. The FAMU student chapter has provided a network for the educational and professional enrichment of its students in the Division of Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences.

FAMU Alumnus Featured in Ebony Magazine

Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) alumnus Adriel A. Hilton, Ph.D. was recognized as a young leader under 30 in the April 2009 issue of Ebony magazine.

Ebony magazine salutes Hilton, 27, as being one of the young men across the nation who are excelling in careers and giving back to the community.

“It is a great honor to be recognized for the work that I do in my discipline and within the community,” said Hilton.

Hilton serves as the public policy fellow for the Greater Baltimore Committee, a regional business organization. He also teaches at Baltimore City Community College and serves on the Maryland Roundtable of Education Speakers Bureau Advisory Board and the Foundation Board of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Baltimore Alumni Chapter.

Hilton graduated from FAMU’s College of Arts and Sciences with a master’s degree in applied social science with a concentration in public administration in 2004.

After obtaining his Ph.D. at Morgan State University, Hilton decided to remain in the Baltimore area to serve the community.

“I wanted to bring a positive light to the city to show that there are positive black males here who give back to the community,” said Hilton.

Hilton’s motivation to succeed in his career and community involvement comes from his family upbringing.

“I know the sacrifices my parents made for me to succeed,” said Hilton. “I didn’t have a choice!”

Hilton works closely with the CEO and policy advisors to research, develop and advocate public policy agenda related to the business organization’s work to impact the Baltimore city and surrounding areas.

FAMU-FSU Wins Engineering Award

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering of the Florida A&M University–Florida State University College of Engineering is the grand prize winner of the 2009 National Council of Examiners for Engineering Surveying (NCEES) Engineering Award for Connecting Professional Practice and Education.

The department received the prize for its submission, “Senior Capstone Course: Collection of Projects with Featured Everglades Restoration Project.” Through its capstone course, students learned about nontechnical professional issues, such as ethics, teamwork, and communication skills, and completed a design of a civil or environmental engineering project. Professional practitioners participated by giving classroom lectures, providing real-world design projects, mentoring students, and evaluating students’ results. The featured senior design project included student teams working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on two restoration projects in the Florida Everglades.

The jury praised the project for demonstrating “strong interactions of practitioners with the engineering faculty and students.”

The NCEES Engineering Award recognizes engineering programs that demonstrate meaningful partnerships between professional engineers and students. All EAC/ABET-accredited engineering programs were invited to enter projects that demonstrated such a partnership.

The 28 submissions were judged by NCEES members and representatives from academic institutions and professional engineering organizations.

“This is the first year we’ve offered the award,” said NCEES executive director Jerry Carter. “We’re very pleased with the interest we’ve had so far, and we look forward to building on these efforts to bring professional engineers and students together.”

Profiles of the winning submissions are available online at www.engineeringaward.com.

About NCEES
NCEES is a national nonprofit organization composed of engineering and surveying licensing boards representing all U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. An accredited standards developer with the American National Standards Institute, NCEES develops, scores, and administers the examinations used for engineering and surveying licensure throughout the United States. NCEES also provides services facilitating professional mobility for licensed engineers and surveyors. Its headquarters is located in Clemson, S.C.

FAMU Student Max Beauvoir Awarded a $10,000 Scholarship as Part of Alltel Wireless Words of Wisdom Essay Contest

Florida A&M University (FAMU) student Max Beauvoir was selected as a grand prize winner in Alltel Wireless’ Fifth Annual “Words of Wisdom” essay contest for students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Beauvoir was one of 10 winners selected from more than 1,200 applicants to receive a $10,000 scholarship to the HBCU of his choice. Beauvoir traveled to Little Rock, Ark., for a luncheon in his honor at the Alltel Arena where he was presented his award by world-renowned poet Maya Angelou.

A native of Haiti and a fourth-year pharmacy student, Beauvoir’s essay was selected by local educators, business leaders and company employees based on his response to the following essay question, “The foundation has been laid. And as a people, we’ve shown what we can do when called upon for change. How are you being called to build upon this new spirit of change?”

In his essay, Beauvoir spoke about the government’s responsibility to ensure quality education for all citizens, regardless of socio-economic status. He writes, “A global investment in education, I believe, will propel our entire civilization towards a better future…The next Albert Einstein could very well be an unexposed mind in a remote corner of a third world country.”

When asked what was his initial reaction when he found he had won, Beauvoir was not lost for words.

“I was surprised and excited because I was selected out of 1,300 applicants,” said Beauvoir. “I have written about a lot of stuff when it comes to social issues, so it wasn’t new to me, but to have my work judged by a published author like Dr. Maya Angelou is very important to me. This scholarship is going to help me out a lot.”

“Each year, the ‘Words of Wisdom’ essay contest celebrates the achievements of African-American students from across the country,” said Regina Woziwodzki, director of multicultural marketing for the company. “We are proud to honor these 10 students for their commitment to education and we encourage them to continue to seek opportunities to evoke change in our country.”

While in Little Rock, the students also toured local historical landmarks including the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion, Mosaic Templars Museum and Central High School, where nine African-American students led the way for school integration in the United States.