Spelman College Names Helene Gayle, MD, Globally Recognized Public Health Leader, its 11th President

Helene Gayle, MD
Helene Gayle, MD

 Spelman College Names Helene Gayle, MD, Globally Recognized Public Health Leader, its 11th President

ATLANTA PRNewswire -- The Spelman College Board of Trustees unanimously voted to appoint Helene Gayle, MD its 11th president. Spelman College has a long, proud history of excellence and global leadership in the education of women of African descent and is committed to addressing racial inequities in education ensuring equitable opportunities for students of all economic backgrounds. Dr. Gayle’s presidency will begin on July 1.

Dr. Gayle currently serves as president and CEO of The Chicago Community Trust, one of the nation’s oldest and largest
community foundations. Under her leadership, the Trust grew
its assets from roughly $2.8B to $4.7 billion and adopted a
strategic plan aimed at closing the racial and ethnic wealth
gap. A public health leader and humanitarian, Dr. Gayle spent
nearly a decade as president and CEO of Atlanta-based CARE,
one of the largest international humanitarian organizations,
with approximately 11,000 staff and poverty fighting programs
that reached 82 million people in 2010 in 87 countries. Under
Dr. Gayle’s leadership, CARE reinforced its commitment to
empowering girls and women to bring lasting change to communities living in poverty.

“Our success for more than a century and a half has been built by
an engaged student body and alumnae, committed faculty and staff, and a history of exemplary presidents, “said Rosalind G. Brewer, Board  Chair of Spelman College. “I’m excited
about Dr. Gayle’s appointment and confident that her demonstrated ability to address complex issues in communities of color many of which involve the strength of Black females
and her success factors, coupled with her commitment to equity, will further build on Spelman’s legacy and propel the College into the future.”

In the months-long search, the Presidential Search
Committee sought a leader who embodies the Spelman
mission of academic excellence and global leadership,
and whose experience and expertise would build on the
College’s momentum in key areas, including affordability,
entrepreneurship and innovation, and the Arts. In
considering the Search Committee’s recommendation,
the Board of Trustees considered key priorities for Spelman’s
11th president, some of which included increasing
or improving the student experience, such as safety
and housing, building on Spelman’s fiscal strength and
maintaining the college’s attraction to diverse and talented
students, faculty and staff.

“I am honored and look forward to being a part of a long, proud legacy committed to the education of women of African descent.
This is a moment where HBCUs are once again being recognized for the importance that they bring to every sector of this country,” said Dr. Gayle. “Spelman has a strong history of changing lives for people who will change lives. The idea of giving back to generations of students through cutting-edge academic programs and facilities, increasing college affordability, raising financial aid support and increasing the endowment, and developing new career pathways and opportunities is what invigorates and excites me about this new role.”

As Spelman’s 11th president, Dr. Gayle will assume the
presidency at a time when the college is thriving. Spelman
was named U.S. News and World Report’s #1 Historically
Black College or University for 15 years in a row in 2022, the National Science Foundation’s #1 baccalaureate
institution of Black or African American science and engineering
doctorate recipients and is a top producer of Fulbright Scholars.

Dr. Gayle is an epidemiologist who also spent 20 years at the Centers for Disease Control, working primarily on HIV/AIDS and at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation with a focus on global public health.

Dr. Gayle holds a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, in Psychology from
Barnard College -Columbia University a M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and a M.P.H. from Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health. Dr. Gayle serves on several public and nonprofit boards, including The Coca-Cola Company, Organon & Co a women’s health care company, Palo Alto Networks a cybersecurity company, and
the Brookings Institution. She is a member of the National
Academy of Medicine and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

To learn more, please visit spelman.edu and @spelmancollege
on social media.

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