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Kayla Smith, C’2021, Shares Why Voting Matters on America Amplified

With just a few days left before the 2020 presidential election, Social Justice Fellow Kayla Smith, C'2021, appeared on America Amplified: Election 2020, a national talk show that explores local community perspectives on the issues that matter most to them.

Hosted by WABE Atlanta’s Rose Scott, America Amplified is a six-part, one-hour weekly talk show. Smith, who is also a co-founder of The Blue Record, the official podcast for Spelman run by the Social Justice Fellowship Program, was invited to discuss her experience as a first time voter and why this election is important to her and her peers.

"My vote is an extension of my commitment to justice work, building community and re-imagining the world through a Black feminist lens," said Smith. "Although I am critical of all of the candidates, I recognize that my vote is essential to redirecting America’s current trajectory."

Visit the Spelman Student Government Association Non-Partisan Voter Resource page to view an extensive list of resources to ensure that everyone exercises their right to vote with confidence on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Spelman Officially Launches Center of Excellence for Minority Women in STEM

After receiving a $2.9 million grant from the Department of Defense in recognition of the College’s status as the top producer of Black women who earn doctoral degrees in sciences and engineering, Spelman College held the official launch of the Center of Excellence for Minority Women in STEM, a groundbreaking initiative focused on equipping, empowering, and elevating women of color to thrive and lead in STEM fields.

The launch, which took place via Zoom on Thursday, Oct. 22, featured remarks from Mary Schmidt Campbell, Ph.D., Spelman president, Evelyn Kent, Department of Defense Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Institutions program director, and Patrick Baker, Ph.D., U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command director. Greetings were also extended from the Office of U.S. Senator David Perdue.

The Center of Excellence’s Inaugural Director, Tamara Pearson, Ph.D., C’96, provided an overview of the center’s pillars of excellence, which include research, academic advancement, leadership and professional development. Two of the Department of Defense academic scholars, Alondra Stafford, C'2023, and Lauren Waller, C'2023, and a research scholar Raven Rouseau, C'2023, gave presentations on the impact the center is having on their education and professional aspirations.

"Initially coming into college, I thought of research as a daunting task,"
said Rouseau. "The idea of doing research weighed heavily on me. But now, as I have been able to do research with [a professor] and I was able to express myself and creatively find my own pathway onto research,
I found that research was actually something that I enjoyed. I’m really grateful for it."
Fortune 500 Board Member, Former CEO and Author Featured in the Next Courageous Conversation

The next "Courageous Conversations: Black in the C-Suite," will feature businesswoman and author, Shellye Archambeau.

Archambeau has more than 30 years of experience in technology, and served as former CEO of MetricStream, a Silicon Valley-based governance, risk and compliance software company. During her tenure, MetricStream grew from a fledgling startup into a global market leader.

She will join Spelman President Mary Schmidt Campbell, Ph.D., on Thursday, Nov. 19, at 1 p.m. via Zoom to share her professional journey, as well as discuss her new book, "Unapologetically Ambitious: Take Risks, Break Barriers and Create Success on Your Own Terms."

Launched over the summer, "Courageous Conversations: Black in the C-Suite" highlights the roles Black women are playing in today’s shifting corporate environment.

For more information, visit Spelman.edu.

Campus Highlights
Dr. Rosetta Ross Featured for Her Work on Religion and Activism

Rosetta E. Ross, Ph.D., professor of religion, has been featured in the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry Women of Color Scholars’ Series for her work with the Angella P. Current-Felder Women of Color Scholars program.

Dr. Ross was one of the first scholars to explore religion and Black women’s activism during the Civil Rights Movement in the United States.

She became the chair of the WOC mentoring program in 2008 with the mission of helping the initiative evolve to attend more fully to the success of the scholars.

This month, during GBHEM’s annual fall board of directors’ meeting, $7,500 was raised for WOC in recognition of Dr. Ross, and her contributions to the program.
Alumnae Highlights
Alumna Seeks to Solve Math Anxiety Through New Startup

To inspire girls to lean into math, Brittany Rhodes, C’2011, a mathematician turned tech founder, created Black Girl MATHgic. The monthly subscription box service is curated to increase math confidence and decrease math anxiety in girls on a third to eighth-grade math skill level.

Each box contains a foundational math lesson and a variety of items to make the lesson engaging and fun, including an affirmation to strengthen math confidence, a profile of a Black woman mathematician to show representation, and an adult guide to help parents and guardians facilitate the use of the materials.

"It's not an achievement gap. It's not an ability gap. It's not a performance gap," said Rhodes, who was recently featured in Forbes. "Boys and girls typically do perform about the same in their math ability in the United States. Confidence is where the gap exists."

Rhodes secured a $5,000 equity-free grant from HBCUvc and PledgeLA. With the grant, she plans to invest in a business manager. To date, Rhodes and her team have shipped more than 1,100 boxes across the nation and have begun fulfilling orders throughout Canada.

Events
 

July 14 - Nov. 12
Official End of Semester

Nov. 26-27
Thanksgiving Holiday (College Closed)

Dec. 1 - Jan. 29, 2021
Wintermester

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