“One of my major initiatives that should be started soon is
the creation of an Environmental Justice and Sustainability Institute to help
our faculty from a multidisciplinary perspective reach across the community as
well as the world with concerns about food safety, protecting the environment,
and recycling,” Mangum said.
Mangum wants the institute to take a leading role in researching issues related to the
preservation of natural resources that are critical to Florida and the
surrounding states.
“The research will explore new ways to preserve our nation’s marine sanctuaries including the Southeastern coastal regions such as the Gulf of Mexico,” Mangum said.
She said that the institute will build upon the work being
done by FAMU programs such as the School of the Environment.
“I think we’re in a great position,” Mangum said. “We have
great people working in these areas.”
Back in 2011, the School of the Environment landed the
largest grant in FAMU history. It received $15M from the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to help meet the agency’s workforce needs in
the STEM fields.
The new Environmental Justice and Sustainability Institute
could help FAMU secure even more such grants in the future.