Santa Rosa County FL Rattlers

03/22/2026

03/19/2026

Dr. Marcy McKeithen is a dedicated veterinarian, entrepreneur, and community advocate whose career reflects a deep commitment to animal health, mentorship, and public service.

Today, Dr. McKeithen serves as the Senior Veterinarian for the City of Detroit, where she plays a vital role in municipal veterinary services, animal welfare initiatives, and public health programming. Her work helps ensure the safety and well-being of both animals and residents across the city.

Known locally as the “Motor City Pet Doc,” Dr. McKeithen continues to use her expertise and influence to expand opportunities, inspire future veterinarians, and strengthen her community.

Throughout her career, Dr. McKeithen has practiced veterinary medicine across the United States and internationally in Spain. This broad experience has allowed her to deliver compassionate, high-quality care while developing a deeper understanding of cultural perspectives, access to care, and community trust within veterinary medicine.

An entrepreneur at heart, she has owned and operated both a house-call veterinary practice and a brick-and-mortar veterinary hospital. These ventures enabled her to provide individualized, low-stress care for animals while leading veterinary teams and building community-focused practice models.

Beyond her professional responsibilities, she is deeply committed to mentorship and youth engagement, particularly encouraging young people to explore careers in veterinary medicine and STEM. She supports outreach initiatives through the Detroit Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and participates in leadership programming through Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated.

A proud graduate of Florida A&M University, she earned her Bachelor of Science in agriculture/pre-Veterinary Medicine in 2006 from the College of Engineering Sciences, Technology and Agriculture.

While at FAMU, Dr. McKeithen was a member of the world-renowned Marching 100, an experience that instilled discipline, teamwork, and pride—values that continue to guide her professional journey.

03/19/2026

For Women's History Month, we salute Frances L. Lee, a proud alumna of Florida A&M University, a distinguished systems and software expert whose nearly 40-year career has contributed significantly to America’s space exploration efforts and now supports NASA’s Artemis missions. As the world anticipates Artemis II—the first crewed mission around the Moon since Apollo 17—Frances stands among the professionals whose decades of technical expertise and strategic planning are helping shape this historic milestone.

Frances earned her degree in computer information systems from FAMU in 1979 and began her career as a Programmer Analyst with Boeing in Richland, Washington. After three years, she transitioned to the aerospace sector as a Senior Programmer Analyst with United Space Booster in Huntsville, Alabama, supporting the Space Shuttle Program. In that role, she developed and maintained quality information and reliability systems that ensured shuttle operations met the rigorous standards required for human spaceflight.

Her expertise later led her to the Kennedy Space Center, where she served as a System Analyst 4 and Lead Analyst for the Nonconformance Information System. This mission-critical platform tracked hardware discrepancies related to Solid Rocket Boosters, strengthening mission readiness and ensuring the safety and reliability of launch components.

Today, Frances continues contributing to NASA’s next era of lunar exploration by developing software for mission-critical procedures and ground support operations. Her work focuses on safety-critical real-time processing and high-availability systems that support ground control operations and spacecraft systems. She also plays a role in the Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDR), a pivotal prelaunch test validating system performance and safety.

Having supported numerous Space Shuttle launches, Frances now helps prepare humanity’s return to deep space. She credits her success to passion, perseverance, and a commitment to excellence, while remaining a proud supporter of FAMU and its enduring legacy of producing leaders in science and technology.

Frances Lee is proof that when you start on "The Hill,” you end up among the stars. 👑🐍

03/19/2026

03/16/2026

https://hbcugameday.com/2026/03/15/famu-drum-major-graces-the-oscars-stage/?fbclid=IwZnRzaAQkS7lleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeDBRrNHySxpEBc3Dx1FYsvwCYibTCiFqugO-8_TZ-q1dpZv95--wDa90OD2c_aem_DmQOMp7Em1p7e1LWZHgN6Q

FAMU drum major Oluwamodupe Oloyede has burned up the social media scene all year long. She was on the biggest stage in Hollywood at the 2026 Oscars.

03/16/2026

In case you missed it, Florida A&M University theater scholar and Head Drum Major of the Marching 100, Oluwamodupe “Dupe” Oloyede, appeared in the "Sinners” opening performance of the 98th Academy Awards.

Representing FAMU, HBCUs, and Greek life on one of the world’s most celebrated stages, Dupe carried herself with remarkable grace, confidence, and persistence.

We are incredibly proud to call you a member of the FAMUly.

03/08/2026

🌍💚 Happy International Women’s Day! 💚🌍

Today, the Santa Rosa County Chapter – FAMU National Alumni Association proudly celebrates the strength, brilliance, and resilience of women everywhere. From trailblazers who paved the way to the young leaders rising today, women continue to inspire change, break barriers, and uplift our communities.

As Rattlers, we honor the legacy of powerful women who lead with courage, wisdom, and purpose. Their contributions in education, business, public service, family, and community remind us that when women rise, entire communities rise with them.

Let us continue to support, empower, and celebrate the incredible women who make a difference every single day.

💐 Here’s to strong women:
May we know them.
May we be them.
May we raise them.

🐍🧡💚

01/18/2026

🧡💚 Join us at the MLK Jr. Day Block Party!
Monday, January 19, 2026

The Santa Rosa County Chapter of the Florida A&M University National Alumni Association will be on site sharing our mission of scholarships, mentoring, and community service.

Stop by our table, connect with fellow Rattlers, and learn how you can get involved.

📍 MLK Jr. Day Block Party
🧡💚 Forever A Rattler

01/11/2026