Last week, more than 300 Spelman College faculty members convened at the College’s annual faculty institute, a place for faculty to connect with one another, foster collaboration across disciplines and discuss topics that will impact various aspects of higher education.
The event’s theme was Future Forward: Spelman’s Distinctive Contributions as a Liberal Arts Institution to our Region’s Economic Growth and Prosperity, with a specialized focus on the economic impact of Spelman College. This year, 303 full- and part-time faculty members attended, including 29 new full- and part-time members.
Spelman Provost Dr. Pamela Scott-Johnson, C’82, started the program by discussing Spelman’s positive economic impact on local and regional economies over the years. She then welcomed Chris Clark, CEO and president of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, and Dana Rickman, president of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education.
Clark and Rickman emphasized the importance of higher education on economic growth and keeping younger students engaged in their education. Clark shared research on the fastest growing industries over the next few years, including healthcare and skilled trade work. While he mentioned that not every profession will require a four-year degree, he stressed the importance of skills gained through disciplines in the liberal arts and humanities.
Afterward, Spelman President Helene D. Gayle engaged in a critical conversation with Chris Womack, president and CEO of Southern Company, about aligning academics to economic and industry progress. The two leaders discussed the many ways educators can set students up for success, including equipping them with the skills necessary to prosper in the workforce following graduation.
Spelman welcomed many speakers over the course of the day for engaging discussions, including Lilian Coral, vice president of technology and democracy programs and head of the open technology institute at New America; Fatimot Ladipo, associate vice president of government and community relations at Spelman; Kelly Beaty English, founder and president of The Girl Power Agency; and Danica Thompson, vice president of state governmental relations for McGuireWoods Consulting LLC. The speakers engaged in a panel where they discussed how Spelman could enhance its visibility through effective advocacy and strategic messaging.
The faculty institute ended with the first faculty meeting of the year, led by Dr. Danielle Dickens, C’2009, president of Spelman’s faculty council.