Spelman College, a historically Black women's college in Atlanta, announced that its president, Dr. Helene Gayle, will not be returning from her leave of absence and is stepping down permanently. The college, with over 3,000 students, did not provide reasons for Gayle's departure.
The board of trustees is currently working on a plan to select the next president of the college. In the interim, Rosalind “Roz” Brewer, a former chair of the board of trustees and part-owner of the Atlanta Falcons football team, will continue to serve as the interim president.
In a video announcement, Brewer expressed gratitude to Dr. Gayle for her service and excitement to continue leading the institution. Gayle, who took over as president in 2022 following the retirement of Mary Schmidt Campbell, thanked the Spelman community for the opportunity to serve and interact with the students.
Prior to her role at Spelman, Gayle served as president of the Chicago Community Trust and has a background in epidemiology, particularly in the fight against AIDS and HIV. Brewer, with a strong history of leadership at Spelman, previously held executive positions at Walgreens Boots Alliance, Starbucks, and Sam's Club.
Spelman College is part of the Atlanta University Center, a consortium of four historically Black schools. The college has a rich history of producing future leaders and has seen successful fundraising campaigns under Brewer's leadership.
