October 21, 2024 – The Spelman College Board of Trustees has announced that President Dr. Helene Gayle will be taking a personal leave of absence, effective immediately. Roz Brewer, a 1984 alumna and Chair Emerita of the college, has been appointed as the interim president.
In a statement released by the college, the Board emphasized the seamless transition:
On Friday, October 18, the Spelman College Board of Trustees announced that President Helene Gayle, M.D., MPH, will be taking a personal leave of absence effective immediately. In her absence, Roz Brewer, C’84, and Chair Emerita at Spelman College, has assumed day-to-day duties as Interim President, supported by our executive team. We assure the Spelman community that operations will continue smoothly in alignment with our core values of care, commitment, integrity, reliability, and trust. Our priority remains the well-being of our students as we cultivate confident, responsible, and accountable leaders.
Dr. Gayle, who began her role as Spelman’s 11th president on July 1, 2022, has had an impactful career in public health and humanitarian leadership.
Before leading Spelman, she served as President and CEO of The Chicago Community Trust, where her work focused on closing racial and ethnic wealth gaps in the Chicago region.
About Spelman College
Founded in 1881, Spelman College is a private liberal arts college dedicated to the education and empowerment of Black women. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, Spelman is renowned for its commitment to academic excellence, leadership development, and social justice. As one of the nation’s top Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Spelman has a long-standing legacy of producing trailblazers in various fields, including the arts, sciences, business, and public service.