Johnnetta Betsch Cole (b.1936) is an American anthropologist, educator, and trailblazing leader renowned for her groundbreaking work in higher education and her advocacy for racial and gender equality.
Born in Jacksonville, Florida, Cole was raised in a family that valued education and community service. She graduated from Fisk University with a degree in sociology before earning a master’s degree in education from New York University. She went on to complete a PhD in anthropology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, solidifying her status as a distinguished academic. Her early career focused on teaching and research in anthropology, particularly on African art and culture.
Cole became the first African American woman to serve as president of Spelman College (1987–97,) one of the most prestigious historically Black colleges for women in the United States. During her tenure, she enhanced the college’s academic rigor and spearheaded initiatives that promoted diversity, equity, and inclusion. She was instrumental in raising the institution’s profile and fostering a more inclusive and empowering environment for students.
Beyond education, she has been an advocate for social justice, serving on various boards and advisory committees that address issues related to race, gender, and education. Notable works include Speechifying: The Words and Legacy of Johnnetta Betsch Cole (2023,) which collects her most influential speeches, and Gender Talk: The Struggle for Women’s Equality in African American Communities (2003,) exploring gender and racial issues in Black communities.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Johnnetta B. Cole
Show me someone content with mediocrity and I’ll show you someone destined for failure.
—Johnnetta B. Cole
Topics: Future, Failure
You cannot fully understand your own life without knowing and thinking beyond your life, your own neighborhood, and even your own nation.
—Johnnetta B. Cole
Topics: Self-Discovery
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