FAMU President Elmira Mangum has named Jacqueline Hightower
executive assistant to the president.
A FAMU alumna and Tallahassee native, Hightower brings to
the Office of the President more than 20 years of professional work experience
in public administration, higher education administration and information
technology.
“I am honored to be home and serve Dr. Mangum as we embark
upon a new season for my beloved alma mater,” Hightower said. “I am humbled and
keenly aware of the trust that has been given to me to serve her in this
capacity, and I am ready for the journey.”
Since 2011, Hightower served as the executive assistant to Tallahassee City Manager Anita Favors Thompson.
From 2005-2011, Hightower served FAMU as a coordinator for
the Division of Academic Affair’s Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
reaffirmation program, and from 2005-2008 she served as the coordinator for
student academic support at the former Environmental Sciences Institute,
renamed the School of the Environment. During the 2005-2006 academic year, she
was named the University’s “Advisor of the Year.”
Prior to her work in public administration, Hightower worked
as an information technology technical analyst at Cargill, Inc., a Fortune 500
company. During this period, she represented Cargill, Inc. as a recruiter and
served as a company representative for FAMU’s Industry Cluster, where she
helped to secure major funding for the University.
“I am delighted to have appointed Ms. Hightower to serve on my
executive team,” said President Mangum. “Ms. Hightower brings a variety of
experience and expertise in higher education administration and public
administration, which are essential to assisting me in carrying out my mission
of ensuring that this institution is globally recognized as a best-in-class
university.”
Hightower has also played an integral role in the
progression of several vital local, state, and national organizations,
including the United Way and the Florida Center for Research in Science,
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. She is a founding board member of
Sustainable Tallahassee and is a member of Omicron Delta Kappa and the Pi
Lambda Theta International Honor Society and Professional Association in
Education.
Hightower received a bachelor’s degree from FAMU in computer
information systems and a master’s degree in higher education administration
from Florida State University.