On August 1, 2015, Mary Schmidt Campbell begins service as Spelman College’s 10th president.
On August 1, 2015, Mary Schmidt Campbell began her tenure as the 10th president of Spelman College.[2] An accomplished arts administrator and scholar, Campbell had previously served as dean of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and as commissioner of New York City’s Department of Cultural Affairs.
Her arrival at Spelman marked a new phase in the college’s leadership, emphasizing the arts, global engagement, and innovation in liberal arts education. During her presidency, Spelman continued to rise in national rankings, expanded programs in STEM and the humanities, and strengthened its profile as a leading historically Black college for women.[2][5]
In the broader landscape of women’s history and higher education, Campbell’s presidency underscored the prominence of women of color in directing major institutions, particularly in the arts and cultural sectors. Her leadership at Spelman demonstrated how a women’s college could integrate artistic excellence with rigorous academic training and social responsibility.[3][5]
The start of her tenure on August 1, 2015, is therefore a notable institutional milestone, marking continuity with Spelman’s long tradition of women’s leadership while also bringing new perspectives shaped by decades of work in public arts and university administration.