Presidential Briefing March 2025
As we reach the midpoint of the Spring Semester 2025, exciting progress continues at FAMU each day. As February and Black History Month end, we welcome March and the celebration of Women’s History Month.
From the highest of seven hills, we are grateful for the many opportunities to honor Black history through various programs and events. This included delivering remarks at the Governor’s Mansion, recognizing the contributions of African Americans across our state and nation.
In February, the FAMU Board of Trustees held its quarterly meeting on the Tallahassee campus, where we welcomed two new Trustees, Ernie Ellison and Emery Gainey, and welcomed back Nicole Washington. I deeply appreciate their commitment and contributions, as well as the dedication of all our trustees, who work tirelessly to strengthen FAMU every day.
Our efforts to enhance University efficiency continue to gain momentum each week. Our administration and staff are engaged in multiple initiatives aimed at achieving this goal. I extend my gratitude to Vice President of Institutional Technology Robert Seniors for his leadership in implementing the Workday Enterprise Resource Processing (ERP) system. Additionally, our Resource Optimization Initiative is in its final stages, thanks to the leadership of Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President Donald Palm, Ph.D., who has been instrumental in assessing the utilization of institutional resources.
Moreover, under the leadership of Provost and Academic Vice President Allyson Watson, Ph.D., the academic program assessment is nearing completion. This critical evaluation will help guide the University’s future program prioritization and strategic planning.
FAMU’s trajectory remains strong, and I am confident that together, we will continue to achieve excellence in all that we do.
A special thank you to Vice President Jamal Sowell and the Office of Governmental Relations for their continued efforts in coordinating meetings with state legislators. These engagements remain essential as the 2025 Florida Legislative Session gets underway. The Governmental Relations Office has successfully organized several key activities, including:
- Legislative Leadership Meetings: Arranged for us to meet with all legislative leaders before the session began. This proactive approach provided valuable insights into their priorities and decision-making processes ahead of time.
- Appropriations Requests: Submitted three nonrecurring appropriation requests totaling $20.5 million.
- Committee Week Participation:Coordinated a presentation by the FAMU Developmental Research School (DRS) before the Senate Education Policy Committee during committee week.
- Engineering Advocacy: Organized and facilitated a legislative tour for the House Higher Education Budget Subcommittee at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering.
- Washington, D.C. Engagements: Scheduled participation in the State University System Fly-In, allowing COO Donald Palm and Milan Thompson to meet with congressional representatives. Ms. Thompson also attended the Council for Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching’s Capitol events and hearings.
These initiatives demonstrate our ongoing commitment to strengthening FAMU’s legislative and policy advocacy efforts.
President’s Key Engagements – February 2025
- Participated in weekly meetings with the State University System (SUS) Chancellor and SUS Presidents
- Held meetings with multiple Florida State Legislators, including the House Speaker and Senate President
- Delivered remarks at the Magnetic System and Leon County Office of Economic Vitality Conference
- Served as Guest and Keynote Speaker at HBCU Weekend in Indianapolis, Ind.
- Visited Eli Lilly Corporation and engaged with FAMU alumni employed by Eli Lilly in Indianapolis, Ind.
- Conducted an engagement visit at the Veterans Administration in Tallahassee, Fla.
- Attended Men’s and Women’s SWAC Basketball Games
- Delivered the keynote address at the Black History Program held at the Governor’s Mansion in Tallahassee, Fla.
- Participated in weekly conference calls with the FAMU Board of Trustees Chairperson
- Attended the Investiture Ceremony of the 5th President of Pasco-Hernando State College in New Port Richey, Fla.
- Attended and co-sponsored the CEO Working Well 2025 Breakfast
Academic Affairs Highlights
Under the leadership of Provost & Vice President of Academic Affairs Allyson Watson, Ph.D., several key milestones have been achieved:
- Academic Affairs initiated a comprehensive strategic planning process, conducting a thorough crosswalk and analysis in collaboration with the Academic Affairs leadership team. This effort aligned the 2022-2027 Boldly Striking strategic plan with the Board of Governors' SUS-30 strategic plan, ensuring consistency with statewide institutional priorities.
- Under the direction of Dr. William Hyman in the Office of International Education and Development, the University tripled student participation in study abroad programs for the Spring 2025 semester. Academic units have played a vital role in supporting this expansion, working alongside Dr. Hyman to develop faculty-led study abroad experiences.
- Through the Digital Rattler Initiative and the Office of Freshmen Studies, Dr. Jennifer Collins, Dr. Lewis Johnson, Ms. Deidre Williams, and Mr. Christian Whitaker distributed iPads to more than 200 freshmen in February. This initiative underscores FAMU’s commitment to integrating digital technology into the classroom and equipping students with 21st-century learning skills.
Student Affairs Highlights
Under the leadership of Vice President of Student Affairs William Hudson, Ph.D., key achievements include:
- Approximately 200 students attended the Florida TRIO Leadership Conference, which was hosted by our Student Affairs staff on campus. TRIO Programs from Edward Waters, North Florida College at Jacksonville, University of South Florida, College Bound Institute of Miami, Fla., and our five TRIO Programs participated in the conference.
- FAMU’s Trio Equal Opportunity Program is partnering with Columbia Gardens Residential Community to host an Adult Learner Resource Fair. The event is tentatively scheduled for March 22, 2025.
- Student Government Elections were held in February. The newly-elected Student Body President/ University Trustee for the 2025-2026 academic year is Zayla Bryant. The new SGA Vice President is Kennedy Williams.
Finance & Administration Highlights
Under the leadership of Senior Vice President of Finance & Administration Rebecca Brown, the division achieved the following:
- Campus Safety and Security Chief Audrey Alexander was selected for the Tallahassee Democrat’s “25 Women You Need to Know for 2025”. This prestigious recognition honors women leaders who have contributed to the well-being of the Tallahassee community.
- Chief Alexander was also featured in the 2025 Cherry Hall Alexander African American History Calendar presented by the Tallahassee State College. This annual calendar honors individuals who have made a meaningful impact in our community, highlighting their dedication and commitment to excellence in their respective fields.
- The Venom Tracker App (TransLoc) is now available through the FAMU mobile app. With enhanced features, users can access scheduled arrival times, track real-time shuttle locations, and save favorite stops for the Venom shuttle service. These improvements help provide safe and reliable transportation for students, faculty, and staff.
Office of Communications Highlights
Under the leadership of Vice President and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Alonda Thomas, Ph.D., the Office of Communications achieved the following milestones:
- Hosted the FAMU Black History Month Fireside Chat featuring alumnus and TV host Roy Wood Jr., which received extensive pre- and post-event media coverage from the Tallahassee Democrat, SiriusXM Radio, and WFSU FM.
- Watch the event: YouTube
- Organized the 2025 Harambee Festival at Cascade Park, bringing together over 3,000 FAMU and City of Tallahassee community members.
- Facilitated a Bloomberg News interview with VP William Hudson, highlighting the university’s strong career recruitment efforts and their impact in today's job market.
Alumni Affairs & Community Engagement
Under the leadership of Assistant Vice President of Alumni Affairs and Engagement Carmen Cummings-Martin, key accomplishments include:
- Honored the FAMU Marching 100 in collaboration with the Leon County Commission, celebrating their recognition as ESPN Band of the Year.
- The band received a proclamation from Chair Carolyn Cummings, Commissioner Bill Proctor, and the board in recognition of their achievements. The band delivered a special performance in the commission chambers.
- Partnered with the School of Journalism to welcome FAMU alumna Pam Oliver of FOX Sports for the Blood, Sweat & Tears documentary tour, which highlighted the legacy of Black college football and its cultural impact.
Audit & Compliance
Under the leadership of Vice President of Audit and Compliance Joe Maleszewski, the division achieved the following:
- Successfully completed the Performance-Based Funding Audit and submitted the final report, along with the Certification of Integrity, to the Board of Governors.
- Safeguarded the accuracy of key student success metrics, directly supporting FAMU’s retention and graduation goals while ensuring compliance with state funding requirements.
- Strengthened IT risk assessment and cybersecurity measures, enhancing internal controls and ensuring regulatory compliance.
- Provided critical support for FAMU’s technology and security infrastructure, optimizing operations and cybersecurity measures.
- Concluded six investigations related to Financial Aid, Student Housing, and other auxiliary services, reinforcing institutional accountability.
Athletics Highlights
Under the leadership of Vice President & Director of Athletics Angela Suggs, our student-athletes continue to excel:
- Daniel Richardson, FAMU Football Quarterback, shined in the HBCU Legacy Bowl on February 22nd in New Orleans, La. Richardson earned the Offensive Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for his outstanding performance.
- Richardson, along with teammates Jamari Gassett (wide receiver), Jeremiah Pruitte (tight end), Jalen Goss (offensive lineman), and Kendall Bohler (defensive back), participated in the HBCU NFL Combine and Legacy Bowl in New Orleans, showcasing their skills on a national stage.
- The FAMU Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams will compete in the 2025 SWAC Basketball Tournament in Atlanta, Ga., from March 11-15. This marks the first time in FAMU’s history as a SWAC member that both teams have qualified for the tournament— a testament to the strength and progress of our programs under Coach Patrick Crarey and Coach Bridgette Gordon.
Division of Research
Under the leadership of Vice President of Research Charles Weatherford, Ph.D., our faculty and researchers have achieved significant milestones:
- Kudos to Dr. Weatherford, along with Ms. Rica Calhoun and Ms. Shira Thomas, for organizing a webinar to provide FAMU faculty with crucial updates on federal guidance for research grants and contracts.
- Congratulations to Dr. Mandip Sachdeva for securing a patent titled: “Method of Transdermal Delivery of Cannabinoid Compositions.”
- Additionally, Dr. Sachdeva (COPPS) has received FDA approval for FAMU’s first human trial to study CBD for Neuropathy—“Effect of CBD Isolate and Full-Spectrum CBD on Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy.”
Legal Affairs (Office of General Counsel & University Policy)
Under the leadership of Deputy General Counsel Iris Elijah, our legal team has made significant contributions:
- Special thanks to Deputy General Counsel Iris Elijah for delivering a timely and insightful presentation at NACUA’s Winter Workshop on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Workforce of Today and Tomorrow.
- In February, the Office of General Counsel processed approximately 70 contracts and 14 public records requests.
- A heartfelt thank you to our legal team and staff for their dedication in collaborating with departments to draft, review, revise, and implement University regulations and policies.
Division of Strategic Planning, Analysis and Institutional Effectiveness
Under the leadership of Vice President Roddrick Jones, Ph.D., the division has made significant contributions:
- 2025 Accountability Plan: Initiated the update of data for the University's 2025 Accountability Plan report, aligning with the Board of Governors’ 2025 System Strategic Plan.
- Strategic Plan Year 3 Updates: Conducting "Boldly Striking" Implementation Team Leads and Co-Leads check-ins to review updates, ensuring alignment of all initiatives, past, current, and new, with institutional strategic priorities for accurate data collection, reporting, and continuous improvement.
- College & Schools Dashboards: Initiated development of comprehensive visual tools providing real-time analytics and performance metrics for academic departments within the university.
As a proud alumnus of the #1 public HBCU in America and a Top 100 University, I am honored to serve as Interim President and grateful for the opportunity to support our students, faculty, and stakeholders. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to FAMU’s success!
Boldly Striking,
Timothy Beard, Ph.D., CRC, BCMC
Interim President
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