Latest news with #FloridaA&MUniversity
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
New Florida A&M president Marva Johnson is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha
The post New Florida A&M president Marva Johnson is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha appeared first on ClutchPoints. Florida A&M University's controversial new president, Marva Johnson, is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Many people find that news surprising due to her conservative views. In May, Johnson was selected as the 13th president of Florida A&M last month despite major pushback from alumni, students, and supporters. On May 16, the Board of Trustees met, and Johnson was chosen by a vote of 8 to 4. She is just the second woman to be appointed as president of Florida A&M in the university's history. After Elmira Mangum, who was president from 2014 to 2016. Following weeks of intense discussion, campus visits, and growing resistance from community residents, students, and alumni who questioned Johnson's credentials and connections to Republican political figures, the choice was made. Johnson had previously worked for Florida Governors Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis as a political appointee. She currently works at Charter Communications as Vice President of State Government, according to the Tallahassee Democrat. Due to Johnson's lack of experience and political ties, especially to Ron DeSantis, supporters of the university and other members of the HBCU community are against her appointment. Due to the Florida Board of Governors, DeSantis and his appointees had significant influence over Johnson becoming president. The State University System of Florida is governed by the Board of Governors, which is the highest authority. For campus-level decisions, each institution has its own Board of Trustees, but for system-wide policy, the Board of Governors has the last word. During the search for a new president, four trustees supported Donald Palm, one of the four contenders for the 13th presidency. At the university, he currently serves as the chief operating officer and executive vice president. Palm was also endorsed by the Florida A&M National Alumni Association. 'We are proud to formally endorse Dr. Donald Palm as our preferred candidate for the 13th President of Florida A&M University,' FAMU NAA President Curtis Johnson said in a May 10 letter to the association's members obtained by the Tallahassee Democrat. He added in the letter, 'Dr. Palm's deep connection to FAMU as the current chief operating officer, former faculty member, and long-standing champion of our mission positions him uniquely to continue our trajectory of excellence.' Johnson's appointment comes after former president Dr. Larry Robinson resigned following the $237 million donation scandal with Gregory Gerami. Dr. Timothy Beard was appointed interim president and served a one-year term until a permanent president was found. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated was founded on January 15, 1908, on the campus of Howard University by nine collegiate women. Alpha Kappa Alpha is the oldest established Greek-letter organization for Black women. The sorority has over 355,000 members, including Vanessa Bell Calloway, Phylicia Rashad, Maya Angelou, Alice Walker, Patti LaBelle, and Coretta Scott King.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
FAMU Foundation Board will meet to discuss, vote on Marva Johnson's compensation package
As Florida A&M University finds itself on the cusp of a President Marva Johnson-era despite public outcry, her salary package is up for discussion. The FAMU Foundation's board of directors will meet at 2 p.m. May 30 to discuss and vote on Johnson's compensation package, with the meeting being held both in person in Frisco, Texas, and virtually via Zoom. The meeting comes during the FAMU National Alumni Association's annual convention that began May 28 and will end June 1, also in Frisco, with the theme 'One FAMU: Stronger Together.' The foundation board's scheduled meeting also comes two weeks after the university's Board of Trustees selected Johnson and approved a $450,000 to $750,000 salary range following the compensation recommendation of FAMU's presidential search committee. At the same time, Johnson – group vice president at Charter Communications – asked for a $750,000 base salary in her application, where she left out how much she currently makes in her position at the internet and cable TV giant. At the University of Florida, President Santa Ono is set to receive a five-year compensation package worth up to $15 million, making him one of the highest-paid public university presidents in the country. While the state of Florida contributes a compensation amount of $250,000 to the total salary of its university presidents, it is up to the universities to come up with the rest of the money for their institution leader. But presidential search committee members, including FAMU Foundation board chair Lisa LaBoo, have said the university can't afford Johnson's request, which is over $150,000 more than the $591,000 yearly salary in which former President Larry Robinson ended his seven-year presidential term, which included his $451,711 base salary plus incentives and benefits. In addition, the university's Foundation – which had an investment value of $171.9 million as of September and contributes to the president's salary – recently began helping to fund FAMU men's basketball coach Charlie Ward's compensation following the approval of his five-year contract worth $975,000, and it also covers a portion of other coach salaries. 'With that being said, that's a lot,' LaBoo said in a May 13 search committee meeting, referring to an increased presidential salary. Frustrations have run high lately as students, alumni and others in the community continue to condemn what they see as a lack of transparency in the process and political influence in Johnson's selection, which many are hoping to put a stop to as the Board of Governors looks to confirm her appointment in a June 18 meeting. As the FAMU Foundation board of directors gets ready to discuss and vote on the presidential salary package, FAMU trustee Nicole Washington, who voted for Johnson, was given the authority to negotiate a contract with her − breaking the usual procedure of the Board of Trustees' chair taking on the task. If the compensation range's high end of $750,000 is approved, it would include Johnson's base pay as well as incentives such as bonuses, retirement, housing and car allowances. Individuals can tune into the board's May 30 meeting via Zoom at Tarah Jean is the higher education reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat, a member of the USA TODAY Network – Florida. She can be reached at tjean@ Follow her on X: @tarahjean_. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU Foundation Board to meet for a vote on salary for Marva Johnson
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Keisha Lance Bottoms officially launches bid for Govenor
The post Keisha Lance Bottoms officially launches bid for Govenor appeared first on ClutchPoints. Former Atlanta Mayor and White House advisor Keisha Lance Bottoms has officially announced her run for Georgia governor in 2026, after weeks of speculation. Bottoms stated in an interview with FOX 5's Angelique Proctor at the Georgia State Capitol that her background as Atlanta's mayor and her most recent position as a top adviser in the Biden administration have equipped her to govern the state. 'As mayor, I led Atlanta through difficult times, supported small businesses, raised pay for first responders, and expanded affordable housing … Georgia families deserve far better than what Donald Trump and Republicans are giving us right now—I will be a governor for all Georgians,' Bottoms said in her announcement. Among her main priorities, she stated, will be extending Medicaid to the 300,000 Georgians who do not already have insurance, assisting small companies, and removing the income tax for educators. She also intends to alleviate Georgia's teacher shortage. Eliminating teacher state income taxes is also one of her main initiatives. 'I am a fighter. People are looking for somebody to fight against the chaos that's coming out of Washington,' she told Proctor. 'The chaos is being created by the Donald Trump administration, and I am ready to lead, and I am ready to fight on behalf of the community across Georgia. 'We still have a teacher shortage in the state, and we know it's impacting what's happening in our classrooms,' Bottoms said. Bottoms has worked in politics and law for a long time. She earned a bachelor's degree in communications from Florida A&M University. She attended Georgia State University College of Law in 1994 to earn her Juris Doctor after graduating from Florida A&M. She practiced juvenile law prior to being appointed a magistrate judge in Atlanta in 2002. After winning a seat on the Atlanta City Council in 2009, Bottoms made her political debut. She was re-elected in 2013. Up until 2017, she was the executive director of Atlanta's Fulton County Recreation Authority. From 2018 to 2022, Bottoms served as mayor of Atlanta from 2018 until 2022. In 2022, she succeeded Cedric Richmond as head of the Office of Public Liaison. The governor's race is anticipated to attract a lot of interest. Governor Brian Kemp, a Republican, is not eligible to run again due to term limits. Last year, Republican Chris Carr, Georgia's attorney general, formally began his bid to succeed Kemp. State Senator Jason Esteves declared his intention to run in April on the Democratic side. In August 2024, Olu Brown, the former pastor of Impact United Methodist Church, made his campaign public. According to reports, Stacey Abrams, the Democratic contender for governor in 2018 and 2022, is thinking about running for office again. In addition to her long political and legal resume, Bottoms can now add executive producer to that list. She serves as an executive producer on Tyler Perry's new show She The People on Netflix. The political comedy stars Terri J. Vaughn as Lt. Gov. Antoinette Dunkerson, the first Black woman to hold the office, who 'runs a successful campaign and now must figure out how to thrive under a sexist and condescending governor while attempting to keep her family in line now that they're all in the public eye.' Bottoms feels the state is prepared for the historic moment if she is elected, becoming the first Black woman governor in Georgia's history.
Irish Times
27-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
Microplastics: how dangerous are they and how can we reduce our risk?
Recent headlines have raised concerns about microplastics in our bodies and the harm they may be doing. Scientists say it could be years before we have a full understanding of how these tiny plastic particles are affecting human health. But we do know they have been found from the depths of the Mariana Trench in the Pacific to the heights of Mount Everest. And we know that plastic is accumulating in our bodies, too. 'The air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat – it's in it,' said Richard Thompson, a marine biologist at the University of Plymouth in England who coined the term 'microplastics' in a 2004 paper. 'We're exposed.' What are microplastics? Scientists generally define 'microplastics' as pieces less than 5mm long. Nanoplastics, which measure less than 1 micrometre, are the smallest of these and the most likely to get into our blood and tissues. READ MORE Microplastics mostly come from larger plastics, which degrade with use or when they aren't disposed of properly, said Jeffrey Farner, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at the Florida A&M University-Florida State University College of Engineering. 'We use plastics in areas or in ways that lend themselves to the production of microplastics or to the breakdown over time,' Farner said – for example, in construction materials that are weathered outdoors; in tubing that generates microplastics when it is cut; and in agriculture, as plastic mulch or in irrigation systems. More than one-third of plastic produced today is for packaging, including single-use items such as food containers that largely end up as waste. A discarded plastic bag or bottle that makes its way to the ocean or a beach gets hit with ultraviolet light, heat and sand abrasion. From there, it 'is going to break down into just an enormous number of micro- and nanoplastics,' Farner said. How do they get into our bodies? These micro- and nanoplastics end up in our air, soil, water and food. The wear and tear on our car tyres, for example, produces particles that pollute the air and water. Microplastics filtered out of wastewater end up in sludge that is then used as fertiliser. Plastic cigarette filters make their way to lakes and oceans, where they degrade over time. Humans breathe in these particles and ingest them. Some research suggests plants directly take them up from the soil and incorporate them into their roots, said Christy Tyler, a professor of environmental science at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York. The higher up the food chain an animal is, the greater the concentration of microplastics likely to be found inside them. Microplastics are also more common in highly processed foods, potentially because of contamination from processing machinery or even workers' clothing. Scientists have a limited understanding of whether and how microplastics might penetrate the skin, said Tracey Woodruff, director of the programme on reproductive health and the environment at the University of California, San Francisco. But, she said, some evidence suggests we can absorb microplastics – and harmful chemicals within them – from personal care products such as cosmetics and from our clothes, which shed fibres as we move. [ Microplastics are in the heart, lungs, penis, breast milk. Can we keep them out of our bodies? Opens in new window ] Our bodies appear to clear out some of these microplastics, particularly the larger ones. Microplastics have been found in human stool and urine. Jacques Robert, a professor of microbiology and immunology, and of environmental medicine, at the University of Rochester, said his own research on tadpoles fed microplastics has found that about 60 per cent to 70 per cent of the plastic was excreted. (That research has not yet been published.) Other studies have suggested that the plastic not excreted in waste appears to pass out of the gut and into the blood, and from there can migrate to other organs like the liver and brain. What do we know about the health effects? Animal studies indicate that microplastics may harm reproduction, particularly sperm quality. They can also affect lung and gut functioning and may increase the risk for lung and colon cancer, said Woodruff, who conducted a review of the research. Robert's research in tadpoles has also shown that microplastics may weaken the immune system. It can be hard to extrapolate the effects on humans from animal studies, Tyler said, since the type and amount of plastics given to animals in experimental settings often differ from the chronic, low-level exposure to weathered particles that we experience. That said, there is early research in humans showing links between microplastics and preterm births, inflammation and cardiovascular disease. And there is well-established evidence that some chemicals in plastics are harmful to humans. These include per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, some of which have been labelled known or likely human carcinogens. They also include bisphenol A and phthalates, which disrupt normal hormone function. How can we reduce exposure? One of the most effective steps might simply be not drinking from plastic water bottles, especially if they've been sitting out in the sun, Woodruff said. Another is to avoid heating food in plastic containers. Experts recommended switching to glass or steel containers for food storage, or at least transferring food to a glass or ceramic dish before heating. Eating more fresh fruits and vegetables can help, too. Packaged and highly processed foods contain far more microplastics, and the particles can also be concentrated in fish and meat. Regularly vacuuming your house and using an air purifier with a HEPA filter can reduce the amount of microplastics you inhale, Tyler said, and wiping surfaces with a wet cloth may prevent particles from getting back in the air. [ Do plastic chopping boards shed microplastics into food? Opens in new window ] Washing clothes made of synthetic fibres, such as acrylic or nylon, before wearing them the first time can also help reduce your own exposure, by clearing off microplastics left from the cutting and sewing process. (Doing so, though, also introduces microplastics into wastewater.) Clothes made of natural fibres, such as cotton or wool, sidestep the microplastics problem altogether. These measures have limitations, however. Plastic is ubiquitous and often the most affordable option. 'It shouldn't all be on the consumer to have to make those choices,' Tyler said. It's not entirely clear, either, that avoiding plastic water bottles or cutting boards will meaningfully reduce your lifetime exposure when plastic waste has accumulated in our soil, air and water. Experts said governments would have to regulate and reduce non-essential plastics to stop that accumulation. Some already have. The European Union banned the use of microbeads in cosmetics, for example, and several are phasing out styrofoam in food packaging. And 175 countries have agreed to create a United Nations treaty to end plastic pollution. Compared to 20 years ago, Thompson said, there's now 'a public appetite' for change. – This article originally appeared in the New York Times . 2025 The New York Times Company
Miami Herald
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
FAMU alum running for Governor in Georgia
Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has officially entered the 2026 Georgia gubernatorial race, bringing her extensive leadership experience and a renewed focus on unity to the forefront of state politics. A proud alumna of Florida A&M University (FAMU), Bottoms aims to become Georgia's first Black female governor, following in the footsteps of fellow HBCU graduate Stacey Abrams, who previously ran for the position in 2018 and 2022. Bottoms, 55, highlighted her 'battle-tested executive leadership' from her tenure as Atlanta's mayor, during which she managed significant public safety issues and supported police and firefighter pay raises. She also served as a senior advisor in the Biden administration, focusing on public engagement and voter protection. Her campaign emphasizes expanding Medicaid, supporting small businesses, and workforce training as key priorities for Georgia's future. In contrast, Stacey Abrams, a Spelman College alumna, made history as the first Black woman to be a major-party gubernatorial nominee in the U.S. Despite her groundbreaking campaigns, Abrams faced defeats in both the 2018 and 2022 elections against Republican Brian Kemp. Her efforts, however, significantly increased voter turnout and brought national attention to voter suppression issues in Georgia. Bottoms' entry into the race underscores the continued influence of HBCU graduates in shaping Georgia's political landscape. FAMU alumni has a strong HBCU community in the Atlanta Metro area which could be a galvanizing cornerstone for her campaign. Her candidacy not only represents a potential historic milestone but also reflects a commitment to addressing systemic issues affecting all Georgians, regardless of race or political affiliation. The post FAMU alum running for Governor in Georgia appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
