It is an exciting day for Spelman College! We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Ayanna Howard as our 12th President. A world-renowned roboticist, pioneer, and brilliant leader, she blends future innovation with our sacred liberal arts traditions. From her mother, a former adjunct professor at Spelman to her own years of mentoring Spelman students while at Georgia Tech, her roots run deep. She is ready to stand in the room, advocate for our students, and accelerate the future work Spelman. Read More: spelman.edu/news/2026/06/spe…

I was so proud to see another class of bright students cross the stage and officially become graduates of Spelman College. This class has raised the bar for academic excellence, with more than half graduating with honors. Congratulations, Class of 2026! I’m confident you are ready to be independent thought leaders, equipped to architect a more equitable future for everyone. #SpelmanForward #Classof2026

We are deeply proud and honored to welcome Rev. Dr. Gina M. Stewart as our 2026 Baccalaureate speaker, Symone Sanders Townsend as our 2026 Commencement speaker, and Claire Babineaux-Fontenot as our National Community Service Award recipient. This extraordinary group of women represents the leadership, advocacy, and commitment to uplifting communities that embody the very heart of our Spelman mission. bit.ly/4u5t4Ir #Classof2026

The Class of 2026 has made Spelman history with a record‑breaking 7 valedictorians! This is up from 3 last year. Our young women continue to soar. I’m so proud of their unrelenting commitment to academic excellence and strongly leading by example for generations to come. Congratulations to you ladies and all of our 569 graduates on a job well done! bit.ly/4ezu96h #Classof2026

Spelman Forward is boldly investing in our students’ futures. By dedicating 65% ($325M) of the campaign to scholarships, we’re increasing affordability and empowering Spelman students to reach financial independence while pursuing their full potential. Thus, giving incoming students even more to look forward to. spelman.edu/giving/spelman-f…  #SpelmanForward #Scholarship

Research Day reached new heights this year with a record number of student submissions. For 37 years, this celebration has amplified student research across every field, including breakthroughs in data science and AI. PlantGPT, SPARK, and countless other research projects exemplify the student-driven innovation driving Spelman forward.

It was such an honor to meet the students of our Spelpreneur program and the winners of their recent startup pitch competition. Spelpreneur was created to introduce Spelman students to entrepreneurship as an alternate career path and help them create fulfilling opportunities during and after college. We’re offering a combination of knowledge and practice to prepare our students to be future business leaders.

Today, we continue the tradition of celebrating Spelman College’s 145th Founders Day. This is our time to reflect on our resilient legacy of excellence, service, and sisterhood. We’re honoring generations of Spelman women who chose to change the world, and the future being shaped by the talented thought leaders following in their footsteps. Happy birthday, Spelman!

Spelman is moving from Reconstruction to Reconstruction with a historic $500M campaign, called Spelman Forward. We’re committing $325M (65%) to scholarships to ensure student access and opportunity remain at our core. The future is here! And we are Future-Ready! Read more: tinyurl.com/3nvr2m58 #SpelmanFoward

What an amazing full‑circle moment to celebrate! Internationally recognized artist and Spelman alumna Calida Rawles, C’98, returned to campus for the opening of her Away with the Tides exhibit at the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art. It was also incredible to witness her legacy flourish through her daughter—now a Spelman student in the AUC Art Collective and a museum ambassador where Rawles art is on display.

It’s my pleasure to close Women’s History Month by congratulating Spelman alumna and international bestselling author Tayari Jones, C’91. Her new book “Kin” shot to #3 on the New York Times Hardcover Fiction best seller list in less than a week! It was also the first pick of 2026 for Oprah’s Book Club. @tayari, we are proud to produce trailblazing women just like you. Photo courtesy of Joe Carlos Photography

Spelman’s Scholarship Luncheon is a powerful reminder that our donors aren’t just giving — they are lighting the pathway of tomorrow and shaping a #FutureReadySpelman. It was a privilege to greet Dr. Alice E. Wilson, C’80, representing the Dr. Etta Zuber Falconer Endowed Scholarship — one of many funds expanding access and opportunity through donor generosity.

#FutureReadySpelman is all about empowering our students to find impactful opportunities to innovate in all areas of life. Our dance students did just that by collaborating with a team of female engineering students from Georgia Tech to co-design biometric costumes and bring their movements to life. spelman.edu/news/2026/02/whe…

It’s Family Weekend 2026! I’m excited to welcome our students and families joining us on campus as we celebrate community, connection and the promise of what’s ahead. I’m looking forward to sharing Spelman College’s bold and exciting plans for the future with you. #SpelmanFamilyWeekend #SpelmanFamilyWeekend2026

I'm honored to recognize Mariama Barry, C’2028, a brilliant Spelman computer science student and Innovation Lab Fellow who created SIM‑AI. Her innovation is a groundbreaking AI tool that generates custom textile patterns for fashion design and earned 2nd place at Research Day 2025. She is a prime example of how Spelman is cultivating our students to solve problems and move our world forward. Read more: bit.ly/4blSMSv

Last night marked a historic moment at Spelman as Interim President Rosalind “Roz” Brewer hosted our inaugural Future Ready Blazer Ceremony. First-year students were presented with blazers, symbolizing our standard of excellence, leadership, and innovation to fuel the future.

I am deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Gloria Jean Wade-Gayles. To many, she was a world-class scholar and a prolific author. To the Spelman sisterhood, she was a "Queen Mother" who demanded excellence because she saw the brilliance in us before we often saw it in ourselves. Her creation of the Spelman Independent Scholars (SIS) program wasn’t just an academic achievement, it was an act of love that ensured the stories of Black women would be preserved forever. Dr. Wade-Gayles often spoke of being "pushed back to strength." As we mourn this immense loss, we lean into the strength she spent her life building in all of us. Rest in peace, Dr. Wade-Gayles. Your legacy is written in the lives of the thousands of women you empowered.

Congratulations to Ava Noelle Johnson, C'2026, on being named Spelman College’s newest Schwarzman Scholar! We are deeply proud of her. Ava’s academic excellence has earned her this prestigious opportunity to study global affairs in Beijing and continue her journey as a future leader. Read more:bit.ly/4qjuc9e

I’m so proud that Spelman College recently ranked No. 1 in Newsweek’s inaugural America’s Best Colleges for Women 2026 report! This honor reflects our commitment to providing educational opportunities, leadership development, and a safe environment for women of African descent to grow and thrive. This has been a fundamental part of our nearly 145-year history and will continue to be our focus for the future. Read more: bit.ly/4b4ztwQ

It’s so inspiring to see our students embody the spirit of #MLKDay and serve our Westside community. From environmental restoration to making hygiene kits for those in need, they’ve led impactful projects on and off campus.