Spelman College Appoints Dr. Ayanna Howard, Renowned Roboticist, Higher Education Leader, its 12th PresidentNationally recognized AI pioneer, former NASA engineer selected to lead nation’s top-ranked HBCU into next chapter of excellence and impact
Spelman College Chief Financial Officer Dawn Alston Named Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 2026 CFO of the YearATLANTA, May 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Spelman College announced today that Chief Financial Officer Dawn Alston has been named the 2026 CFO of the Year in the Nonprofit, Government, and Education sector by the Atlanta Business Chronicle. The prestigious award celebrates Alston’s brilliant financial leadership, unwavering integrity, and profound dedication to the sustainability and growth of the historic institution. Alston was recognized as a finalist in last year’s awards before capturing the top honor this year.
Crawford Family Makes Transformational $2 Million Gift to Expand Opportunity for Spelman and Morehouse StudentsAtlanta, April 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (ATLANTA, April 21, 2026) — Rooted in a multigenerational legacy of service, education, and giving back, the Crawford family has made a transformational $2 million gift to Spelman College and Morehouse College, with more than $1 million designated for Spelman—including Spelman Strong, the College’s unrestricted annual fund, and its general endowment.
Spelman College Student Awarded 2026-2027 Schwarzman ScholarshipStudent Ava Noelle Johnson Selected from Record-High Applicant Pool
Spelman College Receives $38 Million Unrestricted Gift from Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott to Expand Student Access and Advance TechnologyGift marks the second direct contribution from Scott to Spelman and will support student access and affordability, as well as technology and academic innovation
Spelman College Professor Secures $483,620 NIH Grant to Transform Genomic Data Science EducationNew Curriculum Addresses Critical Shortage of Biomedical Data Scientists While Positioning HBCU Students at Forefront of Precision Medicine Revolution.
Spelman College Forges Technology Blueprint for an AI-Powered FutureATLANTA, Oct. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Spelman College, a global leader in the education of women of African descent, today announced that it will review and refine its comprehensive technology roadmap in collaboration with Accenture. This initiative represents a critical first step in Spelman’s institutional AI journey and is a cornerstone of the College’s broader strategic plan. It will advance Spelman’s infrastructure to deliver personalized, AI-enhanced learning experiences for students, streamline administrative work for faculty and staff, and position graduates to lead in an AI-driven global economy.Accenture will conduct a comprehensive review of Spelman’s technology strategy, focusing on five key areas:
Spelman College Receives $16 Million Gift from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation to Support Student ScholarshipsATLANTA, Oct. 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Spelman College is pleased to announce a $16.5 million gift from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation to expand student scholarship support. The funding is part of a broader $50 million, 10-year scholarship commitment from the Blank Foundation to support students at Spelman, Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, and Morris Brown College.
Spelman College Establishes Board-Level Committee to Lead AI Modernization and Champion Justice in TechnologyATLANTA, Oct. 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Spelman College, a global leader in the education of women of African descent, today announced the formation of the Advancing Artificial Intelligence (AI) Ad Hoc Committee of the Board of Trustees. This high-level committee is charged with integrating AI across campus academic and operational functions to further advance the mission of the College, ensuring its graduates are prepared to lead in a rapidly evolving, technology-driven world.
U.S. News & World Report Ranks Spelman College No. 1 HBCU for the 19th Consecutive YearATLANTA, Sept. 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Spelman College has been ranked No. 1 among the 2026 Best Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) by U.S. News & World Report. This year, Spelman was also ranked No. 2 on the list of Top Performers in Social Mobility and remains among the top 40 Best National Liberal Arts institutions at No. 37.
HBCU Game Jam Continues Goal to Break Barriers in Gaming IndustryWeekend-long, 24-Hour Hackathon Competition, Hosted by Spelman College, Planned Entirely by Students
Spelman College Welcomes Alumna LaTanya Richardson Jackson and Samuel L. Jackson for Dedication of Renovated Performing Arts Center and Mural UnveilingATLANTA, Oct. 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Homecoming at Spelman College was a star-studded affair as the College celebrated the official opening of the newly-renovated LaTanya Richardson Jackson and Samuel L. Jackson Performing Arts Center on Thursday, October 24. LaTanya, C’71, and Sam, Morehouse ’72, were joined by family, Hollywood A-listers and the Spelman community to dedicate the center and unveil a mural highlighting their lifetime of achievements in the arts.
Spelman College Ranked No. 1 HBCU for the 18th Consecutive Year by U.S. News & World ReportSpelman is also the top school for social mobility and among the top 40 liberal arts colleges in the nation
Spelman College Announces Angela Bassett as 137th Commencement SpeakerAward-winning actress to address graduating class of more than 500 students
Spelman College Receives Historic $100 Million DonationATLANTA, Jan. 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Spelman College is honored to announce a $100 million historic gift – the largest single donation ever to an HBCU. The donation is from businesswoman and philanthropist Ronda Stryker and her husband William Johnston, Chairman of Greenleaf Trust.
