May 11: Graduation Tribute to Feature a Senior Salute and a Performance by Chloe x Halle

Graduation Tribute to Feature a Senior Salute and a Performance by Chloe x Halle
Spelman College will celebrate more than 480 graduating seniors in a virtual tribute at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, 2020. The Spelman Senior Salute will live stream on Spelman.edu and on the College’s official Facebook page. A formal in-person commencement ceremony for the Class of 2020 will be held at a later date. "We are extremely proud of our graduating seniors, who have excelled in completing their undergraduate experience during an unprecedented time of disruption," said Mary Schmidt Campbell, Ph.D., president of Spelman. "We are extremely proud of our graduating seniors, who have been undeterred in their pursuit of a Spelman degree," said Mary Schmidt Campbell, Ph.D., president of Spelman. "They step into a world, changing by the month, by the week, by the day, armed with skills, experiences and relationships that will serve them well in the days ahead. Already we see them entering top graduate programs, accepting prestigious fellowships, and filling critical roles in corporate and nonprofit organizations. They bring a spirit of innovation and creativity, finely honed critical thinking skills and a grasp of technological skills, all developed during their years at Spelman. The entire Spelman community applauds our outstanding graduates. Class of 2020, you are truly a class of vision." The virtual festivities will kick-off at 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 15, with a discussion between Spelman Student Government President Nia Page and Grammy-nominated artists Chloe x Halle. The event will begin on Spelman’s official Instagram channel and continue with a performance at 7 p.m. on the Chloe x Halle Instagram platform.

Students to Receive $1.4 Million from CARES Act Federal Stimulus Funding
Spelman has received $1.4 million in assistance from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund to support institutions of higher education in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. An announcement about the funding was made in a letter to the community from Dawn Alston, chief financial office and vice president of business and financial affairs, and Ingrid Hayes, vice president of Enrollment Management. The funds are earmarked specifically for students financially impacted by COVID-19. Spelman is among several other historically Black colleges and universities, including Clark Atlanta University and Morehouse College, designated to receive support from the U.S. Department of Education. Please continue to visit the Coronavirus Update and FAQs page for more information on the College and COVID-19.

President Campbell Participates in Panel Discussion on Higher Education Following COVID-19
Mary Schmidt Campbell, Ph.D., president of Spelman, discussed how the coronavirus pandemic will affect the future of higher education during a panel discussion sponsored by Qatar Foundation. The discussion was organized in response to a research report titled "New schools of thought: Innovative models for delivering higher education," commissioned by the Qatar Foundation and produced by the Economist Intelligence Unit. According to the report, students will have the power to bankrupt universities that do not meet their expectations. The research outlines how higher education institutions must adapt to survive as they face dwindling public funding, questions over their value and the challenges that technology and automation pose. "Academic partnerships are extremely important in days like this," said Dr. Campbell. "Everyone benefits from collaboration, but it going to take a very different mindset than the one we have now. If we fall back into marketing and competition mode, we are not going to get anywhere."

Community Service at the Core of 2020-2021 Miss Spelman’s Platform

Morgan Symone Staten, C’2021, has been crowned Miss Spelman 2020-2021. The Atlanta native is an English major, with a minor in film & visual culture. Community service has been an integral component to Staten since she was a child. Once she arrived at Spelman, she immediately found ways to be involved. As a Bonner Scholar, she currently serves as the community impact intern at Booker T. Washington and Carver High Schools where she leads B-Connected, an all-girls mentoring program. In addition to her leadership roles, which include serving as publicity chair for Gifted Girls of Grace Inc., she spent part of her time at Spelman studying abroad in Chile. After graduation Staten plans to earn a graduate degree before pursing a career in entertainment publicity.

Atlanta School Board Names Spelman Alumna Superintendent
The Atlanta school board has announced Lisa Herring, Ph.D., C’94, as its pick to be the next superintendent. The announcement was made Tuesday, April 21. Currently in her third year as superintendent of the Birmingham City School District, in Alabama, Dr. Herring has more than 25 years of experience in education. In Birmingham, Dr. Herring led the district through a significant transformation by stabilizing leadership, improving system performance and increasing overall student achievement. During her tenure, the school district received its first award of full accreditation following a state takeover. Prior to Birmingham, Dr. Herring served as chief academic officer for Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville, KY, as well as deputy superintendent of Academics for the Charleston County, SC School District.