FAASA

Congratulations to President-Elect Isaiah Bell on your historic election as the 45th State President of the Florida African-American Student Association (FAASA)!

This moment is more than a title—it’s a calling to lead, uplift, and empower students across the state of Florida. Your vision, dedication, and commitment to excellence have positioned you for such a time as this. As you step into this role, may you lead with courage, integrity, and purpose, continuing the legacy of those who came before you while boldly shaping the future ahead.

To the 2026–2027 Executive Board, congratulations on your appointments and elections! Each of you plays a vital role in advancing the mission of FAASA. Together, you represent strength, unity, and the collective voice of African-American students across the state. May your term be marked by impactful programming, meaningful advocacy, and transformative leadership.

Wishing you all a successful and powerful year of service! ❤️💛💚

As this remarkable chapter comes to a close, we pause to honor two visionary leaders whose service has left an enduring imprint on the Florida African American Student Association.

Jaylon Smith, 44th State President of FAASA, your tenure has been a testament to purpose-driven leadership, resilience, and unwavering commitment to student empowerment. Serving as President of 3 organizations your time and commitment to FAASA inspired future leaders that anything can be accomplished if you put your mind to the task. You carried the torch with excellence—amplifying student voices, strengthening connections across campuses, and advancing a vision rooted in unity, progress, and pride. Your leadership did not simply maintain a standard—it elevated it.

Dr. Beverly Payne, Chairwoman from Eastern Florida State College, your guidance has been both steady and transformative. Through your wisdom, advocacy, and dedication, you have helped shape not only the direction of this organization, but the lives of those privileged to learn under your leadership. Your impact reflects a legacy built on empowerment, integrity, and a deep belief in the power of education and community.

Together, your leadership embodied the spirit of this year’s theme: Celebrating and Sustaining a Golden Legacy. You have not only honored the foundation laid before you, but have strengthened it—ensuring that what was built will continue to inspire generations to come.

Though your terms conclude, your influence does not. The seeds you have planted will continue to grow in the leaders who follow, in the communities you have touched, and in the legacy you leave behind.

With gratitude and respect, we celebrate you both—not just for what you have accomplished, but for what you have made possible.

Thank you for your leadership. Thank you for your vision. Thank you for sustaining the legacy!

Greetings from our 44th State President & 25-26 Executive Board

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. believed that truth did not need permission to be spoken, only courage to be lived. He taught that doing the right thing is rarely convenient, often uncomfortable, and sometimes costly — yet always necessary. In choosing truth over popularity and justice over silence, he showed that moral courage is the highest form of leadership. His life reminds us that history is not changed by those who wait for the right moment, but by those who stand firm when conscience speaks and refuse to turn away.