Spelman College announced Friday that President Dr. Helene D. Gayle is taking an immediate personal leave of absence from the nation’s leading historically Black college for women. No specific reasons were provided for her departure.
Dr. Gayle took office as Spelman College’s 11th president in July 2022. She made history as the first medical doctor to lead the institution in its 143-year history. Before her appointment, she had a distinguished career in public health, serving as CEO of CARE USA and playing a critical role in the federal government’s COVID-19 vaccine outreach efforts.
Under her leadership, Spelman maintained its prestigious ranking as the top historically Black college or university, as acknowledged by U.S. News & World Report for 18 consecutive years.
Rosalind “Roz” Brewer Steps In As Interim President
In the interim, Rosalind “Roz” Brewer, the former chair of the college’s Board of Trustees and a recent limited partner with the Atlanta Falcons, will assume day-to-day responsibilities as interim president. Brewer, a 1984 Spelman graduate, is well-known for her leadership skills, having served on the board for 17 years, including 12 years as chair. During her tenure, she oversaw two of the most successful fundraising campaigns in the institution’s history.
Lovette T. Russell, chair of the Spelman Board of Trustees, addressed the community in a letter, affirming the board’s commitment to maintaining continuity during this transition. “We deeply value your continued support and will provide any pertinent updates as they become available,” Russell wrote.
A subsequent statement from the college emphasized its commitment to operational stability, stating. “Our utmost priority remains the well-being of everyone in our community, as we strive to cultivate confident, responsible, and accountable students committed to personal development and success,” the statement read.
Brewer expressed her commitment to guiding Spelman through this transition. “Through this transition, my focus is on guiding Spelman forward by supporting leadership, maintaining stability, and ensuring we continue to meet the needs of our students,” she stated. Her extensive background in corporate leadership, including her roles as COO of Starbucks and president and CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance, positions her well to manage the college during this time.
As the Spelman community adjusts to this unexpected change, respect for Dr. Gayle’s privacy has been urged while confidence in the college’s ongoing operations.
This article is based on information from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
