June 28: Heatwaves and Heat Exposure Disparities in Atlanta to be Explored Through Heat Watch Campaign Partnership

Heatwaves and Heat Exposure Disparities in Atlanta to be Explored Through Heat Watch Campaign Partnership

Atlanta ranks among the most heat vulnerable cities in the country. The combination of rapid warming and a high prevalence of poverty amongst urban residents greatly elevates the risk of heat illness and mortality during heat wave events. With thousands of households estimated to lack access to central air conditioning, and with the clustering of those experiencing energy poverty within majority African American neighborhoods, Black Atlantans are confronting a greater risk of heat vulnerability than perhaps any other group in the United States.

Late this summer, a team lead by Spelman College will conduct an intensive one-day urban heat mapping campaign, Atlanta Heat Watch Campaign. This campaign is funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and coordinated by Spelman’s Guanyu Huang, Ph.D., assistant professor of environmental and health sciences.

The campaign aims to map the spatial pattern of heat and document how heat risk aligns with other important dimensions of population vulnerability to climate change, including race and ethnicity, income, population comorbidities for heat illness and public investment to date in climate adaptation.

Campaign organizers are seeking volunteers to use digital sensors to collect temperature readings. The sensors, which will be provided, will collect readings three times on the campaign day along routes designed by climate and social scientists.

The Atlanta Heat Watch Campaign team consists of academic and community partners including Spelman, the Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University; the West-Atlanta Watershed Alliance, co-founded by Na’Taki Osborne Jelks, Ph.D., C'95, assistant professor of environmental and health sciences at Spelman; the City of Atlanta, National Weather Service in Peachtree City, Georgia, and the Atlanta-Fulton County Emergency Management Agency.

To volunteer for the Atlanta Heat Watch Campaign one-day urban heat mapping project, visit Spelman.edu.

Spelman Launches Online Teacher Certification Program

Spelman has opened registration for college graduates interested in gaining teacher certification in the state of Georgia.

The year-long online program will prepare participants for certification in secondary education (grades 6-12) in chemistry, English, history, mathematics, physics or political science, or pre K-12 music or Spanish.

Participants will learn how to plan and implement developmentally appropriate instruction, how to use technology to enhance the teaching and learning process, how to apply and utilize knowledge of educational theories and instructional methods with culturally diverse students, and help participants in developing a robust knowledge of the competencies of the teaching and learning processes of children in diverse settings.

The program consists of six online courses, plus the prerequisite education orientation course, if students have not taken it elsewhere. Additionally, students will complete two semesters of student teaching while enrolled in the program.

Successful completion of the coursework prepares students to receive state certification through the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. For more information, or to apply, visit the Teacher Prep site.

Support Spelman’s Annual Fund Campaign

Members and supporters of Spelman still have time to participate in Spelman’s end-of-the-year annual fund campaign, "Road to June 30."

In commemoration of Spelman’s 140th birthday, the College renamed the annual fund "Spelman Strong," to reflect the enduring nature of the institution's legacy.

Funds allocated from the "Spelman Strong" campaign will offer relief to the operating budget and support campus life for students, faculty and staff.

All gifts to "Spelman Strong" count towards the Spelman Ascends Comprehensive Capital Campaign.

Spelman Trustee and Alumna Promoted to Vice President

Baldwin Richardson Foods, one of the largest African American family-owned businesses in the food industry, has named Spelman Trustee Cara J. Hughes, C’2003, vice president of customer and community.

In addition to building and maintaining relationships with community organizations, Hughes will oversee culinary innovation, customer relations, sales and marketing to ensure customer expectations and revenue goals are continually met.

"I am delighted to step into this expanded role as it represents the company's historical commitment to ensuring our customers succeed while creating impact in the communities where we operate," said Hughes.

The announcement, which was made June 10, 2021, comes on the heels of the promotion of Erin Tolefree, C’2001, to president of Baldwin Richardson Foods.

In 2018, Tolefree and Hughes made a gift to Spelman on behalf of Baldwin Richardson Foods to endow an annual scholarship for first-year students.