July 12: Dr. Liz Andrews Named Executive Director of the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art

Dr. Liz Andrews Named Executive Director of the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art

Artist, curator and museum professional Liz Andrews, Ph.D., is the new executive director of the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art. A gifted museum professional at the intersection of the arts and social justice, who has worked in colleges and arts organizations across the nation, Dr. Andrews will begin leading the Museum on August 2, 2021.

"For decades, the Spelman Museum has celebrated art by women of African descent. We are thrilled to welcome a museum professional as talented as Dr. Andrews to lead the important curatorial and educational work at the Museum," said Mary Schmidt Campbell, Ph.D., president of Spelman. "Her social justice scholarship, embrace of innovative technologies and appreciation for interdisciplinary collaborations make her the right leader, at the right time, for the future of the only museum in the country that is dedicated to work created by Black women."

Dr. Andrews’ career is defined by a long-standing commitment to engaging undergraduate students through research and the arts. Prior to LACMA, she was a doctoral student at George Mason University, where she co-taught the multi-year Mason Science of Diversity Project. After graduating, she continued to engage with undergraduate students as a guest instructor in art history at George Mason. Her classes challenged students to reconsider the roles of art in society and develop critical research projects. While working as an administrator in the Department of Photography & Imaging at Tisch School of the Arts, New York University, Dr. Andrews advised students and organized public conferences on Black figures and beauty.

A native of Denver, Colorado, Dr. Andrews attributes her commitment to justice to her father, attorney Irving P. Andrews. She holds a B.A. in American studies from Wesleyan University, a M.A. in arts politics from the Tisch School of the Arts, and a Ph.D. in cultural studies from George Mason University.

Spelman Team Finishes Second in BioDesign Challenge

In Spelman’s first time participating, a team representing the College beat out 51 other teams to garner second place in the BioDesign Challenge this year.

Spelman’s project, Sub·ver·sive /səbˈvərsiv/ - BioFashion for Black Lives, features a bio designed hoodie that collects biometric data. The individual data collected can be crowdsourced across urban landscapes and used by entities designed to provide therapeutic and protective response mechanisms.

The team , which included first-year students Mika Campbell, Grace Burch, Savannah Adams, and junior Abigail Gordon, considered themes of mental health and vulnerable populations, safety and security for women and the curation of ancestral legacy when developing their prototype, said Jaye Nias, Ph.D., assistant professor of computer and information sciences.

"We decided to utilize a speculative design process that incorporated Afrofuturist discourse. It was a great opportunity to push students to imagine a future where Black bodies could explore the full breadth of the human experience," said Dr. Nias. "We challenged ourselves to think critically about where we find Blackness in BioFuturists design that holds on to our culture and propels our societal progress. We hope to be able to continue iterating on our design through prototyping methods once everyone returns to campus."

In addition to Dr. Nias, Robert Hamilton, senior instructor in the Department of Art & Visual Culture, Tiffany Oliver, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of biology, Mark Maloney, Ph.D., professor of biology, and Phillip Thompson, Spelman Innovation Lab manager, advised the students on their project.

Spelman Represented During Boeing HBCU Immersion Program

Five Spelman scholars have earned second place in the Boeing HBCU Immersion Program competition for their presentation on 3D printing practices.

In partnership with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, the Boeing HBCU Immersion Program is a three-day, highly competitive initiative that introduces first-year and sophomore students to the Boeing Company.

Sophomores Kailon Jackson and Gabrielle Davis and first-year students Nia Phipps, Dakota Carter and Mackenzie Carter were among the 60 participants representing 13 HBCUs in the program.

In addition, Jackson was the recipient of the Swag Unboxing Video grand prize, and Carter was awarded the Boeing HBCU Immersion Program MVP Award.

"I was grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Thurgood Marshall Boeing HBCU Immersion Program. Boeing is the world's largest aerospace company, so it was amazing to see how many Black leaders were in the company," said Jackson. "I learned so much about the company and its technological advances and contributions. I was also honored to win the female video competition, where I showcased my love for creating and designing with technology."

Alumna Joins the Leadership Council of the National Small Business Association

Valerie F. Leonard, C’85, an expert in community and organizational development, will join small-business advocates from across the country as a member of the National Small Business Association Leadership Council.

NSBA is the nation’s oldest nonpartisan, small-business advocacy organization committed to promoting the interests of small businesses to policymakers in Washington, D.C.

Leonard, founder of Nonprofit Utopia, LLC, in Chicago, has provided technical assistance to more than 900 emerging nonprofit leaders, and helped raise more than $100 million in nonprofit funding.

She joined the leadership council as part of her effort to tackle critical issues facing small businesses including tax reform, regulatory restraint, health care costs and the impact of the Affordable Care Act on small businesses.

"As a small-business owner, I see daily the importance of being involved and active when it comes to laws and regulation," said Leonard in a statement. "Joining NSBA’s Leadership Council will enable me to take our collective small-business message to the people that need to hear it most: Congress."