Before she became a globally renowned scholar of womanist thought . . .
Before she led one of the most prestigious research centers in the world . . .
Before she was named the president of the University of Liberia . . .
Dr. Layli Maparyan was a Spelman woman.
Fortunately, like thousands of Spelmanites before her, Layli Maparyan, Ph.D., C'86, left the gates of 350 Spelman Lane knowing one truth: "I can do anything. And now, I must go and do it."
In a historic appointment, Layli Maparyan, Ph.D., C'86, a distinguished scholar, global thought leader and changemaker, assumed the role of 16th president of the University of Liberia in January 2025, becoming only the third woman to lead the institution in its 163-year history. Known for her groundbreaking work in womanist thought, her deep commitment to social justice, and her unique expertise in psychology and Africana studies, Dr. Maparyan is poised to guide Liberia's flagship university into a new era of excellence, equity and empowerment.
Spelman Roots: Where Confidence and Purpose Were Born
Reflecting on her formative years at Spelman, Dr. Maparyan describes her experience as transformative, crediting the College with instilling in her a profound sense of indomitability and purpose.
“Spelman is a school that makes it possible for women to believe they can do anything. That’s one of my big takeaways from my Spelman experience. I came out with this feeling of being indominable.”
That sense of empowerment, she explained, was deeply shaped by the legacy of Spelman women who played pivotal roles in the Civil Rights Movement, including her own mother and aunt, Mary Worthy and Louise Worthy, who were Spelman students in the early 1960s and participated in marches and sit-ins that defined the era.
“My mom took a philosophy class with Martin Luther King Jr. at Morehouse,” she recalls. “She was a philosophy major and did some graduate work in philosophy when I was a kid, so I grew up surrounded by those discussions.” This exposure sparked Dr. Maparyan’s passion for philosophy, leading her to explore the big questions of human existence.
At Spelman, Dr. Maparyan was mentored by trailblazing scholars like Dr. Beverly Guy-Sheftall and Dr. Barbara Carter, whose influence helped shape her academic path. A pivotal moment that altered the course of her future occurred when Dean Carter secretly applied for a Ford Foundation predoctoral fellowship on her behalf.
“I didn’t even know until they called to tell me I was an alternate. A month later, they called again to say I had the spot. I had to find a graduate school in two minutes!” she laughed.
That opportunity launched Dr. Maparyan into graduate studies, where she expanded her research in psychology, philosophy and Africana studies. One of her most transformative courses at Spelman, African Art with Dr. Janelse Holloway, opened her perspective to the richness of the African diaspora. "The first part of the course wasn't about art — it was about African studies, and we dove deep into Afrocentric texts. It changed how I saw the world," Dr. Maparyan explained.
Her studies in psychology also deepened her understanding of human growth and resilience. “Human beings are always evolving and growing, reaching toward their higher selves. But sometimes, circumstances prevent that growth. I learned that both internal and external forces shape who we become.”
Guided by her faith as a member of the Bahá’í community, Dr. Maparyan embraces the belief that education unlocks the inherent potential within every person.
“There’s a notion that guides our faith that says, ‘Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom.' Education brings out those gems within us and enables us to contribute to society," said Dr. Maparyan.
When asked her reaction the moment she learned she was selected to take the helm of the University of Liberia, Dr. Maparyan said the dominant thought running through her head was, "This is dream come true. I am a person who likes to have a task, a puzzle, a challenge. I like to have something where I genuinely think I’m going to make a difference and I genuinely think I’m going to make a difference for people at the University of Liberia."
"It is really important to me to see the bright students in Liberia have a university that can put them in the international job market. I said to myself, 'they deserve to have that. How can I come in and try to help with that?' I really care about making things better for the youth of Liberia."
Dr. Maparyan's background in adolescent psychology has also shaped her approach to empowering students.
“Young people are just waiting for an opportunity to use their talents and grow. My job is to create those opportunities and remove the barriers that hold them back," said Dr. Maparyan.
"Liberia is one of the counties that has a youth bulge with 65% to 75% of the population is under the age of 35. Those young people need the things that will help the country develop. Most of the young people either grew up during or after the war so they haven’t known the Liberia from before the war when things were organized and still intact," she added.
"They’ve known the post-conflict Liberia. I want to make sure they can turn to a vision of things being right in their own country, not feeling like they have to look to other countries to get that greatness."
The Power of Womanist Thought
Dr. Maparyan, who was the Katherine Stone Kaufmann ’67 executive director of the Wellesley Centers for Women, from 2012 to 2025, is internationally recognized as one of the foremost scholars of womanist theory. She brings this philosophy to her presidency, using it as a guiding framework to address gender equity, institutional transparency, and student empowerment at the University of Liberia. Her scholarship on womanism has been published in over 60 countries and translated into multiple languages, and she is the author of three texts in the field of womanist studies, The Womanist Reader (Routledge, 2006), The Womanist Idea (Routledge, 2012), and Womanism Rising (University of Illinois Press, 2025). She brings this philosophy to her presidency, using it as a guiding framework to address gender equity, institutional transparency, and student empowerment at the University of Liberia.
Building Bridges Between Spelman and Liberia
As the first Spelman alumna to lead a major African university, Dr. Maparyan sees Spelman and the University of Liberia as natural partners.
"Who would I be as a Spelman graduate and the president of the University of Liberia if I did not build bridges between these two institutions?” She envisions student and faculty exchanges, joint research initiatives, and collaborative innovation projects, particularly in areas where Spelman excels, such as robotics, STEM education, and women’s leadership.
Dr. Maparyan believes Spelman women can also come and help build the University of Liberia's innovation center, UniPod, which they launched in partnership with the United Nations Development Program. At the same time, University of Liberia students can gain exposure to Spelman’s world-class education and global network, she said.
Interestingly, Spelman students are no strangers to Liberia. Over the last seven years, 33 Spelmanites, in partnership with Spelman's Gordon-Zeto Center for Global Education, have traveled to Liberia through Planting A Seed International (PASI), a service learning organization co-founded by Morehouse alum Matthew S. Wulukau Jr. Spelman alumna Symone Thompson, MPH, C'2019, a graduate student at Howard University's School of Dentistry, recently traveled to Liberia with PASI and participated in a hands-on service project where she shadowed hygienists and dentists at ELWA Hospital.
Leading with the "Five E's"
Recently, during a series of events in Atlanta hosted the University Consortium for Liberia (UCL), Dr. Maparyan outlined her Five E’s framework for leading the University of Liberia:
Education
Effectiveness
Efficiency
Excellence
Ethics
Her goal is to restore the University of Liberia to its former glory, which was disrupted by Liberia’s brutal civil war between 1989 and 2003. During that period, the University was used as a military base, leading to the loss of faculty and resources.
“Liberia is rich in both natural and human resources. My goal is to unlock the full potential of our students and faculty while ensuring transparency and accountability at every level,” said Dr. Maparyan.
Centering Gender Equity and Social Justice
One of her top priorities is to increase gender parity within the student body and faculty, where men currently far outnumber women.
"I want to strengthen the policies that relate to gender and also disability at the University -- specifically policies that address sexual harassment or gender-based violence. As well as policies that relate to selection processes to make sure they are equal for women and men," she asserted. Another priority all too familiar to higher education leaders in fundraising. Dr. Maparyan has a great deal of fundraising experience from her career positions and board work and she intends to bring all of that into service in her new role.
"People in Liberia are accustomed to the government funding the institution, but the University of Liberia needs more money than the government can provide by itself. So fundraising is a major goal for me as are partnerships with other institutions and other entities that can help us achieve. Securing outside money is something I’ll bring in — not just the money — the people, the partnerships, the passion. All those things are equally important to help us grow."
A Vision for Global Impact
Dr. Maparyan’s presidency comes at a critical time for Liberia, as the nation grapples with economic challenges, limited resources, and the need for educational reform. Yet, she remains optimistic, viewing her role as both a spiritual calling and a social justice and professional mission.
“Leadership is about helping people and society become their best selves. For me, that means integrating the spiritual evolution of individuals with the social evolution of a nation.”
"Ten years from now, I think the University of Liberia will have reclaimed its place in the international community of higher education institutions. It’s going to produce graduates, who not only serve National development, very ably; but also graduates who can go anywhere in the world to study, and take positions anywhere in the world. It will also produce graduates who love Liberia enough to stay and benefit their country and not just leave."