Presidential Briefing February 2025
Hello, Rattlers!
The new year and academic season at FAMU began with excitement as we embraced the promise of the future. January provided an opportunity to honor the legacy of Civil Rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., along with the many FAMUans who played a pivotal role in the movement that transformed America over 60 years ago.
Our annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation welcomed back alumnus and Leon County School Board member, Mr. Darryl Jones, to the Highest of Seven Hills. Mr. Jones inspired students, faculty, staff, and community members with a powerful reminder to continue dreaming big and striving for a brighter future for our community, FAMU, Florida, and the nation.
As the keynote speaker at the Leon County Commission’s MLK Celebration, I had the privilege of reinforcing the historical and ongoing role of FAMU in the fight for civil rights and social justice in higher education and beyond. Like many Rattlers across the world, we must continue to encourage our students and future Rattlers that dreams are still being realized at FAMU.
January also marked a significant milestone for FAMU Athletics. Under the leadership of Vice President and Athletic Director Angela Suggs, FAMU secured a five-year agreement to serve as the host football team for the historic Orange Blossom Classic in Miami Gardens. This event, scheduled for Labor Day weekend (August 30, 2025), will feature student recruitment and alumni engagement activities, strengthening our presence in South Florida.
Under the leadership of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Dr. Donald Palm, FAMU has been selected to lead the State University System (SUS) Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Consortium. This initiative, led by FAMU’s Chief Risk Officer Deidre Melton, fosters collaboration among Florida’s public universities to address emerging risks and enhance institutional resilience.
Additionally, the Resource Optimization Initiative gained momentum in January, with a dedicated website launching in mid-February to provide updates and resources. In partnership with Silver & Associates, 10 strategy sessions were held with university departments to explore innovative ways to improve operational efficiency.
A key infrastructure improvement underway is the Energy Management Module Implementation, facilitated by the Facilities Planning and Construction department. Scheduled for completion by May 2025, this initiative will digitize utility billing processes with the City of Tallahassee, improving cost efficiency. Funding for this project is supported by Ed Advancement (~$200K).
A special acknowledgment goes to Vice President Jamal Sowell and the Office of Governmental Relations for coordinating ongoing meetings with state legislators. These efforts are crucial as we advocate for FAMU’s Legislative Budget Requests to be prioritized in Florida’s 2025 budget.
President’s Key Engagements – January 2025
- Meeting with State University System (SUS) Chancellor and SUS Presidents
- Board of Governors (BOG) Dinner and Meeting, Jacksonville, Fla.
- Orange Blossom Classic (OBC) Press Conference, Miami, Fla.
- HBCU National Career Expo, Los Angeles, Calif.
- Quarterly meeting with President McCullough, Florida State University
- Board of Trustee Orientations for Trustee Ellison and Trustee Gainey
- Attendance at FAMU’s Opening SWAC Basketball Game
- Keynote Speaker, Leon County MLK Celebration
- FAMU Employee of the Quarter Luncheon
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation
- Various Presidential Inauguration Activities, Washington, D.C.
- Academic Analytics Rollout Session
- Weekly conference calls with the FAMU BOT Chairperson
Academic Affairs Highlights
Under the leadership of Dr. Allyson Watson, Provost & Vice President of Academic Affairs, several key accomplishments were achieved:
- The Office of Freshman Studies successfully hosted the 4th Annual Student Success Summit on February 1, providing first-year students with iPads to support their academic journey.
- The School of Graduate Studies and Research (SGSR) inducted 140 students from the Fall 2024 cohort into the Graduate Feeder Scholars Program—the largest group in program history.
- SGSR secured a $75,000 grant from the Wellspring Coalition Project to support Environmental
Science Research students preparing for Ph.D. programs.
Student Affairs Highlights
Under the leadership of Dr. William Hudson, Vice President of Student Affairs, key achievements include:
- Jeffrey Pierce has been appointed as the new Director of Admissions and Recruitment, beginning his role on March 3.
- The Student Affairs team, along with the University President, successfully engaged alumni during the HBCU Career Expo in Los Angeles, Calif.
- The Office of Financial Aid distributed 85% of available funds, totaling:
- $52,148,166.05 in Federal, State, and Institutional funds
- $2,147,586.90 in private and alumni scholarship funds
Strategic Partnerships, Assessment & Institutional Effectiveness (SPAIE)
Under the leadership of Dr. Roddrick Jones, Vice President of SPAIE, the division accomplished the following:
- Conducted a detailed undergraduate retention analysis for Fall 2023 students who transferred to other institutions.
- Produced an Admitted FTIC Non-Enrollees Report analyzing Fall 2024 first-time-in-college students who chose not to enroll at FAMU.
- Launched process reviews to enhance efficiency, compliance, and strategic alignment
across all divisions.
Institutional Technology Highlights
Under the leadership of Mr. Robert Seniors, Vice President of Institutional Technology, key accomplishments include:
- Completion of Customer Confirmation Sessions (CCS) as part of the Workday platform implementation, ensuring seamless HR, payroll, and financial processes.
- A comprehensive network infrastructure upgrade at FAMU’s Developmental Research School, enhancing internet access for students and faculty.
Finance & Administration Highlights
Under the leadership of Mrs. Rebecca Brown, Senior Vice President of Finance & Administration, the division achieved the following:
- Timely submission and approval of Consolidated Financial Statements and the University Operating Budget by the Board of Governors.
- Upgrades to pedestrian paths and green spaces at the Will Packer Amphitheater.
- Emergency Management Team (EMT) successfully coordinated FAMU’s response to a Winter Storm Event, ensuring campus safety.
Office of Communications Highlights
Under the leadership of Dr. Alonda Thomas, Vice President of Marketing and Communications, key accomplishments include:
- Coordinated New York Times and Diverse Issues interviews featuring FAMU’s role in MLK celebrations and HBCU marching bands.
- Completed a three-week digital marketing campaign to boost student recruitment, resulting in 192K engagements and 3,388 application clicks.
Athletics Highlights
Under the leadership of Mrs. Angela Suggs, Vice President & Director of Athletics:
- The 2025 Rattler Football Schedule was released, featuring eight games in Florida and five home games at Bragg Stadium.
- Renewed a five-year partnership with the Orange Blossom Classic, with FAMU set to face Howard University on August 30 at Hard Rock Stadium.
- FAMU student-athletes posted an impressive 3.03 GPA for Fall 2024.
As an alumnus of the #1 HBCU in America and a Top 100 University, I am honored and grateful to serve our diverse community of students, faculty, and stakeholders as Interim President. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to FAMU’s success!
Boldy Striking,
Timothy Beard, Ph.D., CRC, BCMC
Interim President
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