• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

HBCU Lifestyle – Black College Living

  • HBCUs
    • What is an HBCU?
    • History
    • List of HBCUs
    • Notable Graduates
  • Jobs
  • Parents
    • HBCU Rankings
    • Black College Tours
    • College Admissions
    • Financing
    • College Scholarships
    • College Planning
  • Current Students
    • College Life
      • Greek Life
      • Sports
      • Dorm Living
      • College Survival
    • Careers
      • HBCU Career Hub
      • Internships
      • Career Profiles
      • Entrepreneur
    • Research Paper Resources
      • Research Paper Topics: 50 Ideas to Get Started
      • How To Write An Annotated Bibliography
      • Journalism Research Paper Resources
  • Alumni
    • HBCU Shirts
    • Podcast
    • Alumni Spotlight
    • HBCU Merch
    • Jobs
  • Shop

You are here: Home / HBCUs / Figuring Out the Future of FAMU: Lessons Learned

HBCUs

Figuring Out the Future of FAMU: Lessons Learned

Lee Hall Auditorium was built on the highest hill in Tallahassee, Florida in 1928 not the campus of Florida A&M University (FAMU).Just a month or so ago, many of us watched as the embattled saga between the then president, Elmira Mangum, and the Florida A&M University (FAMU) Board of Trustees finally came to an end. Some were disappointed and angry. Some were happy and pleased. Others were left in confusion and concern regarding the future of FAMU. Now, with President Mangum gone and Interim president Larry Robinson sitting at the helm for the third time the question that presents itself is what are the lessons to be learned?

Symbolic change only lasts if buttressed by significant, structural and cultural change.

I state in “Growing Pains, Institutional Change, and Leadership at FAMU” that it appeared that the hiring of Dr. Mangum was to serve as a symbol to the FAMU and higher education communities that FAMU was interested in change and in pushing against the narrative of being insular and self-sabotaging in the name of tradition. However, it seems that the change that Mangum symbolized was not a change that many members of the board (the one that hired Mangum and the one that fired her) were interested in manifesting. Mangum brought with her a number of changes to FAMU operations. Such actions are not rare for a new president to enact; however, when an institution is not truly ready for the change barriers to change are created. In the best-case scenarios, change is slow but steady. In the worst-case scenarios, presidencies are derailed and institutions find themselves assessing the damage done from the battles which ensued. The FAMU saga provides a lesson that symbolic change is nullified when there is not significant structural or cultural change to support it. An institution must follow symbolic acts and hires with institutionalized change efforts. To go a step further, boards must be on one accord with the institutional change so as to avoid impediments to that change.

The Costs of War

Tensions among those who comprise leadership at a particular institution can take a toll not only on those involved but also on the institution as a whole., including institutional stakeholders. Throughout the saga that unfolded between President Mangum and the board of trustees, students, faculty, alumni, and donors found themselves caught in the fray. Alumni, donors, and prospective students seek stability in institutions. When a board and president have a volatile relationship, it signals institutional instability which can lead to a loss of current and potential donors. When governance and administrative issues become synonymous with the institution brand it affects institutional marketability. Though boards who have drawn-out squabbles with presidents due to micromanagement and poor communication may find the firing of a president as a win, the question is raised if it is really a win if there are significant, long-reaching losses? Every battle won isn’t a battle worth winning.

Legacies that Last are Built with Many Hands

True shared governance models provide room and opportunity for a variety of representative voices to be included in institutional decisions. This kind of model cannot exist solely in policy but also in practice in order to be effective. Engaging in true shared governance practices allows for institutions to have a higher probability of having buy-in from all campus stakeholders which aids progression and in achieving successful capital campaigns and university strategic plans. When an institution appears to be guided by the heavy hands of a small group of people, it creates a sense of distrust. A lack of diversity within the group of those making decisions can also create distrust. In order for an institution to move forward and to do so in a sustainable fashion, there must be a consideration for all of the stakeholders.

Boards of trustees and other institutional actors must challenge their own prejudices and problematic practices when evaluating or engaging with a new leader. It would be negligent to not point out the significance of Mangum being the first female president in FAMU’s history. Women in leadership often face challenges due to the fact that their male counterparts do not respect their personalities and leadership styles. Researchers such as Kanter, Bielby, Reskin, and Taylor have shown that implicit bias against women leaders, as well as the practice of tokenism, have not only created glass ceilings but also challenges in lasting in top positions. During her tenure, Mangum’s personality and values were repeatedly scrutinized and raised as impediments to her presidency. Though the board felt it time to hire the institution’s first woman president, it begs the question of whether or not they were culturally ready for a woman to be at the helm of their institution? Was FAMU ready for a woman to be calling the shots without needing a male to validate her decisions?   It appears that although the FAMU board hired what appeared to be a change agent, they were not properly prepared for what that change would look like or that it would indeed occur. These were the ingredients to a recipe of a tumultuous board-president relationship.

The Mangum saga will be one that will be analyzed for years to come. Despite this, FAMU must rally and move forward. It is yet to be seen what the aftermath will be from the last three years. However, what is certain is that if the university on the highest of seven hills is to sustain and grow their great legacy it cannot be left in the hands of a small group of people. If FAMU is going to move forward, the whole “FAMU-ly” must be involved, even if that includes a woman who has a vision to lead and new ideas to implement. If an organization never embraces change, diversity, and teamwork then it will never reach new heights. FAMU has some days of rebuilding ahead but hopefully, the lessons learned will lead to the embracing of diverse leadership and of diverse leadership styles. The future of FAMU depends on it.

October 26, 2016 by Felecia Commodore

About Felecia Commodore

Felecia is an Assistant Professor in Educational Foundations and Leadership at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA.  Felecia's research focus area is leadership, governance, and administrative practices with a particular focus on HBCUs and MSIs. Felecia’s research interests also lie in how leadership is exercised, constructed, and viewed in various communities, and the relationship of Black women and leadership. Felecia has currently has work relating to this research published in the Journal of Multicultural Education and the Journal of Negro Education. She is also contributor to HBCULifestyle.com, Diverse Issues in Higher Education, and Noodle.com. She is co-editor of the book Opportunities and Challenges of Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Graduate Education at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs): A Student Perspective.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Harriet says

    October 26, 2016 at 4:40 pm

    Excellent article!!! Great job.

Primary Sidebar

Search

Follow Us

  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Quick Links

  • Newsletter
  • Jobs and Internships
  • Shop
  • HBCU Colleges List: 107 Great Education Options to Consider
  • HBCU Rankings 2022
  • HBCU College Tours
  • Contact Us
  • About Us

HBCU History

  • The First HBCU in South
  • Oldest HBCUs In the Nation
  • The First Black Owned and Operated HBCU
  • The First and Only Black Catholic HBCU
  • 10 Powerful Black History Movies HBCU Students Should Watch

Popular Posts

  • Happy female college student working on research paper topics. Research Paper Topics: 50 Ideas to Get Started
  • HBCU Sororities and Fraternities to Consider The Divine Nine: Sororities and Fraternities on HBCU Campuses
  • New Programs at Morgan Address the Work of the Future and the Future of Work Morgan State Offers 4 New High-Demand Academic Degree Programs
  • A female African American HBCU student poses while smiling and holding her book in her arms. HBCU Rankings 2023: The Top 25 Black Colleges from U.S. News
  • Bowie State's nursing program students check a patient in class simulation. Top 10 HBCU Nursing Schools Rankings for 2022 by RN to BSN

Before Footer

Follow Us

  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up to receive weekly HBCU news, jobs, and advice in your inbox.

Sign Me Up

Footer

About HBCU Lifestyle

The spirit and camaraderie of black college living is a lifestyle - the HBCU lifestyle! We're committed to keeping you connected to the black college living experience, bringing you the latest on everything, from scholarships and dorm living to Greek life and alumni giving.


Contact Us

Latest from the Blog

  • PVAMU’s College of Nursing Helping to Cultivate Inclusive Classrooms
  • HBCU Go Partners With Award-Winning Movie ‘Freedom’s Path’
  • Local Initiatives Support Corporation Offers New HBCU Internships
  • Morgan State Offers 4 New High-Demand Academic Degree Programs
  • Newsletter
  • Jobs & Internships
  • Shop
  • List of HBCUs
  • HBCU Rankings
  • HBCU Scholarships
Copyright © 2010-2022 HBCU Lifestyle, LLC. All rights reserved.
Contact Us | Sitemap | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
Get the best of the Black college experience delivered to your inbox.
Your email address:*
Name:*
Subscribe to (select all that apply):*





Please wait...
Please enter all required fields Click to hide
Correct invalid entries Click to hide
No spam, ever. Promise. Powered by FeedBlitz