TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) student Nemmi Cole knows the value of persistence and hard work.
Currently a doctoral student at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Cole recently concluded a stint as a Florida Gubernatorial Fellow and was selected as the Florida Gubernatorial Fellows Program’s Washington D.C. Outstanding Leadership Fellow.
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As a D.C. fellow, Cole will represent the State of Florida and the Governor’s office while working with federal agencies to develop and propose ideas for policy development and changes, and monitor and evaluate federal legislation and its impact on the citizens of Florida.
Cole, who is pursuing a doctorate in environmental engineering, holds a bachelor’s degree in civil and environmental engineering and a master’s degree in civil engineering from FAMU. The 26-year-old San Bernardino, Calif. native hopes her story of determination will motivate others to set goals and maintain the firmness required to do what is necessary to accomplish them.
“I am a firm believer that hard work pays off,” said Cole. “I hope to make a fundamental impact and inspire others that may follow in my footsteps.”
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Clayton Clark II, Ph.D., associate professor in the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering Civil and Environmental Engineering Department and Cole’s faculty advisor, said Cole’s ability to stick to her plan and focus in spite of the challenges she faced impressed him the most.
“I’m very proud of Nemmi,” Clark said. “She was reluctant to start graduate school, but she stayed the course, worked multiple jobs, and earned the score she needed on the GRE. Since then, she has done very well.”
Clark, who is also a Florida A&M University alumnus, said FAMU’s students are among the best and the brightest of any university.
“A student doing well in the government policy arena provides another example of the far reach of FAMU’s excellence,” Clark said.
About FAMU
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) is one of the largest single-campus historically black colleges or universities in the nation. The University blends a strong research focus with a commitment to economic empowerment and community service.
The University was founded in 1887 as the State Normal School for Colored Students. Today, FAMU continues its mission to be a best-in-class, land-grant institution with a global reach that focuses on science, technology, research, engineering, agriculture, and mathematics.
FAMU contributes to a strong workforce by providing a high-quality, affordable education to students from diverse backgrounds.
The CollegeNet and PayScale Social Mobility Index (SMI) have recognized FAMU for its commitment to providing pathways for social and economic mobility. SMI ranks FAMU third among all colleges and universities in the nation for fostering social and economic opportunity. FAMU is also one of the top institutions for providing a high-quality education at an affordable price in Florida, according to The College Database (2013).
U.S. News & World Report lists FAMU as the nation’s top public historically black college or university (HBCU) for 2015. The University was also recognized among the 2014 U.S. News & World Report “Best National Universities.” It is listed among The Princeton Review’s “Best in the Southeast” colleges for 2015.
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