Spring 2024 A&M Magazine

Your Future Awaits You

Distinguished Scholars Award (DSA) recipient, Class of 2027, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering scholar, Atlanta, Georgia. Camille is a 4th generation Rattler following in her father Rory Woodfaulk’s footsteps, a former Life-Gets-Better Scholar.

Camille Woodfaulk Profile

ACT: 33 composite

ACT Math: 34

ALEKS: 98

GPA: 4.093

Produced the First National Science Foundation Fellow to study at FAMU and postdoc at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, is one of the world’s largest and most respected centres for scienctific research.

DR. NATHAN R. BROOKS, the first African American Senior Fellow at Boeing Company.

NOTABLE ALUMNI

Produced the first Fulbright Scholar, LYNAE BRAYBOY. She is a visiting scientist at Charité University Hospital Berlin, Germany. Charité is internationally renowned for its excellence in teaching and training. The Charité is the joint medical faculty of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.

JACOB BILLINGS, Complex Systems Scientist – Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. National Science Foundation Fellow

JOE CARROLL – Principal, Evergreen Urban Real Estate Partners, Harvard University, MBA

DR. RENATA AFI RAWLINSGOSS – Accelerating Data & AI Development and Diversity Executive Director, The South Big Data Innovation Hub | CEO, The Data Career Academy

ETOSHA THURMANChief Marketing & Solutions O cer, Intelligent Spend and Business Network at SAP

STACY FINLEY – Nichole A. and Thuan Q. Pham Professor and Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, and Quantitative and Computational Biology. Northwestern University, Ph.D.

FAMU CONCERT CHOIR PERFORMS ACROSS VIENNA

9 Meet the New Dean of Engineering

11 FAMU Enters the Metaverse

15 Leading the E-Vehicle Charge

17 FAMU Upgrades to 100Gs

21 FAMU Extends Its Internet Connectivity to the Community

UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT

Larry Robinson, Ph.D.

DIRECTOR OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS

Keith Miles

EDITORS

Andrew J. Skerritt

Jessica Swanson

COPY EDITOR

Paul Jerome

ART DIRECTION/LAYOUT DESIGN

Perry Albrigo

Brion Eason

Adam Ramgeet

Emmani Fairweather

Tianna Fannell

Jahmallia Forde

WRITERS

Lawana Clark

Christina Compere-Minor

Booker T. Gainor, IV

Javonni Hampton

Briona Hopkins

Kara Irby

Adam Ramgeet

Andrew J. Skerritt

Deidre P. Williams

PHOTOGRAPHY

Glenn Beil

James L. Moran

Adam Taylor

Jeff Walker

ADVERTISING/MARKETING

Booker T. Gainor, IV

Adam Ramgeet

OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS STAFF

Keith Miles/Director

Andrew J. Skerritt/Associate Director

Booker T. Gainor, IV/Assistant Director for Branding, Communication, and Marketing

Javonni Hampton/Media Coordinator

Adam Ramgeet/Marketing Coordinator

Glenn Beil/Photographer

Lawana Clark/Administrative Assistant

Christina Compere-Minor, Digital Media Manager/Social Media Coordinator

Brion Eason/Art Director

Jeff Walker/Videography

Sabrina Moore/Executive Assistant

INTERNS

Emmani Fairweather/Design Intern

Tianna Fannell/Design Intern

Jahmallia Forde/Design Intern

Briona Hopkins/Media Relations Intern

Dary Felix/Marketing Intern

Tyler Watson/Design Intern

Christian Aristilde/Social Media Intern

Edward Robinson/Videography Intern

Nathara Moise/Administrative Intern

WHERE YOUR INNOVATIVE SPIRIT MEETS BOUNDLESS OPPORTUNITIES

Nestled in a hub of innovation and creativity, the FAMU School of Architecture & Engineering Technology (SAET) is a dynamic and impactful community of seasoned educators and ambitious learners. Our architecture programs invite you to explore the synergy between aesthetic form and functional design, fostering a rich understanding of sustainable and socially responsible architectural practices. The construction program builds technical proficiency, empowering you to solve real-world challenges in residential, rural, and industrial projects. Our electronics program explores new and developing technologies in the innovative areas of robotics, renewable energy, and mechatronics.

The SAET o ers students a holistic, forward–thinking education that melds rigorous academic inquiry with hands-on experiential learning, state-of-theart laboratories, lecture rooms, and design studios. Through the School’s robust connections to leading architecture, construction, electronics, robotics, and facilities management partners, the SAET creates opportunities for rewarding internships and career pathways. Your journey begins at the School of Architecture & Engineering Technology (SAET). Apply now and leap into the future!

A MESSAGE FROM THE

This is Indeed Our Time President

The Spring 2024 issue of A&M Magazine seeks to capture an emerging trend on our Tallahassee campus.

In the past year, Florida A&M University (FAMU) has registered three major developments that signal a transformational shift in our campus with increased internet access, capability, equity and cyber policy. This shift is consistent with our climb to No. 91 among the top National Public Universities and the highest ranked public Historically Black College and University (HBCU) for the fifth consecutive year, according to U.S. News & World Report.

In 2023, FAMU became a member of Florida LambdaRail (FLR) Board, which opened the door to increase internet connectivity tenfold on campus from a mere 10 gigabytes to 100 gigabytes per second. The increased capacity will facilitate high-end research and computing. With its elevation to board member, FAMU intends to establish a 100 Gbps connection to FLR’s advanced fiberoptic network infrastructure, providing the University’s faculty, staff and students with lightning-fast connectivity and seamless communication channels. A FLR connection facilitates data-intensive research, supports remote collaboration and enables the exchange of large datasets critical for cutting-edge scientific investigations. It will also strengthen the University’s push to become the first HBCU to achieve Carnegie Research 1 status.

Thanks to $5 million in funding from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, we are home to the Cyber Policy Institute. The grant funds are part of a larger 10-year initiative set by the foundation to address some of society’s most pressing cyber policy challenges. The institute will grow and blossom as faculty and students publish research not just on cyber security but also all emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, robotics and algorithms in social media. FAMU will become a place where policymakers look for solutions when trying to regulate technology.

FAMU has always been an institution whose mission is grounded in promoting equity, access and opportunity. For generations, a FAMU education has transformed the economic trajectory of untold families. But even as technology advances around us, many of our neighbors are living on the wrong side of the digital divide. A $5.4 million grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration is funding an initiative to bridge the gap between the Tallahassee campus and the surrounding under-served community.

This award to FAMU is designed to increase economic growth in Tallahassee by allowing students and Southside community members to access the internet using FAMU’s high-speed broadband infrastructure and providing them with tools, technical assistance, knowledge and information to enhance their skills and incomes. This framework creates an exciting future for our neighbors who continue to see us as a beacon of hope and opportunity.

We are excited about the cyber possibilities for our students, faculty, staff and future generations of Rattlers. It’s another reason we like to say, “you can get anywhere from FAMU.”

Larry Robinson, Ph.D. PRESIDENT

USDA 1890 NATIONAL SCHOLARS PROGRAM

The USDA 1890 National Scholars Program is a partnership between Florida A&M University, an 1890 Land-Grant Institution, and the O ce of Public Partnership and Engagement. The USDA-OPPE liaison, George Montgomery is instrumental in ensuring national applicants’ transition from USDA-OPPE to the University Scholarship Program O ce. This is a seamless process that takes place every year around January. If you are interested in a full scholarship and a guaranteed summer internship, please feel free to reach out to us via the QR code.

SELENA MCCREAR Environmental Sciences & Member, FAMU Marching 100

JORDYN ASH Plant & Soil Member, Women’s Track Team

SOFIA GARCIA Plant & Soil First National NRCS Student Ambassador Selected at FAMU

Editor LETTER FROM THE

Welcome to the Spring 2024 issue of A&M Magazine

This issue seeks to capture several of the tech trends evolving on our Tallahassee campus. In this issue, we highlight Florida A&M University (FAMU) as a place for faculty and staff research about cyber policy with the creation of the Cyber Policy Institute.

The campus is now a member of the 100-gigabyte club since joining Florida LambdaRail. The move boosts the internet accessibility on campus tenfold. With the launch of the FAMG network, we are extending high-speed internet access to some of our community neighbors in an effort to bridge the digital divide.

Readers will be introduced to FAMU’s Metaverse, which allows visitors to explore the campus from their phones or laptops. Electric vehicles are now welcomed on the Highest of Seven Hills thanks to the availability of e-charging stations.

This issue also celebrates student success on the athletic field: the Athletics program won its first South Western Athletic Conference football title, its first Celebration Bowl title and its first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) National Championship in decades. Readers can also travel to Vienna, Austria, with the FAMU Concert Choir for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform in the Advent Sing festival.

As the University pushes for service excellence and reaching objectives in its five-year Strategic Plan, “Boldly Striking,” a carousel of new faces is emerging in leadership across campus. Many of these individuals, including our new head football coach, are not new to the University but represent the wealth of internal talent that fosters promotion within.

There are also alumni making their mark. Scotty Barnhart and the Count Basie Orchestra won a jazz Grammy; we also laud the generosity of alumni like Erick McReynolds, who give back to ensure the success of future generations of Rattlers.

We thank all the staff contributors, including our interns, as well as our sponsors and advertisers who we consider invaluable partners in this important endeavor of publishing A&M Magazine.

We hope you enjoy A&M Magazine. Email us with story ideas and suggestions for future issues.

Andrew J. Skerritt Executive Editor

MEET THE FAMU-FSU COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING’S NEWEST DEAN SUVRANU

DE BRINGS ENERGY AND RESEARCH

EXPERIENCE AS A RISING STAR

The Florida A&M University (FAMU)Florida State University (FSU) College of Engineering is the only joint college of engineering, which gives Suvranu De the honor of being the only dean to oversee a joint college of engineering. It’s a role that requires De to leverage the unique strengths of both universities: With FAMU, as the top public Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in the country, and FSU as a top Carnegie Research 1 institution. It’s a symbiotic relationship, De explains, touting the dramatic rise in rankings the college has experienced in the past several years.

“FSU students benefit from the research grants that FAMU brings in,” he said, “and FAMU students get access to the world-class facilities and centers that FSU provides, like the MagLab.”

But ultimately, De said, it’s the students who win when they get a world-class engineering education that brings diversity and research together.

“These two powerhouse institutions create a dynamic and diverse community that is unparalleled in its ability to attract the best students and advance engineering research and education,” he said. “But that’s only the beginning.”

Creating Surgical Simulator

De’s journey to the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering started in India, where he received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. After coming to the United States, he earned his doctoral degree in mechanical engineering from the Massachussetts Institute of Technology and became an experienced researcher. He has spent a lifetime developing practical solutions solving problems and has received numerous research awards for his expertise, especially

BY [ Trisha RADULOVICH ]

when it comes to patient safety in the medical field.

“My research interests are primarily focused on the intersection of computational science and engineering haptics, virtual reality, AI and machine learning and noninvasive brain imaging,” De said. “One of my primary goals as a researcher is to develop virtual surgery tools and technologies that incorporate these areas of proficiency.”

De is the recipient of the ONR Young Investigator Award (2005), the Rensselaer School of Engineering Research Excellence Award (2008), the James M. Tien ’66 Early Career Award for Faculty (2009), the Rensselaer School of Engineering Outstanding Research Team Award (2012), the J. Tinsley Oden Medal of the U.S. Association for Computational Mechanics (2019) and the Edwin F. Church Medal of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (2022).

De currently serves on the editorial boards of multiple journals and scientific committees of numerous national and international conferences. He is a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), serving as Vice-Chair (Awards) of the IEEE Technical Committee on Haptics. He leads/ co-leads several committees of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), and elected fellow of four professional societies.

The latest research he is working on is to build a surgical simulator to spark learning. The simulator improves learning for physicians training for robotic surgeries for oral cancers.

The work is funded by a four-year $2.5 million grant from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, which is part of the National Institutes of Health.

“We’ve been taught to learn by doing,” De said. “But what if we can accelerate learning? We think we can accelerate learning by stimulating the neurons in the brain with electric current to help surgeons learn faster and reduce errors. We can do this by tapping the cortical regions of the brain.”

De has brought other virtual reality

technologies that help train surgeons for other robotic-assisted procedures. The training mechanism is comparable to how flight simulators train pilots.

FAMU recently gave De the prestigious “Google Endowment” designation, the first Google deanship endowed to FAMU, and a testament to the college’s drive to attain Carnegie Research 1 status. The investment from the tech giant provides millions in financial support that provides opportunities to strengthen the research capacity at the college.

The unique relationship that the two universities share are a perfect fit for De. The researcher-turned-dean has a lifetime of experience helping others achieve their potential and as an educator. that can change lives.

New Programs, New Research

Serving as the joint college’s chief academic and administrative officer, De oversees 300 faculty and staff. There are more than 3,000 graduate and undergraduate students enrolled from both universities.

Under De’s leadership, the college continues to have success and brings in new programs and talent. One initiative expands the participation of underrepresented minorities in the aerospace industry, and another involves a mentorship initiative to strengthen the pipeline of underrepresented minority students in engineering careers.

He is particularly excited about the college’s new Biomedical Engineering Ph.D. program, which focuses on developing innovative technologies and solutions to address health care challenges.

“Two of our professors, Dr. Olugbenga Anubi and Dr. Omar Faruque have just secured a $2.5 million grant from the Department of Energy. They are working to develop algorithms to detect and mitigate the effects of cyberattacks in the electric grid,” De said. “It is the only such program among all the HBCUs in the country.”

Dean Suvranu De

BY [ Javonni HAMPTON ]

Florida A&M University (FAMU) is breaking new ground in higher education by introducing the Rattlerverse, the first o cial metaverse for a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) within Meta Horizon Worlds, an online multi-player virtual reality game. This groundbreaking immersive virtual world o ers a futuristic opportunity to explore FAMU’s campus, culture and current events. The Rattlerverse o ers a unique and immersive space for socialization and exploration.

The award-winning Meta Horizon World Builders, Jeremy Duncan and Shika Duncan of Onyx Leaf Media were charged to virtually recreate FAMU. L. Michelle Salvant, a FAMU alum and World Concept creative director, said it took the skilled team many days and nights to complete the project.

“Watching the Rattlerverse come alive and truly start to take shape has been an incredible journey. I’m proud to continue leading the team that is taking my alma mater into a whole new world!” Salvant said. “This is just the beginning.”

The Rattlerverse provides visitors with an array of experiences, including playing football on the Rattlerverse field, marching like a FAMU Marching “100” Band Drum Major, and even taking the stage at the Rattlerverse-edition of Will Packer’s Amphitheater. Other key landmarks of this virtual world include the Welcome Center and the Bookstore, where virtual merchandise and university-themed items are available.

Nya Bostic, a fourth-year FAMU broadcast journalism student, shared her excitement, “I think that this is beautiful. People will love this. It’s a 10 out of 10 overall experience.”

The Rattlerverse can be accessed through Meta Quest 2, Quest 3 and Quest Pro headsets.

Vice President of Student A airs William E. Hudson, Jr, Ph.D., said the Rattlerverse is a great addition to the University’s recruitment tools.

“As the number one HBCU, I think it’s always imperative that we always look for new mechanisms to reach our constituents. We do a great job with our campus visits, our social media, but moving to the Metaverse is something no one has done, and we pride ourselves on being innovators and strategists for the new generation of student,” Hudson said. “Every day something great happens at FAMU and the Rattlerverse is another great thing that’s happening on our campus — and in virtual reality.”

Welcome to the Rattlerverse

Rattlerverse

FAMU Launches the First HBCU Metaverse Inside Meta Horizon

The Sandia National Laboratories Semiconductor Sector

RDD&D Expedite and Develop Game-changing Exemplary (S2 EDGE Research Scholars) Summer Program

LAURIE ACCEDE comes from Miami, Florida. She is a first-year accounting scholar in FAMU’s School of Business and Industry, and a recipient of the Florida Bright Futures Academic Award and the George W. Gore scholarship. As a high school graduate, she was awarded the AP Capstone Research Diploma and earned her Associate of Arts degree. Currently, she is a member of the incomparable Marching 100 Band, National Association of Black Accountants (NABA), and Scholars of Finances. Laurie plans to become a certified public accountant.

TREJAN DAVIS hails from Tallahassee, Florida and is a first-year MBA candidate at FAMU’s School of Business and Industry (SBI). He is a former FAMU basketball player and former member of the Athletic Council where he served as the student representative. Currently, his studies focus on supply chain management. Along with his academic pursuits, Trejan works at Publix Supermarkets, Inc. and FAMU’s Hansel Tookes and Recreation Center. His community involvement includes advocacy for student-athletes at the high school and junior college levels.

comes from Cincinnati, Ohio and graduated from St. Xavier High School taking multiple AP and Honors level classes. At St. Xavier, he was the quarterback of the varsity football team. Now, he is a quarterback on the FAMU Rattler football team, while pursuing his business administration degree in the School of Business and Industry (SBI). Kyle plans to take on a leadership role in one of the 26 SBI corporations and become a member of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). Last summer, he participated in the MSSIP-MATE undergraduate research program, assembled a robot, and created a short guide on the robot’s basic functions. After graduation, Kyle plans to attend graduate school.

THE SANDIA NATIONAL LABORATORIES (SNL) FIRST SNL RESEARCH SCHOLARS COHORT

The National Nuclear Security Agency (NNSA) MSIPP program is targeted to raise the profile of the nation’s under-represented minority population in STEM through aggressive interaction at the transitioning level of high school to bachelor’s in college, to bolster the Department of Energy (DoE) and NNSA workforce areas. The MSIPP GulfCoast Agriculture & Mechanical (GC A&M) Consortium: Materials-At-The-Extreme (MATE) - Material Science for Extreme Environments supports the NNSA Strategic Integrated Roadmap 2020-2044 by focusing on advanced material processing research as they pertain to extreme environments. To achieve this goal, the proposed consortium brings together investigators from two historically Black institutions, who are also the first members of the inaugural START HBCU to collaborate on a MSIPP. The program is led by the consortium of Florida A&M University (FAMU) in league with Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) for DoE laboratories to target topic areas in Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering and Nuclear Security.

■ Tarik Dickens, Ph.D., Principal Investigator, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

■ Rebekah Sweat, Ph.D., Co-Principal Investigator, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

■ Mrs. Dedra O’Neal, Program Director, University Scholarship Programs O ce

■ Chelsea Armbrister, Ph.D., Education Program Coordinator, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

JOIN THE LEGACY, BUILD YOUR OWN!

The School of Business and Industry (SBI) at Florida A&M University, founded in 1974 by the esteemed business educator Sybil C. Mobley, Ph.D., is dedicated to cultivating graduates poised to excel as leaders in the global business landscape. Renowned both nationally and internationally, SBI is a hub of academic excellence, boasting a diverse student body and esteemed faculty and sta from around the world.

At SBI, our mission is clear: to foster an environment grounded in academic rigor, professionalism, research, service, ethics, and respect. We are committed to upholding our reputation as a premier institution in the field of business education. SBI students are not only equipped with theoretical knowledge but also gain practical experience through corporate internships and study abroad programs. These opportunities provide invaluable exposure to international business practices and cultural diversity. From Spain to China, from Ghana to Brazil, SBI students engage in transformative experiences that prepare them to become the global leaders of tomorrow.

IN CHARGE

FAMU INSTALLS ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS ON CAMPUS

BY [ Christina COMPERE-MINOR ]

The City of Tallahassee has announced a plan to achieve 100 percent renewable energy by the year 2050 — and Florida A&M University (FAMU) has started the process of reaching that goal.

There are currently two charging poles that can charge up to four cars on FAMU’s campus. These stations, located in the parking lot near the Center for Access and Student Success (CASS) and the tennis courts, were provided by a company called ChargePoint. It is free to charge your electric vehicle (EV) on FAMU’s campus.

ChargePoint is an American electric-vehicle infrastructure company based in Campbell, California. ChargePoint operates the largest network of independently owned EV charging stations and in 14 countries. The FAMU Police Department and the Department of Facilities, Planning, and Construction collaborated on the charging station project in 2021, when the CASS building was being constructed.

“The charging stations were activated in April 2023,” said David Rosenfeld, project manager in the Department of Facilities, Planning, and Construction. “One of the data points that may be of interest is unique drivers. Since last August, we’ve had 68 individuals pull in for a charge and a total of 475

charging sessions.”

There are currently 120 car charging stations in the city of Tallahassee, according to plugshare. com. California has the largest number of EV charging stations (15,706) followed by New York (3,594) and Florida (3,033).

Although all EVs are compatible with the charging stations on campus, Tesla vehicles require an adapter to attach to the charging ports.

Tallahassee resident and Tesla owner, Associate Provost for Student Success Lewis Johnson, Ph.D., said he and his wife drive their Tesla cars to campus every day.

“My wife and I work on campus and love driving our electric vehicles,” Johnson said. “We usually go to the supercharge Tesla station to charge our car in 30 minutes or charge it overnight at home.”

At the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Jinyeong Moon, Ph.D., an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, is working with General Motors (GM) and Michigan State University (MSU) professor, Muhammed Alvi, Ph.D., on a $10 million grant to create an inverter battery that will essentially enhance EV drivers’ and passengers’ comfort, reliability and longevity

of drivetrains and EV’s range.

“I patented the fundamental idea three years ago. GM — who jointly owns this patent has also been very eager to apply this technology to their future electric vehicles — naturally drove the effort for a governmental funding opportunity. The deadline for completion is toward the end of 2026. We at GM, MSU and FAMU are currently designing the new threelevel inverter,” said Moon. “Getting a better sinusoid out of an inverter is very important. Because, in very simple words, how similar the output voltage from an inverter is to the perfect sinusoid decides how smooth and efficient the motor will be.”

Right now, almost all EV manufacturers use a two-level inverter as their motor drive because it is simple and cheap to produce. GM wants to develop a new type of power converter for their future electric vehicles.

“Surprisingly, these charging poles are getting a lot of use and it is a service to the community being that it is free.” said Rosenfeld. “I hope to install more in every parking lot in the future.”

FAMU now offers electric car charging stations on campus.

Campus charging stations were provided by a company called ChargePoint.

The College of Science and Technology is dedicated to preparing our students to be scholars and leaders by providing an open atmosphere where students encounter patient and fair individuals who are caring, passionate, and vested in their success. Our faculty will use relevant techniques and pedagogy to strengthen student capability in solving problems independently, thereby producing responsible citizens focused on contributing to science and technology to enhance society.

DEPARTMENTS:

Biology

Chemistry

Computer and Information Sciences

Mathematics

Physics

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Frederick Simmons, M.S. (850) 412 – 5979

frederick.simmons@famu.edu

FAMU UPGRADES TO 100G INTERNET CONNECTIVITY

BY [ Andrew J. SKERRITT ]

In September 2023, Florida A&M University (FAMU) joined the exclusive club of State University System (SUS) campuses with 100 gigabytes-persecond (Gbps) internet connectivity. FAMU accepted an invitation to join the Florida LambdaRail (FLR) Board of Directors, setting the stage for a tenfold increase in campus wireless connectivity and research capacity.

With its elevation to board member, FAMU established a 100 Gbps connection to FLR’s advanced fiberoptic network infrastructure, providing the University’s faculty, staff and students with lightning-fast connectivity and seamless communication channels. A FLR connection facilitates data-intensive research, supports remote collaboration and enables the exchange of large datasets critical for cuttingedge scientific investigations.

Vice President for Research Charles Weatherford, Ph.D., said the upgrade will facilitate research and learning using highperformance and quantum computers.

“One hundred gigabytes-per-second internet speeds has made large-scale machine learning computations and high-performance computing much more efficient and faster,” said Weatherford, a physics professor.

For example, instead of being restricted to small-model systems, FAMU researchers can run simulations of more realistic systems, which produce results much closer to real systems. “Thus, theories, calculations and experiments — the three components of the scientific method — work much more effectively together to produce a true model of reality,” Weatherford added.

FAMU is the first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) to provide 100G for students, faculty and staff. The move also dovetails with FAMU’s push to become the first HBCU to become an Carnegie Research 1 institution. LambdaRail equity membership costs the University about $200,000 annually.

With a strong focus on research and a commitment to addressing the pressing challenges of our time, FAMU brings a rich

legacy of academic excellence, innovation and community engagement to the FLR consortium. FAMU’s inclusion further diversifies and expands FLR’s collaborative research network.

“We are thrilled to welcome Florida A&M University to a seat on the board of directors,” said Robert Grillo, chairman of the FLR Board of Directors and vice president and chief information officer for the Division of Information Technology at Florida International University. “FAMU’s unique position within Florida strengthens FLR’s commitment to fostering research and innovation across the state. ”

Dean of the College of Science and Technology Richard Alo, Ph.D., considers 100G technology to be a major boon for the University. FAMU and its community is a new frontier in the telecommunications industry that advances its cyber infrastructure to be able to deal with the rapid growth of internet traffic, Alo said.

“The world of Big Data and its tools in the cyber infrastructure, such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine- and deep-learning, is making major impacts on societal needs, such as the development of personalized medicine, security of cyber enterprises and health care systems,” Alo said. Other applications, such as consumer content and medical and academic records, are continuously driving demand for greater bandwidth, and the network must keep pace.

With 100 Bps speeds, Alo said, universities and businesses can now undertake realtime analytics and large-scale data storage. Consumers have the capacity to handle the ever-increasing data loads of modern applications not just on campus but also now in their homes, where many now have televisions that include 4K and 8K video streaming, Alo added.

“But we don’t stop here,” he said, “400G technology has gradually swept the market since its emergence as a result of Big Data knowledge creation and that leads to new applications, which in turn are rapidly enhancing this internet-of-things world we live in.”

College of Education

Professor David White works with students in one of the modern computing labs.

EARN AN ONLINE MBA

The School of Business and Industry’s Online MBA program is a five semester, 44 credit hours program designed for working professionals. Semesters are structured in a manner where courses are staggered to ensure that candidates can focus on each class even with a busy work schedule.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

> All textbooks and course materials will be provided each semester.

> Students will visit Tallahassee for a weekend in January.

> Laptops for each new student will be distributed in January during the Tallahassee residency.

> A short - term international residency that includes interaction with executives from multinational corporations in places such as Brazil, China, Jamaica, and Chile. This trip will be during the final semester.

PAYING IT FORWARD ADVERTORIAL

INDELIBLE SOLUTION CO-FOUNDERS, FAMU ALUMS MICHAEL D. WHITE, II AND JOSHUA HAY ESTABLISH $250,000 ENDOWMENT AT SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY

When Michael D. White, II was a student at Florida A&M University (FAMU), he received financial support through various grants and scholarships. “If it were not for the financial support from the William G. & Marie Selby Foundation, Sarasota Community Foundation and other contributors, attending college would have been much more challenging,” White said. White is grateful for the financial support he received.

In the halls of the School of Business and Industry (SBI), White met fellow accounting major Joshua Hay and established their friendship. After Hay graduated in 2011 and White in 2013, the friends relocated to di erent cities in Florida. However, their bond continued as both pursued careers in business and finance—Hay in the banking industry and White in the government sector. What brought them back together was their passion for entrepreneurship.

White and Hay recognized an opportunity to form a small business to provide audit, accounting and professional services to sororities, fraternities, and small businesses, in addition to their full-time positions. A turning point in their small business arose in the wake of Hurricane Irma when White and Hay had the opportunity to expand their services to support government agencies assisting impacted communities.

On August 31, 2018, White and Hay co-

founded the management consulting firm Indelible Solutions. Since then, Hay, now the chief executive o cer (CEO), and White, the chief business development o cer, and their team have provided strategic solutions to organizations in both the public and private sectors. They have received recognition from corporations including KPMG, McKinsey & Company, and Ernst & Young. Indelible is on a mission to deliver innovative professional services that enrich the lives of communities, clients and colleagues to become a catalyst for positive transformation, leaving an indelible mark on the landscape of professional services.

Now, more than a decade after graduating, Hay and White have established a $250,000 endowment to give back to the institution that they credit much of their success to that will benefit students at FAMU’s SBI. The endowment o ers scholarships to reduce the financial burden of tuition and allow students to focus on their studies. To date, Indelible Solutions has contributed $125,000 of the $250,000 endowment.

“As a graduate of FAMU’s School of Business and Industry, I can personally speak to the impact this institution has on a student’s professional trajectory,” Hay said. “Our goal through this endowment is to reduce the burdens associated with the rising cost of tuition to allow students to focus on learning, professional development and preparation for their future careers,” he added.

Hay and White have also established Indelible Impacts, the charitable entity of Indelible Solutions, which has contributed over $1.5 million in philanthropic donations and in-kind support services to underserved communities. This past December, Indelible Impacts hosted its annual Indelible Gives Holiday Festival, coined “A Holiday on the Hill,” at the Will Packer Performing Arts Amphitheater on FAMU’s campus, bringing out more than 4,000 community members across the Big Bend region. The event provided over $150,000 of in-kind resources, including free food, toys, and clothes, a resource fair and a concert featuring performances by DJ Lil Boy, DJ Demp, comedian Tight Mike, and singer-songwriters Zuriel Johnson and Alysa Moneyse.

“At Indelible Impacts, we have a heart for philanthropy and recognize the significance of giving back to the Tallahassee community,” explained Indelible Impacts Executive Director Mikhail Scott.

But no one knows better than White, who is now a member of the FAMU Board of Trustees, how important this financial support is to SBI students.

“I understand the financial needs of the students who attend FAMU,” he said. “Establishing the endowment for SBI opens the door of possibilities for students to achieve their dreams like my business partner and I have done and continue to do daily,” concluded White.

BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE, BUILDING A DIGITAL PIPELINE

BY [ Andrew J. SKERRITT ]

THANKS TO A $5.4 MILLION GRANT, FAMU WILL EXTEND HIGH-SPEED INTERNET ACCESS TO MORE THAN 100 FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY ADJACENT TO CAMPUS

The 433-acre Florida A&M University (FAMU) campus sits adjacent to some of Tallahassee’s most economically challenged neighborhoods. Within walking distance of the Highest of Seven Hills live many families that are not just struggling to make ends meet, but their children sit on the wrong side of the digital divide. They lack internet and high-speed connectivity for doing homework and other

educational activities that many Americans take for granted.

The University is on the verge of changing that.

FAMU is the recipient of a $5.4 million two-year National Telecommunications and Information Administration grant that will enable the University to extend high-speed, broadband internet access to more than 100 families who live in Bond, Stuckey and other

neighborhoods adjacent to the campus.

As part of that project, FAMU staff alongside employees for the New York-based company Presidio will build the infrastructure required to extend the service. The project, “Building a Digital Pipeline to Prosperity,” also calls for training future generations of students versed in artificial intelligence (AI), cyber security, coding and other technical skills.

“This award to FAMU is designed to reduce the digital divide and increase economic growth in Tallahassee by allowing students and Southside community members to access the internet using FAMU’s high-speed broadband infrastructure and providing them with tools, technical assistance, knowledge and information to enhance their skills and incomes,” said FAMU President Larry Robinson, Ph.D.

FAMG

Infrastructure

Since grant funding was received in 2023, a team led by Chief Information Officer Robert Seniors has built a comprehensive, secure and reliable high-speed broadband infrastructure accessible in all buildings on the campus and critical outdoor areas throughout FAMU’s main campus. Contracted vendors have installed and tested the equipment and software. The deployment of a soft test will be for selected families in the Greater Apalachee Ridge and the Greater Bond communities.

“We are excited to be on the verge of providing broadband high-speed internet access to 120 deserving households from communities neighboring our campus. The infrastructure was in place; we are beta testing and working with community leaders to ensure

Robert Seniors, Chief Information Officer

Talethia O. Edwards (left) and her family are now connected to the high-speed FAMG network.

we identify the families that can best benefit from this transformational opportunity,” said Seniors, who is leading the network aspect of the project. “Given the realities of 21st-century living, having broadband access allows families to enhance educational and employment opportunities as well as access to health care — think telehealth — reflecting our commitment to fostering connectivity in today’s digital age.”

As of early March, 80 percent of infrastructure is in place to provide free wireless internet access to all visitors to the campus as well as for selected families in nearby communities. With the network upgrade, the team has established a protocol for repairs and an integrated help desk. It is expected that selected families will have their free broadband service by this summer.

“I’m super excited about the FAMG project. It is going to increase broadband access and connectivity in our community,” said Talethia Edwards, a coalition builder and resident in the Bond community, who has been helping coordinate residents who are going to provide feedback to the University about the connectivity of their new broadband service. Many of those families and their children struggle for lack of reliable internet access, Edwards said.

“I’m looking forward to what kind of increased access this is going to provide for those of us living in the community,” Edwards said.

Curriculum Building

A key component of the “Building a Digital Pipeline to Prosperity” project is creating a curriculum to begin recruiting and training future generations of students who can take advantage of high-tech opportunities. That calls for collaboration between FAMU Developmental Research School (DRS) faculty and FAMU, said Lewis Johnson, Ph.D., associate provost for Student Success and Strategic Initiatives.

Meanwhile, Dean of the College of Science and Technology Richard Alo, Ph.D., and his team of faculty and staff have created a STEM curriculum development council, which is comprised of the FAMU faculty and staff from various areas of expertise. That includes staff from FAMU DRS.

“Our component is dedicated to creating innovative and engaging learning modules for AI, data science and mathematics tailored for Pre-K to 12th grade students,” Johnson said. “These modules will introduce key concepts in these disciplines and emphasize their importance and relevance in today’s world. By targeting younger students, we aim to cultivate interest and proficiency in STEM subjects early on, ultimately building a more robust pipeline of

“This initiative is designed to enhance students’ understanding of data analysis and its practical applications across various fields of study. By empowering students with these essential skills, we seek to prepare them for success in their academic pursuits, decisionmaking processes and future careers,” Johnson said. “Through this collaboration, we want to contribute to developing a well-rounded and data-savvy workforce that can tackle complex challenges in the digital age.”

FAMU Prep

The efforts at FAMU DRS parallel progress toward the development of FAMU Prep, an interactive data science/AI academy that teaches middle and high school students about modeling, problem solving, scientific thinking and college readiness.

The program will consist of academically intense, STEM enrichment experimental summer learning for eight weeks for middle

data science and AI tools.

Participating students will be recruited from communities in and around the FAMU campus. FAMU Prep is scheduled to be launched this summer. Thus far, faculty has been hired for curriculum development and the early phases of identifying summer faculty.

FAMU DRS Superintendent Micheal Johnson enthusiastically welcomed the digital initiatives.

“We are very excited about this opportunity as we look to enrich the lives of our students in all aspects of STEM,” Johnson said. “Specifically. they have this opportunity where our students will have extended time after school and be able to interact with artificial intelligence, and have hands-on experience. This is very exciting as this is the forward move in science and technology. We’re excited that DRS will be afforded this opportunity with our university.”

FAMU DRS students will receive training to be part of the Digital Pipeline.

RIGHTING WRONGS

SIXTY-FOUR YEARS LATER, A RETIRED FAMU PROFESSOR IS INVITED BACK TO THE MATHEMATICS CONFERENCE THAT SHUNNED HIM

BY [ Briona HOPKINS ]

William Brodie is a retired Florida A&M professor, acclaimed mathematician and civil rights activist. He earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics at St. Augustine’s College in 1958, and his master’s degree in mathematics at Atlanta University in 1969. He began teaching calculus at FAMU in 1979 and, though he retired 27 years later in 2006, he continues to advise and tutor FAMU scholarship students today. Brodie has long been a champion and

activist for racial and social issues, serving as an officer of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s (NAACP) Tallahassee branch for 27 years. In 1960, he famously shared a jail cell with Martin Luther King, Jr., after a peaceful protest in Atlanta. Though Brodie is highly regarded today for his academic success and racial and social activism, there is one slight that he never forgot: When he was turned away with three other Black mathematicians from the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) conference

because it was held in a “whites-only” hotel in South Carolina in 1960.

“MAA would let us join, but if we went to the meeting there would be a problem,” Brodie recalled all these years later. “They tried to find a room at the Nilon Hotel, which was located in the ghetto and didn’t have a closet. On the back of the door, there was nail to hang your clothes, and of course we objected to that.”

So Brodie and his colleagues, in refusing to accept the discrimination and unfair treatment, left the conference altogether. And now, 64 years later, the MAA invited Brodie to attend its Southeastern Section Meeting that was held in March 2024 at the University of Tennessee. (Brodie’s three colleagues have since passed away.)

“While it can be tempting to muffle stories from an embarrassing past, we refuse to forget the unfair treatment you encountered as a graduate student in 1960,” said Xiaobing Feng, professor and math department head at the University of Tennesse. “As a humble offer of recompense for this 63-year-old injustice, the UTK math department is paying for three nights of your lodging.”

Brodie accepted the offer, and attended the MAA southeastern conference where the conference chair formally apologiced to Brodie for the injustice that took place against him all those decades ago. He also held a fireside chat where students asked him questions about his career as a Black mathematician and racial and social justice activist.

Dedra O’Neal, FAMU director of the University Scholarship program and a former student of Brodie, credits Brodie with producing the University’s first Associate of Casualty Actuary Society and first Fellow of Casualty Actuary Society. Brodie also was a co-founding member of FAMU’s former Actuarial Science program.

“He is the essence of free thinking,” O’Neal said. “As a professor, he has instilled in FAMU students and others critical and logical skills for over four decades.”

William Brodie

SHAPING THE FUTURE

BY [ Kara IRBY ]

FAMU IS LAUNCHING A NEW CYBER POLICY INSTITUTE, EXAMINING EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES SUCH AS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, ROBOTICS AND SOCIAL MEDIA ALGORITHMS

Florida A&M University (FAMU) has a chance to be at the forefront of research addressing some of the biggest issues of the 21st century: artificial intelligence (AI), election hacking and the ever-expanding world of social media, just to name a few.

With the creation of a new Cyber Policy Institute — which combines faculty and graduate students from both the College of Science and Technology (CST) and the College of Social Sciences, Arts, and Humanities (CSSAH) — the University is taking a unique, interdisciplinary approach to tackling these complex and important topics.

“You can’t solve societal problems within a single siloed discipline,” said Kyle Eidahl, Ph.D., a CSSAH professor of history. “The combination of experts in big data and data science doing the number crunching while the faculty in the humanities are examining the questions that social science asks will allow a new dynamic way of looking at state, national and even global problems.”

Eidahl is the institute’s interim coordinator until a permanent executive director is selected. He was approached with the idea for the institute by Dean Richard Alo, Ph.D., of CST, who has a long-standing background in computer science and cybersecurity.

Members of the inaugural group of fellows for the Cyber Policy Institute at FAMU, including CST Dean Richard Alo, Ph.D., meet in the Commons building.

“The institute is personally exciting for me because of my engineering background,” Alo said. “We want our students, regardless of their academic pursuits, to be able to recognize and use the tools that will impact these artificial intelligence algorithms.”

In March 2023, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation announced FAMU would receive a $5 million grant to help get the institute up and running. The grant funds are part of a larger 10-year initiative set by the foundation to address some of society’s most pressing cyber challenges. CST Associate Dean Richard Long worked with the Hewlett team since the spring of 2022 to develop the gift to FAMU and is part of the foundation steering committee.

“It was clear that when the Hewlett Foundation team first approached us in spring of 2022, they recognized the need and opportunity to develop cyber policy expertise at minority serving institutions (MSI),” said Long, who joined FAMU in 2013 and has served as an associate dean in CST since 2020. “This lays the foundation to expand the voices contributing to the national and global polices that can disproportionately impact under-represented and under-served communities.”

“It means a lot that Hewlett thought we were worthy of such an award and this partnership,” Eidahl added. “This university has always had tremendous faculty, and they just needed an opportunity to show their expertise.”

CSSAH Dean Valencia E. Matthews, Ph.D., says this institute will serve as an opportunity to diversify the voices in the policy arena.

“If we’re not sitting at the table when policy is made, we’ll be in a situation where we’re not considered,” Matthews said. “If the voices of people of color, voices of women and the like — if we’re not there, it ends up being to our detriment.”

That sentiment is shared by Alo.

“To get our students engaged in how to recognize and mitigate potential biases in these new AI algorithms, we’re in the business of helping to democratize that,” he said. “That’s exciting. We’re helping to make a change.”

Eidahl is excited for when faculty and

AI is going to be quite disruptive in the coming years, Eidahl explained. Everything from robotics taking jobs from factory workers to using AI to address cancers or create fake political ads are serious concerns institute fellows can help address.

students begin publishing research on technical cyber issues but this success, he said, will stem further than just cyber security.

“We’re talking about all emerging technologies,” Eidahl said. “AI, robotics, algorithms in social media. Technology always outpaces regulations and policymakers are always several steps behind.”

Finding ways to make AI better and coming up with ideas on how to best regulate and utilize

See SHAPING THE FUTURE, continued on page 27

College of Science and Technology Dean Richard Alo, College of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities Dean Valencia E. Matthews, and History Professor Kyle Eidahl

Professor Hongmei Chi (left) speaks with other members of the inaugural group of Fellows for the Cyber Policy Institute at FAMU.

the fellows taking part in the institute.

“Cyber security can have the best technical systems but it’s the people who are the most vulnerable — not the systems,” Eidahl said. “You have to educate the people who use the system about what to do and what not to do.”

be quite disruptive in the coming years, Eidahl explained. Everything from robotics taking jobs from factory workers to using AI to address cancers or create fake political ads are serious concerns institute fellows can help address. He hopes that faculty and students working with the institute will help direct the beneficial use of these emerging technologies while limiting the dangerous uses.

Ultimately, a goal of institute leadership is to build a master’s program in cyber policy.

“This is a strong challenge,” Alo said. “But it’s important for a minority institution to be involved. I’m glad this is taking place at an HBCU and I hope it encourages more young people to go into STEM.”

Alo and Eidahl agree the cross-utilization of the two colleges is needed.

“FAMU could really become one of the centers for cyber policy and AI studies,” Eidahl said. “We don’t have a lot of people in social sciences familiar with the tools of big data. They’re focused on the societal side and vice versa.”

Institute leaders will first form a working group of faculty members from both colleges to collaborate and begin to share their expertise. Matthews says it’s important to hear from FAMU faculty regarding the foundation and goals of the institute.

“It’s exciting to be starting something new and be on the ground floor doing it,” she said.

By the summer of 2024, institute leaders will be poised to handpick the inaugural cohort of Cyber Policy Institute fellows and, moving forward, have a robust application process.

As for the future of the institute, Matthews has a very clear vision.

“The institute will be deemed successful when we see students intimately involved in creating cyber policy,” Matthews said. “Since student success is at the top of the leaderboard for us, having them participate in crafting policy alongside our faculty is vitally important.”

Other institutions of higher learning receiving grant funds to support the launch and expansion of interdisciplinary cyber policy programs are Spelman College, also an HBCU; Florida International University, a Hispanic-serving institution in Miami; and Turtle Mountain Community College, a tribal college in Belcourt, North Dakota.

Jairo Parra-Bautista listens to comments about a paper he wrote as members of the inaugural group of Fellows for the Cyber Policy Institute at FAMU meet in the Commons building.

Members of the inaugural group of Fellows for the Cyber Policy Institute at FAMU meet in the Commons building.

Does this snack contain Marijuana?

Poison Control Centers are attending to young children who've ingested marijuana gummies, resulting in severe illness. The higher the product concentration and the younger the child, the heightened the risk.

If your child consumes these marijuana products, you have two options based on the severity of their reaction.

OPTION 1

OPTION 2

If the individual collapses, has a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, Call 911 IMMEDIATELY. Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for expert guidance. All calls are free & confidential.

Source: U.S Food & Drugs Administration & Florida's Poison Control Centers

MMERI’s Mission is to Educate, Inform, and Engage Florida’s Multicultural and Multigenerational Population about Medical Marijuana and the Impact of Unlawful Marijuana Use.

(850) 561-2456 • MMERI@famu.edu

FAMU WINS CRICKET CELEBRATION BOWL, CLAIMS HBCU NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Florida A&M University (FAMU) won its first Cricket Celebration Bowl title with a comeback 30-26 victory against Howard University, claiming the 2023 Historically Black College and University (HBCU) National Championship. FAMU secured its first Cricket Celebration Bowl appearance by previously winning its first SWAC Football Championship with a 35-14 win over Prairie View A&M University at Bragg Memorial Stadium on December 2, 2023.

BY [ Andrew J. SKERRITT ]

The December 16, 2023, victory marked the first Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) win in five years against the Mid-Eastern Atlantic Athletic Conference (MEAC) in the end of season matchup. Even as FAMU players and supporters savored the moment, President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., sought words to capture it.

“It’s hard to describe how I feel right now. Our team did such a great job all season long under the leadership of Vice President/Athletic Director Tiffani-Dawn Sykes, Head Coach Willie Simmons, all the other coaches and staff in the Athletic program; it all culminated in the best of the best and winning the HBCU national championship here at the Celebration Bowl,” said Robinson, after the trophy presentation. “It was so overwhelming to see the stands filled with the orange and green. I am incredibly proud of the fans who came out and helped really pull this team to victory. It is our time.”

The game at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta was attended by more than 40,000 fans, including U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, a Howard alum, U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock, members of the FAMU Board of Trustees, FAMU Foundation Board of Directors, students, alumni and other stakeholders.

Howard jumped out to a 14-0 first-quarter lead before the Rattlers responded with a touchdown to ease their supporters’ early concern. Howard then sacked FAMU quarterback Jeremy Moussa for a safety pushing the score to 16-7. Trailing 16-10 at halftime, the Rattlers seemed set to settle the contest after going up 24-19 in the fourth quarter, when a Bison interception and touchdown swung the pendulum back in Howard’s favor to 26-24. Shortly afterward, the Rattlers took the lead for good with another touchdown by Moussa. Two interceptions put the final result beyond doubt.

Former Head Coach Willie Simmons lauded the talent, experience, depth and toughness of his 12-1 team.

FAMU Introduces James Colzie III as 19th Head Football Coach

FAMU introduced James Colzie III as the Rattlers 19th head football coach on January 29, 2024. At a news conference at Bragg Memorial Stadium’s Ken Riley Field, President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., welcomed Colzie and thanked those who contributed to the selection, including the FAMU Board of Trustees, Chief Operating Officer Donald Palm, Ph.D., who worked with search committee, FAMU National Alumni Association, the Rattler F Club, Rattler Boosters, 220 Quarterback Club, FAMU Foundation Board of Directors, faculty, students and student-athletes.

“Thank you for what has led to this day,” Robinson said to applause for an appreciative crowd seated in the eastside stands.

Colzie was appointed interim head coach following the departure of head football coach Willie Simmons to Duke University on January 1. His promotion comes following a national search that attracted dozens of applicants.

“Today begins a new era in FAMU football. Today, we will add a new name to the legacy of FAMU football coaching greats. There was a large number of interested and experienced candidates who

were considered. And at the end of this process James Colzie, III, emerged as the right person at this time to lead FAMU football,” said Vice President/Athletic Director Tiffani-Dawn Sykes.

“Identifying a coach who, first and foremost, had a commitment to academic excellence and has a comprehensive understanding of APR,” Sykes continued, referring to the Academic Progress Rate.

“Coach Colzie is currently a doctoral student at Capella University studying leadership and higher education. So it is clear that he understands and appreciates the importance of higher education.”

Colzie joined the FAMU coaching staff as cornerbacks coach in 2022. At the end of that campaign, Simmons promoted him to assistant head coach. Before he came to FAMU, Colzie was head football coach at Saint Mary’s University in Canada, where he had an overall record of 23-19.

Prior to his tenure at Saint Mary’s University, Colzie spent two seasons at the University of British Columbia as their defensive coordinator and defensive-back coordinator. In 2015, Colzie helped the Thunderbirds win their first Vanier Cup Championship since 1997. A former Florida State University football and baseball player, Colzie had coaching stints at Simon Fraser University, Southern Arkansas University, University of West Georgia, Valdosta State University and elsewhere.

“It’s great to be the head football of Florida A&M,” said Colzie, who spoke of the upcoming schedule, including the April 13 Spring Game and the season opener against Norfolk State University in Atlanta. “When they introduce us they have no choice but to call us HBCU national champions.”

In his remarks, Colzie invoked the names of past Rattler coaching greats Jake Gaither, Ken Riley, Rudy Hubbard, Billy Joe and Willie Simmons.

“Thanks for setting the standard. I will do my very best to keep that standard,” said Colzie, who was a member of the FSU 1993 national championship team.

Winning the Florida Classic, the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship (SWAC) and the Celebration Bowl is a goal and an expectation, Colzie added.

“I want to make sure we do it with class. The FAMU standard is going to be about winning but also about the right culture,” he said. “We already have a contagious culture. I can’t wait to add to that.”

“Our guys really accepted that challenge. We started the game relatively slow. They jumped out 14 to nothing. But again, the resilience of this team stood the test of time again and again. They showed why they’re one of the most mentally tough teams I’ve ever coached, just to stay together, to stay poised,” said Simmons, who resigned to serve as Duke University’s running backs coach. (Assistant Head Coach James Colzie III was promoted to succeed Simmons on January 27, 2024, becoming the 19th Rattler head coach.)

In a holiday letter to alumni and supporters, Vice President/Athletic Director Tiffani-Dawn Sykes extended her heartfelt gratitude for their unwavering support during a historic year for Rattler football.

“The 2023 FAMU Football team, led by Head Coach Willie Simmons, has left an indelible mark on our university’s history, capping off a remarkable 12-1 season with a resounding victory in the 2023 Cricket Celebration Bowl,” Sykes wrote. “As a result, we proudly stand as the undisputed 2023 HBCU National Champions, a testament to the dedication and talent of our student-athletes, coaching staff and the incredible support from our alumni and fans.”

FAMU promotes Interim Head Coach James Colzie III to the position of head football coach.

VOICES ACROSS THE ATLANTIC:

The FAMU Concert Choir Performs Across Vienna

BY [ Emmani HENRY ]

SWEET MELODIES,

once sung by the ancestors, and harmonies of modern geniuses filled the voices of the Florida A&M University (FAMU) Concert Choir (FCC) throughout Europe. The FCC, led by Mark Butler, D.M.A., the director of Choral Studies & Activities, had been invited to participate in the Festival Tour of Vienna Advent Sing 2023, a festival hosted by Music Connect, a subscription-based music measurement platform. Every year, the company hosts multiple choir festivals around the world. In addition to FCC, the 2023 Vienna Tour comprised of four other choirs from di erent backgrounds and countries, including a children’s choir. The five-day trip, which departed Tallahassee last November, included visiting historic landmarks and fulfilling community service.

For some students in the choir, the trip was their first time out of the country, their first time on a plane and even their first time out of the state of Florida. “This is my first time ever even being on a plane,” said secondyear music industry student Antonio Nelson,

“and I am so happy that it can be with you guys.”

This opportunity was provided by administrators, faculty and sta to broaden the students’ horizons and to allow them them to experience the open world and strive for more. FAMU administration made a unanimous decision to fund the experience for the students. The University also assisted students with getting their passports for the trip and coordinating with Music Connect.

“My focus is always on paying for experiences. You remember experiences much longer than you’ll remember things,” said Valencia E. Matthews, Ph. D., dean of the College of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities (CSSAH). “You have done it once; now you know it can be done again.”

Indeed, the FCC’s journey had been more than

VIENNA ITINERARY

DAY 1

With prayers and well wishes from faculty and sta , the FCC headed from Tallahassee to the HartsfieldJackson Atlanta International Airport. After an eight-hour flight with dinner and breakfast, the FCC landed in Frankfurt, Germany. After a quick layover, the FCC were o again to Vienna International Airport. While some members stayed behind at the hotel to catch up on some missing sleep, the rest of the choir made their way to the Christmas market in Karlsplatz. The twinkling lights were the perfect way to ring in the holiday spirit.

DAY 2

The choir gathered to the bus for a tour of Vienna. The 45-minute bus tour highlighted landmarks such as the Austrian Parliament Building with the statue of Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, the Mozart Monument and the murals painted on the canal walls. The tour continued on foot to the St. Stephen’s Cathedral and Vienna City

Hall, where the group had lunch with the other participating choirs from all over the globe.

As part of the community-service component, the FCC performed at Haus Rossau, a senior living home.

Joanna Sobkowska, D.M.A., a piano professor at FAMU, played the piano as the choir sang heart-warming tunes for the elders. They were greeted with applause and “dankes” (thank you) afterward.

“It was such a joy being able to sing for wonderful people in their language nonetheless,” said Keanu Hewitt, a fourth-year music industry student.

DAY 3

The choir prepared for their second visit to the Vienna City Hall — except this time as performers. The emotional performance entailed legendary arrangements from Bach to Butler, including “He’s Got the Whole World” by the talented Cedric Dent of Take 6.

Butler is no stranger to his arrangements being performed all over the globe, but this

just a choir trip; it was a cultural immersion, a musical pilgrimage and a testament to the connecting power of music. After five days abroad and multiple performances, the FCC returned home with memories not just of snowy cobblestone streets and schnitzel but a deeper appreciation for their art and the echoes of Viennese melodies woven into the fabric of their voices. Their Vienna excursion wasn’t just an ending but a powerful beginning, propelling them forward as ambassadors of music.

“I was very elated and grateful,” Butler said. “That’s something the young people need to understand — there’s a world outside FAMU.”

particular performance with his students touched him dearly.

“For my choir to sing it under my direction brought a freshness, a feeling of warmth,” Butler said. “We were singing it in these historic, famous venues abroad. It was just a wonderful way for us to collaborate.”

DAY 4

The FCC began with a tour of Melk Abbey, which had been home to the Benedictine monks since 1089 and located on a rocky outcrop peering over the Danube River. It also has one of Austria’s oldest Catholic private schools, with 900 students in attendance for their final performance.

By the slight drop of Butler’s hand, the FCC brought forth their songs, which were amplified by the property’s noteworthy acoustics. Piece after piece, the church echoed with cheers from the audience.

The next stop was in Gumpoldskirchen, a wine village, where some of the other participating choirs would all have dinner together. The family-style Viennese dinner comprised of roast pork, potatoes and chicken. The meal was served with an exquisite wine made in the village.

Two gentlemen, one on the accordion and one on violin, kept spirits alive as they played Christmas hymns and classics in the cozy tavern. The FCC was joined by members of the children’s choir in attendance, and sung songs like “Somewhere over the Rainbow” and “Golden Hour.”

DAY 5

The final night in the City of Music allowed for the FCC members to reflect on the trip and squeeze in any last minute sight-seeing and souvenir shopping. Some members slept while others stayed up and watched the clock until their 3 a.m. call to meet in the hotel lobby. The choir took their leave and headed back to the airport. After another round of hours in the sky, the choir was home again, greeted by the FAMU bus at the airport to return to Tallahassee.

New Faces, NEW PLACES

Board of Trustees Elects Kristin Harper as Chair, Deveron Gibbons as Vice Chair

During its October 2023 meeting, FAMU Board of Trustees (BOT) unanimously elected alumna Kristin Harper as chair to succeed Kelvin Lawson, who served seven years in that leadership role. Harper earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration from FAMU. She worked for several major corporations before establishing Driven to Succeed LLC, a global market research and consulting firm for which she serves as chief executive officer.

“FAMU prepared me for this moment. This is one of my greatest honors,” Harper said. “My priority is to do what is best for FAMU. Thank you so much for this honor.”

Fellow alum Trustee Deveron Gibbons was elected vice chair. Gibbons was appointed to the BOT by the Florida Board of Governors in March. He graduated from the FAMU College of Law in 2017 and the FAMU School of Business and Industry with a master’s degree in business administration in 2020.

Gibbons served as a trustee of St. Petersburg College. He is also a consultant for Amscot Financial and a retired senior vice president of the company.

During the meeting, President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., recognized Kelvin Lawson with an award for his “dedicated and outstanding service to Florida A&M University and the Board of Trustees from 2011-2023 and serving as chair from 2016-2023.”

Sarah Price Named Dean of the College of Education

Sarah Price, Ph.D., is a tenured professor with more than 35 years of experience in K-20 education. She has been interim College of Education (COE) dean since 2022, succeeding Allyson L. Watson, Ph.D., provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, who credits her with fostering a culture of innovation and progress within the University’s first established college.

“Dr. Price spearheaded the establishment of the Education innovation undergraduate degree and the successful launch of the online Sport Management graduate degree program,” Watson said. “Her strategic vision and collaboration with faculty in the Educational Leadership program has led to a surge in completed research doctorates and faculty expansion, reinforcing the strength of our academic foundation.”

Price also played an integral role in establishing the college’s fabrication lab and makerspace sponsored by Chevron and the Fab Foundation.

The Florida A&M University (FAMU) Chevron STR2EAM Fab Lab is a nearly $1 million initiative that creates more equity in science, technology, reading, research, engineering, arts and mathematics by providing increased access to advanced technologies and experiential learning opportunities.

“I am privileged to serve Florida A&M University and lead the College of Education faculty, staff and students in our most noble profession,” said Price. “Together, we will continue to shape the future of education with an unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation.”

Deveron Gibbons

Kristin Harper

Sarah Price

A native of Martinsville, Virginia, Price completed her doctorate in motor behavior at the University of Florida, received a master’s degree in adapted physical education at Ohio State University, and holds a bachelor’s degree in health education and physical education from Johnson C. Smith University.

Andrew Chin Named Dean of the School of Architecture + Engineering Technology

Andrew Chin is a tenured associate professor who has 32 years of experience in higher education. He has held several leadership roles within the School of Architecture + Engineering Technology (SAET), including interim dean, associate dean, assistant dean and program director for graduate and professional programs.

Allyson L. Watson, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, praises Chin for expanding the frontiers of architecture and engineering technology to foster academic excellence and student success.

“He has a resolute focus on bolstering undergraduate and graduate program enrollment that has been a hallmark of his tenure,” Watson said. “His strategic vision underscores the pivotal role of robotics in the future of engineering technology and the need for transformative architectural solutions that push the boundaries of design.”

Chin’s architecture research has been

published in more than 15 journals. In his leadership role, Chin has solidified vital partnerships with the National Park Service, National Trust for Historic Preservation and the State of Florida Division of Historical Resources to rehabilitate historic buildings on the main campus.

“I am deeply honored to assume the role of the newly appointed dean and continue the legacy of excellence established by the previous SAET dean and current faculty, staff, students and alums,” said Chin, who had served as interim dean since the retirement of Rodner Wright in 2022. “I look forward to being part of a nationally recognized school that continues to inspire the next generation of design and engineering leaders and innovators.”

Since 1991, Chin has taught design studios, thesis research, and urban design classes at FAMU, the University of Florida and the Georgia Institute of Technology. He has secured more than $1 million in external funding from federal and state agencies, and foundations, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Florida Department of Community Affairs and the Andrew Mellon Foundation.

Chin grew up in Baldwin, New York, before moving to Florida, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in design and master’s degree in architecture from the University of Florida, and a master’s degree in urban and regional planning at Florida State University.

FAMU Appoints Cecil Howard as New Associate Provost for College of Law, and Interim Dean

FAMU Provost Allyson L. Watson, Ph.D., announced the appointment of Cecil Howard, J.D., as the new associate provost for academic programs at the College of Law. Howard will play a key role in the strategic planning, management and oversight of diverse academic initiatives for the college. He will work at the college’s campus in Orlando and will serve as a liaison to the university provost.

In February, Howard was appointed interim College of Law dean following the resignation of Deidre’ Keller. Howard’s primary objectives

include enhancing bar preparation and curriculum alignment for our students, ensuring successful accreditation, and fostering an environment conducive to teaching, research, and administrative excellence. A national executive search for a permanent dean will commence this spring.

Howard brings a wealth of experience and a proven record of executive leadership in higher education at several universities, including the University of South Florida, University of California, Shippensburg University and Tufts University. He is a Florida licensed attorney and principal of CEH Consulting, a firm that offers recruitment and leadership services to universities, nonprofits and cooperations throughout the United States.

“I am honored to be a part of the FAMU College of Law, which enjoys a rich history in the annals of Florida A&M University for nearly a quarter of a century,” said Howard. “I look forward to working with all of our college and community stakeholders to make a difference by elevating our law programs to new heights.”

In his new role, Howard will collaborate with the college’s faculty and staff to enhance the overall academic experience for law students. This includes the oversight of faculty affairs in teaching, research and service, and the management of targeted bar-passage rates and accreditation activities at the academic program and institutional level.

Howard started in his new role in November and has already made strides toward strengthening professional and academic development during recent forums for faculty, staff and students hosted at the college by the Division of Academic Affairs.

Howard has served as chief legal counsel for the Florida Commission on Human Relations

Cecil Howard

Andrew Chin

New Faces, NEW PLACES

and as equal opportunity director for the City of Gainesville, Florida. He earned his bachelor’s degree in government from Florida State University and his law degree from Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University. He also serves on the board of directors for Collegiate Bridge, Inc., a nonprofit that aims to increase retention, graduation rates and economic self-sufficiency of Black students.

Carlotta Mitchell Named Director of the Center for Academic Advising

FAMU has selected Carlotta Mitchell to serve as the director of its Center for Academic Advising. Mitchell brings more than 25 years of experience in higher education to the position.

Academic advising is an integral component of student success and is a part of the University’s “Boldly Striking” five-year strategic plan.

“I am delighted to have Carlotta Mitchell lead the Center for Academic Advising,” said Jennifer Collins, Ph.D., associate provost for first year studies and academic excellence. “She has consistently demonstrated her commitment to the University’s goals and strategic initiatives as a retention coordinator, a Title III Programs monitoring coordinator, a First Year Experience course instructor and an academic coordinator with the Office of Undergraduate Student Success.”

In her new role, Mitchell will oversee more than 30 academic advisors located within the University’s 14 colleges and schools. She will also implement and manage a new intrusive academic advising model — entailing a proactive and holistic approach — to ensure students receive the highest level of support, guidance and resources to facilitate their academic success and personal growth.

“Due to my passion for student success, I am humbled and elated to be selected as the director of the Center for Academic Advising,”

said Mitchell, a FAMU employee for more than 25 years. “I look forward to providing the team with training and resources that will equip and empower students with a first-class experience in preparation for a career. In addition, data will be shared on a regular basis to guide what is done daily to ensure we meet the University’s metrics.”

Mitchell completed her undergraduate studies at FAMU, where she also earned a master’s degree in applied social sciences. She also earned a master’s degree in conflict analysis and resolution from Nova Southeastern University.

Reginald Ellis and Gail Randolph Named Inaugural Provost Professors

FAMU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Allyson L. Watson, Ph.D., has announced her plan to bolster university-community partnerships through an honorific designated for tenured and/or full professors. An internal

search for the provost professor for Community Outreach, Engagement, and Research began in the fall and has led to the selection of two faculty members. Reginald Ellis, Ph.D., and Gail Randolph, DPT, will each serve a two-year term.

A FAMU provost professor is a chief liaison and strategist to the university provost who will develop collaborative partnerships with university leaders on programs and projects that impact the local community. The first two provost professors at FAMU will develop and implement evidenced-based strategies to successfully address important needs within the Tallahassee region, especially as it relates to the “Boldly Striking” five-year strategic plan.

“While the heart of academia beats within the walls of our institution, the true pulse of knowledge thrives when we embrace the world beyond,” said Watson. “As provost professors, Dr. Ellis and Dr. Randolph will serve as connectors

and conduits for collaborative relationships that ignite the spark of curiosity, foster meaningful learning experiences and elevate research that enriches the lives of local citizens and the communities we are privileged to serve.”

Ellis is an associate professor of history and African American Studies who has been teaching, conducting research and sharing his passion for history at FAMU for more than 15 years. He said he is excited to empower citizens and communities within the Tallahassee region through this new role, which he believes supports the University’s efforts toward becoming a Carnegie Research 1 institution.

“I’m honored to serve as an inaugural Provost Professor of Community Outreach, Engagement, and Research,” said Ellis. “I see my role as enhancing our faculty researchers’ partnerships with both internal and external stakeholders while building new local, regional, national and international partnerships for all of our researchers.”

An associate professor in the School of Allied Health Sciences, Randolph has been a full-time faculty member at FAMU since 2015. She is most looking forward to leveraging research to improve and transform conditions for local stakeholders, including public agencies, nonprofits and community-based organizations.

“This endeavor presents a unique opportunity to extend my passion for helping others beyond the classroom toward making a significant impact in changing lives within our local community,” said Randolph. “I look forward to forging collaborative research partnerships with community partners that will help to develop sustainable solutions for our most pressing needs and shared concerns.”

Reginald Ellis

Gail Randolph

Carlotta Mitchell

FAMU Names Jennifer Wilder to Lead Business and Auxiliary Services

FAMU appointed Jennifer Wilder, Ed.D., as the assistant vice president for the oversight of Business and Auxiliary Services.

“Dr. Wilder has the qualifications and commitment to serve FAMU in this important role. She has greatly demonstrated her ability to advance the mission of an equally important auxiliary: University Housing,” said Chief Financial Officer/Vice President of Finance and Administration Rebecca Brown. “Many of the competencies that she skillfully utilized in Housing are transferable in her role as assistant vice president of Business and Auxiliary Services.”

Prior to her new role, Wilder served as the director of University Housing for seven years. As the director of Housing, Wilder was responsible for more than 100 staff members and an operating budget of $26 million. She played a key role in several major University projects that included the planning and design of the new 700-bed building scheduled to break ground

in March 2024, the design and construction of FAMU Towers, the 700-bed housing facility that opened in 2020, facility upgrades to Polkinghorne Village, the renovation of Palmetto South, the acquisition of Rattler Pointe and several furniture and equipment upgrades for all buildings.

Before joining FAMU, Wilder held leadership positions at Spelman College, Southern Methodist University, North Carolina State University, North

Carolina Central University and Fayetteville State University.

“Dr. Wilder has a record of demonstrated success in her knowledge of complex financial systems, human resource management and understanding the importance of excellent service and engagement of our students,” said Brown. “These attributes give me great confidence that Dr. Wilder will serve well in leading Business and Auxiliary Services.”

As the assistant vice president for Finance and Administration in charge of Business & Auxiliary Services, Wilder will provide oversee Dining, Bookstore, Rattler Card, Business Center, Snack Vending, Drink Vending, Laundry and Commercial Solicitation, the University Box Office, and Parking and Transportation.

“I am excited to have this opportunity to expand my relationships across the University and to view things from a whole new perspective,” Wilder said. “I am looking forward to learning and growing, and seeing our area move efficiently and effectively as we continue to provide excellent service to the campus community.”

Jennifer Wilder

ALUMNI APPLAUSE

BY [ Christina COMPERE-MINOR ]

Erick W. McReynolds Gives Back Out of Gratitude to His Parents and Alma Mater

Erick McReynolds and his wife, Jessica

Growing up in Kansas City, Kansas, Erick W. McReynolds always wanted to attend a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). He learned about Florida A&M University (FAMU) from a cousin whose high school band director was a FAMU alum and former Marching “100” Band member.

“I felt called to attend an HBCU. FAMU just met my needs,” said McReynolds, who earned a bachelor’s degree and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the School of Business and Industry (SBI).

“Our motto is ‘Excellence With Caring.’ That’s what I experienced. The faculty, staff, and administrators cared. They challenged me to be excellent. I needed an environment that was more personal and hands-on. A place where I wasn’t just a number. FAMU allowed me to come into my own and helped to mold and shape me into the person I am now.” McReynolds is a vice president with Chick-fil-A, Inc., leading Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI). Based in Atlanta, the 1998 FAMU graduate is responsible for partnering with all stakeholder groups to develop a comprehensive, enterprise-wide strategy to build individual and organizational DEI capabilities. Given his professional success, he is committed to giving back to help current and future students.

McReynolds created an endowed scholarship for SBI students in the name of his parents, Terry and Bernice McReynolds, and has earned a spot on the SBI Big Board. His plan is to grow the McReynolds Scholarship Endowment to $1 million and is grateful to be over halfway to his goal. McReynolds gives back to help students out of gratitude to his alma mater and his parents, who supported his decision to attend FAMU.

“They allowed me to go to FAMU. It would have been easier for them to say, ‘Stay close to home,’” said McReynolds. “They wanted college to be part of my story. They sacrificed their resources to help me. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t have been able to attend FAMU.”

Giving back has always been important to McReynolds. Initially, he supported athletics by being an Investing in Champions annual season-ticket holder — even though he couldn’t attend many football games. He was inspired to do more after he heard from a colleague who established an endowed scholarship in his father’s name. When McReynolds considered increasing his giving to the University, he consulted with his former professor, SBI Dean and Vice President for University Advancement Shawnta Friday-Stroud, Ph.D.

“Erick McReynolds has been unstintingly generous in supporting his alma mater and the dreams of students,” said Friday-Stroud. “He is definitely an inspiration to me, and he should be to Rattlers everywhere.”

McReynolds, whose wife Jessica encouraged his generosity, has a piece of simple advice for alumni considering giving back to FAMU. “Start where you are,” he said. “Use what you have. Do what you can, and who knows what will happen after that.”

FAMU Alum Scotty Barnhart Wins Grammy

Florida A&M University (FAMU) alum Scotty Barnhart won a Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, February 4.

An acclaimed jazz trumpeter, leader, composer, arranger, educator and author, Barnhart earned his degree from FAMU. He also works as a Florida State University (FSU) music professor.

“I’m elated to have won a Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble for our “Basie Swings The Blues” recording,” Barnhart said. “It’s extra special because this project was my idea from conception and, luckily, I had the greatest jazz orchestra in the world to bring my vision to reality in the most amazing way.”

Barnhart is a former trumpeter in the FAMU Marching “100” band. He has performed with music legends, such as Frank Sinatra, Quincy Jones, Ray Brown, Aretha Franklin and many more. His musical skills have led Barnhart to be named the most important jazz trumpeter

in history, according to Scott Yanow in his book “Trumpet Kings.”

Valencia E. Matthews, Ph.D., dean of the FAMU College of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities, is delighted about Barnhart’s win.

“It is a beautiful thing to see Scotty receive a Grammy — so well-deserved,” Matthews said. “He is a wonderfully talented, world-class musician and musical director, and we are so proud of and happy to celebrate him.”

When Barnhart is not touring with the Count Basie Orchestra, he performs with his own quintet/sextet and travels to lecture and demonstrate at schools, plays at conferences around the world while introducing jazz to listeners and beginners who may want to discover the fine art of music.

Known for its innovative style of blending the blues and jazz, the Count Basie Orchestra was formerly led by the legendary Count Basie, who died in 1984 at age 79. Barnhart credits the long-standing art of Count Basie and is

privileged to be part of continuing musical history.

“I also have to say that this is all due to the genius of Count Basie and the incredible legacy he left us. To have his orchestra still at the top of its game in its 89th year of touring the world is astounding,” Barnhart said. “Basie won his first Grammy in 1958 and 66 years later his orchestra is still winning them. I’m honored to be the director of one of the most important orchestras in history.”

HAPPENING On theHill

BY [ Andrew J. SKERRITT and Diedre P. WILLIAMS ]

FAMU Collaborates with Apple to Launch the Digital Rattler Initiative

Florida A&M University (FAMU) has launched the Digital Rattler Initiative (DRI) in collaboration with Apple to support student success. This spring, 800 first-year students will receive iPads and access to digital apps that focus on developing three 21st century skills: learning, literacy and life. The devices were first deployed in conjunction with the third annual Academic Success Summit hosted by the Office of Freshmen Studies.

The initial rollout launched with four student cohorts to assess further opportunities for expansion. Participating first-year students and the faculty members who instruct them will receive the following

at no cost: iPad Pro, 64 GB; Apple Pencil for notetaking, sketching, annotating, and more; Apple Smart Keyboard Folio; AppleCare+ for Schools to provide technical support. Upon graduation, students may purchase their iPad for $1. Faculty members who are a part of the initiative participated in a summer learning community seminar focused on the integration of iPad use in the first-year experience.

The Digital Rattler Initiative has since grown into a comprehensive effort supported by the Office of the Provost aimed at equipping FAMU students with the skills, knowledge and resources necessary to thrive in the digital era. Through strategic partnerships, state-of-the art infrastructure

and forward-thinking curricula, the iniative focuses on fostering a culture of innovation and the development of digital learning across all academic disciplines.

“The Digital Rattler Initiative is empowering students to overcome the digital divide through access to essential tools and skill development, enhancing their academic journey,” said Allyson L. Watson, Ph.D., provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. “Utilizing the power of technology demonstrates our dedication to fostering student success and academic excellence and elevating the overall student experience.”

Christiaan Lewis, a first-year architecture student from Jacksonville, Florida, received his iPad this semester. He is immediately seeing cost savings and increased efficiency with using the device for notetaking. He encourages his peers to take advantage of this free opportunity.

“I saved money by downloading a free app on my iPad that would have cost me $200,” said Lewis. “Also, I don’t have to buy several notebooks to take notes during class anymore. Everything I need is on my iPad and I am grateful to FAMU for providing me with this tool for my success.”

FAMU Acquires Former Credit Union Building for Allied Health Professions Center

FAMU is the new owner of the former FAMU Credit Union building that will be the School of Allied Health Sciences’ Allied Health Professions Learning Center for faculty and students. Located adjacent to campus, the two-story building, known as Lettman Square, will be a site for faculty and students’ experiential learning and to treat

FAMU School of the Environment to Hold 2024 Nexus Energy Water Food Climate Summit in South Africa

The FAMU School of the Environment will hold its 2024 Nexus Energy Water Food Climate Summit in Durban, South Africa, this summer. The theme, “What We Want Is Possible,” is also a call to action to recruit and train a new generation of student scientists who are ready to provide solutions to the vexing environmental challenges.

The Nexus Energy Water Food Climate Summit presents new opportunities to advance a science-based enterprise, aiming at sustainable solutions for safe water, sustainable energy, food security and climate resilience, said summit creator, School of the Environment Dean Victor Ibeanusi, Ph.D.

“The extraction, production and use of [energy, water and food systems] and the

members of the community.

“This address, 1550 Melvin Street, was once the place where Tallahassee residents banked their money and invested in their future. In a similar vein, this facility will be used to advance the future of Allied Health Sciences to the benefit of our faculty, staff, students, this community, and all of the special places our graduates will go and provide health care to others,” FAMU President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., told administrators, faculty, students and staff gathered for the announcement. “This investment will help ensure that our students continue to have high licensurepassage rates and are ready for the tasks ahead upon graduation.”

Robinson thanked School of Allied Health Sciences Dean Mary Simmons, Ph.D., her faculty and staff, Title III Program Director Erick Akins, Ph.D., Special Projects Coordinator Delores Glover, the development, legal and facilities teams, and the Office of the Provost who helped bring the project to fruition.

Simmons said the acquisition enables students to gain real-time experience in a

overarching impact of climate are inextricably linked in an interdependent system that sustains life on our planet,” said Ibeanusi at an event to unveil the Nexus Summit posters. “The [Nexus of Energy Water Food Climate Nexus] is also, a quest for a new science enterprise to lead the way as we address these pressing environmental challenges. It is an effort to promote cross-cutting discussion, scholarships, and collaboration among researchers, students and entrepreneurs to advance science, policy and decision-making.”

President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., the principal investigator of a five-year $30 million National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration grant to recruit and train scientists from underrepresented groups, said it is a wonderful time to be part of the solution addressing the challenging environmental issues of our time.

“I’m pleased to join Dean Ibeanusi, first dean

clinical setting while providing non-invasive treatment working with faculty, other students and community members. The goal is to have students and faculty in the facility by August 2024.

“With the acquisition of this new building, we are poised to revolutionize the way we educate our students, provide experiential learning opportunities, and foster faculty development,” Simmons said. “This marks a new chapter in our journey, one that will undoubtedly shape the future of healthcare professionals.”

Through its Title III Program Office, the University acquired the $640,000 property on October 31, 2023, using federal funds. Glover thanked the U.S. Department of Education’s Institutional Service Division for their approval.

“It is the first time FAMU considered using Title III’s, Historically Black Graduate Institution funding since it was included in the legislation,” said Glover, speaking on behalf of Title III Program Director Erick Akins. “Therefore, it is a historic opportunity for the University.”

of the School of the Environment, and I want congratulate the students and the faculty of the School of the Environment in making this announcement about the Energy Water Food and Climate Summit in Durban, South Africa,” Robinson said. “We typically have the world come to us. Now we are taking it on the road.”

The 2022 Nexus Summit was held on the Tallahassee campus. Future Nexus Global Summits are planned for Miskolc, Hungary, in 2025 and Asia in 2026.

HAPPENING On theHill

FAMU Names Julian “Cannonball” and Nat Adderley Music Institute

The FAMU Board of Trustees (BOT) approved the naming of the Julian “Cannonball” and Nat Adderley Music Institute in honor of the two musical giants and alumni. President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., said the decision marked the first time FAMU has named an academic program for specific individuals.

“It’s significant that it’s the first. It probably won’t be the last,” Robinson said. “We set a high bar by naming it after the Adderleys. They have been so impactful in music not just here, but wherever they have gone around the world.”

The Adderley brothers moved to Tallahassee in the 1940s when their parents took jobs at the University. The Adderley brothers attended FAMU’s high school before attending the University, where Julian studied band education and Nat studied sociology, with a minor in music. During the 1940s, the Adderley brothers were members of the Marching “100” band. Cannonball graduated from FAMU in 1948, and Nat graduated in 1951.

The BOT renamed the Institute for Research in Music and Entertainment Industry Studies to honor the Adderleys at the urging of Director of Music Industry Studies Darryl Tookes, who is a singer, songwriter and producer.

“Not every post-bop hero from the ’50s could adapt to ’70s fusion, but Cannonball Adderley’s understanding of the blues and his ability to unfurl liquid lines of melody made him invaluable in both eras,” Tookes stated in his proposal. “With his trumpeter/composer brother Nat, the Adderley brothers’ contribution to music of the modern era is unsurpassed. From their interpretation of the Great American Songbook, jazz standards, Showtunes from the Golden Age of Broadway, to their irresistible pop/R&B

In April 2022, Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey proclaimed Nat and Cannonball Adderley Day. Earlier this year, the City of Tallahassee named the Cascades Park Amphitheatre in the brothers’ honor. Renaming the Institute in their name is a natural step, Tookes said.

“Though many of us understood the legacy of the Adderley brothers and their connection to FAMU, I felt a sense of obligation as someone who is perhaps the only person uniquely positioned and ordained if you will — and so this became my ministry to get this done. My mission was to get this accomplished here, for the Adderley brothers, the Adderley family, for FAMU, for the city of Tallahassee, the state of Florida, for musicians everywhere, and maybe more importantly, for God,” he said. “If you’ve ever read the quotation from Cannonball about ‘God smiling on certain individuals…’ — if you’ve never read that, you should. It’s a very humbling feeling to know that we stand in their light. And here we are today.”

The goal is to elevate the FAMU program to its true status of international recognition as a training place for future generations of musicians, executives, managers, publishers, agents, recording engineers, producers, artists, songwriters and impresarios. The mission of the Julian “Cannonball” and Nat Adderley Music Institute is to propel the institute upward to the highest echelons of music business programs — a level befitting the legacy of these celebrated musicians from FAMU.

Nat’s daughter, Alison Adderley, was elated to hear the news given the family’s connection to FAMU’s musical history. She said her father and her uncle were not only members of the Marching “100,” and several bands and orchestras during their time in Tallahassee and FAMU, but they often returned to the campus to play with the marching band and other student musicians.

“To receive such an honor from the institution

where much of their musical talent and craft and development was cultivated would fill them with great joy and would be particularly meaningful and poignant to them,” said Adderley, an economics professor at Valencia College in Orlando.

“The Adderley family is just overjoyed and very grateful that such an honor is being bestowed upon our uncle and father. They have always been so very dear to us, and we have always loved them for the great men they were: intelligent, compassionate, strong and dedicated,” she said. “But to see their musical legacy recognized, fills us with so much pride and joy. We are so thankful.”

FAMU School of Nursing Spring

2023 Graduates Achieve 96.6 Percent Licensure Pass Rate

Twenty-eight of 29 FAMU School of Nursing (SON) spring 2023 graduates passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) on the first try. That gives the SON 2023 spring cohort a 96.55 percent first-time pass rate.

Grammy Award-winning smash hit ‘Mercy Mercy,’ the Adderley name is synonymous with musical excellence and social progress.”

Miles Davis, Cannonball Adderley, John Coltrane: the birth of the modern era in music

A few of the many albums by FAMU Rattlers Canonball and Nat Adderley.

Nursing School students work in the new simulation lab on Wednesday April 26, 2023.

HAPPENING On theHill

“These exceptional results show what happens when we make a collaborative and strategic approach to student success,” President Larry Robinson, Ph.D. “I am delighted for our School of Nursing graduates. The healthcare industry needs their expertise and their talent. FAMU is privileged to be able to provide such important service.”

FAMU’s 2023 overall annual NCLEX 82.46 percent score includes two SON graduates who waited one to two years after graduation to sit for the exam, ultimately lowering the 2023 cohort average, said Vice President for Academic Affairs/Provost Allyson Watson, Ph.D.

She said the SON students who took the NCLEX immediately after graduation were successful in test-passage rates, which shows that the work and support mechanisms have proven outcomes. According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, the NCLEX is designed to test knowledge, skills, and abilities essential to the safe and effective practice of nursing at the entry level.

“We are making tremendous progress as we continue to prepare nursing professionals. Our current standing on the NCLEX is reflective of the work and investment that our faculty, clinical partners and students have committed to,” Watson said. “We will remain steadfast in our pursuit of academic excellence and student success.”

In another major development, the Florida Board of Nursing notified the University that it lifted the SON’s probation after a two-year period.

Chair of the Florida Board of Governors Brian Lamb lauded the School of Nursing’s progress.

“FAMU continues to make significant gains in key areas like nursing by preparing its students for high-impact jobs of the future, further distinguishing itself as a top 100 nationally ranked public institution,” Lamb said.

The gains resulted from a concerted strategy put together by administrators, faculty and staff to prepare students for the licensure exams, said SON Interim Dean Lisa Gardner, DNP. That included increasing the number of academic advisors and academic success coaches. Students also took the predictor exam in preparation for the NCLEX.

“Our faculty has worked tremendously hard to create a learning environment for student success, and the students responded positively,” Gardner said. “We will continue to utilize resources to equip our students with

the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to be successful professional nurses and leaders in the healthcare field. I am very proud of our students, faculty and staff for their hard work and dedication.”

FAMU Closes on $97.5M Loan for 700-Bed Student Residence

FAMU signed a $97.5 million 30-year federal loan to finance construction of a new 700-bed student residence hall. The funding is being done through the U.S. Department of Education’s HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) Capital Financing Program.

In February, President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., joined with Chief Financial Officer/Vice President for Finance and Administration Rebecca W. Brown and other senior officials in the fourth-floor conference room of Lee Hall to participate in a teleconference call with federal and state officials, as well as representatives from the financial and legal firms involved in the completion of the deal. The new residence will increase the University’s on-campus housing capacity to more than 3,000 beds.

“We see this additional housing as an investment in the success of our students, something we are here primarily to do,” said Robinson, who thanked key players, including Brown, Vice President of Student Affairs William E. Hudson, Jr., Ph.D., and various partners who made the deal possible.

Those partners include the U.S. Department of Education, the Florida Board of Governors, Regions Bank, Brentwood Capital Partners, the FAMU Board of Trustees, Florida Division of Bond Finance, Rice Capital Access Program,

LLC, the firm selected by the U.S. Department of Education to administer the HBCU Capital Financing Program. In 2018, FAMU financed construction of the 700-bed FAMU Towers with a $125 million HBCU Capital Program loan.

“This is something that we are really excited about,” Robinson continued. “These 700 beds will make a huge difference in the lives of our students.”

The new student residence will be located along Osceola Street just north of the FAMU Towers, which were completed in 2020. It will occupy an area now used as the gravel parking lot. There will be 193 parking spaces associated with the new 700-bed residential hall when it is completed.

The project contractor is Finfrock Construction, LLC, which also built FAMU Towers. Construction of the new facility is scheduled to begin this spring, with the residence slated to be completed in July 2025 to facilitate July-August 2025 occupancy.

President Larry Robinson, left, and Associate General Counsel, David Self, listen as members of the FAMU Senior Leadership team gather in the President’s Conference Room for a $97.5 million HBCU loan closing with USDOE.

An architectural rendering of the new 700-bed FAMU Towers

THE FALLEN RATTLERS

Roscoe Hightower, Ph.D.

APRIL 2024

The Rev. Cecil “Chip” Murray. Ph.D.

APRIL 2024

Laverne Franklin Payne

FEBRUARY 2024

Bernice Littleton Simmons

FEBRUARY 2024

Aisha Kamilah McKenzie

FEBRUARY 2024

Barbara Cohen-Pippin

FEBRUARY 2024

Addie Whitehurst Seniors

FEBRUARY 2024

Darius S. Johnson

FEBRUARY 2024

Otis A. Mason

JANUARY 2024

Dorothy Smith-Bouie, Ph.D.

JANUARY 2024

Dawn Mercedes Smith

NOVEMBER 2023

Rev. Dr. J. B. Duval

DECEMBER 2023

Major F. Hazelton

DECEMBER 2023

Mable Erlynne Harper

DECEMBER 2023

Sandra Rackley, Ph.D.

NOVEMBER 2023

Shamethis “Nikki” Reaves

NOVEMBER 2023

John Willie Bean, Jr.

NOVEMBER 2023

Alexander D. Brickler, M.D.

NOVEMBER 2023

Dr. Kenneth Fowler

OCTOBER 2023

Lavinia Perkins Mathis

SEPTEMBER 2023

Isaac Moore, M.D.

SEPTEMBER 2023

Rita Dean McCray

SEPTEMBER 2023