Florida A&M University News

Florida A&M University’s oldest academic program is adding to its legacy.

The College of Education recently received approval from the Board of Trustees to offer a Master of Education degree in curriculum and instruction beginning this fall.

According to the College’s Interim Dean Patricia Green-Powell, Ph.D., the program allows FAMU to lead the charge in answering the state’s recent call for all educators to possess knowledge of curriculum development.

“This is an exciting time for the College of Education to address the needs of our school districts, as well as our student population,” said Green-Powell, who hopes to take the program online in the near future. “This is a result of area [K-12] superintendents and their school districts expressing to us their need to have highly-trained teachers in the area of curriculum and instruction.”

The new program has been more than three years in the making and is designed to train future and current educators in a variety of career tracks through several specialization options, including concentrations on instruction, learning and assessment, and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). These career tracks range from curriculum generalists, specialists and supervisors to district curriculum coordinators, school administrators and non-school based curriculum designers or evaluators.

The curriculum and instruction master’s program is also designed to address the State University System’s goal of increasing productivity and efficiency along with addressing the need for more highly-trained teachers. The program is poised to offer hybrid courses that are structured to provide students with the philosophical and theoretical foundations of curriculum development, and an understanding of instructional strategies that best address the needs of a diverse student population.

The program will also offer an opportunity for enrollees to specialize in educating historically underserved students.

“This program also has a strand that deals with minority and urban education,” Green-Powell said. “We’ve listened to the needs of our students who want to pursue jobs in this area and this program will train them to address the needs of areas highly concentrated with minority students.”

Enrollment and recruitment projections predict that at least 20 students will be enrolled within the first year of the program’s implementation and by its fifth year at least 60 students will have enrolled in the program. There are currently six faculty members who are already credentialed and prepared to serve as inaugural instructors for the program.

Participating students will be required to maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA, pass the master’s degree comprehension exam, make an action research presentation as a component of a capstone requisite and complete 30 semester hours.

For more information, contact the College of Education at (850) 599-3482.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Two Florida A&M University (FAMU) professors will be featured in the C-SPAN special “Tallahassee Weekend” this weekend.

FAMU Professor David Jackson, Ph.D. and Professor Christopher Daniels, Ph.D. were two of six local authors selected to represent Tallahassee during C-SPAN’s 2014 Cities Tour. The “Tallahassee Weekend” special highlights various local personalities and landmarks encountered during the Cities Tour and explores the literary life and history of Tallahassee.

Jackson and Daniels will be featured on the BOOK TV portion of the program, which airs on March 15 at 12 p.m. eastern standard time on C-SPAN2 (Comcast Channel 104).

Jackson will discuss his 2008 book, “Booker T. Washington and the Struggle Against White Supremacy: The Southern Educational Tours: 1908 – 1912,” which focuses on Booker T. Washington’s speeches, contributions and experiences in nine southern states, including Florida.

Washington spoke at FAMU during his tour in Florida and the podium on which Washington gave his speech resides at FAMU’s Meek-Eaton Black Archives Research Center and Museum, where Jackson’s interview for the segment was conducted. The podium will be a part of the segment’s backdrop.

Daniels, whose portion of the segment takes place in FAMU’s Samuel H. Coleman Memorial Library, will discuss his 2012 book, “Somali Piracy and Terrorism in the Horn of Africa.”

“Somali Piracy” features Daniels’ research about the piracy and terrorism plaguing the waters of Somalia and the global threat posed by this activity.

Both professors are products of FAMU. Jackson, a history professor, received his bachelor’s degree in history education and master’s degree in public administration from FAMU. Daniels, an assistant political science professor, received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history from FAMU.
The interviews will be re-aired and available online at www.c-span.org.

For more information, on the full “Tallahassee Weekend” line-up, visit: www.c-span.org/LocalContent.

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Florida A&M University (FAMU) has etched a place for itself in the history of news television.

The FAMU School of Journalism & Graphic Communication (SJGC) has received approval from the FAMU Board of Trustees to enter into an 11-year contractual partnership that will position FAMU to be the home of a 24-hour, multi-platform news network.

The network has been named the Black Television News Channel (BTNC) and its mission is to produce intelligent programming that is informative, educational, entertaining, inspiring and empowering to the black viewing audience.

The network will be operated and managed at the SJGC building by co-founding partners: former U.S. Congressman J.C. Watts; Robert Brillante, a 30-year cable TV veteran and founder of Florida’s News Channel; Frank Watson, a 30-year broadcast industry veteran; former U.S. House of Representatives Budget Director Steve Pruitt and Evan Leo, one of Washington D.C.’s premier telecommunications and regulatory attorneys.

According to the BTNC executive summary, the partnership will fill a void left by 18 black-owned and operated full-power television networks that have ceased to exist over the last two decades. This marks BTNC as the only cable television network in the U.S. fully-dedicated to broadcasting news that will be culturally specific to the African American community.

The network will also serve as an economic powerhouse for FAMU and the North Florida region, as the Florida State University Center for Economic Forecasting and Analysis reports that BTNC is slated to generate $33.6 million in economic stimulus annually. The Center also reports that the establishment of the BTNC at FAMU will initially create at least 117 new jobs and 226 jobs in total, which translates to nearly $10.5 million in combined employee compensation and proprietary income.

The partnership also includes a promise by BTNC to return up to $500,000 annually to the university for the first three years of the network’s operation and $1 million for each of the seven years remaining in the contract. The first year of the partnership will be dedicated to renovating, upgrading and installing equipment in the SJGC building, with a total price tag of $10 million.

The contract positions FAMU to be on the cutting-edge when it comes to training future multimedia professionals, as the partnership names BTNC as an independent manager of the school’s course of study in network broadcasting and operations. FAMU students will have the opportunity to hone their crafts through first-hand learning experiences with the latest digital broadcasting technology and systems. Career counseling, internship opportunities and job placement are also keystones of the agreement.

According to SJGC Dean Ann W. Kimbrough, DBA, the partnership with BTNC will be transformative for the university-at-large.

“This is not a singular opportunity. We see it as a multidisciplinary opportunity for our students, alumni and faculty,” said Kimbrough, who noted that the BTNC partnership would elevate the technical expertise of the school’s faculty and the university's ability to attract high-quality journalism students from around the globe.

According to Pruitt, FAMU was selected to serve as the home of BTNC because the SJGC is “ready to go.”

“We were looking for a project site that fit the ready to go status,” Pruitt said. “We felt that [the FAMU SJGC] fit that bill best. Secondly, because of the quality of the school and the journalism program you have here, we felt we could put your students on air both nationally and internationally.”

SONY has also agreed to participate in the SJGC/BTNC partnership. The electronics giant will equip the SJCG building with a network operation center, additional studio facilities, teleport(s), mobile ENG infrastructure and an automated newsroom.

VisualiZation Real Time (VizRT), an international producer of content production equipment for digital media will outfit the production area with advanced virtual reality television production assets. Other BTNC partners include: WorldLink Ventures, a global leader in multi-platform sales and financial partners Inkbridge, LLC, Enterprise Florida and the City of Tallahassee Economic Development Council.

According to Robinson, the BTNC venture will help FAMU continue its efforts to be a dominant force in producing professionals that can face the unique challenges and expectations of today’s workforce.

“[This partnership] allows us to be more successful in preparing our students to be competitive in the workforce. It also allows us to be more competitive in recruiting in the workforce,” Robinson said.

For more information, visit: www.blacktelevisionnewschannel.info.

Florida A&M University (FAMU) College of Agriculture and Food Sciences Dean Robert W. Taylor, Ph.D., has been reappointed by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to the National Agricultural Research, Education, Extension and Economic (NAREEE) Advisory Board.

As a member of the advisory board, Taylor will represent the National Crop, Soil, Agronomy, Horticulture or Weed Science Society.

“We are very excited to have you on board in order to continue our work for the USDA and the [NAREEE] mission. The participation and engagement of folks like you make our work that much more impactful,” said Michele Esch, NAREEE executive director, in a letter announcing Taylor’s reappointment.

According to the USDA, the NAREEE Advisory Board provides guidance to the Secretary of Agriculture and to land-grant institutions on “the top priorities and policies for agricultural and food research, education, extension and economics.”
Taylor will serve as one of 25 members of the national board. His term is effective March 2014 through September 2016.

Taylor was named dean of the FAMU College of Agriculture and Food Sciences in 2012. Prior to coming to FAMU, Taylor served as a professor of soil and environmental chemistry and former dean of the School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at Alabama A&M University.

Taylor previously served as the director of the National Science Foundation CREST Center for Forest Ecosystems Assessment, director of the Alabama A&M Center for Environmental Research and Training and acting deputy division director of the National Science Foundation Division of Biological Infrastructure.

He received his bachelor’s degree in agronomy from Tuskegee Institute (Tuskegee University), and his master’s degree in soil microbiology and Ph.D. in soil chemistry from Michigan State University.

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) named Florida A&M University (FAMU) graduate student Julian Coakley a 2014 “Advocate of the Year” at its national policy conference in Washington, D.C. The conference was held March 2-4.

Coakley, who is pursuing a Master of Applied Social Sciences with a concentration in public administration, was one of only six students to receive the award and the only student representing a historically black college or university (HBCU) among the group.

According to AIPAC, the “Advocate of the Year” award honors “inspiring individuals who demonstrate advocacy at its best and – with courage and conviction – exert a compelling influence on a national level.”

During the conference, Coakley was also selected out of 10,000 participating students and community activists to serve on the AIPAC national committee, a panel of approximately 150 advocates, activists and officials from around the nation.

“I was surprised to learn that I was nominated,” Coakley said, “and I was happy that I was able to represent and showcase FAMU amongst a national level of institutions.”

Coakley became active with AIPAC while serving as student body president at Florida Memorial University in undergrad. While working with students from various backgrounds and cultures, Coakley said he felt charged to ensure that HBCU students were educated about Israel and the need to advocate for the country.

According to Coakley, a native of Nassau, Bahamas, it was a recent visit to Israel that emboldened him to advocate for Israel on a larger scale.

“I visited Israel last year with AIPAC and I had the opportunity to tour an Ethiopian absorption center. I saw Ethiopian children, who were brought to Israel, being taken care of by Israel’s government and citizens and the children looked just like me,” he said. “That propelled and sparked my interest in wanting to work for a greater cause concerning Israel. Anytime a country takes care of people who look like me, I am going to support it and work hard to ensure that the U.S. continues to do so as well.”

Coakley credits much of his passion and worldview to his experiences at FAMU.

“Coming to FAMU has been an eye-opener for me,” said Coakley. “I appreciate coming because I have watched my cultural awareness grow tremendously.”

Upon completing his master’s degree, Coakley plans to pursue a Ph.D. in political science and eventually work as a lobbyist for education and issues of importance to the black community.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida A&M University (FAMU) celebrated the official signing of documents to create a partnership with the Black Television News Network (BTNC) and the FAMU School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, making the university home to the nation’s only Black-owned cable news network.

“At a time when jobs are shrinking and there is change in the multimedia market, the Black Television News Network is a job creator. This partnership is an educational administrator’s dream,” said Larry Robinson, Ph.D., interim president. “It positively impacts our students by allowing them to enhance and apply the knowledge gained in the classroom, thus better positioning them for the world of work from their exposure to cutting edge technology.

The network will be operated and managed at the SJGC building by co-founding partners: former U.S. Congressman J.C. Watts; Robert “Bob” Brillante, a 30-year cable TV veteran and founder of Florida’s News Channel; Frank Watson, a 30-year broadcast industry veteran; former U.S. House of Representatives Budget Director Steve Pruitt and Evan Leo, one of Washington D.C.’s premier telecommunications and regulatory attorneys.

Watts said FAMU was a premiere choice for collaboration as they planned the project.

“We’re excited to be among the energy of the youth on this campus. Thank you to the FAMU family for embracing us and the idea of a 24-hour news channel that is culturally specific,” said Watts. “The world only gets a sliver of who the Black community is today. We look forward to telling that story.”

The mission of the Black Television News Channel (BTNC) is to produce programming that is informative, educational, entertaining, inspiring and empowering to the black viewing audience. FAMU’s School of Journalism & Graphic Communication received approval from the FAMU Board of Trustees to enter into an 11-year contractual partnership that will position FAMU to be the home of a 24-hour, multi-platform news network. Several elected officials, students and alumni gathered to witness the auspicious occasion, including Mayor John Marks, Leon County Commissioner Nick Maddox, Rep. Alan Williams, Rep. Bobby Powell, Rep. Shevrin Jones and former Congressman Kendrick Meek.

“This is an historic day, not only for HBCU’s but for all schools of journalism across the nation,” said Representative and alumnus Williams. “FAMU is prepared and ready to take on such a role through its knowledgeable staff and its dynamic student body who will become the next generation of leaders and media moguls.”

Over the last two decades 18 black-owned and operated full-power television networks that have ceased to exist. BTNC aims to fill that void as the only cable television network in the U.S. fully-dedicated to broadcasting news that will be culturally specific to the African American community.

Through the partnership BTNC will return up to $500,000 annually to FAMU for the first three years of the network’s operation and $1 million for each of the seven years remaining in the contract. The first year of the partnership will be dedicated to renovating, upgrading and installing equipment in the SJGC building, with a total price tag of $10 million.

SJGC Dean Ann W. Kimbrough, DBA, said the contract positions FAMU to be on the cutting-edge in training future multimedia professionals. BTNC will serve as an independent manager of the school’s course of study in network broadcasting and operations. FAMU students will hone their crafts through first-hand while utilizing the latest digital broadcasting technology and systems. Career counseling, internship opportunities and job placement are also components of the agreement.

“We are excited about this visionary opportunity that connects our mission with that of the black television news channel’s goals,” said Kimbrough. “This is not a singular opportunity. We see it as a multidisciplinary opportunity for our students, alumni and faculty.”

Kimbrough noted that the BTNC partnership would elevate the technical expertise of the school’s faculty and the university's ability to attract high-quality journalism students from around the globe.

In addition to upgrading the campus television studio to house the network, BTNC and SJGC are partnering with electronics giant SONY for state-of-the-art equipment. The building will include a network operation center, additional studio facilities, teleport(s), mobile ENG infrastructure and an automated newsroom.

VisualiZation Real Time (VizRT), an international producer of content production equipment for digital media will outfit the production area with advanced virtual reality television production assets. Other BTNC partners include: WorldLink Ventures, a global leader in multi-platform sales and financial partners Inkbridge, LLC, Enterprise Florida and the City of Tallahassee Economic Development Council.

For more information, visit: www.blacktelevisionnewschannel.info.

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Photo cutline L-R Front Row: Senator Marco Rubio, Rep. Alan Williams, Mayor John Marks, Congressman J.C. Watts, Interim President Larry Robinson, Rep. Nick Maddox, Rep. Shevrin Jones.
L-R Back Row: Regional Director Brian Mimbs, Lori Hutto, Attorey Sean Pittman, Interim Provost Rodner Wright, Dean Ann Wead Kimbrough, Rep. Bobby Powell, Congressman Kendrick Meek, Frank Watson, BTNC.

Florida A&M University (FAMU) has reached another milestone in its continued successes in research and development.

Last week, Interim President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., and FAMU administrators met with Leon County Commissioner Kristin Dozier, chair of the Leon County Research and Development Authority (LCRDA) and LCRDA members to sign an agreement that names FAMU as the new owner of the Centennial Building, a research facility, and 26.8 gross acres of developed and undeveloped land at Innovation Park. Seventeen acres of the land are ready for development.

“This agreement represents a significant moment in FAMU's rich history. Acquiring ownership of the Centennial Building and the 26.8 acres of land transferred from Leon County and the LCRDA will allow us to expand our research, business development and community outreach activities,” Robinson said. “It also better enables faculty to compete successfully for research awards and allows us to attract top students and faculty from around the nation. Providing state-of-the art facilities to conduct world-class research and engage in entrepreneurial activities will lead to positive economic impacts in Leon County and the State of Florida.”

Innovation Park is a hub for economic development, scientific research and commercial development activities in Leon County and North Florida. The signing ceremony completed a transaction that restructures the Park, including a provision that also provides 17 acres of developable land to Florida State University (FSU) and allowing the Authority to retain an approximate total of 68 acres of land. The three entities will form a development review committee to coordinate further development of the park and the LCRDA will continue to manage it. The university previously utilized the Centennial building for physics research under a lease agreement.

“This restructuring creates a clear path forward for the Authority and the Park, and will position the Authority to be a key partner in the economic development future of Leon County,” said Dozier. “This agreement is only the first step and all the partners have begun planning for new developments and programs at the Park. I’m excited about what the future holds for the Authority and I believe our renewed partnership with FAMU and FSU is stronger than ever.”

The newly acquired space and land will become a part of FAMU’s main campus and will be used to assist the university with carrying out its mission of advancing knowledge, resolving complex issues and empowering citizens and communities through research and development.

“The acquisition of the Centennial Building and the undeveloped land at Innovation Park by FAMU will go a long way in relieving our institution’s shortage of research spaces for now and many years to come. The acquisition of these premium properties sends the right message to our researchers that FAMU is committed to hands-on research activities on- and off-campus,” said Ken Redda, Ph.D., interim vice president for research.

Proposed space usage includes: laboratory space for teaching and research; housing FAMU’s Research and Development Centers of Excellence, developing a facility that can accommodate large research-related groups for training, education and conferences, offering additional computer labs for graduate, postdoctoral and faculty research and developing space for technologically innovative start-up companies.

Since 2009, 19 students have become eligible to take the Certified Education Health Specialist (CHES) credentialing exam at the Florida A&M University (FAMU) Institute of Public Health. Each of those students successfully passed the exam, allowing FAMU to hold the distinction of having a 100 percent pass rate on one of the nation’s most respected health education competency exams.

The Institute of Public Health recently learned that it once again achieved this feat, securing a 100 percent pass rate on the 2013 exam and surpassing the national average score of 71.56 percent.

To succeed in passing the CHES exam, students must display extensive knowledge in the seven areas of responsibility expected of health education specialists: assessment needs, planning of programs, program implementation, evaluation of programs, program administration, acting as a resource and communications and advocacy.
Though the exam is not required for public health professionals, the Institute encourages FAMU students and graduates to take the exam to gain advantages in the competitive job market.

Ivette Lopez, Ph.D., assistant professor of behavioral science and health education, said students and graduates of the Institute of Public Health often opt to take the exam because they want to position themselves to attain the nation’s top job offerings.
“Our students are ambitious,” Lopez said. “They always want to do the best they can, and always want do a little extra.”

Sherese Bleechington, Ph.D, a 2012 graduate of the FAMU Institute of Public Health doctoral program, is an example of the FAMU students who have gone the extra mile to ensure success in their careers in health education or related industries. Bleechington took the CHES exam in 2007 while obtaining her degree and now works as a senior health evaluation leader, managing and overseeing the research and evaluation work of several Centers for Disease Control (CDC) contracts.

According to Bleechington, taking the CHES exam has helped to accelerate her career because employers have viewed her CHES credentials as an indication that she possesses a higher level of competency than others who work in public health. Bleechington explained that the exam does not only provide advantages in the job search and interview process, but it also provides advantages in the day-to-day work of a public health specialist.

“I would strongly recommend it,” Bleechington said. “With many of the positions I’ve applied for, the CHES is a preferred credential. For several job opportunities it was a requirement. Credentials are definitely necessary to set you apart because everyone has degrees nowadays.”

Bleechington said she first learned of the CHES exam from her former adviser at FAMU, who helped prepare her for the exam by providing her with study materials. She applauded the FAMU faculty and staff for their continued efforts to push students to look beyond simply attaining a degree and encouraging them to obtain credentials.
“The FAMU Institute of Public Health is a very good environment for professional development,” Bleechington said. “I just want to encourage students to never settle, that is what I was taught [at the Institute]. If you can get a master’s, you can get a doctorate. You can always go higher.”
Torhonda Lee, Ph.D., assistant professor of behavioral science and health education echoed Bleechington’s sentiments.

“Employment announcements will say ‘test preferred’ and that gives our students the edge,” said Lee, who holds a Master CHES certification. “Our students’ ability to pass the exam speaks to the their academic preparation and their ability to perform on a competency exam. Taking the exam encourages people to improve and displays a commitment to continuing to develop as a professional.”

Institute of Public Health Director Cynthia M. Harris, Ph.D., said the faculty and staff play an integral role in the success of graduates taking the exam and their transition into their chosen career paths. She explained that the Institute’s professors and advisers work tirelessly throughout the academic year to help prepare students for the exam by hosting test preparation workshops and implementing competency-based instruction.

Harris not only credits the quality faculty and staff for the consistent achievements of the Institute of Public Health, but also acknowledges the hard-working students who continually strive for excellence.

“We are very pleased with the student performance,” Harris said. “They’ve had really prestigious internships where individuals specifically request that students come from FAMU. We’re very proud of them.”

Former U.S. Secret Service agent and Florida A&M University (FAMU) alumnus Shaun West will return to ‘the Hill’ next week to inspire FAMU students during the university’s annual Honors Convocation.

The Convocation, which will be held in Lee Hall Auditorium at 10:10 a.m. on April 2, will celebrate the achievements of FAMU’s best and brightest students.

The event will also mark a milestone in FAMU history, as it will serve as FAMU President Elmira Mangum’s first official university-wide event. Mangum’s first day at the helm of the university will be April 1.

West, a Tallahassee native, received his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and master’s degree in applied social sciences with a concentration in public administration from FAMU in 2005 and 2007 respectively. A former student government leader and drum major in the Marching ‘100,’ West has gone on to make a profound imprint in Washington, D.C.

Since 2013, West has served as a professional staff member for the Committee on Homeland Security in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he provides policy development and departmental oversight in the areas of counterterrorism and intelligence.

West previously served the Committee as an oversight investigator conducting comprehensive investigations into instances of fraud, waste and abuse in the Department of Homeland Security. He also worked as a policy analyst with the Florida Legislature in the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability.

West is passionate about guiding and motivating others toward fulfilling their potential and currently serves as a mentor to young people on Capitol Hill through the youth support group African-American Men on the Hill. The organization pairs experienced Capitol Hill staffers with interns and new staffers to offer career guidance and advice. West is also active with Young Alumni Giving, a networking organization that was developed to cultivate the next generation of alumni leaders for FAMU.

A member of Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc., West ascribes his successes and accomplishments to the love and support of his family and friends, and to the experiences and education he acquired while a student at FAMU.

Florida A&M University (FAMU) technology education professor David White, Ph.D., will journey to Orlando, Fla. tomorrow to represent the university at the 76th Annual International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA) Conference, which will take place March 27-29.

White has been selected to host the Foundation for Technology and Engineering Educators (FTEE) Spirit of Excellence Breakfast during the conference and will make a special presentation, along with FAMU Developmental Research School instructor Bobbie Thornton, titled: “Engaging Students with Special Needs in Technology Education” during the conference’s STEM showcase.

White is the coordinator of the Technology Education Program in the College of Education.

According to ITEEA officials, White was selected to participate in the conference in honor of his, and FAMU’s, continued contributions to the association’s mission of promoting integrative STEM education for students of all walks of life.

“I am very proud and honored to represent FAMU at this conference,” said White, a previous recipient of the prestigious James J. and Loretta C. Buffer Award in Industrial Technology Education. “This is yet another example of how FAMU is becoming a leader in STEM education initiatives, not only in the state of Florida but globally."

According to White, FAMU’s Technology Education Program is the only program in the state that is certified by the Florida Department of Education to produce fully-licensed technology and engineering educators for sixth through 12th grades.

Today, Florida A&M University (FAMU) announced Microsoft Chairman John W. Thompson and ESSENCE Editor-at-Large Mikki Taylor as speakers for its spring commencement ceremonies scheduled Saturday, May 3 at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., respectively, in the Al Lawson Multipurpose Center.

“We are delighted to have two titans of business join us for our largest commencement ceremony of the year,” said Interim President Larry Robinson. “John W. Thompson, a FAMU graduate, has ascended to a top leadership role in one of the world’s most successful high-technology companies. Mikki Taylor has defined empowerment at one of the world’s most prestigious publications that addresses issues of health, style, beauty and other contemporary issues pertaining to women of color. Between these two outstanding individuals, our students will receive pearls of wisdom that will last a lifetime.”

Thompson first joined Microsoft's board of directors in February 2012, serving as a lead independent director, a role he will continue in tandem with his recent appointment to board chairman. Additionally, Thompson is the chief executive officer of privately held Virtual Instruments. He is the former chairman and CEO of Symantec, where he served for 10 years. Previously, he held a number of leadership positions at IBM, including sales, marketing, software development and general manager of IBM Americas.

Thompson received his bachelor's degree in business administration from FAMU’s School of Business and Industry (SBI) in 1971. He also earned a master's degree in management from the Sloan Fellows program of the MIT Sloan School of Management. Thompson was inducted into the FAMU SBI Hall of Fame in 2011.

For 30 years, Taylor served as ESSENCE Magazine’s beauty & cover director before assuming her current role as editor-at-large. In addition, she is the founder and president of Mikki Taylor Enterprises, LLC, which serves as a holding company for a number of vertical businesses, including Satin Doll Productions, a full-service image building and consulting division, and MT Communications, a strategic communications and branding company. Most recently, she hosted the ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards Luncheon and served as a speaker and judge at the 2014 Disney Dreamers Academy.

Taylor has offered beauty and style advice through various types of media, which led to her successful book, “Self-Seduction: Your Ultimate Path to Inner and Outer Beauty” (Ballantine Books/One World). In Fall 2011, she interpreted the style of Michelle Obama in her popular sequel, “Commander-in-Chic: Every Woman’s Guide to Managing Her Style Like a First Lady” (Atria Books/Simon & Schuster).

Taylor is the recipient of the Black Retail Action Group (BRAG) Business Achievement Award, acknowledging those who have penetrated and embraced the world of beauty in a significant way both in front of and behind the scenes. She is the winner of the Associated Black Charities Image Makers Award, ESSENCE Magazine’s Definining Excellence Award and the recipient of various civic awards in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the empowerment of women around the world.

The Florida A&M University (FAMU) Department of Continuing Education and Student Health Services will host the inaugural International Food and Cultural Awareness Festival on April 4 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the Hansel E. Tookes Student Recreation Center on FAMU's campus. The event is free and open to the public.

The festival will include an international cuisine experience with dishes from an array of countries, including: Jamaica, China, Haiti and France. Music, poetry, dance and fashion representing the various cultures will also be on display.

The festival, which has been two years in the making, will also focus on highlighting the achievements of FAMU's international student population and displaying educational exhibits to promote the heritage and traditions of cultures from around the globe.

“The purpose of the festival is to create a platform to showcase all of the cultures represented at FAMU," said Gei-Nam Lim, assistant director of the Student Recreation Center. “We feel this is a good start towards getting the FAMU community more involved in cultural awareness and cultural activities, and hope that the festival will be the icebreaker that leads to the facilitation of more international events [on campus]."

Tanya Tatum, director of FAMU's Student Health Services and one of the event's organizers, is hopeful that the event will be an educational, enlightening and unifying experience for all who attend, especially students.

“Culture is an extremely important factor in how we interact with one another,” said Tatum. “We hope to allow our international students the opportunity to celebrate their culture while educating others. It is important to recognize that there is a larger world out there."

For additional information, please contact Gei-Nam Lim at (850) 561-2770 or geinam.lim@famu.edu.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The month of April begins a new season at Florida A&M University (FAMU) as the campus welcomes its new leader, President Elmira Mangum. To commemorate the occasion and celebrate her in “true Rattler fashion,” FAMU will host a Welcome Rally on Friday, April 4 at 12:15 pm on the steps of Lee Hall, 1601 S. Martin L. King Jr. Blvd.
The event will include spirited tributes by student leaders, the Marching “100,” FAMU Cheerleaders and more. The event is free and open to the public.

On April 1, President Elmira Mangum will become FAMU’s 11th president and first permanent female president in the institution’s 126-year history. She previously served as vice president for planning and budget at Cornell University where she was the senior administrator responsible for the management of Cornell’s resources and the annual budgeting process.
After a thorough presidential search, the FAMU Board of Trustees selected Mangum to become president on Jan. 9. The Florida Board of Governors unanimously approved her appointment on Feb. 20.

For more information on the Welcome Rally, visit www.famu.edu/MangumWelcome.

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The hit Broadway musical “Five Guys Named Moe” will play on Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) campus this week. From April 2-6, the FAMU Essential Theatre will present the award-winning production in the historic Charles Winter Wood Theatre located in Tucker Hall.

The colorful production will feature a special appearance of the voice talents of 96.1-FM JAMZ radio personality “The Almighty” Joe Bullard, a long-time announcer for FAMU’s Marching ‘100.’

Atlanta-based, award-winning director and Broadway choreographer Patdro Harris will direct and choreograph the musical, which is based on the book by Clarke Peters, and music and lyrics by Louis Jordan.

“Five Guys Named Moe” tells the story of Nomax, who has just been dumped by his girlfriend. To help chase his blues away, five guys, each named Moe, magically emerge from his radio to comfort him and give him lessons on love, women and how to repair his relationship all set to music. Complete with uproarious audience participation, the show promises to have patrons leaping out of their seats to join in on the celebration.

Preview performances will be held on Wednesday, April 2 and Thursday, April 3 at 8 p.m., respectively. General admission is $8. The official performances will play Friday, April 4 at 8 p.m., Saturday April 5 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and on Sunday, April 6 at 3 p.m. Admission is $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens and FAMU employees with ID, and $8 for students and children. FAMU students will receive free admission when they present their student IDs.
For more information, visit: www.famu.edu/EssentialTheatre.

Photo: The cast of "Five Guys" (L-R): First Row: Ryan Mack (Four-eyed Moe), Brian Boyd (Nomax) and Mario Roberts (Little Moe). Second Row: Xerron Mingo (Eat Moe), Andrew White (Big Moe) and Akeem Gervin (No Moe).

The Florida A&M University (FAMU) Board of Trustees has scheduled an emergency called meeting today, April 3, at noon. The general subject matter is the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering.

The public may access the meeting via telephone by dialing (877) 884-1929. The conference ID number is 25159849.

For more information, call (850) 599-3413 or visit: http://www.famu.edu/index.cfm?BOT&AgendasandMinutes.

The musical talents of Florida A&M University (FAMU) students and faculty will be on display throughout the month of April.

The FAMU Concert Choir will kick off the series of concerts with its annual Spring Showcase on Sunday, April 6 at 6:15 p.m. in Lee Hall Auditorium. Under the direction of Assistant Professor Mark Butler, the Concert Choir will present an evening of choral works consisting of spirituals, contemporary favorites, jazz and gospel. The event is free and open to the public.

The FAMU Gospel Choir will follow the Concert Choir with their presentation of a “Tribute to the King: Recognizing His Sacrifice, Reverencing His Glory” on Saturday, April 12 at 6 p.m. at Flipper Chapel AME Church. The free concert will be directed by student De’Quan Wright and will feature gospel choirs from around the community.

Under the direction of Shelby Chipman, Ph.D., FAMU’s Symphonic Band and Wind Symphony will close out the month with the return of their annual Spring Concert on Thursday, April 24 at 7:15 p.m. in Lee Hall Auditorium. The event will include a special performance by music students from the FAMU Developmental Research School. The event is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact the FAMU Department of Music at (850) 599-3024 or the FAMU Gospel Choir at famu1.gospelchoir@gmail.com.

Florida A&M University (FAMU) Board of Trustees member Torey L. Alston will keynote the 12th Annual Orange and Green Scholarship Gala presented by the Sarasota-Manatee Chapter of the FAMU National Alumni Association on Saturday, April 26 at 6 p.m. The event will be held at the Palm Aire Country Club, located at 5601 Country Club Way in Sarasota. The event will be hosted by Rod Carter from WFLA News Channel 8.

“It is an honor to give back to my alma mater and serve as the keynote speaker for this distinguished event,” said Alston. “It is an exciting time in the history of Florida A&M University and it’s always a great time to help students realize their dreams of a higher education.”

The theme for this year’s gala is “The Legacy of FAMU Leadership for the Present and Future.” Tickets are $60 and proceeds generate scholarships for local graduating highs school seniors. The gala serves as the primary scholarship fundraising event for the Sarasota-Manatee Chapter.

Alston is the executive director of the Office of Economic Opportunity with the Miami-Dade Public Schools Office of Economic Opportunity, the nation’s fourth largest school district, which serves more than 350,000 students. Alston is responsible for the promotion of economic development and the growth of small, micro and minority/women business enterprises through contractor prequalification, certification, community outreach contract review and compliance.

Alston previously served as chief of staff to Broward County Commissioner Barbara Sharief and Broward County Commissioner Albert Jones. From 2007-2010, Alston served as executive director for Florida’s Office of Supplier Diversity (OSD), where he oversaw the state’s supplier diversity program, which manages minority and women-owned business enterprises. Under Alston’s leadership, in fiscal year 2006-2007, the State of Florida spent more than $3 billion with minority and women-owned business enterprises.

Alston received his bachelor’s degree and MBA with a concentration in marketing and management from FAMU.

While at FAMU, he served in various roles including class president (two terms), student senator and president of the FAMU Student National Alumni Association. Alston is a life member of the NAACP and the FAMU National Alumni Association. He is married to his college sweetheart, Candice, and resides in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

For more information on the gala, contact Keenan Wooten by phone at (941) 704-6746, by email at kwooten@saramanarattlere.com or visit: www.saramanarattlers.com.

The brainpower of Florida A&M University students and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) will be on display at the 25th Annual Honda Campus All-Star Challenge (HCASC) National Championship Tournament held April 12-16 on the campus of American Honda Motor Co., Inc., in Torrance, Calif.

FAMU students, along with hundreds of students representing HBCUs from across the nation, have spent the past year diligently preparing to compete in the final round of the HCASC academic tournament.

FAMU will be represented by Baysha Bernales from Hawthorne, Fla.; Kimberlyn Elliott from Gainesville, Fla.; Roslyn Shanklin from New Haven, Conn. and Aubrey Upshur III from Philadelphia, Pa. Retired FAMU Professor Vivian L. Hobbs, Ph.D., will coach the team.

FAMU is the winningest HBCU in Honda Campus All-Star Challenge history, having won 7 national championships. Returning player Upshur was a top-scoring All-Star at the 2013 competition.

For FAMU’s All-Star team, the road to the championship began in the fall of 2013 as one of 76 HBCUs vying for the final 48 slots. Through countless hours of study, drills and practice, FAMU emerged, knowledgeable and ready to take on the competition. Last year, FAMU came in second to the reigning champions Morgan State and will compete against a field of 47 teams to return the championship to FAMU.

The competitors will be split into eight divisions and will compete in a modified round-robin format. The top two teams from each division will advance to the “Sweet 16” and will compete in a single elimination playoff. The final two teams that emerge from the playoffs will compete for the title of National Champions and the grand prize of $50,000. The grand prize, along with the other institutional grants, will support academic activities at the participating HBCUs.

Celebrating 25 years of HBCU excellence, the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge is one of Honda’s largest and longest running philanthropic initiatives in the United States.

“Honda Campus All-Star Challenge rewards the best and brightest for their academic achievements and prepares our student competitors for life beyond school by reinforcing their strong work ethic and introducing them to a thriving community of alumni,” said Steve Morikawa, assistant vice president for Corporate and Community Relations at American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “We look forward to hosting the 25th anniversary class in California and treating them to a fun, four days of healthy competition.”

The 2014 Honda Campus All-Star Challenge finals will be streamed live on April 14 starting at noon Eastern Standard Time on www.hcasc.com.

For more information on the 2014 HCASC, including a full list of the 48 qualifying teams, visit: www.hcasc.com.

Photo: (From left to right) Roslyn Shanklin, Kimberlyn Elliott, Coach Vivian Hobbs, Baysha Bernales and Aubrey Upshur III.

The Florida A&M University (FAMU) chapter of the Phi Lambda Sigma Pharmacy Leadership Society (PLS) will host the 7th annual Joshua Hillman Health Initiative (JHHI) on Tuesday, April 8, from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. The event will be held in the New Pharmacy Building, located at 1415 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. (across from the Frederick S. Humphries Science Research Center).

JHHI is a health promotion outreach program that focuses on providing free screenings to FAMU’s campus and its surrounding communities. It was created in memory of College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (COPPS) student Joshua Hillman. Hillman’s death was related to a misdiagnosis that prevented him from being aware that he was diabetic.

Initiative participants will receive free health screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, oral health, bone density, body mass index (BMI), depression, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), testing for HIV status and more. Once participants receive their screening results they will be provided with educational materials and medical action plans, designed by health professionals, to aid in the management of different disease states. Information about disease prevention and health promotion will also be available. The event is free and open to the public.

“By identifying our risk factors early, we are in a good position to make lifestyle changes in order to reduce risks such as hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes, which are prevalent in our communities,” said COPPS Dean Michael D. Thompson, PharmD. “I want to thank the Beta Sigma Chapter of Phi Lambda Sigma for its leadership in developing this important initiative to improve health services in the places we live and work. Through this initiative, students are not only saving lives, but they are sending a clear message of what FAMU COPPS is all about – caring for and serving the people in our communities.”

PLS faculty advisor Antonio J. Carrion, PharmD, explained that the initiative has a direct impact on the well-being and longevity of the local community.

“There are many preventable chronic diseases and conditions affecting the citizens of Tallahassee and we are very proud to be engaged in an event that positively impacts people’s lives and decreases morbidity and mortality rates,” Carrion said.

According to Kiydra Harris, a third-year professional PharmD candidate and PLS president, the Hillman Initiative provides an opportunity for students to not only get hands-on experience in their respective fields of study, but to also be directly involved with the community and gain a first-hand understanding of the health issues local residents are most commonly affected by.

“Each year we have been given the opportunity to spread awareness through hosting this health fair to benefit our campus and surrounding community. It is my hope that our students, faculty and staff, and citizens from surrounding areas, take advantage of these services and join us for this important event," Harris said.

For more information, contact: Antonio Carrion, PharmD, at (850) 599-3301.

"We are aware of an amendment filed on Tuesday evening by Senator John Thrasher that would create a second college of engineering in Tallahassee at Florida State University. The FAMU Board of Trustees opposes this move and considers this an unplanned act, which has been void of discussion and input from the current leadership of the two universities, the university Boards of Trustees and the Florida Board of Governors. This action sends the wrong message to the citizens of Florida and other interested parties about how the legislature and academic institutions should interact.

This nation cannot afford to revisit separate, but unequal policies when the collaboration of our two institutions through the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering represents a successful venture for the State of Florida between two research institutions. This long-term collaborative program has received high praise for addressing the underrepresented student populations in engineering disciplines. It is a model program that is an example of the best our higher education entities can produce through partnership.

The Florida Board of Governors has made a concerted effort to reduce duplication of academic programs throughout the State University System. A second engineering school in Tallahassee with competing programs would compromise the integrity of what is an established, successful venture.

Proposing such an abrupt change without any discussion of the aforementioned factors with all parties involved is alarming and not in the best interest of our State University System or the citizens of Florida. As an alternative, we request that the legislature provide additional support to the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, which has produced successful graduates for both Florida A&M University and Florida State University since 1982."

BOT Chair Solomon Badger

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FAMU BOT Statement Regarding the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering