The ambitious fundraising campaign entitled Spelman Ascends was launched four years ago.
What We Know:
- Spelman President Dr. Mary Schmidt Campbell announced they had reached 96% of their $250 million goal, scheduled to end in 2024. The program is aimed to provide resources that help increase financial aid, endow faculty professorships and fund a technology infrastructure transformation. The campaign also looks to install a new building on campus called the Center for Innovation & the Arts. According to Spelman in a press release, the new building will house programs in the arts, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
“We’re about $30 million short on our new building, but we will get there,” stated Dr. Campbell.
- Hundreds of donators have contributed to the campaign, including Spelman alumni, who have made almost $17.5 million in commitments to cover scholarships that honor notable school graduates.
- Spelman was founded in 1881 and, according to U.S News and World Report, has been the number one historically black college or university for the past 14 years. Additionally, Spelman is currently the leading producer of Black women who complete doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math.
- Rosalind Brewer is an alumnus of Spelman and is currently the chair of Spelman College Board of Trustees. On March 15th, Brewer is slated to become the CEO of Walgreens and is the only black woman CEO of a Fortune 500 company. Brewer is just one of many alumni who have contributed to the goal Spelman is pushing for. Brewer graduated from Spelman in 1984 and was the CEO and Group President of the Starbucks Corporation until the announcement of her new Walgreens position.
- The main goal of Spelman Ascends is prioritizing innovative and pioneering academic programs. The initiative will support The Center for Black Entrepreneurship in a partnership with fellow HBCU Morehouse College and the Black Economic Alliance. Together, they are committed to building an Institute for the Study of Gender and Sexuality as well as The Atlanta University Center for Art History.
Contributions to Spelman Ascends continue to add up, providing a good public head start to the college’s ambitious goals.
