FMU, SOUTH FLORIDA’S ONLY HBCU, ANNOUNCES ATLANTA MAYOR AS 2018 COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER
Keisha Lance Bottoms is the 60th Mayor of the City of Atlanta. As the second woman elected Mayor in the City’s history, Mayor Bottoms is receiving an honorary doctorate from Florida Memorial University on Saturday, May 12, 2018.
Mayor Bottoms is committed to creating safe communities, expanding access to public transit, developing opportunities for jobs and economic growth and advocating for high quality public education.
Prior to her election, Mayor Bottoms served as Councilmember of District 11. For nearly eight years, she represented a large portion of the historic Southwest Atlanta community. During her tenure on Council, Bottoms sponsored groundbreaking legislation that addressed the City’s $1.5 billion unfunded pension liability and helped grow the City’s reserves from $7.4 million to over $170 million. She also authored the toughest panhandling legislation in the history of Atlanta, which combines empathy with enforcement, and has resulted in offenders receiving often needed social services to help break the cycle of recidivism.
Mayor Bottoms worked with her former colleagues on the City Council to achieve the goal of 2,000 officers within the Atlanta Police force and to successfully balance the City’s annual budget without increasing taxes. During her term as Vice-Chair of the City’s Transportation Committee, the City opened the Maynard H. Jackson International Terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, solidifying Hartsfield-Jackson’s place as the world’s busiest and most efficient airport.
Mayor Bottoms is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, the Atlanta Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, the Dogwood City Chapter of the Links, Inc., and the Atlanta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Mayor Bottoms is a graduate of Florida A&M University and Georgia State University College of Law. Alongside her public service career, Mayor Bottoms has maintained a private law practice for more than 20 years, and has served as General Counsel for a multi-million-dollar business, as well as a Judge (Pro Hoc) in Fulton County State Court. For more information on The Honorable Mayor Bottoms visit www.FMU.edu
ABOUT FLORIDA MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY
Located in the City of Miami Gardens, Florida Memorial University is a private, historically Black institution that offers 37 undergraduate degree programs and four graduate degree programs to a culturally diverse student body. Since its inception in 1878, the University has upheld a commitment to provide an academic education solid foundation built upon the pillars of leadership, character and service. As South Florida’s only Historically Black College or University (HBCU), it is widely recognized as the birthplace of the Black National Anthem, Lift Every Voice and Sing. For more information call 305.626.3600 or visit www.fmuniv.edu. FMU is among the leading HBCUs in the nation leveraging partnerships with public and corporate partners to develop academic and training and certification programs in emerging markets such as Energy and Environmental Science, Cybersecurity, Homeland Security, and Computer Information Technology. FMU also offers a robust study abroad program and award-winning Broadcast Communications and Public Relations programs. The University is also part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the Sun Conference and offers eight collegiate sports programs, including men/women’s basketball, men/women’s soccer, men/women’s track and field, baseball and volleyball. FMU offers 28 undergraduate degree majors and three graduate degree majors. The University holds a 92% retention rate for program participants. More than 14% of the student population are international students representing Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Website: www.FMUniv.edu