Spelman College: 136 Years of Leadership

When one thinks of how Spelman develops black women leaders we immediately envision the hundreds of fresh(wo)men who enter the prestigious college’s gates on the early August date. These young ladies represent the beginning. They are the blank chalkboards ready and willing to be filled with words and numbers by Spelman College. While these young women represent various  backgrounds and experiences, they all share the common goal of wanting achievement at any cost. 

Spelman begins its leadership development ‘boot camp’ with these young ladies the first day they move into their dorms. On this day the women are introduced to their sisters, say goodbye to their parents and begin their several day New Student Orientation process. Over the course of these days first year students are expected to complete several tasks ranging from creating their class schedule, attending meetings and taking placement exams. 

Spelman tests first year’s leadership these first few days by giving these new students tasks to complete, limited surveillance and a lot of flexibility as to how and when they complete these tasks. By operating in this fashion students have to guide themselves and consult with their sisters as to how they are completing tasks. This allows for first year students to begin to form those valuable connections and bonds while also forcing them to learn how to make strategic decisions. 

Personally, my Spelman induced leadership development began far before the first day of new student orientation. My development began the day I received my acceptance letter on December 24, 2013. The day was partially spent traditionally in excitement at being accepted to my number one college choice, and on the down side spent in discontent because I did not receive a scholarship. Since I did not receive aid from Spelman along with the acceptance letter, my excitement was short lived. After receiving the acceptance in the mail I immediately drove to my mother’s job. My mother was so joyous she took the rest of her work day off and we went to lunch. While we both were excited about and grateful for the acceptance we both knew what was next. 

While sitting at the mahogany brown table at Cheddar’s Casual Café my mom tapped her foot anxiously while playing with the straw in her sweet tea. After so long she swallowed and looked to me with tears in her eyes. “I am so proud of you,” she began with a sob struggling to escape her mouth. “You did something no one in this family has been able to do; you’re living my dream. I’m proud of you but how are you going to pay for this school?” she asked somberly. 

At this very moment my leadership development began. By not giving me a scholarship Spelman forced me outside of my comfort zone and inspired me to think outside of the box. Being from an extremely low income single parent household, I knew this burden was my own to carry. The next day I began scholarship searching. Over the spring semester of my senior year of high school I completed, at the least, 100 scholarships ranging from need to merit based. When I was not applying for scholarships I was making phone calls to potential donors. Also I knew that no matter what I was attending a college or university that coming fall and needed to have other options just in case Spelman became unrealistic. 

Every good leader needs to have experienced and know perseverance. Spelman continuously teaches students perseverance by placing us in situation where we have to make important decisions on our own and choose to either sink and give up or swim and create a way for us to persevere and excel. 

The hunger and need to persevere is something instilled in every Spelmanite. 

Spelman develops African American women leaders by reiterating the notion that our work as black women in general is never complete and as Spelman women it is our responsibility to push forward in all aspects of our life to ensure that we leave a mark on and change the world. Spelman helps shape and develop their students into influential leaders, but Spelman also develops all African American women the institution has contact with. 

Spelman College’s President is viewed, by the students, faculty and outside viewers, as being a reflection of Spelman. Whomever adorns the name and title of President is expected to be a representative for the student’s needs, both those expressed and unknown, a representation of the institution’s mission and also an advocator for any and all communities where black women are incapable of advocating for themselves. Dr. Mary Schmidt Campbell has proven to be dedicated to accomplishing all of these things.

After undergoing several interview processes, Dr. Campbell was installed as the 10th president of Spelman College last Spring. Although Dr. Campbell did not attend Spelman for her undergraduate education, she has learned the ways of the Spelmanite and it shined so that she was bestowed as an honorary Spelman sister and the President. 

​While every President has their particular initiatives and programs they intend to begin while proceeding over Spelman, Dr. Campbell’s leadership inspires her to go beyond the inside of Spelman and outside to the community that houses Spelman. In an Atlanta Journal Constitution article written by Sheila Poole Dr. Campbell speaks on her vision of Spelman and the community. 

“I’d like to see Spelman and other schools in the Atlanta University Center become active members in the revitalization of this neighborhood,” she said. “We should be able to walk out the gates of Spelman and see a tech center and a cafe. The Beltline should come by here and there should be green space … I’d like to figure out how we can partner with our community residents to bring this neighborhood back to life again” concluded Dr. Campbell. 

​Over the course of the interview, Dr. Campbell goes on to speak on her goals for Spelman as they relate to retention and graduation rates, how she intends to raise revenue for Spelman, and also how she intends to improve the quality of education that Spelman provides. Dr. Campbell’s devotion to ensuring that both the Spelman and West End communities thrive can be accredited to the impact students and faculty had on her over the course of the nine months she spent in Atlanta observing the institution. 

The Spelman mission can be interpreted in many ways, but it always relates to the fact that the institution, the experiences it provides and the students representing the college all play major roles in the development of the future African American woman leaders of tomorrow. For Dr. Campbell, Spelman, it’s environment and the students were able to further develop her as a leader by inspiring her to be a ‘free-thinking Spelman woman’ and lead not only the Spelman community but also the West End Community. 

For 136 years Spelman College has been developing and producing women of the highest and most esteemed caliber. Thank you Harriet E. Giles and Sophia B. Packard for giving us clarity, defined purpose, sisterhood, and a commitment to service. Without you we there would be no us. t

Spelman Hymn

Spelman, thy name we praise 

Standards and honor raise 

We’ll ever faithful be

  Throughout eternity 

May peace with thee abide 

And God forever guide 

Thy heights supreme and true 

Blessings to you. 

Through years of toil and pain

  May thy dear walls remain 

Beacons of heavenly light,  Undaunted by the fight 

And when life’s race is won,  Thy noble work is done 

Oh, God forever bind 

Our hearts to thine 

Words and music by Eddye Mae Money, C’1934

• Black
• founder's day
• girl
• leadership
• Magic
• spelman