Spring 2019

5Florida A&M University President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., speaking the language of leadership.

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LEGACY AND LEADERSHIP SGA’s David Jackson III, president, and Robyn Seniors, vice president, making their mark

SPRING2019

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COVER STORY: SIX QUESTIONS WITH FAMU’S PRESIDENT

UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT Larry Robinson, Ph.D.

It’s official . . . Now what?

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ALL BETS ON BOSTIC

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MARCHING “100” PERFORMS AT THE ROSE PARADE

First female drum major for the Marching “100”

A historic moment that smells so sweet

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STARS SHINE IN RATTLER PRODUCTIONS

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RATTLERS ON CAPITOL HILL

See who is making big moves

Striking it hot in the nation’s capital

GOVERNOR’S PRAYER BREAKFAST RETURNS 30-year tradition

ARMY ROTC PROGRAM PREPARES CADETS TO LEAD

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MEDICAL MARIJUANA FAMU emerges as a leader in marijuana research

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GLORY ROAD

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FAMU NAA NAMED TOPS IN NATION

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TIFFANY GREENE

SECTIONS

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More than a few good officers keep coming

EXECUTIVE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS Kathy Times INTERIM EDITOR LaNedra Carroll COPY EDITORS Ron Hartung Sabrina Thompson LAYOUT AND DESIGN azure77.com WRITERS Kanya Stewart Stephanie Lambert Asia Johnson-Miller Andrew Skerritt

Domonique Davis Carla Morrison Veronique George Shanda Hill Smith

PHOTOGRAPHY Adam Taylor Vaughn Wilson COMMUNICATIONS STAFF Carol Angela Davis, associate director Sabrina Thompson, publications director Andrew Skerritt, media relations Keith Miles, senior projects manager Vernon Bryant, special events Adam Taylor, photographer/videographer Veronique George, social media Jaymee Smith, senior graphic designer Brion Eason, graphic designer Tawanda Finley, executive assistant Lawana Clark, administrative assistant

Head football coach Willie Simmons wants to win on all fronts in new season

Alumni organization grabs award in Atlanta

Her spot on the sidelines is a first

LET ME INTRODUCE MYSELF. . .

“Hi, I’m Andrew”

FAMU’S FANTASTIC FIVE These mayors are in the winners’ circle

04 President’s Message 05 Editor’s Letter 56 Alumni Applause 58 Fallen Rattlers

FOR MORE INFORMATION (850) 599-3413 Twitter: twitter.com/FAMU_1887 Facebook Search: Florida A&M University YouTube: YouTube.com/FAMUTube1887 The A&M Magazine is the official magazine of Florida A&M University, and is designed to inform alumni, supporters, and friends about issues of importance about the University. This public document was promulgated at a total cost of $6,253.99 or $2.10 per copy. FAMU is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access University.

www.famu.edu www.famunews.com

Dear Alumni, Friends and FAMU Supporters: With immeasurable pride, I greet you as the 12th president of Florida A&M University (FAMU), one of the nation’s most prominent historically Black institutions of higher education. Here at FAMU, which rests on one of the highest of seven hills in Tallahassee, Florida, we offer one of the best academic, socially and culturally diverse college experiences to be found anywhere. We are positioned for greatness.

In fact, greatness is what we do. The spring A&M Magazine “Leadership Issue” is all about recognizing and celebrating FAMUans who are leading across this nation.

The A&M Magazine staff has done a masterful job with a cover story about my professional journey, right up to my recent installation at this great institution. It also covers some outstanding Rattlers who have chosen to lead their communities as mayors of their cities.

The other stories give us a look at former and current FAMUans – who are at the top of their games: scientists, performers, politicians and military officials. The A&M Magazine writers and editors feature Rattlers who are striking from the top, women making history, and alumni who are impacting our future.

Their dreams, drive and dedication exemplify the type of excellence that personifies a FAMU Rattler. The pursuit of excellence remains at the top of my list while on this journey at FAMU. After all, “Excellence With Caring” is our motto not only in words, but also in our daily work, deeds and goals.

So, in closing, the A&M Magazine “Leadership Issue” gives us a wonderful, panoramic look at leading Rattlers who aimed high and now make us “Rattler Proud.”

Yours in Service,

Larry Robinson, Ph.D. President

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Greetings, Rattlers: Florida A&M University has been a prolific garden for leaders who have taken root in our nation’s municipalities, industries and institutions as bold visionaries leaving their signatures on our nation. The University is nationally recognized as a place where great leaders are born. From this rich launching pad, “The Hill,” they continue to rise . . .

So, with great pride, we bring you this spring issue of the award-winning A&M Magazine. The “Leadership Issue” presents an exceptional collection of past, present and future leaders whose impact cannot be ignored. Know that we value your continued support of A&M Magazine and invite you to meet FAMUans who are leading the way.

L.A. Carroll Interim editor

Come with us . . . and follow the stories of trailblazing leaders in this special issue featuring an exclusive interview with former Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, the first African-American to win the Florida Democratic gubernatorial nomination.

Don’t stop there. Experience a close-up with the newly inaugurated 12th president of Florida A&M University, Larry Robinson, Ph.D., as the A&M Magazine takes a look -- through the prism of Robinson’s recent installation -- at this leader who was destined to be president. To see a video of the festivities, visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2Vk9krcH-E&t=5s.

In other stories, the writers have verified that leadership can be found in many colors, forms and manifestations. A&M Magazine walks us through the hallowed halls of the U.S. Capitol, the military, scientific laboratories, athletic fields and more. Readers will also get a look at Florida’s new governor, Ron DeSantis, on the FAMU campus, just hours before he is sworn in. Alumni such as Pastor Darrick McGhee and U.S. Rep. Al Lawson Jr. played a role in this tradition.

Kanya Stewart Former editor

Read about Cori Bostic, the first female drum major in the University’s history. High-stepping Rattlers of a different variety also include Mayors Keisha Lance Bottoms (Atlanta, Georgia), Melvin Carter III (St. Paul, Minnesota), Booker T. Gainor (Cairo, Georgia), Angela Sapp (Quincy, Florida) and Deana Holiday Ingraham (East Point, Georgia) who have all taken up the baton as mayors in some of this country’s notable cities.

Finally, take a look at a cast of women in leading roles in pharmacy, sports and government.

In closing, it is my pleasure to return to FAMU to take the helm – if only for one proud moment -- as the interim editor for the spring A&M Magazine. Kanya Stewart, former editor, has made her mark at FAMU and moved on to higher ground as director of communications for the National Association of Black Journalists. So, in a heartfelt Rattler send-off, we say: “Strike on, Kanya! We wish you all the best.”

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The A&M Magazine welcomes letters to the editor about stories in its issues. We reserve the right to edit emails and letters for clarity or spacing. Emails may be sent to: communications@famu.edu or letters may be mailed to the Office of Communications, Florida A&M University, 1601 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Suite 200 Lee Hall, Tallahassee, Florida 32307-3100.

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BY [Domonique DAVIS]

Young SGA Leaders

Set Out to Make Lasting Change

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hanks to their deep family roots at Florida A&M University, David Jackson III and Robyn Seniors always knew they’d be Rattlers.

However, they never imagined that one day they would lead the University’s student body as the 2018-2019 Student Government Association president and vice president.

Jackson, a senior business administration student from Tallahassee, experienced some of his fondest childhood memories on FAMU’s campus. His parents—who met while attending the University—have both worked on “The Hill” for many years, giving Jackson a front-row seat to the campus life.

After finally becoming a Rattler himself, Jackson knew he wanted to get involved right away, so he decided to run for freshman senator. Though he eventually won that election and went on to serve in a variety of other capacities within the SGA, he still wasn’t satisfied. Jackson wanted to have an even greater impact and knew his only option was to run for SGA president.

“You know the saying, ‘Be the change you wish to see’? Well, I saw some changes I wanted to see at FAMU,” Jackson said. “I knew that I needed to be SGA president to accomplish them, so that kind of drew me to the position.”

Determined to win his biggest election yet, Jackson set out to find a running mate. He needed somebody he could trust, so he turned to his childhood companion Robyn Seniors.

“Robyn and I have actually known each other for many years,” Jackson said.

“She grew up down the street from me in

the same neighborhood. I knew I needed someone I could count on, so who better than Robyn? I‘ve known her for as long as I can remember.”

Seniors was undoubtedly the right person for the job. The sophomore business administration student also comes from generations of Rattlers: Her parents met on campus and her mother later served as Miss FAMU. Seniors, a presidential scholar, said she was excited to continue her family’s legacy at the University while establishing a name for herself in the process.

“It was kind of a no-brainer,” Seniors said. “In my family, we go to FAMU and we support FAMU so that it can be sustained for another 131 years of greatness.

“When I finally got to FAMU, I knew I wanted to be involved in SGA, and I was lucky to have the support of my freshman class when they elected me as senator,” she continued.

As her term as freshman senator began to come to a close, Seniors said, Jackson approached her about being his running mate. Following their successful election, the duo have become one of the youngest SGA leadership teams in FAMU’s history, with Seniors being the youngest person to serve as vice president.

While campaigning, Seniors said she didn’t realize she was on her way to making FAMU history. After being elected, though, she began to understand the magnitude of her accomplishment and became even more determined to succeed so other young Rattlers would be encouraged to run in the future.

“I’d say to the young Rattlers, ‘Don’t be

scared. It may feel like there’s a million reasons why you shouldn’t and a thousand people telling you why you can’t, but (former) President Obama said the cynics are the loudest, but they accomplish the least.’ That’s been my motto.”

While others may have thought their youth would be a hindrance, Jackson believes it’s what allows them to truly understand the needs of everyday FAMU students who live on campus.

“When I was elected, I was still a sophomore living on campus,” Jackson said. “When you get older, you tend to live off campus and can become detached. I think us being younger and still having that connection made us better advocates for those everyday students.”

Jackson and Seniors have been fierce advocates for students throughout their term, and have already delivered on several of their platform points, including reinstating the campus safety team and advocating for additional campus housing.

The young leaders are currently on track to accomplish 90 percent of their initial goals, they say, and have continued to add new goals to the list.

The duo agree that they’re focused on not only keeping the promises they made to students while campaigning, but also implementing long-term changes that will continue to benefit students long after their terms are up.

“We’re really doing what we promised we’d do, and I’m very proud of that,” Jackson said. “Really, that’s what it’s all about—doing what you say, and leaving a lasting legacy.”

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When he was a young man growing up in Memphis, he was not sure what he wanted to be once he reached adulthood.

He said he only knew, without a doubt, that he ‘would be something’ because that was the unchanging expectation in his household.

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SIX QUESTIONS WITH THE 12TH PRESIDENT OF FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY Ascending to his place at the helm, Robinson reflects on his life, leadership role and responsibility

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n a recent warm morning in Tallahassee, Fla., in a reflective glance at his youth, his family and, now, his new role as the 12th president of Florida A&M University, Larry Robinson, Ph.D., was thoughtful, proud and progressive. Since his recent installation, the details of the change in his life and its implications were right there … not far from the forefront of his mind.

In a brief but wide-ranging interview, he talked about the responsibility and greatly modified lifestyle that has come with the job. Never far from his thoughts were his family members and the FAMU students . . . always students, past, present and those to come.

FAMU inaugurated Robinson, on Nov. 30, 2018, among a multitude of peers in academia, proud alumni, eager supporters, luminaries, officials, community leaders and loved ones. Pomp and circumstance were also present at the event held at the Alfred Lawson, Jr. Multipurpose Center on FAMU’s campus. During the formal ceremony, few amenities or special touches were spared. After all, the Rattlers had their new president, and it was time to recognize, honor and celebrate.

Yet, as Robinson moved through the crowd wearing traditional inaugural garb and a peaceful smile, someone was missing.

“During the processional, as I was coming into the Lawson Center, I was thinking about my mother,” Robinson said, “about what she would think of me being installed as the 12th president of Florida A&M University -- or being the president of anything -- how proud she would be. If there was any other person who could have been there or if I could have created some magical way to make it happen, it would have been my mother.”

It has been a quarter of a century since this son lost his mother. It has been more than six months since Mrs. Eliza Mae Robinson’s son took his place in history at one of the nation’s premier historically Black universities and one of the best institutions of higher learning.

On this day, the president, dressed in a razor-sharp, gray, pinstripe suit had a challenging schedule. He was preparing to go downtown, to see someone about a financial matter; he was going to close a financial deal for a new $780,000 project, he indicated in his usual calm, quiet demeanor.

As he prepared to leave, he agreed to a question-and-answer session. In his own words, he talked about leading the way on one of his most important assignments at FAMU.

COVER STORY BY [LaNedra A. CARROLL] Interim Editor of A&M Magazine

Does it feel different to you, now that you are the president?

The day-to-day is the same. However, as the president, I have to look much further down the road, in terms of FAMU’s future. It’s not as it was in the previous cases, where I knew it was sort of time-limited. Now, I have to think and focus on moving the University forward . . . I have often joked that, as interim, I could say ‘Well, I’ll leave the tough stuff until the actual president, when he or she comes.’ I never had the luxury because one really never did. (Note: Robinson served three times as the interim president.)

Every time I had the privilege of dealing with so many positive and so many challenging issues while I was in the interim role, all of those experiences contributed to my ability and understanding of what it takes to do this job.

Why is FAMU important to you?

Long before I arrived on the scene, FAMU was a great place and had established its place in history. I tell people all of the time that a lot of smart people, dedicated, brilliant persons came here and led this place before I had the opportunity to do so. I stand on their shoulders.

As I said in my interview with “The Real” (network television show) yesterday, “We are the guardians of the culture and we are the launching pad for young people to realize their dreams of becoming university presidents, mayors, doctors, lawyers, engineers.” This is why FAMU is important to me.

What were your feelings when you received the word that you would be FAMU’s next president?

Well, I was in the (Board of Trustees) meeting. I didn’t think it was appropriate to jump on the table and scream and shout.

I thought about what that meant . . . about the honor to serve in this capacity and about the responsibility.

I looked around the room, I could see it in the eyes of the members of the board, what they expected. I could see my responsibility to the young men and women who stood there . . . why this was important to the alumni . . . all of our partners. It was that moment when all of those things hit. It was a collision of all of those thoughts.

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Did you ever imagine . . .?

As a young man growing up in Memphis, there were a lot of expectations by those who raised me and my siblings, about us being something better than the conditions we were in. We always talked throughout the household about how smart we were and how great we could become . . . but exactly what, we didn’t know.

There was a lot of talk about being doctors and lawyers and teachers, which was a very big thing in those days . . . There were a lot of things that had to be navigated as a young man growing up in the city of Memphis to get to this point.

What has been your biggest challenge since becoming president?

Since I’ve been here, period, and as president, the biggest challenge is trying to get people to recognize a funding model for the system, including FAMU, that really gives some credit to the work that we’re doing as an institution. I’m really happy to see that the funding model has changed in a way that will allow more people to benefit from the funding – and continue to make the kind of progress we’ve made in the years we didn’t get funding.

We’ve made some significant improvements in performance-funding metrics over the last two years, and we’ve done that without a whole lot of investments out of that model. Can you all imagine what we will be able to do now with an approach to funding that allows us more resources to address our primary concern around student success?

What does the slogan, “Together We Rise,” mean to you?

I fundamentally believe that, for us to continue to prosper in a world where all resources are being challenged, I don’t hear anybody out there bragging about having enough to do everything they need to do . . . Marshaling our forces, in terms of working across silos [internally] . . . but, also in the external world . . . working with the alumni, the Boosters, the Foundation, the Legislature, the chancellor . . . working with all those friends . . . local government, in particular, to help build a stronger FAMU. Working together, I think FAMU can contribute to the success of not only the people who come here but also the people who benefit from us being here in the community.

I think there is a lot of economic opportunity that could be better developed if we work together. We are not going to be able to do it, otherwise. We tried that, but that has not worked.

It is time for us to work together, not just talk about it.

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5 President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., is on a mission to ensure that students, faculty, staff, alumni, and other stakeholders are well-informed about the FAMU Rising Strategic Plan (2017-2022), which is the University’s road map for impactful changes for years to come.

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5 Newly installed FAMU President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., has a joyous moment as he raises the presidential mace, which symbolizes the university’s authority. The official presidential medallion adorns his presidential robe.

5 Edward Macias, Ph.D., above, was post-graduate student Larry Robinson’s master professor at Washington University in St. Louis. The Provost Emeritus traveled to FAMU as a special delegate who witnessed Robinson’s installation.

5 Dancer Treyon Sarjent, a FAMU theater major, captivates the audience during the installation service with his performance of “I’ll Rise Up.”

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5 Comedian and FAMU Alum Roy Wood Jr. hosted the gala and pledged to make a donation in support of FAMU scholarships.

5 A proud, beautiful moment is captured at the president’s inaugural gala. From left are: daughters Nicole Robinson and Arlen Robinson, the president, daughter Talia Robinson, First Lady Sharon Robinson, niece Patricia Brown, and Vernon Bryant, FAMU event coordinator.

5 Faculty and administrators of the academy are all smiles as the installation processional gets underway.

5 President Larry Robinson, who served three times as interim president, beams as he gives his presidential medallion a special touch.

5 Members of the FAMU Foundation’s Board of Directors and others address the crowd at the inaugural gala: Hosetta Coleman; NAA President Col. Gregory Clark; Elaine Armster; Former Chair Thomas Jones; Kenneth Neighbors; Foundation President Emeritus Col. (Ret.) Broadus Hartley; and William J. Bryant, D.D.S.

5 Kelvin Lawson, chairman of the Board of Trustees, presents, then assists the President with his custom-made presidential medallion during the installation ceremony.

5 Board of Governors member Alan Levine said the Board trusts President Robinson with FAMU’s future.

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SHAKING THINGS UP TO A NEW BEAT

FIRST FEMALE MARCHING ‘100’ DRUM MAJOR STEPS RIGHT INTO HISTORY BY [Shandra Hill SMITH]

For a solid year, every day, Cori Bostic had one thing on her mind: becoming the first female drum major for Florida A&M University. Bostic, a senior broadcast journalism major, had tried unsuccessfully for the role the year after she’d first made it into the world-famous Marching “100.” While her feelings were hurt, she says she realized it wasn’t her time, and that the fire inside her to pursue the position hadn’t been extinguished.

Bostic decided to work harder and come back stronger the next year. In spring 2018, she tried again — and, in August 2018, she received news that changed her life. The Georgia native gratefully, and excitedly, welcomed the highly regarded responsibility.

“When I was named drum major, I was very proud,” said Bostic, who turns 21 in May. “It’s an honor, male or female, to be named a Florida A&M drum major. To be the first female to have been named, I was even more proud. Getting this position was bigger than me.”

Bostic said she felt prepared for a position of leadership — that of being able to lead as many as 300 fellow band members “in the right direction.” She counts among her leadership qualities perseverance, determination and hard work.

“If you just go down the mantra of our band motto, you have to have the highest quality of character, achievement in academics, perfection in musicianship, precision in marching, dedication to service,” Bostic says. “If you just follow the band motto and check off every single thing, then you deserve the highest position of leadership.”

Shelby Chipman, Ph.D., director of marching and pep bands, echoed that sentiment.

“Cori exemplified the core values stated in the 72-year history of the FAMU band program, that is character, leadership, musicianship, marching, dedication and being a role model,” Chipman said. “As director of the marching band, I was honored to announce her in the capacity of drum major and know that she will continue to demonstrate the highest ideals and practices of leadership that encourage future band members to stay committed and persistent in life.” 4

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“I had to make sure that I held up to the name and to the standard of drum major,” says Bostic, who considers FAMU home, particularly considering her parents, Cory and Lenise, were both members of the marching band; they graduated from FAMU 18 years before Bostic would make her way to “the Hill.”

“The most enjoyable thing about being drum major is marching in Bragg, leading the “100” into a performance when that whistle sounds off, and seeing the crowd in Bragg [Memorial] Stadium go crazy,” says Bostic, “or marching the streets in Pasadena, Calif., [in the Tournament of Roses Parade] and seeing everyone cheer for us for miles and miles and miles. That makes everything absolutely worth it.

“What I’ve experienced during the season and being a drum major are things that sculpted me and will continue to sculpt me for the rest of my life. The lessons that I’ve learned this past season as a Florida A&M University drum major are lessons that I’m going to take with me for the rest of my life. There’s nothing that the real world can throw at me that Florida A&M University hasn’t already thrown at me. I am fully prepared for what the world has to bring.”

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SOME FAMILIAR, SOME NEW TAKING THE LEAD AT FAMU Here’s a look at a few recent additions to the leadership team.

Maurice Edington, Ph.D.

Beverly Barrington, M.S

Maurice Edington, Ph.D., was promoted to provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. In this new capacity, one of his responsibilities is to oversee the search for the new deans of the FAMU College of Law and College of Education.

Beverly Barrington is FAMU’s vice president for Strategic Planning, Analysis and Institutional Effectiveness. Her role as vice president is to provide oversight for assessment, accreditation, academic program review, institutional research and reporting, and strategic planning functions.

Edington has secured more than $10 million in research funding from various federal and state agencies.

He currently serves as the principal investigator on a $2 million grant award from the National Science Foundation.

NEW DEANS Michelle Ferrier, Ph.D.

Johnnie Early, Ph.D.

Michelle Ferrier, Ph.D., was named the new dean of the FAMU School of Journalism & Graphic Communication. Previously, she served as an associate professor at the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University (Columbus) and former associate dean for Innovation, Research/ Creative Activity and Graduate Studies at the Ohio University Scripps College of Communication.

Johnnie Early, Ph.D., has returned to FAMU as the dean of the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Public Health.

Since 1987, Early has served as dean of three pharmacy schools: Florida A&M University, Medical University of South Carolina, and The University of Toledo, where he held the post for 18 years.

Richard Aló, Ph.D.

Shawnta Friday-Stroud, Ph.D.

Richard Aló, Ph.D., the new dean of the College of Science and Technology, comes to FAMU from a similar post in Mississippi. Since 2012, Aló served as dean of the Jackson State University College of Science, Engineering, and Technology.

Prior to that, he was the program director in the Directorate for Education and Human Resources and Division of Undergraduate Education at the National Science Foundation.

Shawnta Friday-Stroud, Ph.D., is the vice president for University Advancement and executive director of the FAMU Foundation. Prior to this role, she served as a member of the Leadership Team that led FAMU’s successful reaffirmationof-accreditation process with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

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BY [Shandra Hill SMITH]

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AMIR WINDOM

TIRRELL WHITTLEY

WILL PACKER

On Jan. 18, FAMU alumnus and Grammywinning record executive Amir Windom premiered his latest project, “Canal Street.”

The film features a star-studded cast including alumnus Woody McClain (“The Bobby Brown Story” and “New Edition”).

FAMU alumnus and Producer Tirrell D. Whittley premiered his highly anticipated documentary film, “Amazing Grace” in 2018 in New York City. The film is about Aretha Franklin’s 1972 performance at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles.

FAMU alumnus and film producer Will Packer’s latest film, “Little,” is in theaters.

Starring award-winning actress Regina Hall (Jordan Sanders), Issa Rae and Marsai Martin, the film is about the take-no-prisoners mogul Jordan, who torments -- on a daily basis -- her longsuffering assistant and employees. She soon faces an unexpected threat to her personal life and career when she is magically transformed into a 13-year-old version of herself.

“Canal Street” is a faith-filled and timely portrayal of racial and class conflicts ripped from today’s headlines, where young men of color are often guilty until proven innocent. After the murder of a White classmate, all eyes fall on Kholi Styles (Bryshere Gray), and it is up to his father (Mykelti Williamson), an up-and-coming lawyer from the South Side of Chicago, to prove his son is not the monster the world has made him out to be.

Windom served as one of the film’s executive producers and as music supervisor. Since graduating from FAMU’s School of Journalism & Graphic Communication in 2008, Windom has worked with such celebrities as Bruno Mars, Kanye West, Trey Songz, B.o.B. and T.I. Windom has also worked on and helped create music scores for such companies as Sony; he worked on such TV shows and films as “Being Mary Jane,” “Stomp the Yard 2,” “Act Like a Lady,” “Think Like a Man,” “Why Did I Get Married 2” and “Despicable Me 2.”

“Amazing Grace,” features Franklin singing her gospel hits in front of an audience that included her late father, the Rev. C.L. Franklin, and gospel singers Clara Ward and Mother Ward of the Ward Family Singers, as well as the Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger and Charlie Watts.

A live album was created from the performance; it attracted national attention when Franklin won a Grammy for her work. The live album sold 2 million copies, becoming the best-selling album of her career.

Will Packer has been the producer of such Hollywood hits as “Night School,” “Girls Trip,” “Think Like a Man” and “Ride Along.”

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BY [Stephanie LAMBERT]

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A

t a time of hyper partisanship in Washington and a divided Congress, an impressive group of Rattler elected officials and staff are laboring hard to make a difference on Capitol Hill.

Those who are leading the way to innovative ideas and solutions for some of the nation’s most challenging districts are all Rattlers, who have come from the red-clay hills of Tallahassee – more specifically, from “The Hill.”

The Rattler alumni in the nation’s capital are Rep. Al Green (D-Texas), Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.), Rep. Al Lawson Jr. (D-Fla.) and Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.). These congressmen are strengthening America’s communities, rebuilding its economy, developing pathways for success and working tirelessly to best represent the residents of their districts.

In a Congress commonly cited these days for its internal bickering, the Rattlers in their ranks always seem to agree on one thing: The tools they acquired from the “Highest of Seven Hills” prepared them for their leadership roles on Capitol Hill.

“Hard work and self-discipline were instilled in me at an early

U.S. Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.) 5

age, but while attending FAMU, it was made even stronger,” said Scott, who earned his degree in finance from FAMU. “I learned to always go the extra mile, to always put in a little more than what is expected of me.”

After FAMU, he said, door after door opened for him. “I was given the opportunity to intern with the Lyndon B. Johnson Management Intern Program at the U. S. Department of Labor in Washington. Needless to say, I would not be sitting in Congress today had it not been for Florida A&M University and God Almighty for making a way for me.”

Over the years, FAMU has distinguished itself with premier academic programs and a wealth of such accolades as Time magazine’s “Best College of the Year” in 1997 and the Black Enterprise distinction of being named “The No. 1 University for African Americans” in 2006. The University continues to garner respect for the well-prepared graduates it turns out. With more than 100 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the nation, such institutions as FAMU have set the bar high for such alumni as these congressmen.

“HBCUs are the backbone of our nation,” said Lawson, who sits on the HBCU Caucus. “Colleges whose missions were to educate those who would have otherwise gone uneducated.

They teach you ‘Excellence With Caring,’ and you are given the opportunity to learn who you are, not just academically, but culturally. I know this because that is what FAMU taught me.”

U.S. Rep. Al Lawson Jr. (D-Fla.) 5

The four elected officials are not the only FAMUans in the Capitol. It is hard to move throughout the capitol complex without seeing an orange-and-green ‘’snake’’ in a hearing,

4

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U.S. Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) 5

Scott remembered that when he graduated from high school in Daytona Beach, his family didn’t have enough money for him to attend college. His Daytona Beach community pulled together and raised $350 for him to attend the college of his choice.

At the time, FAMU was on the trimester system, with each term costing $350.

chairing a staff meeting or greeting a fellow Rattler.

“Rattlers have a shared spirit of excellence and it bonds us,” said Keenan Austin Reed, chief of staff for Rep. Donald McEachin (D-Virginia, 4th District). “And in a town like Washington, where your networks are currency, every connection counts. The Rattler network is powerful. I know that I have an extended family, both talented and well-placed, that would move mountains to help me.”

Bobby Bivens is a staff assistant for Green.

He said his lessons at FAMU have shaped his life.

“By attending FAMU, I was not only educated in the classroom,” Bivens said, “but also in the life experiences that came with the HBCU experience. Even though most of us shared the same skin tone, everyone brought their own unique perspectives and values. When I see my fellow Rattlers on the Hill, it makes me proud and makes me feel like I have family members here with me.”

“I got on a Greyhound to Tallahassee knowing that I had enough for one trimester and that I could find a job,” he said. “I received academic honors that led to additional scholarships that allowed me to stay enrolled. FAMU was the best choice for me.”

Those Washington congressmen who matriculated at FAMU often end up working on like projects. They say they understand the importance of giving back and paying it forward. One of the recent congressional initiatives was the passage of the $867 billion Farm Bill, which included funding for historically Black colleges and universities, and other vulnerable communities. The bipartisan legislation is designed to benefit students attending such 1890 land-grant institutions as FAMU so that they can continue to pursue careers in agriculture.

The Farm Bill provides HBCU-exclusive funding over the next five years for $15 million for HBCU cooperative extension and research, $80 million in student scholarships, and $10 million a year to

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support new HBCU Centers of Excellence to address agricultural workforce development, nutrition and food security, economic development and emerging technologies.

This bill is among those supported by the FAMUans.

The four members also serve together on the Congressional Black Caucus that currently has a historic 55 members, who account for approximately 22 percent of all Democratic votes. As Caucus members, they fight against unfair policies, protect affordable health care for all Americans, protect voting rights, ensure access to a quality public education, and work to strengthen marginalized communities and citizens across the nation.

Last year, Lawson hosted a forum during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference that examined the role FAMU played in preparing several of the nation’s mayors who graduated from FAMU for leadership.

Lawson, who earned his degree in political science in 1970, said students who are thinking about a career in politics should take advantage of all the offerings FAMU provides and think beyond the classroom.

“Go into the community and see how you can bring real change in this world,” said Lawson, who attended FAMU on a basketball and track scholarship. “As members of Congress, we must do our part to create a stable pipeline that leads the

Here is a roll call of other leading Rattlers who are making their mark on Capitol Hill.

WENDY ANDERSON Chief of Staff for Rep. Val Demings (Florida) B.S. Pre-Law/Criminal Justice next generation of diverse and highly skilled graduates to successful careers.“ Lawson’s words seemed to foretell the motivation of staff members like Reed.

Reed is a graduate of the FAMU School of Business and Industry.

There, she said, “we lived by the motto that ‘No amount of effort is adequate until effective.’ It was instilled in us early that grit and hustle were absolutely necessary. It was never enough to simply be in a room; you had to be excellent because you were representing a long lineage and history of proud FAMU alumni.”

BOBBY BIVENS Staff Assistant for Rep. Al Green (Texas) B.S. Criminal Justice TAMIA BOOKER Deputy Chief of Staff for Sen. Cory Booker (New Jersey) B.S. Political Science VINCENT EVANS Special Assistant to Rep. Al Lawson (Florida) B.S. Political Science STANLEY HARDY Legislative Assistant for Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee B.S. Journalism STEPHANIE LAMBERT Communications Director for Rep. Al Lawson (Florida) B.S. Journalism KEENAN AUSTIN REED Chief of Staff for Rep. Donald McEachin (Virginia) Master’s, Business Administration VIRGIL MILLER Chief of Staff for Rep. Cedric Richmond (Louisiana) B.S. Biology; Master’s in Public Health TOLA THOMPSON Chief of Staff for Rep. Al Lawson (Florida) B.S. Journalism

U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.) 5

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GOVERNOR’S PRAYER BREAKFAST RETURNS TO FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY Religious leaders joined Florida A&M University’s president, alumni, dignitaries, elected officials and the public to participate in the Inaugural Prayer Breakfast. The breakfast, a tradition, took place January 8 at FAMU’s Al Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center and Teaching Gymnasium.

Just hours before Gov. Ron DeSantis took the oath of office, religious leaders from several denominations and faiths prayed for his new administration. The breakfast started three decades ago with former Gov. Bob Martinez.

FAMU President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., introduced DeSantis, first lady Casey DeSantis, Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez and her husband, Adrian Nunez. During the governor’s speech, he pledged to support FAMU and acknowledged the significance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Pastor Darrick McGhee, a FAMU alumnus, at left, served as the master of ceremonies. The FAMU Gospel Choir sang uplifting songs.

Also present on the dais was alumnus, and U.S. Representative Al Lawson Jr.

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BY [Domonique DAVIS]

W

hen retired COL. RONALD M. JOE first arrived at Florida A&M University, he thought it would be merely a stop on his way to West Point Military Academy in New York. After falling in love with the ROTC program and the campus in the state capital, he chose to stay at FAMU. He said it was one of the best decisions he’s ever made.

“There’s no place that could have prepared me better than FAMU,” Joe said.

“I was the first Black guy to ever be the aide to a four-star general. People used to ask me all the time, ‘Did you attend West Point?’ I’d tell them, ‘No, I attended West Point on the Suwannee.’ ” Upon graduating with a degree in political science and pre-law, Joe was commissioned into the U.S. Army. During his military career, he served in numerous countries, to include Vietnam, Russia and various parts of the United States. Two of his tours brought him back to FAMU, where he was able to mentor students as an instructor in the ROTC program and a professor of military science.

Joe said he’s been grateful to have a positive impact on young, black future officers. Though the military has continued to diversify throughout the years, he said there’s still a long way to go – and it’s important for students to be prepared.

“I think the HBCU experience is still so important to our Black officers because they are surrounded by people who can truly prepare them,” Joe said. “We can tell them what they really have to do to make it.”

Since their inception, historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have remained the top producers of Black leaders in a number of industries, and according to the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights, the U.S. military is no exception. 4

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2nd Lt. Lesley Ann Jackson 5

Though it’s been more than 70 years since the military was desegregated, Black men and women currently make up only about 17 percent of the total force. Only 9 percent of all officers, and many of these high-ranking officials, were trained at ROTC programs at HBCUs. SECOND LT. LESLEY ANN JACKSON, a recent graduate of the FAMU Army ROTC program, said the program gave her an invaluable network of fellow Black officers, such as Col. Ronald Joe, who have continued to offer guidance throughout the years. From quick phone calls to long conversations in Howard Hall, Jackson said, Rattler Battalion cadets are always on hand to give advice to those coming behind them.

“The FAMU Army ROTC program prepared me in so many ways,” Jackson said. “I’ve gotten to meet and learn from Black lieutenants, colonels and generals. That’s just not possible everywhere.”

Senior cadets CODDRICK GRIFFIN and ANDRE FRENCH are ready for the next step of their military careers.

They both said they have begun to reflect fondly on the lessons learned and memories made during their time in the program.

Griffin was commissioned during spring commencement in May. French graduates this summer 2019. Both had prior military service before joining the ROTC program. French served in the Army National Guard as a cook and helicopter mechanic; Griffin was a combat engineer in the Army Reserve.

“When you come in with prior service, you have hands-on experience with some of the stuff they teach you in class,” French said. “At the same time, the part that ROTC gives you, which you wouldn’t really get when you go into the Army enlisted – is that leadership preparation. (At FAMU) they’re teaching you how to come in and lead soldiers who may have been in the Army longer than you.”

Now, as they await their commissions, the cadets agree they’re more ready than ever to embark on their new journeys as Army officers.

“I’m definitely looking forward to graduation because I know I’m ready for what’s next,” Griffin said. “As ROTC students we learn discipline, time management and leadership.

We’re more than prepared for the next chapter.”

French added: “Nobody’s going to hold your hand here, especially after you’ve gotten through to your advanced courses. We leave (FAMU) knowing we’re ready to be leaders.”

A look at one historic Black military leader

Henry Ossian Flipper, 1856-1940 HENRY OSSIAN FLIPPER was the first African American to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy (West Point). Born March 21, 1856, in Thomasville, Georgia, Flipper was the son of Festus Flipper and his wife Isabelle, both of whom were enslaved.

Flipper’s parents’ master took the family to Atlanta where, after Emancipation, Henry Flipper was educated. In 1873, following his

studies at American Missionary Association schools and Atlanta University (now Clark Atlanta University), Flipper obtained an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy.

While African-American cadets had been admitted to West Point previously, Flipper was the first to graduate from the Academy, receiving his degree on June 14, 1877.

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Source: The Colored Cadet at West Point. Autobiography of Lieut. Henry Ossian Flipper, U. S. A., First Graduate of Color from the U. S. Military Academy New York: H. Lee & co., 1878.

BRIAN LUCAS, D.M., assistant director of Governmental Relations, is a 1993 journalism graduate. He said his time spent in the Rattler Battalion also readied him for service.

“The training you receive and the lessons you learn about accountability, responsibility and leadership are just unmatched,” Lucas said. “It’s just a great opportunity to be put into different positions where you have to learn how to lead, take charge and accomplish any goals.”

During his time in the service, Lucas earned the rank of captain and served as a logistics officer. In 2004, he was deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, with the 204th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment as a publicaffairs and media-relations officer

in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Lucas recalls that he had dreamed of reaching such an achievement in his career.

“When I was in school, a professor introduced me to the idea of becoming a public-affairs officer, and right away I knew that’s what I wanted to achieve,” Lucas said. “Reaching that goal was an incredibly proud moment for me; I know I wouldn’t have gotten there had it not been for my time in the Army ROTC program.”

After 12 years of distinguished service as a U.S. Army Reserve officer, Lucas returned to “The Hill” where he has performed since 2005 in several administrative roles within the Office of the President and the Office of Communications.

Retired Capt. Brian Lucas, D.M. 5

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FAMU EMERGES AS A LEADER IN MARIJUANA RESEARCH

New director charts path to tackle high expectations BY [Andrew J. SKERRITT]

Florida A&M University is one of two state schools authorized by the Florida Legislature to conduct research on medical marijuana. That mandate gives FAMU, Florida’s only public historically Black university, a seat at the table, along with the University of South Florida, in shaping the fledgling industry that is projected to top $1.6 billion in sales by 2021.

Following passage of the constitutional amendment legalizing medical marijuana, dispensaries and clinics have since opened all across the state and more than 1,800 physicians have been certified to treat patients with medical marijuana. The FAMU initiative receives $10 from each $75 medical-marijuana identification sold.

“This nascent industry is going to require a lot of people,” said Peter Harris, director of FAMU’s Center for Marijuana Education and Research Initiative.

He lists the College of Pharmacy, School of Nursing, Allied Health Sciences, and the Law School as areas that will furnish graduates to enter the new industry in which vertically integrated companies are involved from seed to sale of medical marijuana.

“FAMU’s platform is tremendous. It’s a booming industry.

FAMU is in a unique place.”

As director of Medical Marijuana Projects, Harris also must manage the high expectations of the Legislature, FAMU administration and supporters anxious to see the university capitalize on this rare opportunity. At the same time, he must lead the way as FAMU positions itself to be the go-to source for groundbreaking research and education for the fledgling industry, and the ills of illegal marijuana use.

Harris says the directive from FAMU President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., is clear.

“My president wants FAMU to be the touchstone,” he said.

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“He wants FAMU to be the No.1 source of information. Failure is not an option.”

ADVISORY COMMITTEE GETS INTO GEAR TO LEAD THE WAY A key component of the initiative is the role of the Advisory Committee, comprising such administrators as Cynthia Hughes Harris, Ph.D., dean of the FAMU School of Allied Health Sciences. She said the new director has been instrumental in providing a historical framework to help committee members understand past marijuana-use patterns, which is needed to craft “the directions of this Initiative as we move to the future.”

Harris, during an interview at his offices at the FAMU Foundation on East Tennessee Street, talked about the disparate impact illegal pot use has had on communities of color as a result of the war on drugs; he also spoke of how the right outreach can break those patterns.

“This initiative requires collaboration, sharing of information, high levels of communication and hard work,” Hughes Harris said. “It is through Harris, as our director, that the entire team is committed to these values and successfully adhering to them.”

As it relates to the use of medical marijuana in Florida’s minority communities, Maurice Edington, Ph.D., had this to say: “This initiative will help position FAMU to be a leader with respect to outreach, education and research in this space.”

Edington, who is FAMU’s provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, is also the principal investigator.

The Marijuana Education and Research Initiative has two assignments. First, Harris’ team must educate Floridians 4

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Peter Harris, director 5

about the use of medical marijuana as an alternative remedy to traditional pharmaceuticals.

“The goal is to make FAMU integral to this industry. Whether scholarship, education or community engagement, research and education are our strengths,” he said.

The second mandate is to educate the state’s diverse minority communities about the impact of illicit marijuana use in minority communities.

That could be more difficult, given the changing societal attitudes about smoking marijuana; smoking pot is legal in at least 10 states. Yet, Harris said such outreach is achievable.

“It’s about people,” Harris said.

“The thing about policy is how do you incentivize the right behavior?”

The key, he said, is to deliver the relevant messages to each community.

“You have to have credibility in these communities. You have to be able to conduct outreach in a way you can get valid feedback, move the needle and have an impact. It’s a difficult task, but it has been done.”

Harris spoke with the confidence of someone who knows how to implement change. Harris, who grew up in Liberia

before emigrating with his parents to the U.S. at age 12, pointed to his successful lobbying efforts on behalf of reparations for descendants of the Rosewood Massacre and economic development for communities ravaged by the 1989 Miami riots.

Jeff Sharkey, a lobbyist for the medical marijuana industry, has known Harris for more than two decades.

Given Harris’ knowledge of the temperature and the political dynamics surrounding medical marijuana, “He will be able to resolve some of those issues and move the programs forward,” Sharkey said. Harris, he added, will also have to find a way to navigate among the interests of the governor, Legislature and the health department.

CLEARING UP WINDS OF PERCEPTION VS. PROGRESS Five months into the job, the biggest challenge, Harris said, is “the perception that we are moving too slowly.” Legislators who pushed for FAMU’s leadership role, and the university’s supporters and critics are anxious to see FAMU make an impact, even as the industry’s growth has been slowed by the health department’s sluggish rollout of regulations, controversy over smoking as a method of ingesting medical marijuana and lawsuits over the issuing of licenses for medical-marijuana treatment centers.

Harris assures that he and his team are ready, and moving forward.

The team, he said, is completing literature review and training for outreach coordinators. The game plan calls for training the trainers people who will carry the educational message honed at FAMU to the affected communities. He is also

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building partnerships, and coalitions with church and community groups to facilitate access to their members for outreach.

“Targeting leadership gives us access to their congregants so we are not just doing outreach for outreach’s sake,” he said. “There is a nexus between talking to these organizations and what we expect to be the outcome of these conversations. We are going to touch the entire state.”

It’s a huge task, but Harris believes the University can get it done.

“FAMU understands the challenge,” Harris said. “We’re ready to engage.

We are on the cusp of some really wonderful things.”

Keisha Lance Bottoms Law / Government

Yolanda L. Pinkard Technology

Howard C. Burton Business

John Pugh Community Service

Otis Cliatt III Business

Hon. Rodney Smith, Esq. Law / Government

LTC Milton D. Corley Community Service

Phyllis Taite, Esq. Education

Shawnta Friday-Stroud Business

Natalie White Athletics

Oliver G. Gilbert, Esq. Law / Government

Harry Belafonte Williams Community Service

Henry Lawrence Athletics

William H. Youmans III Science / Technology

Layla McCall Stafford Community Service

Angela M. Bledsoe (Posthumously) Business A&M MAGAZINE

// SPRING 2019 // 37

BY [Domonique DAVIS]

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Simmons sets football sights high for coming season;

winning on all fronts is the only play in his book For returning Florida A&M University Head Football Coach Willie Simmons, hours of recruiting trips, weeks of conditioning and grueling practices are all leading up to one big day: The 2019 season opener.

The annual Orange and Green spring game gave Rattlers a preview of next season, so Simmons already has a good vision of what’s to come: He is ready to build on the momentum he started in his first year. It’s time to take it to the next level.

Looking back, FAMU football fans stirred with anticipation as they awaited the news of who would be named head coach.

On Dec. 12, 2017, the wait was finally over. The word was that Simmons, a Tallahassee-area native and former Prairie View A&M University coach, would return home to lead the Mighty Rattlers.

Simmons – who grew up in nearby Quincy, Fla. – said the boisterous crowds, booming drums and melodious sounds of the Marching “100” were all familiar to him. Simmons said he spent many warm Saturday afternoons in Bragg Memorial Stadium, cheering on legendary FAMU teams of the past. When he was offered the opportunity to be in Tallahassee, just 20 minutes away from his hometown, leading a football program that he enjoyed watching as a child, there was no way he could turn it down.

“Growing up watching Billy Joe’s offense score a ton of points, all of the memories of the ‘Run After Catch Boys’ (RAC Boys), and just my understanding of where this program comes from, were major factors in my desire to come back,” he said. (The RAC Boys were the receiving crew that made former Head Coach Billy Joe’s Gulf Coast Offenses famous). “Also being from this area and, for the first time in my coaching career, getting to spend time with my family, not just my wife and kids, but my grandparents, my sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, childhood friends -- all of those things played a role, as well.”

Simmons arrived on the “Hill” with much fanfare. Expectations from Rattlers everywhere were stratospheric for the former Clemson University and Citadel quarterback, and the former Prairie View Head Coach (2014-2017).

Larry Cornelius, a longtime FAMU football fan and supporter, said he was excited to learn that Simmons would be the man on the headset. With Simmons’ success as a college athlete and his winning record at The Citadel and Prairie View, Cornelius said, he

could not wait to see what Simmons could do at FAMU. “My expectations for Coach Simmons were extremely high,” Cornelius said. “He appeared to be a well-disciplined, spirited, knowledgeable and teachable person. Plus, he raised the level at (Prairie View) as their head coach. Coach Simmons had a 21-11 record after three seasons at Prairie View, including a 6-5 season before he left and became the head coach at FAMU. “It was easy for me to expect FAMU to do well under Coach Simmons.”

Expectations among other fans and supporters were also in the clouds; they said they were confident Simmons would deliver a winning season -- and, he did. While some may have been intimidated by fans’ high expectations, Simmons embraced and understood the hunger for winning.

“We coach college football in the South,” Simmons said, “and it’s a huge deal. There’s not a job in the South at any level that wouldn’t be pressure-packed. Friday nights for high school and Saturday nights as far as college football are rites of passage in this region. With that comes a huge responsibility to usher in the level of football that people have come to know and expect in Tallahassee.”

After leading the Rattlers to their first winning season since 2011, Simmons said his vision for the FAMU football program remains the same this year.

“It’s all about culture building,” Simmons said. “The players, the support staff, coaches, everybody understands what we’re looking for as far as our program goals and beliefs, and now it’s just a matter of continuing to grow. You know, they say in football your most improvement is from Game One to Game Two. In this case, it’s from Year One to Year Two.” As the team prepared for the Spring game, Simmons said he looked forward to working to rebuild the program’s historic, dominant legacy.

“Our history, our alumni, our fan base is second to none,” Simmons said. “We expect to win. I think next year, (fans) can expect to see a team that knows what we’re looking for from them . . . a FAMU team that further resembles the dominant teams they’re used to from the past.”

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FAMU NATIONAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION IS NAMED TOPS IN NATION BY [Shandra Hill SMITH]

The Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University National Alumni Association (NAA) was recognized at an Atlanta conference for its significant contributions to the University.

The National Black College Alumni (NBCA) Hall of Fame Foundation Inc. honored FAMU’s NAA for excellence in government advocacy, fundraising and student recruitment during its 7th Annual Legacy of Leaders alumni luncheon in Atlanta. The event promotes the viability of HBCUs and highlights the accomplishments of their alumni.

Here is a look at some recent NAA initiatives: •

In February 2018, more than 450 alumni, adorned in orange and green, gathered in Tallahassee for FAMU Day at the Capitol to solicit support for their alma mater.

In addition to legislative visits, alumni also attended an educational session where they learned about the branches of government, the division of power, the legislative process and how a bill becomes a law. Alumni also assisted in advocating for Senate Bill (SB) B1712, which allowed FAMU to participate in the HBCU Capital Finance Program to address infrastructure needs.

•

Having played an integral role in recruiting more than 2,000 freshmen admitted to FAMU last fall, the NAA spearheaded several successful student recruitment events.

One of the largest was during the Black College Expo in Los Angeles, where more than 15,000 students with an interest in attending an HBCU participated.

•

Impressed by the attendance of FAMU President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., alumni ambassadors and university staff, parents and students flocked to the FAMU area, yielding one of the largest crops of future Rattlers. The student recruitment event held during the Florida Classic in Orlando brought out more than 1,500 students and school representatives from across Florida.

•

The NAA has also played a pivotal role in retention, helping students to remain at the University with their Save Our Students (SOS) fundraising initiatives. Over the past three years, the NAA has raised more than $400,000 and helped more than 430 students who were in danger of dropping out because of financial difficulties. The NAA has also committed its members to assisting the FAMU Athletics program, raising funds for facilities, recruitment, travel and other special initiatives through the FAMU First fundraising campaign.

For more: Visit www.famunaa.org

“It’s always an honor to be recognized for your work, but I accepted this award on behalf of the membership of the FAMU National Alumni Association,” said Col. Gregory L. Clark, NAA president. “My members are fantastic and very supportive of me. They are the foundation that ensures we continue to have a strong and influential alumni association.”

The FAMU NAA is the oldest and largest of the four Direct Support Organizations supporting the university. Clark said the organization has grown with the addition of more than 85 chapters and members throughout the United States, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia and Africa.

“The FAMU National Alumni Association continues to recruit more than half of the incoming freshmen attending FAMU,” Clark said. “Our governmental advocacy efforts continue to impact the increase in funding, and our fundraising and giving efforts are second to none.”

According to Clark, the heart of that effort is the FAMU National Alumni Association Save Our Students Scholarship. Since its establishment in 2016, the scholarship has assisted more than 300 graduating or returning students to complete their studies.

Clark said the scholarship is the most impactful in the school’s history.

“It’s making a difference by impacting the state of Florida Performance Based Metrics around graduation rates,” he said.

“In the fall of 2018, we awarded funds to 19 graduating seniors, helping them achieve their goal of graduating from FAMU. Since 2016, we have awarded [approximately] $400,000 to nearly 400 students.”

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BY [Asia MILLER]

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FROM THE SIDELINES TO MAKING HER OWN HEADLINES . . .

Journalism grad’s professional moves land her on television sports’ big screen

From an early age, Tiffany Greene Berry (known professionally as Tiffany Greene) was a hardcore sports fan. She vividly remembers donning an orange creamsicle Tampa Bay Buccaneers uniform, practicing her football skills and announcing her own game.

“I always loved sports and wanted to find a way to maintain a connection,” Greene said. “I thought I’d either be a sportscaster or the first woman to play in the NFL. Learning to pass and catch when throwing to myself is a great memory of mine. It feeds into the notion (I had) that I could achieve anything.”

A Tampa native, Greene is an athlete who played many sports, including basketball, for most of her life.

She attended Florida A&M University on a bowling scholarship, and the School of Journalism & Graphic Communication. The “J-School” is where she sharpened her sportscasting skills.

She is now the first Black female play-by-play announcer on a major network. Greene currently works as a commentator for ESPN, covering a variety of collegiate sports including basketball, football, softball and volleyball.

Broadcasting came naturally to Greene, who didn’t have to look far for inspiration: Her father, Dayle Greene, was the first black on-air reporter in the Tampa area, where he reported for Fox’s WTVT-Channel 13.

LaChina Robinson, an ESPN basketball analyst, has worked with Greene for nearly five years; Robinson said “it is a privilege.”

“There’s a humility about her that is special -- and is going to go a long way,” Robinson said. “She’s just getting started and I think we’ll see more historic moments for her in the future.”

“My dad is the real rock star,” Greene said. “What I appreciate is that he, too, is a pioneer.”

She remembers the family being stopped often around town by her father’s fans, who loved seeing a representation of themselves on screen. 4

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Alumna Tiffany Greene with an ESPN College Football colleague, Jay Walker. 5

“It was a great source of pride for our community that has stuck with him all throughout his life.” Now they are stopped around town because of Tiffany Greene’s own contributions to television.

Greene comes from a long line of Rattlers that spans four generations. Her greatgrandmother Bernice Greene graduated in the ’30s from what was then Florida A&M College for Negroes (FAMC).

She invested 10 years in the industry before earning her first big break. In 2014, Greene followed up on a contact she made at a National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) conference. This led to her debut as a sideline reporter on the FOX Sports 1 network for the Big East women’s basketball conference. The show broadcasts to 96 million households and helped catapult Greene to stardom.

“I got to experience the same ‘excellence with caring’ that my [relatives] had previously,” she said. “It grew me as a person and helped me understand the concept of community even greater.”

“That [conference] experience manifested into the dream job I have now,” she said.

Greene says her training in the FAMU journalism school was “phenomenal” and the experience put her in a position to achieve success.

“I felt loaded going into the workforce,” she said. “It was hands-on, so I was gaining that experience with newspaper, announcing, reporting . . . I was prepared in every facet.”

Tiffany Greene expanded her community in various ways at the university. She joined NABJ and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She served on the Royal Court as Queen of Orange and Green along with Aaron Berry, King of Orange and Green, who later became her husband.

Greene’s story is one of fiery persistence and dedication to her craft. She has come a long way from being that little girl mimicking football players and imitating sports announcers. She has taken her dream – and her game – to the big leagues.

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“Hi, I’m Andrew.”

BY [Kanya S. STEWART]

Although he’s made news headlines around the world – from Amsterdam, New York, to Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands -- history-maker Andrew Gillum greets everyone he meets the same whether they’re a working-class single mother in Florida’s Emerald Coast or a Haitian-born student on a college campus.

That greeting includes a simple introduction, a bright smile, a warm handshake or hug and an open heart. He seems to thrive meeting new faces, learning their personal story and finding a way to uplift or support them. For Gillum, everyone he meets is his community.

While Webster’s defines community as “people with common interests living in a particular area,” Gillum’s definition of the word is much broader and deeper – almost undefinable. It was shaped by the wisdom of his grandmother and his experiences as a student at Florida A&M University.

“My grandmother made it very, very clear that it was not just about us,” he said, recalling the many lessons taught by the late matriarch of his family. “She loved on us, prayed for us, inspired us and took care of us, but she also let us know that we were not the ends – we were the means to the ends.”

His grandmother’s teachings were the early makings of Gillum’s philosophy that “while we exist as individuals, we thrive as a community.”

His philosophy would take him from being a Miami-born, Gainesville-raised son of a construction worker and school bus driver to becoming a transformative leader with an international impact.

From the moment he stepped on the campus of Florida’s only public Historically Black College or University (HBCU), Gillum knew that FAMU was, as he calls it, the “Holy Grail” for developing leaders.

His first encounter with the University was during a high school HBCU tour – during a time when he was deciding between attending college in Atlanta, Georgia, or in Gainesville, Florida.

Many people didn’t believe the system worked, but for voters to see someone like me out there …

It felt like the little guy was at the table and maybe the little guy could win.

“When we came to FAMU’s campus and I saw the students who were out and about, it was their sophistication, their confidence, their intelligence, their beauty, and the campus culture that reminded me of the experience you thought you should have on a university campus,” Gillum said. “After that (day), there was no other choice for me.

Everything about the institution felt so right and when I made the decision to attend there was no turning back.”

When he arrived at FAMU as a college freshman in 1998, “it exceeded what I imagined.” On what he affectionately calls “The Hill,” Gillum said, leadership “chose us.”4

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3A group of FAMU students jump into the campus scene of a photographer’s photo to capture their own view of Gillum.

eventually concludes that he is destined for greatness.”

As a freshman, student leaders approached him and invited him into what he calls an orientation. After being an active student leader in high school, he had his mind set on simply focusing on academics. But as fate would have it, several upperclassmen would quickly begin to stir up his destiny.

“Student government leaders like Kristen Tucker and Cornelius Minor began recruiting students to this ‘Umoja experience.’ Umoja is the Swahili word for ‘unity,’ ” Gillum recalled. “They introduced concepts to us around community and togetherness. They told us we could not be spectators. We could not come to a place like FAMU and not be engaged.”

For Gillum, it was from that point on that community became synonymous with being actively engaged in the struggles and issues of not just the places that he dwelled in, but also the places he’d never been before.

It was his commitment to Umoja, and the seeds planted in him by his grandmother, that would cause him to sacrifice his own plans as a college student and become a freshman senator in FAMU’s Student Government Association (SGA). He

immediately became a student activist, who frequented government offices and events to decry issues of limited access to education, equality and social justice.

Gillum would soon go down in FAMU’s history as one of the University’s most successful SGA Presidents and its first student trustee. While still a student, in 2003, he ran a successful campaign to become Tallahassee’s youngest elected city commissioner, even before he became the first in his family to receive a college degree. He went on to be elected the city’s mayor in 2014.

Longtime, former Tallahassee City Manager Anita R. Favors witnessed Gillum’s rise to the “statesman he is today.”

“I met Andrew when he was SGA president at FAMU,” said Favors, who retired in 2015. “Shortly after he was elected to the city commission and became one of my five bosses -- even then, at 22 to 23 years of age, Andrew was impressive, smart and always thinking about what he could do to improve the lives of those who elected him to serve (as well as the rest of the world). Anyone who knows Andrew

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Gillum stunned the nation in 2018, as his term as mayor came to a close, by becoming Florida’s first AfricanAmerican, major party, gubernatorial nominee. R. Jai Gillum, his wife since 2009, along with their three children and countless alumni on his campaign team, were by his side as Gillum made this huge step toward greatness.

Reminiscent of former President Barack Obama’s running style, Gillum’s historic campaign quickly turned into a movement about togetherness and ensuring that all people matter in the eyes of the government.

“Nothing could ever replace the emotional connection we built with people across the state of Florida,” Gillum said about his campaign-movement. “Many people didn’t believe the system worked, but for voters to see someone like me out there … It felt like the little guy was at the table and maybe the little guy could win.”

FAMU alumnus Vince Evans, special assistant to fellow Rattler U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, served as a political director during Gillum’s campaign. Evans said he believes Gillum’s grace and grit were forged in the halls of Florida A&M University.

“Serving as a political director in this historic campaign for governor, I had a front-row seat to the servant-leader that is Andrew Gillum,” said Evans, who had

also worked with Gillum when he was on the Tallahassee City Commission. “He is the real deal. Every issue he discussed, every speech he gave, every debate he won -- he believes it at his core.”

Gillum’s determination to stand up for these faces led to long days and nights of research, meetings, speeches, sit-ins and marches for most of the past 20 years of his life.

Although he did not officially win the race, voters across the state, and many around the country, to this day, still call him “My Governor” and have pleaded to see his name on a 2020 ticket. His remarkable run resulted in his name being on the EBONY “Power 100” list; he is a 2019 Resident Fellow at the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School; and, a political commentator for CNN. Gillum continues to speak out on issues of importance at a state and national level, challenging the powers that be to be accountable to everyday people.

“I don’t think I am done,” Gillum said at the close of the interview, which was conducted in the renovated quarters of FAMU’s Student Government Association, where he toured the offices and stared at the wall honoring past student leaders, including himself.

Of all his recent achievements, what seems to be most important to Gillum is that he emerged from his beloved FAMU as a citizen who simply cares.

A citizen whose conviction would urge him to become a national leader, who because of Umoja was willing to sleep on the marble floors of the State Capitol and other government buildings to stand up and protest for what he describes as “the people I don’t know, the names I cannot call and the faces I cannot see.”

Nothing could ever replace the emotional connection we built with people across the state of Florida.

“I have to believe that God has brought me to this point for a reason. I believe that there is another act.”

The rise of Andrew Gillum . . . 4 and his calling to community

Faces like Martin Lee Anderson, a 14-year-old whose death in 2006 at a Bay County, Florida boot camp sparked a nationwide outcry and resulted in the state’s closure of such facilities. Faces like incoming minority college students who, from 1999 to 2000, may have lost opportunities to be accepted into predominantly white Florida schools during the “One Florida” initiative. Faces like the victims of the 2018 Stoneman Douglas High School mass shooting, which led Gillum to become one of the state’s leading voices in the demand for sensible gun control.

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FAMU’s FANTASTIC FIVE…

Taking up the baton to their own beat of leadership 2018 WAS A GREAT YEAR FOR A NUMBER OF FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY ALUMNI. DURING LAST YEAR’S HOMECOMING, THE UNIVERSITY ACKNOWLEDGED AND CELEBRATED ITS POLITICAL LEADERS – SOME OF WHOM WERE INSTALLED RECENTLY AS MAYORS IN VARIOUS CITIES ACROSS THE NATION. A&M MAGAZINE CONNECTED WITH FIVE OF THEM TO EXPLORE THE BACKSTORIES OF THEIR LIVES AND POLITICAL CAREERS SINCE THEY LEFT THEIR ALMA MATER. 50 // FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY // A&M MAGAZINE

BY [Carla MORRISON]

Meet Mayors Keisha Lance Bottoms, Atlanta, Georgia; Melvin Carter III, St. Paul, Minnesota; Deana Holiday Ingraham, East Point, Georgia; Angela Grant Sapp, Quincy, Florida; and Booker Gainor, Cairo, Georgia

ATLANTA HAS A MAYOR NAMED KEISHA… “A good leader stays focused, but a great leader remains driven, gets involved in the community and actively contributes to the betterment of his or her surroundings,” said Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. Community involvement is just what Bottoms, an Atlanta native and 1991 graduate of FAMU, began doing when she arrived at FAMU. Bottoms, a journalism major, was immersed in campus life as a student worker and volunteer through her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. “The foundation laid at FAMU gave me a strong sense of will to fulfill my mission of service to others.”

Upon graduation, Bottoms returned to her hometown, where she entered and completed law school at Georgia State University; met and married Derek W. Bottoms; and began work with a small, minority-owned, general-practice law firm. She soon left the law firm behind and struck out in a new direction.

Bottoms is the only mayor in Atlanta’s history to have been elected to all three branches of government, serving as a judge and Atlanta City Council member before being sworn in as Atlanta’s 60th mayor.

As the second woman to be elected to Atlanta’s highest office, Bottoms was designated as a “Woman to Watch” in

2018; the world is now keeping an eye on her as she puts her signature on the transformation of Atlanta into a global destination to watch.

Bottoms’ notable accomplishments to date include: • The establishment of Atlanta’s first fully staffed Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion • The appointment of an LGBTQ Affairs Coordinator and a Human Trafficking Fellow • The citywide elimination of cash bail bonds • The closure of the Atlanta City Detention Center to ICE detainees • The roll-out of the most far-reaching, financial, transparency platform in Atlanta’s history – Atlanta’s Open Checkbook, and • The release of an Atlanta city services mobile app – ATL 311 that will serve as the lead communications tool for an upcoming infrastructure improvement initiative Bottoms lives in Southwest Atlanta with her husband Derek, their four children -- Lance, Langston, Lennox and Lincoln -- and the family dog, Logan.4

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FROM TRACK STAR TO HISTORY MAKER… “There’s no short answer to how attending FAMU significantly shaped my outlook,” said Melvin Carter III. “The friends, faculty and experiences I had there have served me all my life and throughout my career in public service.”

Carter made history in 2017 when he became the first African-American mayor in his hometown of St. Paul, Minnesota.

Carter, a 2002 graduate, attended Florida A&M University on a track-and-field scholarship. He dreamed of going to the Olympics from there. Although he was unsure of what life would look like for him without sports, Carter knew he needed business acumen to successfully navigate society.

“I saw myself in the corporate space or doing nonprofit leadership,” Carter said recently. As a business administration major, Carter graduated and embarked on a journey of civic leadership, ignited on the campus of his alma mater.

Carter -- with his eyes set on effecting change through public policy -- returned to Minnesota, where he earned a master’s in public policy from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. He was then off to the races . . .

Carter was elected to the St. Paul City Council from 2008-2013, where he championed policies addressing some of the city’s most pressing issues.

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• The creation of the St. Paul Promise Neighborhood, a community collaboration to level the playing field for low-income kids and families • The creation of St. Paul’s affordable housing trust fund • Assisting with efforts to pass the statewide Ban the Box Legislation, designed to eliminate employment discrimination against people with criminal backgrounds • Serving as executive director of the Minnesota Children’s Cabinet, where he advised Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton on early childhood policy • Advocating for critical investments in all-day kindergarten, universally accessible pre-K, home visiting, and more inclusive, culturally competent classrooms to ensure that every Minnesota child has access to the same foundational education opportunities regardless of race, gender, background or income The St. Paul mayor said his mission is to build a city that works for all. During Carter’s first term, he implemented major policy initiatives and new investments for his city. Some of those efforts comprise passing a $15 minimum-wage ordinance; tripling free programming at recreation centers; eliminating library late fines; establishing a $10 million affordable housing trust; changing the police department’s use-of-force policy and more. Clearly, his to-do list for the rest of his term in the mayor’s office is as long as you’d expect from a seasoned Rattler who keeps on striking . . . until the job is done.

Carter lives in St. Paul’s Rondo neighborhood with his wife, Sakeena, and three of their five children.

MAKING HER POINT

...EAST POINT, GEORGIA, THAT IS Deana Holiday Ingraham, a 1996 graduate, said she has never forgotten the lessons learned at her alma mater.

Ingraham is still raving about the impact Florida A&M University had on her life.

She shared how now-deceased Sybil Mobley, Ph.D., former dean of the School of Business and Industry, leveraged her contacts to ensure success for her students.

Even though Ingraham can’t quite recall his name, she remembers a conversation with another FAMU professor who had almost “every letter behind his name, J.D, CPA, MBA, Ph.D.” He advised her on a strategic plan to best use her knowledge and educational experience to reach her goals.

At FAMU, Ingraham recalled, “you were groomed, indoctrinated into business structure.”

“It was at FAMU where I learned how to compete,” she said.” She graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and business administration, double minor in criminal justice and psychology. Ingraham seemed equipped for every department a business entity would need. “At one point I thought I was going to be everything to small businesses.”

Yet, that was not to be. Ingraham let her life experiences and history of hard work lead her to compete for the job she now holds. She is mayor of East Point, Georgia.

A native of Starke, Florida, the young-woman-who-would-be-mayor was known in her community for her academic success, always winning first place in spelling

bees and essay contests, as well as graduating as valedictorian in high school. She attended Howard University School of Law (HUSL), where she earned a juris doctorate; she later earned a master’s in criminal justice, with a specialty in child protection and juvenile justice from Nova Southeastern University.

Ingraham completed courses to earn a Local Finance Officer Level I Certification through the Carl Vinson Institute of Government. She completed a course of study in the Georgia Academy of Economic Development.

With the influence of her mother, an educator for more than 35 years, and her father, an entrepreneur, Ingraham said she has a strong affinity for youth with the ability to take risks. She is an attorney who has represented senior citizens and advocated for the most vulnerable – children who have been abused, abandoned and/or neglected.

She has also served as an instructor in postsecondary education, an administrator in K-12 education, a director of student discipline, and a director in the Juvenile Justice System. Ingraham has also owned and managed her own law firm.

With a strong commitment to improving the lives of others, she immersed herself in the East Point community, eventually running for public office as an East Point council member. After a few years as a council member, and with encouragement from a mayor of East Point, Patsy Jo Hilliard, Ingraham said she decided to run for mayor -- and won.

As the mayor, Ingraham said she has a special interest and passion for providing opportunities for the economically disadvantaged and collaborating to extend learning to improve educational outcomes for children.

During her first term in office, she has championed the formation of a Joint Learning Committee, which brings together school leaders, city department heads, and leaders from public, private and nonprofit sectors to extend learning in out-of-school time, increase parent and youth engagement, and enhance workforce development.

She also championed implementation of livable wages for city employees.

Ingraham is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She and her husband, Willie Ingraham Jr., have one daughter, Nia.

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BLOODLINE TELLS HER STORY “FAMU runs through my blood,” said Angela Grant Sapp, a 1980 alumna of Florida A&M University. A legacy of the university, Sapp’s father, three sisters and brother all attended FAMU. The Quincy, Florida, native said she grew up on the FAMU campus; her family often attended the football games. “We knew the alma mater as children.”

Coming from parents who were educators, Sapp said leadership and education were instilled in her at an early age. She and her siblings were always encouraged by their parents to get involved in the community. That drive followed her to FAMU – and back to Quincy, where she is now mayor.

“It was at FAMU where I became a resident assistant (RA), (president) of my sorority and a campus library (worker),” Sapp said.

A lifelong resident of the Springside neighborhood of Quincy, Sapp earned a Bachelor of Science degree in vocational home economics at FAMU and a Master of Education degree in education administration from Grand Canyon University. She taught home economics and science for 30 years.

Sapp said she is committed to being an active, accessible and accountable public servant to the residents of historic Quincy.

Working as a Career & Technical Education Coordinator for Gaston Technical Institute and serving as both the City Council Commissioner of District 2 and Mayor of Historic Quincy, this Rattlers uses her time management and decision-making skills well.

Sapp has been instrumental in securing contracts to provide transportation for the elderly and underserved population, and she works diligently to eradicate unsafe living conditions, increase police protection, provide resources to Quincy schools, and improve infrastructure; while maintaining a fiscally responsible governing body.

Sapp is a member of the Florida League of Cities, Gadsden County Democratic Women’s Club, Florida A&M University National Alumni Association, Florida Foundation for Future Scientists and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Sapp is married to Emanuel Sapp; they have one daughter, Meaghan Victoria Sapp, a recent graduate of the University of Florida.

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MAKING HISTORY IN CAIRO Not only is Booker Gainor an advocate, but also, he is an example of who and what you can become when you have a heart for service, a drive to make a difference and savvy business acumen.

“I don’t consider myself a politician, but an advocate for the people,” said Gainor, the mayor of Cairo, Georgia.

At the age of 28, Gainor secured the highest office in the city of Cairo, a community of 10,000 residents. He was elected in 2018 as the first African-American mayor and the youngest person to hold the office in Cairo.

As a 2012 graduate of Florida A&M University, Gainor returned home to Cairo, where he worked various jobs including cable technician for a local cable company.

He said it was in his position as a cable installer that he came to understand the needs of Cairo residents through

conversations inside his customers’ homes. He said, however, it was community engagement that prompted him to run for mayor.

“I got tired of the stagnation,” Gainor said. “Instead of talking about it, I decided to do something.”

Understanding the city’s needs, plus Gainor’s business marketing skills and genuine good nature, are the qualities he said helped him secure the city’s top position. Gainor said, although 53 percent of Cairo’s residents are African American, many warned him that becoming mayor was virtually unattainable because of Cairo’s past.

“Before I ran for mayor, you had a generation who didn’t know who the mayor was,” he said. He was known for taking to the streets and holding his own campaign signs.

His campaign slogan, “Withholding Nothing,” spoke to his platform of accountability, education and service,” Gainor said. “I made it my business to be transparent.”

Janet Simmons-Stuart, Gainor’s fellow church member and advisor, said she has watched Gainor grow over the years from boy to man -- and, now, to mayor. She says he is a hard worker, who cares about others’ well-being. She also had this to say: “He invests in people and is always thinking of how we can help people rise up and have a better quality of life.”

Gainor remembered one bittersweet reality from his FAMU days. As a student, he attempted to intern in the Cairo city manager’s office, but was denied the opportunity.

Not lost on him six years later is the fact that he is now the city manager’s boss. As mayor, he said he has developed the Cairo Youth City Government program, to provide opportunities for students in grades 6-12 to become Cairo ambassadors.

In a written statement, he said: “As ambassadors, the youth will acquire a greater knowledge of, and appreciation for the American political system through active participation in that system working with Mayor, Council, County Commissioners, Department Heads, civic clubs/ centers and service organizations to provide service and leadership opportunities. CYCG will promote community pride and eliminate potential negative influences amongst our future community leaders.”

Immersed in the community as an engaged mayor, Gainor said he sees firsthand his community’s disparities and is using his platform to help.

Since Gainor’s election, the city of Cairo has had an increase in minority businesses and he is empowering the youth. “I try to do the best I can at what I do, while caring about people,” says Gainor.

“FAMU really shaped my work ethic,” stated Gainor. As a full-time business administration major, Gainor said, he was focused. He worked three jobs, while shadowing business professionals in Minor and Major League Baseball as a

member of Students Marketing and Advertising with Real Talents (SMART). “There wasn’t much time for playing.”

As the youngest mayor within the “FAMUly,” Gainor said he often calls on fellow FAMU mayors. “I try to use them as counsel . . .

What I love about it is that it’s informal, honest conversations that help, and we all have the same level of passion for our respective communities.”

Five servant leaders . . . five U.S. cities. . . five mayors leading from the top. . .

FAMU style.

Carla Morrison is a freelance writer and independent publicist/social media expert based in Atlanta, Georgia.

Follow her on social media @SisterPoweron10 A&M MAGAZINE // SPRING 2019 // 55

applause G. Scott Uzzell was named president & CEO of Converse Inc. Uzzell went to Converse from The Coca-Cola Company, where he most recently served as president of the Venturing & Emerging Brands Group.

Uzzell began his career in sales and marketing for such companies as Procter & Gamble. He returned to Coca-Cola in 2000 in the Strategy & Planning division.

Since then, he has held a number of leadership positions across its business, including McDonald’s U.S. Division.

In addition, Uzzell is a member of the FAMU Foundation Board and a member of the Executive Leadership Council.

Pharmacy grad moves from practitioner to entrepreneur 56 // FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY // A&M MAGAZINE

Star journalism grad keeps breaking news at CBS CBS News incoming President and Senior Executive Producer Susan Zirinsky named FAMU journalism graduate Kimberly Godwin one of the three top executives to a new strategic management team with the network.

Godwin was promoted to executive vice president of News, with top editorial oversight of newsgathering around the world, including the national desks, foreign desks and bureaus. Godwin has served as a top CBS News editorial leader in multiple key positions since joining CBS News in 2007. Most recently, Godwin served as vice president of News. She has also served as CBS News’ executive director for Development and Diversity since 2014.

College of Pharmacy graduate Martez L. Prince, PharmD, has started his own pharmacy called Premier Pharmacy and Wellness Center in Charlotte, NC. The all-inclusive pharmacy offers a wide range of health-care services, including an on-site clinic and retail store.

Prince was also recognized as a Black Enterprise Modern Man 100 Honoree in 2018. He is working on completing the curriculum for a pharmacy start-up academy. This online academy will teach others in the pharmacy profession how to create a career without boundaries.

Two scholars now Harvard fellows as a result of environmental research Viniece Jennings, Ph.D., and Valerie Newsome Garcia, Ph.D., were selected as JPB Environmental Health Fellows by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The program aims to develop the “next generation of multidisciplinary and agency leaders who are dedicated to solving complex environmental health problems.” Their cohort of 15 professionals represents distinguished, early-career scholars from across the country.

Jennings’ research explores the link between urban green space and social/environmental determinants of health.

Newsome Garcia’s research focuses on the environmental, social and structural determinants of health in underserved communities.

Georgia’s “Women of the Year Award” goes to . . .

Diana Lee Caplinger, chief administrative officer of consumer technology for SunTrust Banks Inc., received the 2018 Georgia’s Women in Technology “Women of the Year Award.” The ceremony was presented by The Coca-Cola Company.

The “Women of the Year Award” ceremony features representatives of top companies at the forefront of science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) industries to recognize women who demonstrate leadership and vision in business, and make a difference in communities across the country.

Cecka Rose Green named regional leader Standout Kinsey couple shine in new charity book FAMU alumni and longtime FAMU supporters Bernard and Shirley Kinsey are featured in the charity book “100 Making a Difference.” The brainchild of celebrity photographer John Russo, the book features such philanthropists who have devoted their lives to humanitarian causes as Malala Yousafzai, Christy Turlington, Serena Williams and Sir Elton John.

The Kinseys have also been featured on the American Airlines news site for their award-winning museum exhibition, The Kinsey African-American Art & History Collection.

Children’s Home Society of Florida (CHS), the state’s largest provider of services to children and families, named Cecka Rose Green, CPM, its regional executive director serving Tallahassee and surrounding communities.

Green will lead local operations and business development, focusing on CHS’ core solutions: early childhood, behavioral health, child welfare and community solutions, which includes community partnership schools.

Green has served as director of communications for LeadingAge Florida and leadership roles with Voices of Florida and the Florida Department of Children & Families.

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CLARICE J. BRYANT March 2018 Clarice Bryant, an administrative assistant in the College of Agriculture and Food Sciences, retired in 2003 after 34 years of service. She earned a master’s degree in counseling education from FAMU. Bryant was a member of the FAMU Neighborhood Association, FAMU Retirees Association and the National Association of University Women.

NICHOLAS “NIC” GERARD ROGERS April 2018 Nicholas “Nic” Rogers was founder and owner of NR Entertainment LLC. (DJNiRO).

He earned his bachelor’s degree in computer information systems from FAMU in 2003. Prior to his graduation, he was a member of the Marching “100,” where he became proficient in playing both the tuba and trombone. He was also a member of the Images Modeling Troupe Inc. KEITH MEARES May 2018 Keith Meares was an outstanding Rattler and musician, who played saxophone. He later became a drum major in the incomparable Marching “100.” Meares lived in the Miami area.

RICHARD DANIEL ROBINSON May 2018 Richard Daniel Robinson was a member of the world-famous Marching “100.” He earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at FAMU. He was later instrumental in helping many graduates attain employment at Griener Engineering, now URS Corporation, which is an engineering, design and construction firm.

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KAYLIN FOREMAN October 2018 Kaylin Foreman, a native of Beech Island, S.C., was committed to high academic achievement and was an outstanding student who excelled as a criminal justice major. She was also a former member of the Lady Rattlers Basketball Team.

ANGELA M. BLEDSOE October 2018 Angela M. Bledsoe, who attended FAMU from 1993 to 1997, received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from FAMU’s School of Business and Industry.

She was employed as a financial consultant with Securities America in New York City. She was a life member of the FAMU National Alumni Association, and served as an executive officer and parliamentarian of the New York Chapter. Ms. Bledsoe was also a member of the Brooklyn Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. WARREN A. PRICE JR. November 2018 A native of Waycross, Ga., Mr. Price graduated in 1968 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the FAMU School of Business and Industry. He was a member of the renowned Marching “100,” where he played the trumpet. He started the “Vanguard” jazz band and was featured as a stellar saxophonist, flutist and music composer.

LAWTON WILLIAMS JR., PH.D. December 2018 Lawton Williams Jr., Ph.D., graduated in 1968 with a bachelor’s degree in education. He later earned a master’s and a doctorate. He was employed with the Miami-Dade County School System for 37 years before retiring and relocating to Quincy, Florida, with his family. He was a member of the Rattler Booster Club Board of Directors, FAMU Champion Investors, 220 Quarterback Club, The 100 Men Mentoring Program and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. (life member). He and his sons, Lawton III, Wayne and Michael, established the Lawton and Bobbie Barnes Williams and Family Endowed Scholarship for students from Calhoun, Miami-Dade and Orange counties.

ELISHA M. THOMPSON December 2018 Elisha M. Thompson was employed at Conduent, a business-management consulting firm. In 2016, she earned a bachelor’s degree in health informatics and information management from FAMU’s School of Allied Health Sciences. She was a member of Images Modeling Troupe and the DIVAS Dance Squad.

JAMES W. “CHIEF” WILSON December 2018 James “Chief” Wilson graduated with a music education degree.

He was a member of the original 1946 Marching “100,” under the leadership of the legendary William P. Foster, Ph.D. In 2017, Wilson was recognized by the Marching “100” as the longest-living band member. He was the band director at Jones High School in Orlando, Florida, from 1950 to 1990. Wilson was committed to preparing students for college and helping them obtain scholarships. He was also a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. ROSELL ROBERTS CASWELL December 2018 Rosell Roberts Caswell was employed at FAMU for 42 years. She served as director of Alumni Affairs, director of New Student Orientation and the University Counseling Center.

Caswell earned a bachelor’s degree in business education and a master’s in guidance and counseling, both from FAMU. She was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and was a charter member of the Gadsden and Thomasville Alumnae chapters.

PAMELA G. THOMPSON, PH.D. January 2019 Pamela G. Thompson served as director of the Candidate Empowerment Center in the College of Education. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a master’s in counselor education and a doctorate in educational leadership, all from FAMU. She was also a star softball player at FAMU. HOWARD GORE KNIGHT, J.D. January 2019 Attorney Howard Gore Knight graduated in 1968 from the original FAMU College of Law. After retiring from the Florida Department of Transportation, he was a minority business consultant. He was also a political science professor at FAMU. In 2013, he received the FAMU College of Law Inaugural Distinguished Alumni Award.

Knight was a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., the 220 Quarterback Club, the FAMU National Alumni Association (lifetime), and 100 Black Men of America.

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