In their own words.

As I look back retrospectively on an event that completely changed my life in 1969, it is when I met Dr. Sybil C. Mobley. At that time, she told me about her vision for the Accounting program for what would become the School of Business and Industry (SBI) at Florida A&M University (FAMU). She was one of the most passionate and positive individuals I had ever met. Although I had already accepted an offer to attend the New York City University — Business College, I immediately rescinded the offer and headed down to FAMU in the fall of 1969 as a freshman from Harlem, New York.

During my four years at FAMU I was transformed from a nerdy, reserved individual, into a strong and positive young man not afraid to voice my opinion in a professional manner. Dr. Mobley encouraged me, and others, to join the local Toast Masters Club to improve our speaking and listening skills. This would become the forerunner to the Professional Development Program that Dean Mobley later envisioned for SBI and became, for me, added benefit to an already top-notched education in the area of Accounting. I would say that all of Dr. Mobley's graduates prior to 1974 were “ground zero” for what would become the new SBI.

I can recall having many discussions with “Doc,” as we affectionately called her, about the vision she had for SBI as well as the Professional Development Program. She remained a person who was an optimist who always saw the glass as half-full. The attributes that I most remember about Dr. Sybil Mobley are her brilliance, her visionary leadership, her sincerity, her positive attitude, her devotion to the students, and her modesty.

We will miss you, but will never forget the lessons you instilled in us while you were here. We will also pass those lessons on to future generations.

Thank you for believing in us and making us believe in ourselves and opening your heart and doors to us as your “business babies.” Your contributions to our lives can never be measured. Thank you for seeing in us what we didn’t see in ourselves at such a young age.

Thank you for refining us so that we could confidently compete on any and every stage in life and in corporate America. For only an SBI’an understood the intensity in which you operated and that you expected the same from us as your students. Through your great leadership and instruction we knew that when we graduated from FAMU-SBI to join corporate America that we were truly ready for any task or challenge. The intense curriculum and innovative teaching system that you formulated for the School of Business and the Leadership Development Program served us well — and the skills we acquired still help us today in corporate America and as entrepreneurs.

Still today your great accomplishment of assembling the smartest and brightest young African-American talent across America is a model others are still trying to duplicate. Even today we still yearn for your incredible love for us as SBI’ans. We mostly miss your quote and your ability to dream. We loved to hear you say… “Can you just imagine…” Through your ability to dream you truly made us better.

• Thank you for making us more enduring.
• Thank you for sharing your oratorical skills with us, and making us practice.
• Thank you for challenging us, and teaching us how to challenge and lead others.
• Thank you for giving us the vision to see, to do, and to accomplish things others could not imagine.
• Thank you for instilling in us that incredible fight, tenacity and passion to WIN.

We thank GOD for you, and may GOD’s greatest blessings be with you and your FAMU-SBI family forever.

We’re going to miss you, and you are truly loved by your FAMU-SBI family. We LOVE and thank you so much… Dr. Mobley.