November 12 : Spelman College Receives Grant to Establish Center to Train Next Generation of Leaders in Intelligence, International Strategic Affairs

Spelman College has been awarded a $2.5 million grant from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) to establish the Spelman Strategic and Security Studies Center. The Center will serve as an advanced educational hub specializing in training women of color to be the next generation of international strategic affairs and intelligence community leaders.

The five-year grant is awarded under ODNI’s Intelligence Community Centers for Academic Excellence, which aims to enhance the strategic priorities of the United States through education and development. It will fund study abroad opportunities, critical languages study and student scholarships for a proposed new minor in international strategic studies.

Learn more now.

Spelman College’s Wellness Center recently hosted an exhibition event for the inaugural Jaguars Swim Club. As a part of the aquatics program under Wellness, the club is the first-ever all-women’s swimming club at an HBCU. This historic program is led by Adrienne Wesley, Spelman’s new Aquatics Director and head coach of the club.

The exhibition consisted of 14 club members, including both students and staff members, competing in various individual and relay events. Swimmers competed in individual medley, butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle events at distances ranging from 25 to 100 yards, as well as 4 x 50 yards relay events.

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Mark your calendars! The Center for Black Entrepreneurship (CBE) is hosting The Black Entrepreneurship Research Symposium on Wednesday, November 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Morehouse College.

The Black Entrepreneurship Research Symposium will showcase cutting-edge research and groundbreaking insights into Black entrepreneurship from the inaugural cohort of CBE Research Fellows. The symposium will also offer a first look at the real world impact of the CBE’s innovative research partnership with the Black Wealth Data Center, powered by Bloomberg Philanthropies.

To attend, register today. Space is limited. For more information, contact events@blackeconomicalliance.org.

Need a passport? The AUC and the Atlanta Passport Agency are hosting AUC Passport Day on Wednesday, November 20, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Morehouse College's Kilgore Plaza and Atrium.

This event is open to attendees planning to apply for a passport or to renew a passport. The cost is $165 for adults, $135 for minors under age 16 and $130 for adults renewing an existing passport. No appointment is necessary, but attendees must have acceptable passport photos to apply.

Get more information now.

Well done, Dr. Togunde!

Dimeji Togunde, Ph.D., vice provost for global education and professor of international studies at Spelman, recently received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Institute for the International Education of Students (IES Abroad).

During his tenure at Spelman, Dr. Togunde has established 11 active Gordon-Zeto summer international programs across various countries. These programs are in collaboration with several international education organizations, including the Council on International Educational Exchange, the Institute for the International Education of Students (IES Abroad) and Cultural Experiences Abroad (CEA CAPA).

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Apply today! Applications are open for the 2025 A.T.I. Summer Leadership Training! This groundbreaking 8-week training program offers an unparalleled journey for scholars and sets a new standard for experiential learning.

Backed by the White House’s HBCU Initiative, A.T.I. is an immersive blend of professional development and hands-on experience, including a transformative week in the nation's capital, where participants will engage in the heart of American political and federal systems.

The program is open to students of all academic majors and includes a competitive stipend, housing in the Atlanta University Center (AUC), a meal plan and a fully funded trip to Washington D.C.

To apply, scholars must be a current Sophomore or Junior and maintain a GPA of 2.8 or higher.

The deadline for submission is Monday, December 16, 2024. 

Alumna Sharné C. Jackson, C'87, is a dynamic marketing maven who is using her executive experience and platform to recruit a new generation of diverse leaders in the fragrance industry.

As the first ever African American Executive Director of The Fragrance Foundation, which represents 150 companies, Jackson oversees education, special events and give-back for the fragrance industry’s premier organization, advancing excellence, innovation and diversity.

Learn more about Sharné and her work.