Florida A&M University’s President to Convene National Alumni Midwest Conference in Detroit

PresidentElmiraMangumOfficialPhoto
Dr. Elmira Mangum, president of the historic Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU), will be in Detroit from Friday, July 31 – Sunday, August 2, 2015 for the school’s National Alumni Association – Midwest Region Bi-Annual Conference.  Under the theme:  “Rattler Pride Moving Forward”, several hundred FAMU alums from the Midwest sector of the country will convene at Greektown Casino & Hotel in downtown Detroit.
FAMU graduates from such major Midwest cities as Detroit, Chicago, Cincinnati, Dayton, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Minneapolis/St. Paul are expected to attend the event, as well as alums from smaller locales in various Midwest states.  Joining President Mangum will be Tommy Mitchell, Sr., president of FAMU’s National Alumni Association and Dr. William Hudson, Jr., FAMU’s vice president of student affairs.
“This conference is an opportunity for the FAMU community to gather, network and fellowship,” said Mangum.  “It is also an opportunity for us to provide information to our National Alumni Association members in the Midwest to update them on the great things that are going on at the university.  We also want to share with them how they can help us advance our mission and goals at FAMU.”
Since taking office as FAMU’s 11th president and its first permanent woman president in April, 2014, Mangum has been on a mission to advance FAMU.  High among her priorities was to establish global partnerships.  “Since my tenure started, I’ve worked to make sure that FAMU has a place in the global market,” said Mangum, who earned her Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy from the University at Buffalo.  “We have now established partnerships in the Caribbean, China, India, Haiti, Brazil, Kenya and countries on the west coast of Africa.”
Mangum is proud of FAMU’s Undergraduate Student Success Center, which she established to support student recruitment, retention, and progression that lead to successfully earning a college degree.  She has also established new scholarship programs that help students meet financial requirements in order to see their dreams of earning a FAMU degree come true.
As a true testament to her leadership acumen, Mangum was named “Female HBCU President of the Year” at the 2015 HBCU Awards.  She also was named “Person of the Year” by the Capital Outlook newspaper.  In 2014, Ebony magazine listed Mangum on its “Power 100” list of leaders.
Founded in 1887, FAMU has risen to become one of the top universities in America, according Mangum.  FAMU has nationally and internationally respected colleges and schools, inclusive of business, law, engineering, science, pharmacy, and more. Mangum believes, however, agriculture is the next great program at FAMU that will significantly impact the world.
“Agriculture is the future, especially in terms of producing food safely and with sustainability,” said Mangum, who was recently named by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, to serve on the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee for Trade.  “So agriculture is what we are really pushing because people around the world will always need to eat.  Therefore, our College of Agriculture and Food Sciences is very important for us to continue to invest in and grow.”
While there’s no doubt that FAMU has a storied history, with many rich academy platforms, several years ago, the school’s image was somewhat tarnished.   In November, 2011, a drum major for the school’s world famous marching band called, “The Marching 100” was killed in a hazing ritual following a band performance in Orlando, Florida.  “The death of Robert Champion was extremely unfortunate and a tremendous tragedy,” said Mangum in a somber tone.  “It’s something that the university continues to weather, but we are moving forward.”
Moving forward seems to be correct. U.S. News & World Report lists FAMU as the nation’s top public historically Black college or university (HBCU) for 2015, and recognized it as being among the “Best National Universities” in 2014.  The Princeton Review lists FAMU as “Best in the Southeast” among colleges.
Additionally, CollegeNet and Pay Scale’s Social Mobility Index (SMI) have recently recognized FAMU for its commitment to providing pathways for social and economic mobility.  Thus, FAMU ranks third among all colleges and universities – black or white – in the nation for fostering social and economic opportunities.
“FAMU is on the move.  We are a great university that’s on the cutting edge of shaping future leaders” said Mangum, a Durham, North Carolina native.  “We are building a brand that matters in the 21st Century and beyond.  If any high school senior or transfer student wants to be a contributor to help solve problems to move the world forward, FAMU is the perfect training ground.  At Florida A&M University, we don’t deter or divert educational and career dreams; we bring them to fruition.”
For “FAMU Alumni” wanting to attend the National Alumni Association Midwest Conference in Detroit, please call 248.875.5976 for associated costs.  For more information about Florida A&M University, log on to www.famu.edu.

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