Tallahassee, Fla. – To further promote and protect the legacy of Florida A&M University (FAMU), the University has entered into a new content licensing partnership with Getty Images, a preeminent global visual content creator and marketplace. As part of Getty Images’ HBCU Grants Program, FAMU’s content, both contemporary and archival, will become accessible for a global audience via Getty Images’ platform in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Collection. The collaboration will also provide FAMU students with mentorship opportunities to work alongside Getty Images’ world-class photographers and editorial staff at upcoming industry events.
“The Florida A&M University Office of Communications is proud to partner with Getty Images to preserve the historic beauty and rich legacy of the college experience through the images of our students, faculty and campus community,” says Alonda Thomas, Ph.D., vice president and chief marketing & communications officer. “This collaboration is already bearing fruit, thanks to Getty Images’ added commitment to supporting FAMU students with interests in photography and archival preservation. We are excited about the opportunities ahead and look forward to a long and impactful relationship.”
Moments of celebration and joy from the FAMU 2025 Spring Commencement exercises are among the first images from the institution that are featured in Getty Images’ HBCU Collection. FAMU will retain all copyrights of the photos and videos added to the collection, with the licensing fees supporting the HBCU community. Getty Images’ HBCU Grants Program was established in 2021 to support the invaluable visual histories of all HBCUs by increasing the awareness, access and visibility of rarely seen photography.
“It is an honor to represent FAMU’s visual history past, present and future,” says Cassandra Illidge, vice president of global partnerships and executive director of the HBCU Grants Program at Getty Images. “The program has evolved since inception, to not only preserve the historical archives of HBCUs, but to ensure that stories on campus today are shared with a global audience. It is equally important to collaborate with FAMU and our other HBCU partners to provide opportunities for mentorship, which will inspire the next generation of visual storytellers.”
