Uptown Mag profiles SBI grad John Simpson

HE IS: A Detroit-based lawyer with a creative vision. Now those are two concepts you don’t often find in the same sentence—but for Simpson, it was a winning combination. “When I got out of law school, I worked for a small defense firm,” he recalls. “But my stomach would always bother me at the office, so I asked my doctor about it and he said it sounded like stress.” That’s all Simpson needed to hear. He quit the firm that same week and went into business for himself.

FOR THE RECORD: Having always been drawn to the entertainment industry, Simpson launched a dance music label called Simply Soul.“Detroit is home to electronic and techno music, and a lot of the guys who started that type of music were friends and, ultimately, clients of mine,” he says. They included Kevin Saunderson, Derrick May, and Juan Atkins, all heavily associated with the birth of Detroit techno. “I was the guy with the degree, so I became the lawyer for the group.”

BELLY UP TO THE BAR: In 2000, Simpson also opened Half Past 3, a casually elegant downtown bar and lounge with a laid-back R&B/hip-hop vibe that attracted A-listers and locals alike before closing in 2007.“We had everyone from Gabrielle Union to Puffy to Cedric the Entertainer come through,” he says. Allen Iverson was a regular who, Simpson claims, would come into the bar whenever his team, the Philadelphia 76ers, played the Detroit Pistons. Simpson says he’d come both before and after the games, sometimes staying until the wee hours of the morning.

LAW AND ORDER: After almost two decades in entertainment, Simpson has shifted his focus back to traditional law: In 2009, with two former colleagues, he established Simpson, Morton & Cross. The “progressive” practice approaches clients in inclusive and fresh ways to meet their needs in an ever-changing social climate. “Our firm is sophisticated enough to handle corporate clients, but grounded enough to serve the everyday man,” Simpson says. Jury dismissed.

via Uptown Mag

Brazile to keynote fall commencement

Veteran Democratic political strategist Donna Brazile will serve as keynote speaker for Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) Fall 2010 Commencement Ceremony, Friday, December 10 in the Alfred Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center and Teaching Gymnasium at 6 p.m.

Brazile, a New Orleans native, is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University, author of the best-selling memoir Cooking with Grease: Stirring the Pots in American
Politics, syndicated newspaper columnist for United Media, television political commentator to CNN and ABC, regular guest on This Week with Christiane Amanpour, vice chair of Voter Registration and Participation at the Democratic National Committee, and former chair of the Democratic National Committee’s Voting Rights Institute.

Aside from working for the full recovery of her beloved New Orleans, her passion is encouraging young people to vote, to volunteer, and to run for public office.

Brazile began her political career at the age of nine when she worked to elect a City Council candidate who had promised to build a playground in her neighborhood; the candidate won, the swing sets were installed, and a lifelong passion for political progress was ignited. Four decades later, Brazile has worked on every presidential campaign from 1976 through 2000, when she served as campaign manager for former Vice President Al Gore, becoming the first African-American woman to manage a presidential campaign.

In August 2009, O, The Oprah Magazine chose Brazile as one of its 20 “remarkable visionaries” for the magazine’s first-ever O Power List. In addition, she was named among the 100 Most Powerful Women by Washingtonian magazine, Top 50 Women in America by Essence magazine, and received the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s highest award for political achievement. Brazile is a former member of the board of directors of the Louisiana Recovery Authority, where she was responsible for leading the state’s rebuilding process in the aftermath of two catastrophic hurricanes.

Brazile is the proud recipient of honorary doctorate degrees from Louisiana State University and Xavier University (Louisiana), the only historically black-Catholic institution of higher education in the United States.

Brazile is founder and managing director of Brazile & Associates LLC, a general consulting, grassroots advocacy, and training firm based in Washington, DC.

FAMU lends mercury analyzer to 8th grade science project

Like a lot of Bay County residents, Brian Lague eats fish caught locally on a regular basis.

Lague, an eighth grade student at Surfside Middle School, has taken his interest in fish and applied it to a science fair project that he plans to enter in the 2011 Three Rivers Regional Science and Engineering Fair, an annual event.

His project involves the study of mercury levels in local fish, with his research taking him to the U.S. Geological Survey Florida Water Science Center in Tallahassee and a Florida A&M University laboratory.

He said the Deepwater Horizon BP oil spill played a part in his choice of a science fair project this year.

“It got me wondering if the oil spill could affect the mercury in the fish, because oil has mercury in it,” Lague said.

For his latest science fair project, Lague has collected more than 75 fish tissue samples from Grand Lagoon and the Gulf of Mexico, including snapper, grouper, amberjack, menhaden, pinfish, croaker and mullet.

Marlene East said her son spent a day at the USGS lab in Tallahassee, with Lia Chasar helping Lague grind and dry all of the samples.

She said the FAMU lab offered to let Lague use their direct mercury analyzer to get mercury readings, with NOAA and USGS scientists helping her son run statistical tests to analyze the mercury levels and compare them to recommended Food and Drug Administration levels.

At FAMU, Lague said he worked with graduate students who helped him with his readings.

Read the full article here.

OT: Pardon the interruption?

Ala. State's band puts a stop to 'Skegee show
After Tuskegee's band went about five minutes over their alloted time, Alabama State's band took the field and stopped TU mid dance routine (see 2:20 in video).

The fact that the Tuskegee band didn't react adversely is a testament to the quality of the students at the University. As a result, their the 'Skegee band's non-reaction helped what could have easily become a band brawl end peacefully and without incident during the nationally televised football game.

Alum awarded Emmy for outstanding reporting

FAMU alumna and CBS News Senior Producer Kim Godwin won a 2010 Emmy Award for "Outstanding Business and Economic Reporting in a Regularly Scheduled Newscast" for her groundbreaking series “Financial Family Tree.” The unique series provided viewers with an in-depth, analytical look at the immediate and long-term ripple effects of the recession.

Godwin is a 1984 graduate of FAMU’s School of Journalism and Graphic Communication (SJGC). Last fall, she hosted the “CBS News Journalists and their Journey” panel discussion to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the journalism program at the school. The event featured award-winning video, compelling dialogue and informative questions and answers about the extraordinary field of journalism with the esteemed lineup that included Russ Mitchell, anchor, CBS Evening News, Saturday Edition; Byron Pitts, chief national correspondent and contributing correspondent, “60 Minutes;” CBS News Correspondents Randall Pinkston and Bill Whitaker; and the late Harold Dow, 48 Hours Mystery correspondent.

“All of us here in the School applaud Kim for being a recipient of this awesome award,” said SJGC Dean James Hawkins. “This award signals the extraordinary impact she continues to make as a journalist.”

At CBS News, Godwin is the senior producer in charge of all domestic coverage for the “CBS Evening News with Katie Couric.” Prior to joining CBS News, she was Assistant News Director for WCBS-TV, the CBS Owned station in New York, where she oversaw all day-to-day editorial direction and newscast production, as well as special projects.

She joined WCBS after spending two years at FAMU as journalism director and faculty member. Before then, she was vice president and news director for KNBC in Los Angeles and vice president of News Operations for the NBC Television Stations Group in Atlanta and New York.

Alum's short film debuts on BET

"Cocoa Love," a short film written and directed by Florida A&M University alumnus and former Student Body Vice-President James Bland, aired on the season finale of Black Entertainment Television's (BET) “Lens on Talent.”

The film is a romantic comedy short about a young couple whose relationship is tested when a funeral for a dog turns into a misadventure of mayhem when a series of secrets and surprises are revealed. Hilarious and heartwarming, the film has a surprising amount of twists for a short piece. It recently won BEST COMEDY at the Urban Mediamakers Film Festival in Atlanta and was an official selection at the Mid-Atlantic Black Film Festival in Norfolk, Virginia.

Bland is a 2008 graduate of the School of Business and Industry. He wrote, directed and produced his first feature film "Dreaming in Color" during his senior year on the Hill. He shot the film on FAMU's campus and the movie stars FAMU students. Upon graduating, Bland took a leap of faith to by moving to Los Angeles and received his first industry opportunity working as an intern to FAMU alumnus and super-producer Will Packer on the movie "Takers." "Cocoa Love" is his first short film.

“The process of making this film was both a joyous and laborious process,” said Bland. “Luckily, I had a great team of individuals who brought passion, experience and most importantly production value to this project.”

As a young filmmaker, Bland set out to make a funny film with fresh talent and an enthusiastic crew. The results were magical.

“The cast had a natural chemistry and the crew operated as if they had been working together for years. The twelve plus hour days of filming never felt like work," Bland said. "I don't ever want this (filmmaking) to feel like work. When it does, maybe I'll find something new to chase.”

Until then, Bland will continue to tell visual stories and hopefully make people feel something along the way. He adds, "People never forget how you made them feel, and I don't think audiences will forget "Cocoa Love" anytime soon."

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Rattler Nation team wishes you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving holiday.

Gillum vying for Fla. Democratic Party chair

The trouncing that Florida Democrats took during the November elections has many party members calling for new leadership. FAMU alumnus Andrew D. Gillum says he’s ready to take the baton.

Gillum, 31, confirmed yesterday that he plans to enter the race for state party chairman. If he qualifies, he will face Rod Smith, a former state senator who served as Democratic Gubernatorial Nominee Alex Sink’s runningmate.

"This is about a fresh start for Florida Democrats and I think that requires fresh leadership," Gillum told the Jacksonville Times-Union.

In order to be eligible, Gillum must first be elected as a state committeeman or county chairman.

Gillum studied political science at FAMU and was the first student body president to sit on the university’s Board of Trustees. He has served on the Tallahassee City Commission since 2003. In 2004 and 2008, Gillum’s fellow commissioners elected him Mayor Pro Tem. Gillum also serves as Director of Youth Leadership Programs for People For the American Way Foundation (PFAWF).

According to Gillum’s Times-Union interview, he raised millions for PFAWF and the 2008 presidential campaign of then-U.S. Sen. Barack Obama.

The Florida Democrats lost every statewide race in November. The party has not won a gubernatorial election since 1994.

CBS News establishes Dow Professorship at FAMU

Sean McManus, the president of CBS News and Sports, announced yesterday that CBS News is establishing the Harold Dow Professorship at FAMU's School of Journalism and Graphic Communication. It is named after the late Harold Dow (1947-2010), a CBS correspondent and investigative reporter.

FAMU was the first historically black university to have an accredited journalism program.

The Dow Professorship will begin in the 2011-2012 academic year. It is designed to enhance presentation skills for students interested in on-air positions in broadcast television.

CBS News is also implementing an array of initiatives to further promote diversity and excellence in journalism. Among the workplace programs CBS is putting into effect in 2011 are a new paid internship program, a professional development program and a discretionary award to be used by the president of CBS News to recognize truly outstanding contributions by News Division employees who promote excellence and diversity at CBS News.

"Through these initiatives in our workplace and with the aspiring young journalists at the distinguished Florida A&M University journalism program, CBS News is expanding its longstanding commitment to diversity, to industry excellence and to nurturing future generations of journalists," McManus said. "We also are extremely pleased that we are able to memorialize our colleague and dear friend, broadcasting legend Harold Dow, in this significant way."

"We are profoundly appreciative to have the CBS Harold Dow Professorship, which will immediately enhance the education of students committed to a career in broadcast journalism," said James Hawkins, dean of the FAMU School of Journalism and Graphic Communication. "This professorship speaks volumes about CBS's regard for journalism education and appreciation for Harold Dow, a gifted journalist whose work was nothing short of outstanding. It is our goal to produce journalists who will commit to the trusted standards of CBS and Harold Dow."

Dow had been a correspondent for 48 HOURS since 1990, after serving as a contributor to the broadcast since its premiere on Jan. 19, 1988. He was a contributor to the critically acclaimed 1986 documentary "48 Hours on Crack Street," which led to the creation of the single-topic weekly news magazine. Over the course of his distinguished career at the Network, Dow served as a correspondent for the CBS News magazine, STREET STORIES, and reported for the CBS EVENING NEWS, SUNDAY MORNING and the CBS News legal series, VERDICT. He also served as co-anchor on CBS News' NIGHTWATCH, prior to which he was a correspondent and reporter at CBS News' Los Angeles bureau.

Marching 100 took Bethune to school

The Florida Classic halftime battle between the Marching 100 and the BCU failed to live up to its advanced billing as the more experienced FAMU band buried the inexperienced upstart from central Florida alive.

You can check out the BCU Pride's show here

FAMU out of options for avoiding layoffs

Back when he was hired as FAMU’s tenth president in 2007, James Ammons stated that his top budget priority was saving faculty and staff jobs. But now that FAMU’s federal stimulus dollars are running dry, the university is out of options for avoiding severe personnel layoffs.

FAMU started losing big amounts of money in 2005 when the then-interim president eliminated the university's recruitment program and caused an enrollment decline. State-mandated budget cuts have sliced FAMU’s budget by more than $30M since Ammons took office in 2007. The Ammons administration dealt with the budget squeeze by paring back on adjunct positions, travel, and new hiring.

Federal stimulus rescues FAMU jobs

U.S. President Barack Obama’s Recovery and Reinvestment Act played a huge role in helping FAMU hang on to many personnel positions. FAMU received $7.4M education stimulus dollars for 2009-2010 and $8.4M for 2010-2011.

According to Ammons, the federal stimulus permitted FAMU to “save 347 full- and part-time jobs, including adjunct faculty and overloads for our regular full-time faculty.” 78 percent of FAMU’s budget goes to personnel salaries.

The pending loss of stimulus dollars means that FAMU must now join the other State University System of Florida (SUS) institutions that are cutting dozens of permanent employees.

FAMU's painful cuts

In June Rattler Nation was the first to report that salaries of 26 personnel positions in FAMU’s School of General Studies and the John A. Mulrennan, Sr. Public Health Entomology Research & Education Center had been moved to stimulus dollars set to expire at the end of this fiscal year.

The FAMUan recently added that the entire Schools of General Studies and Graduate Studies are now slated for closure on June 30, 2011. The whole Mulrennan lab will also dissolve on that date.

Cuts around the SUS

The University of Central Florida, Florida’s largest university (and the second largest in the nation), plans to eliminate Cardiopulmonary Sciences and Radiologic Sciences (College of Health and Public Affairs), Engineering Technology (College of Engineering & Computer Science) and Management Information Systems (College of Business Administration.) Actuarial Sciences in UCF’s College of Sciences will be suspended.

UCF expects the cuts to affect at least 32 faculty members and eight staff members. The university has already reduced operating costs by declining to fill 200 vacant jobs.

The University of Florida released a budget plan in 2009 that anticipates layoffs totaling nine faculty and 49 staff members. It plans to eliminate approximately 150 faculty and staff positions through a combination of unfilled vacancies, retirements and non-renewals. UF is already using $6.4M in federal stimulus dollars for final payouts to laid-off employees and another $7.6M for early retirement incentives.

Florida State announced the layoffs of 21 tenured faculty members earlier this year but recently reinstated the positions after an arbiter ruled that the university used a flawed process to dismiss the employees.

FAMU might have to cut another $5M from its budget this year. Florida’s public universities also received notice that they might take another 15 percent across-the-board cut in 2011-2012. That would be $14.2M at FAMU. The university is still going forward with a $1,000 increase in base pay for its personnel.

FAMU comes up short in quest for at-large playoff invite

The 2010 Rattler football season is over. FAMU did not receive an at-large invitation to the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs.

FAMU’s 38-27 victory over Bethune-Cookman University (B-CU) gave it a share of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championship. The Rattlers, Wildcats, and South Carolina State University Bulldogs tied for the conference title by finishing 7-1 each in the conference.

B-CU received the conference’s automatic FCS playoff berth with its 10-1 record. SCSU clinched an at-large invitation with its 9-2 record.

The Rattlers finished 8-3 with losses to the University of Miami, Tennessee State, and SCSU.

Shut Up! Rattlers silence Bethune

The Rattlers claimed a piece of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) title in front of a crowd of 61,712 with a 38-27 victory over the previously unbeaten Bethune-Cookman University (B-CU) Wildcats.

The MEAC championship will be shared between the Rattlers, South Carolina State and B-CU, each of whom finished 7-1 in conference.

FAMU won the Classic for the third straight year and spoiled the Wildcat’s unblemished 10-0 mark.

“I’m not going to let this damper our season,” B-CU Coach Brian Jenkins said. “I’m hurt and I apologize to the fans for not getting it done, but 10-1? I’m good. We have to turn around and get ready for the playoffs next week.”

Days before the game, Jenkins called FAMU’s Phillip Sylvester “the best running back in the conference.” Sylvester lived up to that description by rushing for all but two of his 146 yards in the second half and scoring three touchdowns. Sylvester’s performance helped the Rattlers (8-3) erase a 27-14 halftime deficit with 17 third-quarter points.

B-CU committed two fumbles that FAMU capitalized upon to seize momentum, with one sending B-CU Quarterback Matt Johnson to the sideline for the rest of the game with an injury.

The Rattlers took the lead on Lavante Page’s 1-yard run with 2:29 remaining in the period. Sylvester, who has rushed for 100 yards in each of the Rattlers’ last six games, added an insurance touchdown with 28 seconds to play.

By virtue of South Carolina State’s 48-3 win over North Carolina A&T earlier in the day, B-CU was assured of the conference’s automatic berth in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. The Wildcats will learn who they play Sunday morning.

B-CU coach: Sylvester is best running back in MEAC

Bethune-Cookman Head Coach Brian Jenkins enjoys watching Florida A&M running back Phillip Sylvester play the game and will do so until 2:35 p.m. today when the Wildcats and Rattlers kick off the the 31st annual Florida Classic. And when the game clock reaches zero, Jenkins once again will appreciate Sylvester’s abilities.

But for four hours, the goal will be to contain Sylvester, whose streak of five consecutive 100-yard games just happens to coincide with the Rattlers’ five-game winning streak.

“I’ve watched several of Sylvester’s games and actually enjoy watching him play. My hat goes off to him,” Jenkins said during Tuesday’s Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference . "The kid at North Carolina A&T (Mike Mayhew) was good, but Phillip’s better. He’s the best running back in the conference.”

So how does Jenkins plan on containing Sylvester? He kidded that “kidnapping” is one idea, but it comes down to basics.

“We have to play sound, fundamental football, and put a hand on this kid, swarm tackle him. If not, he’ll have a field day,” Jenkins said. “You can’t stop him, you only hope to contain him or throw him off his rhythm. He has the speed to take it to the house. He runs with power, awareness, can make you miss.”

Everyone knows at stake for the 7th ranked Wildcats: An undefeated regular season, an FCS playoff berth and the outright Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship. Jenkins has been working on focus.

“I’ve been telling the players we could let everything overwhelm us or we can be men and keep it all in perspective, Jenkins said. “It’s a part of our lives. We have to stay in the moment, enjoy it as well as prepare for it and then our trained behavior will become instinct and we’ll be ready. We look at every game the same. Every game is important. That’s helped us all season.”

It’s Jenkins first Florida Classic, and he appreciates how its showcases not only his programs, but the conference and HBCU football.

“This will be a star-studded event,” Jenkins said. “The magnitude of this game is immeasurable. I strongly believe it gives the nation a chance to see two quality HBCU programs who will show they are disciplined, well-coached teams. I don’t know if the nation gives HBCUs enough credit.”

ESPN Classic will air the game today, with kickoff at 2:35 p.m.

Get Up for the Rattlers fight song

FAMU Law to host Environmental Law and Justice Symposium

FAMU College of Law and the FAMU Center for Environmental Equity and Justice will host its inaugural Environmental Law and Justice Symposium titled “New Directions in Environmental Justice” on Thursday and Friday, November 11-12, at the Sheraton Orlando Downtown and the FAMU College of Law campus. The symposium will feature an overview of the latest international, national, regional, state and local developments in environmental justice.

Thursday’s session at the Sheraton Orlando Downtown at 400 West Livingston Street will feature remarks by Gwendolyn Keyes Fleming, Esq., Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 administrator. Registration begins at 4:30 p.m. Friday’s keynote speakers at the College of Law include: Beverly Wright, founder and director of Deep South Center for Environmental Justice in New Orleans; Quentin Pair, U.S. Department of Justice; and Prof. Maxine Burkett, University of Hawaii School of Law. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.

Other notable speakers and panelists include: Prof. Deepa Badrinarayana, Chapman Law School; J. Mijin Cha, director of Campaign Research, Urban Agenda, NY; Carlos Evans, EPA Headquarters, Washington DC; Michael Goldstein, Akerman Senterfitt, Miami; Prof. Carmen Gonzalez, Seattle University School of Law; FAMU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Cynthia Hughes Harris; Kim Jones, EPA Region 4, Atlanta, Ga.; Marva King, EPA Office of Air and Radiation; Jacki Lopez, Center for Biological Diversity, San Francisco, Calif.; Prof. Catherine O’Neill, Seattle University School of Law; Cynthia Peurifoy, EPA Region 4, Atlanta; and Raul Soto, EPA Headquarters, Washington DC.

The symposium will also feature an Environmental Justice Listening Session to provide an opportunity for EPA representatives to hear from local environmental justice stakeholders. Also the Lake Apopka Memorial Quilt will be on display by the Farmworkers Association of Florida.

Division of Graphic Communication earns reaccreditation

FAMU’s School of Journalism and Graphic Communication Division of Graphic Communication has earned reaccreditation.

“We are so pleased to learn that the Accrediting Council for Collegiate Graphic Communications (ACCGC) has voted to reaccredit our Division of Graphic Communication,” said James Hawkins, dean of the FAMU School of Journalism and Graphic Communication. “This designation indicates that our programs have demonstrated a commitment to the criteria essential to providing our students a high education and serving the dynamic graphic communications industry.”

FAMU is one of only eight baccalaureate-level graphic communications-related programs in the nation to earn the ACCGC’s seal of approval. The ACCGC report stated, “It was obvious the faculty and administration worked hard during the past two years at improving the School of Journalism and Graphic Communication. The faculty within the Division of Graphic Communication expressed a positive view of the future and appreciation for the collegial work done in the past. All involved with this improvement should be commended for their fine work.”

This reaccreditation period runs through Aug. 31, 2014.

FAMU receives $450,000 in New Florida grants

On Monday, the Florida Board of Governors announced that FAMU had received $450,000 in New Florida grants. The New Florida Initiative is designed to create more high-tech, high wage jobs.

FAMU was awarded a $150,000 Scholars Boost Grant to recruit a new professor of mechanical engineering to its faculty. The university aims to attract a scholar from a leading engineering institute with more than 16 years of advanced researched in alternative energy and K-12 engagement.

FAMU will also share a $300,000 Cluster Grant with the University of Florida and Bethune-Cookman University. The money will fund a Health Workers Research and Training Institute. This community-based initiative will focus on a variety of healthcare issues including preventative medicine, especially in challenged rural and urban environments.

Gov. Charlie Crist originally requested $100M for New Florida. The Florida Legislature decided to appropriate only $12M for 2010-2011.

Florida Classic turns into MEAC championship game

The Florida Classic in Orlando is always a high-stakes battle for bragging rights. But this year, the match-up will also decide the conference championship.

Bethune-Cookman clinched a share of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) title as the tenth-ranked Wildcats held off Howard University 35-20 before a Senior Day crowd of 5,431 at Municipal Stadium Saturday.

The tenth-ranked Wildcats improved to 10-0 (7-0 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) for the first time in school history and set the stage for the Florida Classic next week against Florida A&M, who is still in the hunt for a piece of the MEAC crown.

B-CU's last conference championship was in 2002. If South Carolina State beats North Carolina A&T next weekend, the Wildcats would earn the MEAC's FCS automatic playoff berth by virtue of the conference tiebreaker regardless of the outcome of the FAMU game.

"We still want to win outright," B-CU linebacker Reggie Sandilands said.

"My mind has already flipped to playing Florida A&M," B-CU coach Brian Jenkins said on Saturday. "We're going back to office tonight and get ready to grind it out."

The Wildcats are looking for revenge after taking a 42-6 stomping from the Rattlers last year. Bethune-Cookman announced its decision to fire Coach Alvin “Shine” Wyatt just days after the embarassing loss.

Rattlers sink Pirates, 17-12

Philip Sylvester rushed for the century mark for the fifth consecutive game as the Florida A&M University Football team held on for a 17-12 win over Hampton University, here Saturday afternoon at Bragg Memorial Stadium.

On their second possession of the game, Sylvester gave FAMU a 7-0 lead as he scored on a 79-yard run with 10:11 to go in the first quarter after the Trevor Scott made PAT.

Rodrigo Hernandez would cut FAMU’s lead to 7-3 on a 22-yard field goal capping a 10-play, 77-yard drive with 3:43 to go in the first quarter.

The Rattlers would go up 14-3 on an Austin Trainor five-yard run with 11:26 to go in the second quarter, capping a seven-play, 50-yard drive by FAMU.

Hernandez put three more points on the board for the Pirates as he connected on a 39-yard field goal with 6:48 to go in the second quarter, capping an eight-play, 39-yard drive by Hampton.

FAMU would go into the break with a 17-6 lead as Scott connected on a 25-yard field goal with 1:24 to go in the first half.

Hampton would score their final TD of the game on a 22-yard TD pass to Javaris Brown form David Legree with 9:28 to go in the game.

Once again FAMU was paced by Sylvester as he rushed for 129 yards on 24 carries, with his longest scamper being for a 79-yard TD.

Trainor in his second collegiate start of his career, finished the game with 156 yards passing, completing 14 passes in 31 attempts with one interception.

Isaac West led the Rattler receivers as he tallied 65 yards on four catches with his longest reception being for 39 yards.

The dynamic duo of Demarius Fulsom and Alvis Graham led the Rattler defense as they both finished with seven tackles. Folsom, for the game, tallied 1.5 sacks for a loss of seven yards, while Graham recorded 1.5 tackles for a loss of seven yards.

Hampton’s David Legree finished the game with 349 total offensive yards to lead the Pirates as he rushed for 40 yards on 19 carries and passed for 299 yards through the air as he completed 18 passes in 38 attempts with a TD and two interceptions.

Javaris Brown led the Pirates receiving corps with a game-high 141 yards on eight catches with one TD.

Darius Johnson led Hampton’s defensive unit with nine tackles, while Ricardo Silva finished with seven.

Proctor, Williams raising money to cover band fine

Leon County Commissioner Bill Proctor and Rep. Alan Williams (D-Tallahassee) have launched a campaign to replace the $5,000 the Marching “100” was required to pay for the fine imposed by the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

“The young people in our band give so much time and energy in the heat, rain and cold to perfect their precision as marching musicians,” Williams said. “We take this opportunity to ask every caring Rattler to answer our request for full support in response to this fine.”

“We have nothing but love, respect and high admiration for the FAMU Marching “100” band,” Proctor said. “FAMU nor our band should have to pay a $5,000 fine for our band playing five minutes longer than assigned at the Homecoming halftime show.”

To make a contribution through mobile giving to the Marching “100,” fans should text the word “BAND” to 50555 and make a $10 donation to the “100.”

Telfair, Nixon convicted

On Friday, the president of the FAMU Federal Credit Union and former director of FAMU’s Institute on Urban Policy and Commerce were convicted on three counts of conspiring to embezzle U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant funds.

Eugene Telfair and Robert Nixon were both found guilty of conspiracy, theft from an organization receiving federal funds, and embezzlement of funds entrusted to a federally-insured credit union.

According to the charges filed by the U.S. District Attorney's Office of the Northern District of Florida, between 2005 and 2008, Telfair, the president of the FAMU Federal Credit Union, and Nixon, the former director of FAMU’s Institute on Urban Policy and Commerce, conspired to steal approximately $134,253 in grant funds that had been awarded to FAMU in connection with HUD’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities program.

Band fine senseless!

Earlier this week the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) imposed a $5,000 fine against the FAMU Marching 100 for " violation of conference rules regarding bands and spirit groups during football contests."

The infraction occurred during the FAMU homecoming football contest against the Morgan State on Oct. 31 when the band greatly exceeded its permitted performance time during the halftime break. In addition to the fine, the FAMU Rattler football team was penalized 10 yards for delaying the start of the third quarter.

MEAC rules, clearly, indicate that "bands and other halftime activities that contribute to exceeding the allotted halftime performance times will be penalized as follows: 1st offense – $5,000; 2nd offense $10,000; and 3rd offense – Loss of half-time performance privileges for remainder of season."

According to a MEAC press release, "both coaches as well as the Florida A&M band director were reminded of the halftime policies, by the games' referee prior to the start of the game."

For homecoming the standard 20 minute halftime was extended an extra five minutes and University officials had moved all of the customary presentations to pre-game and between quarters to provide the 100rd with all the time they needed.

Band Director Julian White defended the bands actions in a conversation with the Tallahassee Democrat earlier this week offering the following explanation about how bands at historically black colleges and universities are viewed differently from bands at schools in, say, Florida State's Atlantic Coast Conference or Florida's Southeastern Conference.

"Bands are so much an intricate part of the show," White said. "Our games are sports and entertainment." Indeed, when FAMU plays its annual game against Bethune-Cookman University, fans afterward are just as likely to argue about which band "won" as they are to mourn a dropped touchdown pass.

Even after being asked by the referees to remove the band from the field the defiant 100rd stayed for an additional three-five minutes occupying the south end zone. The band even seemed to taunt game officials by bending over, on cue.

White acknowledged to the Tallahassee Democrat that his band was at fault and offered to pay the fine himself. He should.

FAMU bowling predicted to win division

The FAMU bowling team is the favorite to win the southern division, according to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's (MEAC) preseason honors.

In the southern division, Florida A&M received 13 first-place votes. The Lady Rattlers recorded a 19-5 MEAC mark and 74-46 overall record last year. Last year’s southern divisional title winners welcome one newcomer along with eight returning letterwinners for this year’s campaign.

FAMU junior Samantha Mighty was selected as a member of the Preseason All-MEAC Team.

Alum launches successful business in midst of bad economy

Unlike a lot of successful entrepreneurs, Corey Phillips never really set out to be a businessman.

He majored in criminal justice and juvenile justice at Florida A&M and played football for the Rattlers.

"I messed up my leg my senior year and ended up coaching at FAMU High," he said.

Sports brought him to Savannah where he was the defensive line coach at Groves High School.

Wanting to continue his education, Phillips ended up at Savannah State University where he pursued a master's degree in public administration and was a resident director and eventually program coordinator for the university's HBCU Neighborhood Revitalization Project.

When that job ended suddenly two years ago, he found himself in a shrinking job market.

"I bet I applied for over a thousand jobs," he said. "I figured I had two bachelor's degrees and a master's degree and I'd find a job in no time."

The only offer came from a school in the coldest part of New York state. Although he was born in Brooklyn, Phillips had acclimated to the moderate temperatures of the Southeast.

"I don't like snow, I don't like the cold," he said.

So his next natural step was to go into business for himself.

He hit the pavement and worked to convince local restaurants he offered a way to reach new diners and expand their sales.

"912Food2Go.com offers customers a totally new experience," said Phillips "We deliver food from restaurants that don't deliver and provide the only variety when looking for delivery service of restaurant prepared meals to your home, business or hotel."

Read the full article here.

FAMU 40/40 Celebration recap

Lewis appointed president of Florida Memorial

Henry Lewis, III is leaving Tallahassee to lead one of FAMU’s sister historically black universities through tough times.

The Florida Memorial University Board of Trustees has selected Lewis to serve as the institution’s new president. The announcement was made during an afternoon meeting attended by nearly 300 faculty, staff and students anticipating an introduction of the new president-elect by board Chairman Charles W. George.

After being introduced to the campus family, Lewis expressed his appreciation to the board for their confidence in his leadership and stewardship, and his enthusiasm to instill confidence in each prospective Florida Memorial graduate. “I see a diamond in the rough in Florida Memorial University, and I am confident that the institution can be the greatest institution it can be,” he stated.

Lewis has served as dean and professor in the FAMU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences for fifteen years. As a former interim president of FAMU, he also served as dean of the Texas Southern University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences for four years. He is also the past president of the Minority Health Professions Foundation (MHPF) and the Association of Minority Health Professions Schools (AMHPS). Under his leadership, the two organizations secured over $100 million in support of programs improving the quality of education and availability of health care to underserved communities.

After graduating from FAMU with a bachelor of science degree in pharmacy from the program where he now serves as dean, he earned a doctor of pharmacy degree from Mercer University Southern School of Pharmacy in Atlanta, Georgia and completed his post-doctoral studies at Harvard University’s Institute for Educational Management.

Inept reporting taints Miami New Times article

Fact-checking doesn’t seem to fit into Miami New Times reporter Gus Garcia-Roberts’ idea of “journalism.”

Garcia-Roberts (pictured) recently made the completely false claim that FAMU “suffered loss of accreditations.”

In an article on Florida Memorial University’s presidential search, Garcia-Roberts writes: “Florida A&M University pharmacology professor Henry Lewis III — a former interim president who is our gambler’s pick to get the post — is trying to escape a school that has suffered loss of accreditations and high administrative turnover in the past several years.”

Garcia-Roberts’ cluelessness is shocking. If he bothered to read a few of the articles written by Florida’s better-trained news reporters, he would know that FAMU never lost its accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools or any other accrediting body.

If Garcia-Roberts did a little research, he would also know that the “high administrative turnover [at FAMU] in the past several years” was the result of bad Board of Trustees members and administrators who were protected by the Florida Board of Governors. It took a long fight for FAMU's supporters to run incompetent BOG favorites like Castell Bryant out of town.

Lewis was part of the team that cleaned up the Bryant/BOG mess. During her stay as interim president, Bryant took away 18 faculty and staff positions that FAMU’s College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences needed and failed to spend the funds for the Phase II building. Those problems resulted in FAMU pharmacy being placed on probation with the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE).

New President James Ammons brought Lewis back on board as pharmacy dean in 2007 to save the school. Lewis successfully guided FAMU pharmacy back to good standing with ACPE less than a year later.

If Lewis does get the Florida Memorial presidency, he should immediately provide some remedial newswriting methods courses in the Miami-area for factually-challenged reporters like Garcia-Roberts.

Email Garcia-Roberts here and let him know what you think of his "reporting." You can also reach his boss, Editor Chuck Strouse, here.

UPDATE: Gus Garcia-Roberts addressed Rattler Nation's criticism on the Miami New Times Riptide blog, today. His post does not include an apology or even a straight-forward retraction of his 100 percent untrue claim that FAMU “suffered loss of accreditations.”

FAMU and TAMU professors receive $1.4M breast cancer research grant

Mandip Sachdeva (pictured), professor of pharmaceutical sciences with the Florida A&M University College of Pharmacy, and Stephen Safe, distinguished professor of toxicology at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM) and the Institute for Biotechnology (IBT) at the Texas A&M University Health Sciences Center, recently received a grant from the Department of Defense (DOD) - Army Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP) for their project entitled "The Role of Novel Substituted Diindolylmethane Analogues in the Treatment of Triple - Negative and ErbB2 - Positive Breast Cancer" which will be funded $1.4 million over four years.

The BCRP was initiated to promote research focused on eliminating breast cancer and to challenge the scientific community to develop innovative approaches that will foster new directions and growth toward the battle against breast cancer.

According to the BCRP application, "The BCRP focuses its funding on innovative projects that have the potential to make a significant impact on breast cancer, particularly those involving multidisciplinary and/or multi-institutional collaborations and alliances. Under investigated avenues of research and novel applications of existing technologies are strongly encouraged."

Under this grant Texas A&M University will serve as a mentoring institution to Florida A&M University because Florida A&M University is a predominantly black university and the BCPR is listed under the agreement with the DOD and the Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Institutions (HBCU/MI) Partnership Training Award. This award will help build new collaborations with members of the chemistry department from Florida A&M University and the CVM as well as enhance current relationships."

"I am very excited about this particular grant because it will allow us to expand on our current research on breast cancer, and this will involve training independent researchers at Florida A&M to collaborate in this research and to promote future independent research efforts on their own," Safe said. "This grant is also very beneficial because of the involvement of scientists with expertise in chemistry, pharmaceuticals, molecular and cell biology and this will facilitate development of clinically useful anticancer drugs."

FAMU partners with IMG to market athletic programs

Last week, FAMU officials announced that the university has partnered with IMG College, a division of IMG Worldwide. IMG will serve as an exclusive third party sales representative for FAMU’s athletic corporate sponsorship program starting this year.

“We believe this multi-year deal is a great statement about where we are as a University and an athletic competitor,” said FAMU President James H. Ammons. The partnership is expected to aid in the continued growth of the FAMU athletic program.

“We believe the University has tremendous growth potential beyond the local level, and we look forward to escalating its brand by further enhancing its sponsorship program," said Tom Stultz, SVP & Managing Director, IMG College.

FAMU’s brand licensing program is managed by The Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC), also a division of IMG Worldwide. The University currently ranks first in collegiate merchandise sold among Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) represented by CLC.

The school expects to generate upwards of $250,000 annually from the IMG deal. The revenue will go toward plugging the athletic department’s $5.3M deficit.

“IMG will focus on increasing revenues for four areas: homecoming, the two classics – Florida and Atlanta, and appearance, branding and sponsorship opportunities for the Marching 100 band,” said Carla Willis.

FAMU’s contract IMG runs through October 31, 2013. IMG has similar deals the University of Florida, University of Oregon, and Ohio State.

Rattlers clinch 22-19 OT victory against Aggies

FAMU edged out a resilient North Carolina A&T squad to clinch a 22-19 victory in overtime.

Florida A&M's four-year starter at running back, Phillip Sylvester, scored on a 14-yard game-winning touchdown run to improve the Rattlers to 6-3 overall and 5-1 in the MEAC. Sylvester finished with 110 yards and a touchdown on 32 carries.

The Rattlers booted two second-half field goals to tie the game at 16. What followed was a stingy Aggies defense.

The biggest Aggies stop came with four minutes remaining in the game. Brandon Davis' second interception of the game gave the Rattlers the ball at the Aggies 44-yard line after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on FAMU.

All the Rattlers could muster, however, was a holding penalty and three straight incomplete passes. The Rattlers had great field position on their next possession, starting at their own 41. But the Aggies "D" allowed only five yards, which eventually led to the overtime.

The Aggies opened overtime with a 21-yard completion from quarterback George Hines to Wallace Miles as by rule the ball was spotted at the opponents' 25. It appeared Miles scored on the play, but the officials said he stepped out of bounds at the 4. The Aggies were not able to score six points. Instead, they settled for a Sullivan Shidler 21-yard field goal.

FAMU took its opportunity from the 25 and made the best of it. Sylvester opened with a run of 8 yards, picked up the first down with a four-yard run, before ending the game with his 14-yard burst to the end zone.

Lewis a finalist for Florida Memorial presidency

FAMU’s popular dean of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Henry Lewis, III, is on the short list for Florida Memorial University’s presidency. He is one of three finalists.

The two other candidates are Curtis B. Charles, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs at Fayetteville State University, and Roslyn Clark Artis, the executive vice president for academic affairs at Mountain State University.

Lewis earned his bachelor of science in pharmacy from FAMU and earned his doctor of pharmacy from Mercer University in Atlanta. He previously served as dean of the Texas Southern University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences for four years.

FAMU pharmacy graduates average 92 percent first-time passage on the National Board of Pharmacy Examination. The school produces one fifth of the nation’s African American pharmacists. FAMU pharmacy is also one of the biggest grant-raisers on the campus. Its current research funding totals $22.5M. $37M is committed through 2012.

Lewis served as FAMU’s interim president for six months in 2002 after the resignation of Frederick S. Humphries. Many FAMU students, faculty, and alumni lobbied the Board of Trustees to consider him for the permanent presidency.

A group of FAMU trustees that included R.B. Holmes, Jr. and Bill Jennings fought bitterly against the pro-Lewis campaign. Holmes became one of the loudest anti-Lewis voices in the media and worked hard to help former board member Jim Corbin appoint his cronies to the FAMU presidency. Holmes and Jennings both lend helping hands to Corbin's drive to hire Castell Bryant as FAMU’s interim president in 2005. Bryant took away 18 faculty and staff positions that FAMU pharmacy needed and failed to spend the funds for the Phase II building. Those problems resulted in FAMU pharmacy being placed on probation with the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE).

New President James Ammons brought Lewis back on board as pharmacy dean in 2007 to save the school. Lewis successfully guided FAMU pharmacy back to good standing with ACPE less than a year later.

FAMU boasts strong performance on operational audit

This month, FAMU received good marks on its latest state operational audit. The Florida auditor general’s office only reported five findings at the 13,226 student school.

FAMU’s recent payroll glitch was noted in the report. Back in July 2010, FAMU President James Ammons directed the FAMU Office of Audit and Compliance (OAC) to investigate why 43 faculty and staff, whose salaries totaled $219,794, were paid two to 32 business days late.

The operational audit details the reason for the problem: “According to OAC personnel, in response to a higher than anticipated demand by students for courses during the Summer terms, the University requested that faculty teach additional courses during the Summer. These additional courses were in excess of the standard work assignments for faculty and required a contract for the additional hours. Many of these additional courses began before the contracts with adjunct faculty teaching these courses and support staff could be processed in the payroll system.”

Ammons concurred with the auditors’ recommendation to strengthen FAMU’s payroll processes and re-emphasized FAMU’s commitment to paying employees in a timely manner.

Every two years, multiple findings turn up in the operational audits of public universities all across Florida. In the latest round, the most findings were found at the institution formerly led by the SUS chancellor.

The last operational audit for current Chancellor Frank Brogan’s tenure at Florida Atlantic turned up 15 findings. Former Chancellor Mark Rosenberg received 13 findings at Florida International.

There were seven findings at UF, seven at UNF, six at USF, five at FSU, five at UCF, two at FGCU, two at New College, and one at UWF.

Myles: FAMU saw the best in me

FAMU's Gaither Gymnasium was full of the real Rattler spirit during the annual Homecoming Convocation. With more than 3,000 students, alumni, faculty and staff in attendance, the Rattlers were home.

“We all have a part to play in preserving FAMU,” said FAMU President James H. Ammons.

FAMU alumna Sonia Myles, director for Global Printed Packaging Purchases for Procter & Gamble, served as keynote speaker.

“Thank you, FAMU — you saw the best in me,” said Myles.

Myles graduated summa cum laude in 1989 with her bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing. Myles, who recalled her days as a student at FAMU, said she spent the best days of her life at the university.

“It has been 25 years and two months since my life has changed forever,” the Michigan native said. “You can accomplish and be and do anything that you set your mind to. FAMU and that real Rattler spirit will help you achieve the impossible. FAMU changed our lives and for some of my friends, FAMU saved their lives.”

Ammons awarded Myles with the President’s Award.

Myles added that the “real Rattler spirit is a phenomenon” that cannot be explained.

“I think FAMU gives us three Cs: courage, confidence and charisma,” Myles said. “People know a FAMUan when they see them. There are people not yet born who are depending on you.”

Thomas L. Mitchell Sr., president of the FAMU National Alumni Association, said it is important for FAMU to continue to survive through its students and alumni.

“Not only do we bleed orange and green, but we breathe orange and green,” Mitchell said. “It is important for all of us to realize that this is an institution that must live forever. FAMU must live forever.”

Marching 100 reality show debuts on ESPNU tonight

The Battle Presented by AT&T – an inside look at the HBCU (Historically Black College and University) Marching Bands from Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M – will air five 30-minute shows during four straight weeks, every Thursday from Nov. 4 to Nov. 25, on ESPNU. The shows reach into the training, discipline, heart and soul that make up HBCU bands. The bands train rigorously day-in and day-out for the football games and rivalries that date back decades as part of the HBCU culture.

The bands’ hard work will culminate at the 31st annual Florida Classic that pits the two Sunshine State rivals in an end-of-the-year showdown at the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium in Orlando Saturday, Nov. 20, at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN Classic.

The cross-stadium battle of the bands happening throughout the duration of the game and even after in what is called “The Fifth Quarter” is a mix of modern tunes, fight songs and traditional standards. The 300-plus sized band that learns over 20 songs with dance routines, military style formation and chants is mentally and physically demanding with practices that rival the football team’s preparation for game day. The long hours and hard work are only a small part of the payoff that is the hometown pride and year-long bragging rights to the school with the most powerful sound and creative show.

Meek comes up short on Senate bid

Congressman Kendrick Meek’s underdog bid for the U.S. Senate ended with a third place finish on Tuesday. With 93 percent of Florida precincts reporting, he had 20 percent of the vote.

Former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio won the race with 49 percent. Gov. Charlie Crist came in second with 29 percent.

Meek conceded to Rubio around 8:30 p.m.

FAMU launches Juvenile Justice Research Institute

FAMU has joined with the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) to open the Juvenile Justice Research Institute (JJRI) to identify research that will address the needs of youths at greatest risk of delinquency involvement.

The JJRI has been funded with a $400,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention.

“The over-representation of minorities, particularly black young men, is a special concern in juvenile justice systems across the country,” said Secretary Frank Peterman Jr., Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. “I believe support from the academic community in addressing delinquency will greatly encourage our troubled youth, and show them a positive path filled with young people who are not so very different from themselves.”

“Our center will focus on improving the recidivism rate of youth in the juvenile justice system,” said FAMU President James H. Ammons. “Florida A&M University and the Department of Juvenile Justice partner to develop strategies to address this crucial crisis. Today is the day the FAMU community kicks off this renewed commitment to work to ensure that the youth of Florida are offered and provided the services that will help them to become successful and productive citizens.”

Mentoring services will be provided by graduate and advanced undergraduate youth mentor advocates and volunteer mentors under the direction of a site coordinator at FAMU and Edward Waters College. Key components of the SEC Model include the following: motivation, habits and attitudes, goal setting, problem solving, decision making, family relationships, effective communication, lifestyle/environmental changes, and employability skills.

FAMU is establishing the JJRI in collaboration with Bethune-Cookman University, Edward Waters College, Florida Atlantic University and Florida Memorial University. These institutions are committed to addressing the inexorably linked problems of juvenile crime, academic failure, family dysfunction and other youth related problems associated with disadvantaged communities throughout Florida.

FAMU No. 1 institution of origin for blacks earning PhDs in Natural Science, Engineering

FAMU is number one in the nation as the institution of origin for African Americans who earn doctorates in natural science and engineering.

In a pre-publication copy of Expanding Underrepresented Minority Participation: America’s Science and Technology Talent at the Crossroads, the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine reported that FAMU is No. 1 out of 25 universities in the U.S. An institution of origin is where a person earns his or her bachelor’s degree.

In the report, the top 10 baccalaureate institutions of African Americans who went on to earn doctorates in the natural sciences and engineering for the period 2002-2006 were historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Some of the other universities that were listed in the top 25 included Howard University, Morehouse College, Tuskegee University, Hampton University and North Carolina A&T State University. University of Florida was one of the non-HBCUs listed in the top 25.

“FAMU’s highly talented and dedicated faculty prepare and motivate our students to pursue doctoral degrees,” said FAMU President James H. Ammons. “These statistics also underscore the importance of HBCUs in producing our brain trust for the future.”

According to the National Academics web site, the national efforts to strengthen U.S. science and engineering must include all Americans, especially minorities, who are the fastest growing groups of the U.S. population but the most underrepresented in science and technology careers. Minority participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education at all levels should be an urgent national priority, says the report, which offers a comprehensive road map for increasing involvement of underrepresented minorities and improving the quality of their education.

“It’s well-documented that the United States needs a strong science and technology workforce to maintain global leadership and competitiveness,” said Freeman Hrabowski III, chair of the committee who wrote the report and president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. “The minds and talents of underrepresented minorities are a great, untapped resource that the nation can no longer afford to squander. Improving STEM education of our diverse citizenry will strengthen the science and engineering work force and boost the U.S. economy.”

The report also notes that underrepresented minorities, including African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans, comprised just more than 9 percent of minority college-educated Americans in science and engineering occupations in 2006. This number would need to triple to match the share of minorities in the U.S. population. Furthermore, to reach a national target that 10 percent of all 24-year-olds hold an undergraduate degree in science or engineering disciplines, the number of underrepresented minorities would need to quadruple or even quintuple.