FAMU Student Lawrence Goss Named 2023-24 Rhoden Fellow

(from left) Lawrence Goss, Bill Rhoden and Dean Mira Lowe. (Credit: Christian Whitaker)

Florida A&M University junior broadcast journalism student Lawrence Goss has been selected as a Rhoden Fellow for the class of 2023-24.

A staff writer for the FAMUan student newspaper, Goss edits the online newscast at FAMU TV-20 and shoots some weekly newscasts. Goss also anchors the Rattler Take sports show. The Atlanta native transferred to FAMU in 2020 from Hampton University, where he first heard about the Rhoden Fellowship Initiative. He dreams of being a sideline reporter and analyst working the major sports events.

Goss said he hopes to learn more about professional journalism, how to carry himself, and networking.

“I look forward to being in different rooms that I probably wouldn’t be in without the Fellowship and meeting people who can help my career,” Goss said.

Award-winning sports columnist William C. “Bill” Rhoden launched the Fellowship, in partnership with Andscape, as an opportunity to increase diversity and inclusion in sports journalism. Each year, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) undergraduates apply to participate in the internship. Rhoden and a panel of senior editors at Andscape selected the 2023-24 class of outstanding juniors and seniors.

The Rhoden Fellowship will start on Monday, June 5, in Washington, D.C., and conclude at the end of the 2023-2024 academic year.

Rhoden, who visited the FAMU SJGC on May 1 to meet Goss, said the Fellowship provides an on-ramp to a long, successful career in sports journalism.

“Each class gets better and better. We do a better job of selecting. It’s a privilege to get to know a lot of young, talented journalists like Lawrence and see them grow. I am interested to see where they are when they begin the program and where they are at the end of the program,” Rhoden said. “It’s always great to welcome a new class of fellows and hear their dreams. It’s cool to help facilitate those dreams in a practical way.”

Goss is the fourth SJGC student to be named a Rhoden Fellow. Previous SJGC Rhoden Fellows include Pamela Rentz, Calvin Sykes and Marissa Stubbs.

“We are proud that Lawrence Goss has been selected as a Rhoden Fellow this year,” said SJGC Dean Mira Lowe. “He is dedicated to learning and growing as a young journalist, and we know he will represent himself and FAMU well in the program.”