Johnnetta Cole, the first African-American woman to head the nation's foremost college for African-American women, will be the featured speaker at UMass Dartmouth's 10th annual MLK breakfast on February 3 at 8:30 a.m. at the University's Woodland Commons
Johnnetta Cole, PhD, the first African-American woman to head Atlanta's Spelman College, the nation's foremost college for African-American women, will be the featured speaker at UMass Dartmouth's 10th annual MLK breakfast on February 3 at 8:30 a.m. at the University's Woodland Commons.
Dr. Cole currently directs the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African Art in Washington, D.C., capping a five-decade career as an educator, administrator and anthropolgist.
"We are honored to welcome such a renowned educator and trailblazer to our campus and community to celebrate Dr. King's legacy," UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Jean F. MacCormack said. "Dr. Cole has been a true drum major justice throughout her career and will surely provide us a morning to remember."
Previous keynote speakers at past MLK breakfasts include former UN Ambassador and Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young, and Morris Dees, co-founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center.
The breakfast will also feature the presentation of the University's Drum Major For Justice Awards to community leaders who will be announced at a later date.
Tickets for the event are $25 for the public, UMD Faculty & Staff; and $10 for students. Corporations and organizations may reserve a table of eight for $200.
About Dr. Cole
A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Dr. Cole graduated high school at the age of 15 and went on to earn anthropology degrees from Oberlin College and Northwestern University.
She went on to produce multiple books and scores of articles in her field, traveling as far as Liberia and Cape Verde for research while teaching at institutions ranging from the University of California, Los Angeles and Emory University.
After serving as professor and Associate Provost at UMass Amherst and directing the Latin American and Caribbean Studies program at Hunter College, Dr. Cole led Spelman College to new heights of academic success as its first African-American female president.
A recipient of 55 honorary degrees and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Cole has also served on the boards of corporations such as Coca-Cola and Merck, and coordinated labor and arts policy for President Clinton's transition team in 1992.