Dec 14: Spelman Remembers Dr. Jane E. Smith, C'68

Spelman Remembers Dr. Jane E. Smith, C'68

The Spelman College community celebrates the life and legacy of Jane E. Smith, Ed.D., C'68, who passed away after a brief battle with cancer on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020.

Dr. Smith served as the executive director of the Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement beginning in 2004. In August 2015, she was appointed vice president for College Relations and remained in that role until her retirement in 2019.

Spelman President Mary Schmidt Campbell, Ph.D., reflected on what Dr. Smith meant to Spelman in a letter to the community on Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020.

"When I first came to Spelman, Jane invited me to the groundbreaking of the new Friendship Baptist Church," Dr. Campbell wrote. "That day, I knew that I was in the company of an exceptional Black woman."

In lieu of flowers, her sons, Clinton and Chad Browning, are asking that donations be made in Dr. Smith's name to establish an endowed scholarship in her honor. The College has also created an online tribute where members of the Spelman community can leave reflections.

Sotheby’s Institute of Art and Spelman Partner to Help Shape Future Art Professionals

Spelman and Sotheby’s Institute of Art, New York have formed an innovative academic partnership designed to increase access to art market education for Atlanta University Center Art History + Curatorial Studies Collective undergraduate students.

Through the new partnership, SIA will launch the SIA+Spelman Collective Futures Scholarship, an educational initiative designed to expand postgraduate pathways in the visual arts by providing scholarships to attend an SIA master’s degree program.

"This partnership provides an exciting opportunity for our inaugural graduating class of art history and curatorial studies students, while leading the charge to transform the art industry through sustainable educational pathways," said Cheryl Finley, Ph.D., director of the AUC Art History + Curatorial Studies Collective and distinguished visiting professor in the Department of Art and Visual Studies at Spelman. "We’re delighted to join Sotheby’s Institute of Art, New York, a global pioneer of art business education, in this cutting-edge collaboration."

The partnership will include a lecture series covering a range of topics from art and art markets of the African diaspora to art valuation, law and careers. In addition, an annual symposium will offer long-term networking, mentorship and career development opportunities.

Drs. Tasha Inniss and Kimberly Weems, C'93, Honored for History -Making Achievements

Twenty years ago, Tasha R. Inniss, Ph.D., associate provost for research in the Office of Academic Affairs at Spelman, and Kimberly S. Weems, Ph.D., C’93, made history when they, along with Sherry E. Scott, Ph.D., became the first African American women to earn mathematics Ph.D.s from the University of Maryland – College Park.

During their tenure at UMD, only 12 math Ph.D.s were awarded to African Americans in the United States.

In recognition of their achievements, the American Mathematical Society and the National Association of Mathematicians will host "Moving Mathematics Forward: Twenty years since the Historic Graduation of Drs. Inniss, Scott and Weems." The 45-minute panel discussion will stream on Zoom at 4 p.m., EST, Monday, Dec. 21, 2020, and be moderated by their mentor Raymond L. Johnson, Ph.D., former chair of the mathematics department at UMD.

Prior to returning back to Spelman, Dr. Inniss served as the acting deputy division director of the Division of Human Resource Development in the Directorate for Education and Human Resources at the National Science Foundation. A graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana, she received a master’s degree in applied mathematics from the Georgia Institute of Technology. She is a tenured associate professor of mathematics at Spelman.

Inspired by her mother who taught middle school science and mathematics in the Georgia public school system, Weems developed an early interest in math. She is currently an associate professor of mathematics at North Carolina Central University, where her research interests include statistical models for count data.

Morehouse School of Medicine Partners With UnitedHealth Group To Offer Free COVID-19 Testing

Morehouse School of Medicine has teamed up with UnitedHealth Group, parent company of UnitedHealthcare, to offer free COVID-19 testing to address the needs of vulnerable communities, especially minorities in Atlanta, who have been disproportionately impacted by the virus.

"We are pleased to partner with UnitedHealth Group to bring these invaluable, lifesaving services to our neighborhood and community," said MSM Chief Administrative Officer and Chief of Staff Monique Guillory, Ph.D. "It has been a tremendous asset to provide testing for MSM students and employees, but it is a true realization of our mission to provide COVID-19 testing and these additional services to the West End neighborhood."

In addition to non-invasive nasal swab testing, wraparound services will be provided to those getting tested, including free flu shots, food bags courtesy of Eat Right Atlanta, educational resources and information on other social services.

Testing is walk-up service only and available at MSM for all individuals regardless of their insurance provider or status. The testing site will be available from 5-9 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays until Dec. 29. The testing center will be closed Dec. 24-25.

The Spelman College Glee Club Hosts Holidays @ Home

The Spelman College Glee Club is hosting several virtual events leading up to the 94th Annual Spelman-Morehouse Christmas Carol concert.

Holidays @ Home: Christmas Carol Week began Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020, and will run through Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020.

The virtual events are designed to carry on the magical traditions of Spelman during the holidays, while also ensuring that members of the community remain safe during the coronavirus pandemic.

On Monday, Dec. 14, at 5 p.m., the Glee Club hosted From Age to Age More Glorious: The Evolution of Christmas Carol. During the event an intergenerational panel of glee club alumnae reflected on the concert tradition and how the annual event has evolved.

The week will conclude with the first ever virtual Christmas Carol Concert on Wednesday, Dec. 16, at 7:30 p.m., via Spelman.edu and the College's Facebook page. The one-hour presentation will include footage from previous in-person performances recorded in Sisters and King Chapels, and virtual choir performances.

Spelman Alumna Plays Important Role in NBA COVID-19 Bubble

When Bria Townsend, C’2018, signed on to be part of the NBA’s prestigious associate program, she never imagined that two years later she would be helping players and staff stay healthy and safe during a global pandemic.

The former economics major spent more than two months assisting with COVID-19 tracing during the NBA bubble.

"For 66 days, I worked with health and safety compliance to enforce all health and safety protocol in the bubble campus," said Townsend.

While in the associates program, Townsend rotated throughout the organization, from tech and innovation to basketball strategy analytics.

Long term, she hopes to one day be a team president in the National Football League or NBA.

"I used everything Spelman instilled in me to go after what I wanted, which is a career in sports," she said, adding her advice to current and future Spelman students. "Don’t be afraid to network on LinkedIn and with other Spelman sisters who are in sports. We exist."