Clark on nonrenewal of Mangum’s contract: Let’s continue to place FAMU students first

Lt. Col Gregory L. Clark, president of the FAMU National Alumni Association, released the following statement following the 7-5 FAMU Board of Trustees vote against a motion to renew the employment agreement of President Elmira Mangum:

On August 24, the Florida A&M University (FAMU) Board of Trustees voted not to renew the contract of the university’s 11th president, Dr. Elmira Mangum. The FAMU National Alumni Association (FAMU NAA) is keenly aware that a shift of this magnitude in leadership profoundly impacts the university’s efforts to move FAMU forward. Therefore, as the FAMU NAA President, I am urging our alumni to remain committed and focused on the core element of our mission - our students.

I am proud to report, earlier this year, the FAMU NAA exceeded its fundraising goals for the Save Our Students (SOS) Retention Scholarship Fund. This allowed the NAA to award more than $230,000 in scholarships to 325 students to assist them in their efforts to graduate or register for classes this fall.

I welcome your input and solutions on ways to support the university during this transition. In the meantime, please help keep our legacy strong and contribute to the SOS Retention Scholarship Fund through the FAMU Foundation’s online portal. If you are not a member of the FAMU NAA, join the FAMUly today by visiting http://famunaa.org/v2/membership/. Despite challenges and budget constraints, faculty, staff, and students continue to make us proud and live up to the university’s motto, “Excellence With Caring.” While the FAMU Board of Trustees handles its job, let us remain strong in our allegiance towards assisting our beloved alma mater.