B9315339116Z.1_20141204124325_000_G9S99UDQ4.1-0If Elmira Mangum is being graded on her fundraising acumen, she certainly deserves an “A” – if not an A plus.

Mangum, the first female president in Florida A&M’s history, took office April 1 with a pledge to bring much-needed resources to the university.

It’s happening. Just five months into the fiscal year, FAMU is more than halfway to its annual $5.5 million goal, Thomas Haynes, vice president for university advancement, told the university’s trustees. Giving is up almost 175 percent from the same time last year, he added.

Mangum, who was vice president for budget and planning at Cornell University before coming to FAMU, estimated that 75 percent of her time has been devoted to fundraising and “friend raising.” She told FAMU’s trustees during their Thursday meeting that the university desperately needs resource to establish endowed faculty positions. She has been targeting corporations and research institutions for funding in addition to alumni for their support. Read Full