The Florida A&M University Board of Trustees, under the leadership of Kelvin Lawson (a non reappointed trustee), led the charge to not retain the effective leadership of Dr. Elmira Mangum as the 11th President of FAMU. On the 3rd day of the new semester, the BOT met to evaluate the president and then decide on her future with the University.

Despite the many accomplishments that Dr. Mangum has made during her time at FAMU and the instability that another leadership change at FAMU will cause, the Trustees voted to put their personal and political agendas ahead of what is best for Florida A&M University and its students.

Collectively, HBCUs have had over 40 Presidential changes since 2014. FAMU has had six leadership changes in the last 14 years. This churning of Presidents is not acceptable, and stops the forward momentum of the institution. We do not want FAMU to be the next South Carolina State University, Paine College, or Elizabeth City State University. FAMU's revolving door of permanent and interim presidents created an unstable environment at the university since the departure of our beloved Dr. Frederick S. Humphries in 2001. Since 2001, FAMU has had 6 presidents (3 permanent and 3 interim), and this instability led to two probation periods by SACS, the suspension of the Marching 100 and an erosion in the FAMU brand because of the negative media that has followed FAMU in those years. This would be the 7th change in leadership since 2001. FAMU needs stability in leadership.

During Dr. Mangum's tenure, FAMU has improved its performance metrics, raised a university record $6.5 million dollars, improved student success to historic highs, increased the number of degrees awarded to a historic high, increased scholarship supports to students, increased FAMU visibility and reputation that has led to many national rankings, created a strategic plan that positions the university for success, and put the university on the path for a record $100 million Capital Campaign. The University is also preparing for its reaffirmation with its accrediting agency, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSOC). Despite these accomplishments, individual board members have colluded together to giver Dr. Mangum a subpar evaluation in a continuing effort to unseat her as the President.

We know that Governor Rick Scott and other politicians in Florida are using what we call the “South Carolina Strategy” to attempt to destroy FAMU. The SC Strategy includes:

1.) Appointing Board Members (Matthew Carter, Robert Woody, Kelvin Lawson) who create chaos
2.) Closing high-impact programs in STEM (e.g. joint engineering school)
3.) Ensuring inconsistency in leadership (e.g. consistent dismissal of presidents)
4.) Creating failure on state metrics
5). Ensuring that enrollment declines
6). Highlighting negative stories while burying positive news
7). Interfering in the selection process of new presidents

Dr. Elmira Mangum's leadership at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University has brought stability to our alma mater despite the consistent resistance to change by the previous members of the FAMU Board of Trustees during here two years in Office, our 11th and 1st Female President has begun to implement the changes necessary to turn FAMU around. Dr. Mangum's time at FAMU has been much like President Barack Obama's time in the White House: major accomplishments despite the consistent obstructionism from Republicans in congress. Dr. Mangum has brought stable and strong leadership to FAMU that has led to increases in the unfair BOG performance metrics. She thwarted an attempt by FSU to steal FAMU's College of Engineering that they were allowed to tag on to in 1982 as a joint engineering college. Despite only being on the job for 24 hours, Dr. Mangum stood up for Rattlers everywhere and said no despite urgings by state Republicans and others to "cut a deal" with FSU. Last year, FAMU was at the bottom of these metrics, yet this year the University was two points behind Florida State University. Fundraising at FAMU is at an all-time high over the last two years. Dr. Mangum has also brought in a dynamic team who is bringing needed changes to benefit FAMU students, faculty, staff and alumni. These include Provost Marcella David who has been responsible for leading FAMU's focus on improving student outcomes; Athletic Director Milton Overton, who has led the charge to revitalize FAMU's dormant athletic program; and Vice President for Research Timothy Moore, who has increased FAMU's ability to attract much-needed research dollars over the last 16 months.

On behalf of all REAL RATTLERS who want to see a stable and prosperous FAMU, we urge the FAMU Board of Trustees to stand behind the woman that we have chosen to lead FAMU and the positive changes that she has made and will continue to make on behalf of FAMU. We want to send a clear message that the alumni, students, faculty, and staff of Florida A&M University who have signed this petition are 100% behind Dr. Mangum and we believe that she should have received an excellent presidential evaluation for her great work, but also we believe that her contract should be extended by the FAMU BOT. We believe that any action by the FAMU Board of Trustees, the Florida Board of Governors, or Governor Rick Scott to not extend or terminate the contract of Dr. Mangum will destabilize the University and send the institution backwards in the same ways that have been the case for South Carolina State University, Elizabeth City State University and other HBCUs across the country where states are seeking the demise of our historic institutions. What we seek is FAMU Today, FAMU Tomorrow, FAMU Forever and FAMU Forward!!!!

We, the Alumni, Faculty, Staff and Students, sign this petition to make it LOUD & CLEAR that this is unacceptable. We demand that the FAMU BOT reverse its decision and extend Dr. Mangum's contract.