The 2015 HBCU Digest Awards at Hampton University honored Florida A&M University President Elmira Mangum Ph.D. with the “Female President of the Year” Award on Friday night.
President Mangum’s impressive year made her a top contender for the award. FAMU was ranked the No. 1 public HBCU in the nation for 2015 by the U.S News & World Report. Mangum was also selected by U.S. Secretary Tom Vilsack to serve on the USDA Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee (APAC), a committee with the duty of continuing to improve the international agricultural trade policy.
At the 11th Annual Onyx Magazine Awards, Mangum was named an honoree. Along with her other accolades, EBONY Magazine named Mangum to the “Power 100” list and the Tallahassee-based Capital Outlook named her “Person of the Year”.
Three total FAMU representatives were honorees. Alumna Cecka Rose Green was recognized for the FAMU 10 for $10 giving campaign. Three-time MEAC track and field championship-winning head coach Darlene Moore was also recognized.
Calvin Robinson, a professor at Florida A&M is pleased with what the award can do for the campus. “President Mangum is doing phenomenal work for our university. I believe that this will add to and in some way restore our university heritage and pride,” said Robinson.
With 14 nominations, FAMU led all HBCUs. Hampton followed with 10 nominations. A total of 430 nominations were entered, which was a new HBCU Digest Awards record.
With so much change happening on the campus of FAMU, some students enjoy the positive publicity. Kamry Williams, a student at Florida A&M expressed her sentiments.
“People always try to find negative things to say about our school and there are so many positive things that go on,” said Williams. “Our staff does a lot for us. She deserves it.”
Selection was based on the impact of the nominees’ achievement on institutional development, and the amount of media attention that the university gained because of the nominee. The selection committee consisted of former and current HBCU presidents, alumni, faculty, HBCU Awards winners, and journalists who have covered HBCU problems for local and national news.
Members of the Rattler family who are not in Tallahassee, like FAMU alumnus Patrick Herrington, are excited about the news as well.
“I like to keep up with what’s going on even though I’m not at FAMU anymore. To see how we were represented is simply amazing,” said Herrington.