Hello FAMUly!

We took our “Great things are happening at Florida A&M University (FAMU) every day” tour to the West Coast for the 25th Annual Los Angeles Black College Expo California high school students were there to learn more about higher education opportunities at the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities, including FAMU. I joined presidents from four other HBCUs to discuss their challenges and opportunities as they made their pitch to 13,000 high school students from California and other West Coast states. The “Expo” has grown so much that other institutions now come to recruit top students as well. Of course, our recruitment team and alumni did a great job with the message, “you can get anywhere from FAMU.” Additionally, I had a great meeting with alumna and Fox Sports Vice President for Communications Terri Hines. In fact, Ms. Hines joined us for an alumni dinner at Dulan’s Soul Food Kitchen with other west coast Rattlers.

#FAMU Shorts Video - HBCU Black College Expo Tour

As we continue celebrating Black History Month (BHM), I am excited and looking forward to our BHM Conversation with featured guest Jerry Lorenzo, founder of Fear of God, and a School of Business and Industry (SBI) alum. In 2013, Lorenzo founded a luxury house that comprises Fear of God, Fear of God ESSENTIALS, and Fear of God Athletics. The BHM Conversation is scheduled for Tuesday, February 20, at 6 p.m., in Lee Hall Auditorium.

The Harambee Festival returns to Cascades Park on Saturday, February 24, with a lineup that includes Tallahassee-bred musician and producer Darryl Tookes and Friends, the RAA Steel Band, A Few Good Fellas, Tallahassee Nights Live and other acts. Each February my wife Sharon and I look forward to joining thousands of others who converge on Cascades Park for the Harambee Festival. This annual event provides our citizens with greater exposure to our academic programs and activities, while reinforcing the strong cultural bonds between FAMU and the larger community.

#FAMU Shorts - Harambee Festival Promo

We are also excited to celebrate that 28 of 29 FAMU School of Nursing (SON) spring 2023 graduates passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) on the first try. That gives the SON 2023 spring cohort a 96.55 percent first-time pass rate. These exceptional results show what happens when we make a collaborative and strategic approach to student success.

FAMU signed a $97.5 million 30-year federal loan to finance construction of a new 700-bed student residence hall. The funding is being done through the U.S. Department of Education’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Capital Financing Program. We see this additional housing as an investment in the success of our students, something we are here primarily to do.

#FAMU Shorts - Loan Signing Video

We are also extremely proud of alumnus Scotty Barnhart who won a Grammy for Best Large Jazz Ensemble at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards. An acclaimed jazz trumpeter, leader, composer, arranger, educator, and author, Barnhart earned his degree from FAMU. He also works as a Florida State University (FSU) music professor.

#FAMU Shorts - Scotty Barnhart Grammy Acceptance (Courtesy: The Grammy's)

Also, FAMU grad and award-winning film, screen, and stage actress Anika Noni Rose will be honored as the 2024 Legendary Superstar in Atlanta’s historic Rialto Center for the Arts on March 2. BronzeLens Women SuperStars Honors launches the festival’s 15th anniversary by celebrating the accomplishments of women of color who work in the entertainment industry in front of and behind the lens. Congratulations, Anika!

Finally, “How about that Cowboy?” A big Rattler shout-out to Dallas Cowboy Safety Markquese Bell, who was named the National Football League’s HBCU Spotlight Player of the Year. Markquese has been another outstanding example of “You can get anywhere from FAMU.” Congratulations Markquese.

#FAMU Shorts - Markquese Bell, NFL HBCU Spotlight POY

Keep “Striking from the Top!”

Larry Robinson, Ph.D.

President