FAMU Partners with 14 HBCUs to Launch National Research Coalition to Accelerate Innovation and Expand Impact

FAMU Partners with 14 HBCUs to Launch National Research Coalition to Accelerate Innovation and Expand Impact April 29, 2026 Administration By Alonda Thomas FAMU Partners with 14 HBCUs to Launch National Research Coalition to Accelerate Innovation and Expand Impact WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Florida A&M University (FAMU) is among a group of 15 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to launch the Association of HBCU Research Institutions (AHRI), a national coalition designed to accelerate world-class research, expand institutional capacity, and elevate HBCU leadership in addressing society’s most pressing challenges. The organization will elevate the contributions of HBCUs in cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research, expand policy influence, and accelerate transformative discoveries at scale. AHRI will do so by increasing research capacity, strengthening institutional infrastructure, boosting funding opportunities, enhancing faculty recruitment, and expanding student access to research and career pathways. President Marva B. Johnson, J.D. “Florida A&M University is proud to be a founding member of the Association of HBCU Research Institutions — because R1 is not just a designation. AHRI gives FAMU and our fellow HBCUs the collective infrastructure, shared resources, and national platform to accelerate that journey together,” said President Marva B. Johnson, J.D. “Achieving R1 Carnegie Classification is central to FAMU’s strategic vision, and this coalition — backed by the Association of American Universities — signals to the world that HBCUs are not waiting to be invited to the table of research excellence. We are building it.” Member institutions will also collaborate to increase the number of HBCUs achieving Research One (R1) Carnegie Classification, which is the highest designation for research activity. AHRI is supported by a strategic partnership with the Association of American Universities (AAU), where its offices will be co-located, and a three-year, $1 million grant from the Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery (H&LS) Initiative. Harvard University’s Office of the Vice Provost for Research will also provide technical assistance. The Center for Plasma Science and Technology (CePaST) at Florida A&M University trains a highly-skilled scientific workforce in plasma and materials science and technology. (Photo special to FAMU) “Today is not just an announcement, but a declaration that HBCUs are not only contributors to research and innovation, but also leaders shaping a new era of discovery, reimagining both the solutions and the systems that drive research,” said Wayne A. I. Frederick, M.D., MBA, Howard University interim president, president emeritus, and Charles R. Drew Professor of Surgery. Frederick serves as AHRI interim president. David K. Wilson, Ed.D., president of Morgan State University, serves as board chair, and Tomikia P. LeGrande, Ed.D., president of Prairie View A&M University, serves as board vice chair. AHRI’s founding members include 13 partner institutions classified as R2: High Research Activity: Clark Atlanta University, Delaware State University, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Hampton University, Jackson State University, Morgan State University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Prairie View Agricultural and Mechanical University, South Carolina State University, Southern University, Tennessee State University, Texas Southern University, Virginia State University, and Howard University — an R1 institution and the only HBCU to have achieved that designation. The University of Maryland Eastern Shore is also a member. Collectively, AHRI institutions account for 50% of competitively awarded federal research funding among HBCUs and drive solutions in health, science, education, justice reform, and economic development. FAMU is aiming to achieve Carnegie R1 Status in the not so distant future. (Photo special to FAMU) The launch coincides with AHRI’s inaugural research symposium, “Expanding the Research Mission of HBCUs,” convening higher education leaders, policymakers, and industry partners to explore strategies to strengthen research infrastructure and expand collective impact. “AHRI gives the FAMUly something powerful: proof that our moment has arrived. We have the talent, the mission, and now the coalition to compete at the highest levels of American research. FAMU’s R1 pursuit is not a distant goal — it is the work already underway, and AHRI accelerates everything,” said President Johnson, J.D. For FAMU, AHRI’s launch marks more than a milestone — it marks a mandate. As the University advances its strategic plan and accelerates toward R1 Carnegie Classification, the coalition provides the infrastructure, peer collaboration, and national visibility that no single institution could build alone. FAMU brings to AHRI a legacy of excellence, a growing research enterprise, and an unwavering commitment to producing graduates who transform industries, communities, and the nation. Through AHRI, FAMU will deepen partnerships, expand doctoral production, attract competitive federal funding, and demonstrate what is possible when the HBCU mission meets world-class research ambition. This is not aspiration. This is the next great chapter of the FAMU story. AHRI leaders also issued a call to action for government, corporate, and philanthropic partners to invest in the future of HBCU research and innovation. About AHRI The Association of HBCU Research Institutions (AHRI) is a coalition of leading Historically Black Colleges and Universities dedicated to advancing research excellence, innovation, and public impact. In partnership with the Association of American Universities, AHRI is amplifying the collective voice of HBCU research institutions—elevating their national presence, strengthening policy influence, and accelerating transformative research that addresses society’s most pressing challenges at scale. About Florida A&M University Founded October 3, 1887, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) is a public, historically Black university located in Tallahassee, Florida. What distinguishes FAMU from other universities is its legacy of providing access to a high-quality, affordable education with programs and services that guide students toward successfully achieving their dreams. FAMU is part of the State University System of Florida and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. In addition to the main Tallahassee campus, FAMU has several satellite campuses across Florida. These include the College of Law in Orlando and the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Public Health, which has sites in Crestview, Tampa, Jacksonville, and Miami. Media Contact Alonda Thomas, Ph.D. alonda.thomas@famu.edu Share this article Back to Stories Contact Us Office of Communications 1601 South MLK Blvd. Suite 200 Tallahassee, Florida 32307 P: (850) 599-3413 E: communications@famu.edu