FAMU and Northwest Florida State College (NWFSC) have taken a significant step forward in educational collaboration. On June 4, the two institutions signed a 2+4 Articulation Agreement at the Durell Peaden Jr. Center in Crestview, which allow students from NWFSC to seamlessly transfer to the FAMU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Public Health in Crestview.
This agreement, a visionary initiative championed by State Representative Patt Maney, aims to amplify FAMU’s influence in Northwest Florida.
A key component of the agreement addresses the housing challenges faced by FAMU Crestview pharmacy students by allowing FAMU students to stay in dorms at NWFSC’s campus.
The Durell Peaden Jr. Center has gained national recognition for its academic excellence. In 2021, its graduates achieved an impressive 92.9% pass rate on the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination, surpassing both state and national averages.
The signing ceremony was attended by Nancy Peaden, the wife of the late State Senator Durell Peaden Jr.,J.D., MD. ,who’s vision and leadership helped to create the FAMU Crestview Campus. Her attendance was particularly poignant as the event coincided with what would have been the couple’s 42nd wedding anniversary.
Reflecting on the occasion, Mrs. Peaden remarked, “I think it’s just divine that it fell on the same day as that, so I could be here and be a part of this.”
The Crestview campus has a rich history of community and educational support. In 2010, the City of Crestview transferred the building's title to FAMU following a budget allocation by the Florida Legislature for its restoration. The College of Pharmacy welcomed its first Crestview students on August 27, 2012. Since then, it has been renamed in honor of Durell Peaden Jr., continuing his legacy of service and dedication to education.
Interestingly enough, the FAMU Crestview Campus was designed to house space for allied health and nursing, in addition to pharmacy.
This agreement not only strengthens the bond between FAMU and NWFSC but also promises to provide enhanced educational opportunities for students in the region, fostering a new generation of healthcare professionals equipped to meet the demands of rural communities.