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Florida A and M officially installed their 11^th president today.  As Matt Galka tells us, the challenge of getting over a string of recent problems that have marred the school has been accepted.

Elmira Mangum was all smiles at her installation ceremony.  The school’s first female president waited until the university’s 127^th birthday to make things official.

“There are many open doors that we must go through, and there are many doors that we need to shut.  But most of all we must keep the doors open that lead to a better life, and a brighter future for our students,” said Dr. Mangum.

Mangum will try to right the ship for a university still suffering from the hazing death of Drum Major Robert Champion and dealing with steep enrollment drop offs in the last three years.

Alumni and State Senator Arthenia Joyner says Mangum provides hope.

“We view what happened as some stumbling blocks, but FAMU has not fallen from the mantle,” said Sen. Joyner (D-Tampa).

The inauguration concludes a week of events for the president who’s actually been on the job since April.

Mangum took the job just as State Senator, and next Florida State University President, John Thrasher was looking to split the two school’s joint engineering programs. She’s not settling for a great divide.

“I still need affordable and accessible education in all programs, so I still need engineering, yes I do,” said Dr. Mangum.

Former president James Ammons, who resigned amid the hazing scandal, says FAMU is in good hands.

“This is a perfect match for the needs of Florida A&M University at this time and her skill set,” said Dr. Ammons.

The university had been without a permanent president for nearly two years before Mangum took over.  She is the fourth different president for the school since 2001.

Mangum says the next step is getting alumni to reinvest in their alma mater.