Year of the Rattler Woman: A Historic Era of Women Shaping the Future of FAMU

Florida A&M University has always been a proving ground for trailblazers, but 2024–2025 has emerged as the “Year of the Rattler Woman.” As President Marva B. Johnson, J.D., takes the helm of FAMU, she does so at a moment when women are leading boldly across every corner of the University. From the trustee boardroom to the alumni network, from campus safety to student government, Rattler women are not only making history—they are redefining what it means to lead with excellence.

Kristin Harper: Governing With Integrity and Vision

When Kristin Harper was elected Chair of the FAMU Board of Trustees, she stepped into a role that demanded courage and conviction. The Columbus, Ohio native is a proud SBI graduate, who received her bachelor’s and MBA simultaneously. Harper is no stranger to leadership. As a student, she became just the third woman in FAMU’s history to serve as SGA president. More than two decades later, she returned to the University as trustee.

In her six years on the Board—including two as chair—Harper has guided FAMU through transformative milestones and difficult challenges. She helped lead the development of the Boldly Striking Strategic Plan, which led to FAMU’s achievement as a Top 100 national ranking, and ignited FAMU’s pursuit of R1 research status. Under her tenure, the University celebrated record achievements in fundraising, research expenditures, student profiles, four-year graduation rates, and performance-based metrics.

Harper thoughtfully ponders how she wants her leadership defined before saying – “One of high integrity and moral character; being agile yet unwavering in my values.” The outgoing chair wants to be remembered as meeting the moment and never losing sight of who she serves, which is FAMU students, faculty, staff, alumni, community members and future students in a mission to advance the university’s global brand and multi-generational impact. “Titles are temporary. Character lasts forever,” she said.

For Harper, the greatest reward of leadership comes not in policy decisions or performance metrics, but in moments of joy: “What makes it all worth it is sitting on that stage and seeing the joy of students achieving their dreams. Knowing, in some small way, that the contributions I’ve made—and those of my colleagues—helped make that possible.”

Harper leaves incoming board members and leaders with three pieces of advice:

1. Always remember the multiple constituencies that you serve and never neglect the reason FAMU exists.
   
   
2. When making decisions, weigh the trade-offs; short-term and long-term.
   
   
3. Be really clear about your why.

“Leadership is complex. There are rarely right or wrong answers—only trade-offs. But as long as we keep students at the center, FAMU will continue to thrive for generations.”

 Artisha R. Polk: Energizing Alumni Engagement

Artisha R. Polk is the 20th president of the FAMU National Alumni Association (NAA)—and only the third woman to hold the role since the organization’s founding in 1901. A second-generation Rattler who has generations of family members wearing orange and green, Polk has spent more than two decades volunteering with the NAA. Her extensive experience gained over decades of service has placed her in a unique position to effectively lead the 124-year-old organization. 

Her presidency centers on bridging generational divides, modernizing the organization and increasing alumni engagement. “Our seasoned alumni have the experience, while our young alumni bring fresh ideas and tools,” she said. “Together, they can energize our association and help ensure FAMU’s legacy lives on in perpetuity.”

Polk’s priorities include elevating the NAA’s brand, raising transformational capital, and ensuring every Rattler feels they belong. For her, a Rattler woman is someone who has “confidence, is loving, steadfast, and enduring, caring and helpful to other fellow Rattlers. Someone who is well educated, prepared for her career and can stand strong in her purpose, no matter what comes before her.”

Polk’s leadership ensures the alumni network remains not just a supporter of the University, but a force for unprecedented innovation and future growth.

FAMU Chief of Police Audrey Alexander at her pinning ceremony. (Photo by Jeff Walker)

Audrey Alexander: Protecting the Hill

When Lt. Audrey Alexander was appointed Chief of Police in September 2024, it capped a 30-year career with FAMU’s Department of Campus Safety and Security. A three-time graduate of the University and retired U.S. Army Reserve and Florida National Guard major, Alexander’s career reflects resilience and service at the highest levels.

“I am deeply invested in the safety and well-being of our campus community,” Alexander said. “My team and I work tirelessly to ensure that FAMU remains a welcoming and inclusive environment, where students can excel without unnecessary and preventable distractions.”

Her 24 years of military service—including a tour in Iraq—have shaped a leadership style that is calm under pressure, mission-driven, and people-focused. Alexander does not see campus policing as just enforcing rules; for her, it’s about cultivating trust, building relationships, and creating a secure campus culture that supports student success.

Under her leadership, safety at “the Hill” is a shared responsibility—and a top priority. Whether responding to crises, planning prevention strategies, or simply walking the campus and listening, Chief Alexander is a steady presence working behind the scenes and on the ground to protect the people who call FAMU home.

Left: Zayla Bryant, SGA President, and Kennedy Williams, SGA Vice President. (Photo by Glenn Beil)

Zayla Bryant: Leading With Impact

For Student Government Association President Zayla Bryant, a senior business major from Lithonia, Georgia, leadership has never been about the title. As the first woman to hold the office alongside a female vice president, she sees her role as a platform for accountability, service, and impact.

She has used her presidency to elevate student voices, insisting that the position should be about more than visibility—it should be about tangible results. “I think I can speak for me and Kennedy when I say that we didn’t do this to make history, but we did it to make an impact. I don’t think us being two women on the ticket changes the fact that the role is just as important and we would still be serving the same if we were not history makers,” she said.

Bryant, a first-generation Rattler, describes a “Rattler woman” as resilient, steadfast, and adaptable. She explained that it takes a level of audacity and a sense of self-assurance and self-love to walk into a room with possibility of rejection.

“I think that rejection is just redirection, so don't be scared of it. When it comes to young women, they're a very soft spot for me because I know what it's like to walk into a space not knowing who you are or the power that you possess. I constantly felt like that until someone gave me the room to bloom,” she said.

Kennedy Williams: Uplifting Student Voices

Serving alongside Bryant is Kennedy Williams, a history–pre-law major from West Palm Beach, who hails from a long line of FAMU graduates. As Vice President, Williams said she is very "blessed and grateful to serve." She has embraced the opportunity to make students concerns heard. She responds directly to peers, advocates with administrators, and ensures that no voice is dismissed.

“I think it’s important that when we’re faced with issues, we address them head-on and communicate with our administration. It’s important that they understand my position doesn’t make me the only voice they should hear when it comes to student concerns. We all pay tuition to be here, and no student should ever feel as if their concerns are left unheard or unanswered.”

Williams is aware of the barriers women face in leadership. “A challenge I've faced recently was learning how to navigate as a woman in the (political) field.  As women, we’re seen as overly emotional in certain instances,” she said. “But we should always stay true to who we are as women, as Black women, and as student leaders.”

Rooted in the legacy of her family and the mentorship of other Rattler women, Williams believes her role is to continue the cycle of support. “I want to emphasize that I would not be here today without the other trailblazing FAMU women who have laid the groundwork for us to come this far,” she said.

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