FAMU School of Nursing Celebrates 90 Years of Excellence, Leadership and Service
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Nine decades of Rattler nurses stood together Saturday, Sept. 19, as the Florida A&M University School of Nursing celebrated its 90th anniversary with a commemorative gala honoring the people, milestones and enduring impact behind one of FAMU’s historic academic programs.
Held at the AC Hotel Tallahassee, the gala brought alumni, faculty, staff, students and university supporters together for an evening of reflection, recognition and renewed commitment to the school’s future. Graduates spanning decades were honored alongside former deans and university leaders, five alumni were inducted into the School of Nursing Gallery of Distinction, and supporters made financial contributions to help invest in the program’s next chapter.
SON Leaders from left to right: Dr. Carswella Phillips, Associate Dean, Dean Smith,
Dr. Taiwo Arise, Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs, and Dr. Robin Butler, Assistant
Dean of Undergraduate Programs. (Photo Courtesy: Steve Byrum)
The milestone commemorates FAMU’s establishment of a fully recognized Bachelor of
Science nursing program in 1936, the first baccalaureate nursing program in Florida.
Its history stretches even further, with the University offering its first nursing
courses during the 1904-1905 academic year. The program has since become the oldest
continuing baccalaureate nursing program at a historically Black college or university
in the United States.
Honoring the Foundation, Building the Future
Dean Shannon Bright Smith, Ph.D., the 11th dean of the School of Nursing, opened the gala by recognizing those who built the program while challenging the FAMU nursing community to continue their work.
“The generations who came before us built a foundation of excellence. They opened doors, broke barriers and created opportunities,” Smith said. “We stand where we stand today. Now the responsibility belongs to us.”
FAMU School of Nursing alumni and supporters gather for a photo during the school’s
90th anniversary commemorative gala at the AC Hotel Tallahassee. The evening celebrated
generations of Rattler nurses and recognized individuals who have contributed to the
school’s legacy. (Photo Courtesy: Steve Byrum)
Smith emphasized that carrying the legacy forward requires continued investment in
students, nursing science and the health of communities. Her message reflected the
school’s broader vision for its next chapter, including expanding academic offerings,
strengthening research capacity and developing new pathways for student success.
Donald E. Palm III, Ph.D., executive vice president for Health Sciences Enterprise and Research Innovation, echoed that responsibility, framing the anniversary as a bridge between those who built the school and those charged with moving it forward.
“Tonight we celebrate more than an anniversary; we celebrate a testimony of faith, perseverance and sacrifice,” Palm said. “Now the torch is passed to us to protect this legacy, expand its reach and ensure that future generations of FAMU nurses are prepared to lead, to heal and to serve.”
Nine Decades, One Rattler Legacy
One of the evening’s most defining moments came as graduates were recognized by decade. Across the ballroom, Rattler nurses representing different eras of the program rose to their feet — a living reflection of the school’s reach across generations.
Former School of Nursing deans Georgie C. Labadie and Ruena Norman added their own reflections on the institution’s evolution.
“The School of Nursing and I have something in common: We were both delivered in the same year,” Labadie said. “Dr. L.H.B. Foote delivered me first, and then he brought forth the baccalaureate program.”
Former FAMU School of Nursing Dean Georgie C. Labadie reflects on the school’s history
and legacy during its 90th anniversary commemorative gala at the AC Hotel Tallahassee.
(Photo Courtesy: Steve Byrum)
Norman turned the reflection toward what comes next, calling on graduates to remain engaged with the school.
“As we celebrate 90 years of history and honor that legacy, we must also look at our shared responsibility,” Norman said. “I charge you, Rattler nursing graduates: Let this weekend reignite your passion, dedication and support for the School of Nursing, and be agents of change in a rapidly evolving health care system.”
FAMU National Alumni Association President Artisia Polk reinforced that call to action.
FAMU National Alumni Association President Artisia Polk shows her Rattler pride during
the FAMU School of Nursing’s 90th anniversary commemorative gala at the AC Hotel Tallahassee.
(Photo Courtesy: Steve Byrum)
“Congratulations on 90 years of trailblazing history,” Polk said. “Let us continue to honor our past, invest in our students and move forward together.”
School of Nursing Alumni Association President Jasmine Mount also thanked faculty
and staff for continuing to mentor graduates long after they leave FAMU and encouraged
alumni to return, support students and remain connected to the school. Polk and Mount
were among the alumni leaders included in the official gala program.
Excellence Across Generations
The gala’s celebration of achievement continued with the induction of five alumni and nursing leaders into the 2026 School of Nursing Gallery of Distinction: Lottie Cuthbertson, Michelle Lockett, Frantrice McMillan-Riley, Yuvonne Martin and retired Capt. Thecly Hines Scott.
Michelle L. Lockett, a 2006 FAMU graduate and 2026 School of Nursing Gallery of Distinction
inductee, displays her award during the School of Nursing’s 90th anniversary commemorative
gala. (Photo Courtesy: Steve Byrum)
For Lockett, a 2006 FAMU graduate and clinical assistant professor at Villanova University, the recognition represented a full-circle moment shaped by the standard of excellence instilled in her at FAMU.
“FAMU taught me to be the best, taught me to be better than the rest, and they instilled that through their words and their actions,” Lockett said. “I went to three different schools — a state school, an Ivy League school and FAMU — and FAMU is the school that instilled excellence in me.”
A FAMU School of Nursing honoree receives an award during the school’s 90th anniversary
commemorative gala, celebrating generations of nursing excellence, leadership and
service. (Photo Courtesy: Steve Byrum)
Years before becoming a professor or Gallery of Distinction inductee, Lockett left another mark on the School of Nursing.
In 2005, while still a nursing student, she authored the School of Nursing Pinning Pledge. More than two decades later, Lockett stood before a ballroom filled with Rattler nurses and led them in reciting the words she first wrote as a student. The pledge continues to be recited by FAMU nursing graduates at pinning ceremonies.
Across the room, generations of graduates stood together, reaffirming their commitment to ethical nursing practice, patient care and service.
Investing in What Comes Next
The celebration of the school’s past also translated into tangible investment in its future.
The Class of 1973 contributed $1,100 to the School of Nursing. The freshman class of 1973 also donated $1,250 to the School of Nursing. Gallery of Distinction inductee McMillan-Riley contributed $10,000, while alumna Brenda Steger announced an additional $25,000 gift to the program. The commemorative journal also recognizes McMillan-Riley and iCan Publishing as Legacy Donors, each contributing $10,000.
The gifts reinforced a message woven throughout the gala: A 90-year legacy is not sustained by history alone. It continues through the people willing to invest in the students, faculty and programs that will shape the next generation of Rattler nurses.
A guest showcases Rattler pride in an elegant orange ensemble with gold detailing
and a coordinating headwrap during the Florida A&M University School of Nursing’s
90th anniversary commemorative gala. (Photo Courtesy: Steve Byrum)
As the evening came to a close, attendees rose together to sing the FAMU Alma Mater.
Current students stood alongside alumni. Former deans stood among the graduates whose careers were shaped by the school. Across decades and experiences, they were connected by an institution that has prepared nurses to lead and serve since its earliest nursing courses more than a century ago.
The gala celebrated 90 years of baccalaureate nursing education, but its message extended beyond the anniversary: The legacy built by generations of Rattler nurses is now in the hands of those prepared to carry it forward.
A FAMU School of Nursing honoree receives an award during the school’s 90th anniversary
commemorative gala, which recognized alumni and nursing leaders for their contributions
to the profession and the school’s legacy. (Photo Courtesy: Steve Byrum)
Media Contact:
Ashley Flete
Senior Communications Specialist
ashley1.flete@famu.edu
