Blair Martin
On September 22, 1983, Sisters Chapel was warmed not only by the glow of the welcoming September sun, but also by the authentic, indelible talent of a young Nikki Giovanni. Fresh off a promotional tour for Those Who Ride the Night Winds, the “Princess of Poetry” graced Spelman College’s campus and addressed its student body with an empowering message that encouraged them to exercise agency and prioritize vitality.
“It’s your life,” she said. “It’s important that you take control of it as much as you can and do something with it. It’s important that you find out that what you are capable of doing is far more than what, as yet, you envision.”
The chapel was filled with an impressed audience of Spelmanites—students hailing from different corners of the country, who would go on to become lawyers, doctors, educators, artists, and, notably, Spelman College’s interim president, Rosalind “Roz” Brewer (C’84).
“When Nikki Giovanni came to convocation, I remember being incredibly starstruck,” Brewer said. “My friends and I tried to engage in everything. If there was an event, we’d always go—either to meet somebody fantastic or because we wanted the free food.”
Brewer’s time at Spelman College was marked by a sense of playfulness and liberation unique to that era. The 1984 Reflections yearbook emphasizes: “Working together, we, the women of Spelman College, create an aura of distinction from which stems the SPIRIT of excellence. We are confident that we are the leaders of tomorrow; therefore, we strive to be the best.” Its photographs depict colorful clothes, toothy smiles, and a dynamic population of young women relishing an educational experience unlike any other.
“I stayed in Abby Hall, room 319. From there, I could see everyone moving around campus,” Brewer said. “We really had fun here. After dinner, we’d play games on The Oval and just enjoyed being silly.”
This campus culture cultivated a space where Brewer thrived as a beloved scholar within the chemistry department and as a member of the “Sweet” Mu Pi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Both spaces prioritize excellence and innovation in a way that is unique to Spelman and develop a sense of equanimity that extends far beyond its gates and can be applied to even the most challenging of circumstances.
A storm of stressful situations began to brew during Brewer’s sophomore spring in 1982. She was taking organic chemistry, advanced calculus, and physics at the same time, all while formally pursuing membership in the “Sweet” Mu Pi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. However, this storm became a hurricane once a family tragedy came to light—she learned that her father had been diagnosed with stage-four cancer.
“When I first came to Spelman, I felt a little selfish,” Brewer said. “I was loving it so much I didn’t go home. I didn’t call home as much. But that situation really made me remember my family.”
Six weeks before graduation, Brewer’s father ultimately passed away. In a situation where blanket sympathy was expected, Spelman College’s faculty met Brewer’s needs with pressure. Her professors forcefully encouraged her to stay on her destined track and continue to prioritize her studies.
“At that point, I had missed so much school that I felt like I couldn’t take any of my exams. However, Dr. Gilliard, Dr. Faulkner, and all of them rallied around me and put me in a room, and back-to-back, they drilled me,” Brewer said. “I really wanted them to just give me an A, but they insisted on me taking those tests—that’s what Spelman does. It loves you and it pushes you all at the same time.”
Oni Collier
Spelman College board members provide strategic leadership through their expertise in areas like finance, international affairs, philanthropy, and science. As trustees, they govern the institution, overseeing key functions such as presidential selection, educational and financial policy, and degree conferral. Their authority, defined by the bylaws, is focused on governance. Having recently served on Spelman’s board of trustees, Brewer found it deeply emotional to return to campus as interim president. Upon entering Spelman’s gates, she saw reflections of her younger self in the current students. This unique perspective, encompassing her experiences as a student, board member, and now interim president, evokes a range of emotions, yet ultimately brings her joy in her new role. The transition from student to trustee shifted her focus from “how can I be served, to how can I serve,” as Brewer stated. Now, as interim president, the question remains: how will Brewer guide the institution’s growth?
Ima Essien
In November of 2024, Rosalind “Roz” Brewer undertook the role of Interim President of Spelman College following the resignation of Spelman’s former President, Helene D. Gayle, Ph.D. As only the second alumna president, succeeding Audrey F. Manley C’55, Brewer ‘84 is committed to the growth of Spelman College, repaying the institution that aided her development into the woman she is today.
“The first day I came on campus in the Interim Role, it was sort of emotional for me.” Brewer said. “I came through the gate because I’ve been through this in so many different facets.”
While Brewer’s return to campus evoked memories of her time as both a student and Chair Emerita, to return as President came unexpectedly. She recalled the Board of Trustees calling her late one evening when she thought, “This was strange; I did not know what the intent was.” However, she adds, “The timing was great. Spelman has always been a priority for me. Nothing is more interesting and exciting than Spelman.”
Brewer’s commitment to uplifting the college’s legacy of producing black female leaders, such as herself, by leaving an indelible mark on the institution led her to accept the position of Interim President. As she embarks on a new journey of leadership in academia, Brewer is committed to revamping Spelman College’s scholarship. In a constantly evolving world, she poses, how do we build “these students up to be adaptable to rapid change? Change that feels like it’s out of their control. So I think about how we teach our women to be influencers?”
With a career primarily focused on the advancement of leading Fortune 500 companies, Brewer plans to use her expertise to “modernize, modernize, modernize” Spelman College, she repeats. Brewer recognizes the evolution of technology and hopes to instill a plan allowing Spelman to grow alongside it to ensure students receive the best education possible. While this plan includes technology, it is not limited to it. She hopes to evaluate Spelman’s uniquely crafted course African Diaspora and The World, a required class instilled in the Spelman curriculum to evoke conversation on global black history and its effects on the modern day. In her new role, she asks, “What are we uniquely capable of?” as a mechanization to amplify Spelman College’s resources.
As Brewer returns to her beloved institution, her leadership values promoting excellence and improving the collegiate experience. Brewer believes through modernization that “If Spelman becomes so attractive and so leading edge… for black women, it’s going to naturally grow, right? I mean, people are going to blow the doors down, and, you know, you’ll be asking, I don’t want to graduate. I want five years.”
