Dr. Helene Gayle Resigns As Spelman College President After Previously Taking A Leave Of Absence

Courtesy of Spelman College

Spelman College president Dr. Helene Gayle will not return after taking a leave of absence and is stepping down permanently, the college announced on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024.

The institution did not disclose the reasons for her initial leave or her decision to resign, according to The Associated Press. In a statement, Gayle expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead Spelman.

“I thank the larger Spelman community for this magnificent opportunity to serve as president. I have thoroughly enjoyed interacting with the outstanding students and future world leaders who have chosen to attend Spelman College,” Gayle said in a statement, per the AP. “I look forward to my next chapter.”

As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Gayle became president in 2022, succeeding Mary Schmidt Campbell. After her leave of absence was announced in October 2024, Rosalind “Roz” Brewer assumed the role of interim president.

The Spelman Board of Trustees said they are in the process of selecting a new president, with Brewer continuing to serve in the interim.

“I join the trustees in extending my gratitude to Dr. Gayle for her service to this amazing institution,” Brewer said, according to the AP. “I’m also excited to continue my service as your interim president.”

As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Brewer is the former chief operating officer of Starbucks and CEO of Sam’s Club. She also served as CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance, a position she assumed in 2021, making history as the only Black woman in the S&P 500 with a C-suite title. Brewer was also the third Black woman to lead a Fortune 500 company.

After stepping down from Walgreens Boots Alliance in 2023, Brewer continues to serve on the boards of United Airlines, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture and, most recently, the Black Economic Alliance, AFROTECH™ reported. She is also part-owner of the Atlanta Falcons.

A Spelman class of 1984 graduate, Brewer has maintained a longstanding connection to the college, previously serving on its Board of Trustees for 17 years, including 12 as chair.

“Through this transition, my focus is on guiding Spelman forward by supporting leadership, maintaining stability and ensuring we continue to meet the needs of our students,” Brewer said after stepping into the role as interim president, per The Atlanta-Journal Constitution. “We’ll build on our strengths while embracing change as we chart the best path for Spelman’s future. It’s a privilege to give back to the institution that has given me so much, even as I continue to grow in my own career journey.”

Spelman, one of two all-women’s HBCUs, is a founding member of the Atlanta University Center, a consortium of four historically Black colleges and the world’s oldest and largest association of HBCUs.