Johnnetta Betsch Cole, distinguished as the former president of two Historically Black women’s colleges (Bennett College and Spelman College) assumes the role of president-in-residence and co-chairperson for the capital campaign at the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). Dr. Cole’s primary objective in this capacity is to secure essential resources such as scholarships, support services, and innovative programs for the member institutions affiliated with the UNCF.
Dr. Michael L. Lomax, the President and CEO of the United Negro College Fund, expresses confidence in Dr. Cole’s substantial expertise and fervor for education. He anticipates her playing a crucial role in advancing the goals of the capital campaign and furthering UNCF’s mission of ensuring equitable access to higher education for underrepresented students of color.
Boasting an extensive background in higher education, Dr. Cole brings a wealth of experience from both administrative and faculty leadership roles. In the early stages of her academic career, she served as a distinguished professor of anthropology at Washington State University, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Hunter College in New York. Notably, she also held the position of director of the Latin American and Caribbean Studies program at Hunter College.
In 1987, Dr. Cole made history as the first Black woman to assume the presidency of Spelman College, a historically Black women’s college in Atlanta, Georgia. During her tenure, Spelman College received a groundbreaking $37 million grant from the DeWitt Wallace/Readers Digest Fund, the largest gift ever bestowed upon a historically Black college or university at that time. Additionally, she led a successful campaign that raised $113 million for the college’s endowment. After a decade at Spelman College, Dr. Cole transitioned to Emory University in Atlanta, where she served as the Presidential Distinguished Professor of Anthropology, Women’s Studies, and African-American Studies.
Her remarkable leadership continued at Bennett College, a historically Black women’s college in North Carolina, where she served as president from 2002 to 2007. During her tenure, she spearheaded a noteworthy $50 million fundraising campaign. In 2009, Dr. Cole assumed the role of director at the Smithsonian Institute’s National Museum of African Art.
Dr. Cole’s commitment to service extends beyond academia, as she has served on numerous boards of directors for charitable funds, educational institutes, and private-sector businesses. Notably, she was the first woman elected to the board of Coca-Cola Enterprises and the first African American chair of the board for the United Way of America. Furthermore, she served as chair and president of the National Council of Negro Women.
Recognized for her outstanding contributions to academia and scholarly achievements, Dr. Cole has received numerous awards throughout her illustrious career. Among them is the 2023 National Humanities Medal, presented by President Joe Biden, underscoring her enduring impact on the academic landscape.