Johnnetta Cole facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Johnnetta Cole
|
|
|---|---|
Cole in 2015
|
|
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Johnnetta Betsch
October 19, 1936 Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Fisk University Oberlin College (BA) Northwestern University (MA, PhD) |
Johnnetta Betsch Cole (born October 19, 1936) is an American expert on people and cultures (an anthropologist). She is also a well-known educator, museum director, and college president.
Dr. Cole made history as the first African-American woman to be president of Spelman College. This is a special school called a historically black college. She led Spelman from 1987 to 1997. Later, she was president of Bennett College from 2002 to 2007. From 2009 to 2017, she directed the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African Art. She also served as the national chair and president for the National Council of Negro Women from 2018 to 2022.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Johnnetta Betsch was born in Jacksonville, Florida, on October 19, 1936. Her family was well-known and successful. Her grandfather, Abraham Lincoln Lewis, was Florida's first black millionaire. He was an entrepreneur and helped start the Afro-American Industrial and Benefit Association.
At age 15, Cole started college at Fisk University. This is a historically black college. She then moved to Oberlin College in Ohio. There, she earned her Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in sociology in 1957.
She continued her studies at Northwestern University. She earned her Master of Arts (MA) in 1959 and her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in 1967. Her advanced degrees were in anthropology, which is the study of human societies and cultures. For her PhD research, she traveled to Liberia, West Africa, in 1960–1961.
A Career in Teaching
Dr. Cole began her teaching career at Washington State University. She was a professor there from 1962 to 1970. During this time, she helped create one of the first programs in the U.S. to study black history and culture. These are called black studies programs.
In 1970, Cole joined the Department of Anthropology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She worked there until 1982. She played a key role in developing the university's W. E. B. Du Bois Department of African-American Studies.
After that, Cole moved to Hunter College in 1982. There, she became the director of the Latin American and Caribbean Studies program. From 1998 to 2001, she was a professor at Emory University in Atlanta. She taught Anthropology, Women's Studies, and African American Studies.
Leading Colleges and Museums
In 1987, Dr. Cole was chosen to be the first black female president of Spelman College. Spelman is a highly respected historically black college for women. She served as president until 1997.
During her time, she greatly increased the school's financial support (called its endowment). She did this through a fundraising effort that raised $113 million. More students also enrolled, and the school's ranking among top liberal arts colleges improved. Comedian Bill Cosby and his wife Camille gave $20 million to this fundraising effort.
After teaching at Emory University, she became president of Bennett College for Women. This is another historically black college for women. She led another successful fundraising campaign there. She also started an art gallery to enrich the college's culture.
Today, Dr. Cole chairs the Johnnetta B. Cole Global Diversity & Inclusion Institute. This institute was founded at Bennett College for Women. She is also a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority.
From 2009 to 2017, she served as the Director of the National Museum of African Art. This museum is part of the famous Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
Community and Public Service
Dr. Cole has also served on the boards of major companies and foundations. A board member helps guide an organization. She was on the board of the well-known Rockefeller Foundation for many years. Since 1994, she has been a director at Merck & Co., a large pharmaceutical company.
From 2004 to 2006, Cole was the Chair of the Board of Trustees for United Way of America. She is also on the Board of Directors for the United Way of Greater Greensboro.
Since 2013, Dr. Cole has been part of the Advisory Council of the National Center for Science Education. She is also a member of The Links, a community service organization.
Involvement in Politics
In 1992, President-elect Bill Clinton asked Dr. Cole to join his team. This team helped prepare for his new government. She was considered for a top job in his cabinet, as Secretary of Education. However, concerns were raised about her past activities. Because of this, Clinton did not move forward with her nomination for the position.
Awards and Recognition
Dr. Cole has received many awards and honors for her work:
- In 2018, she received the Legend in Leadership Award for Higher Education from the Yale Chief Executive Leadership Institute.
- In 2013, she earned the Alston-Jones International Civil and Human Rights Award. This is the highest honor from the International Civil Rights Center and Museum.
- She has been given more than 40 honorary degrees from colleges and universities. These include Williams College (1989), Oberlin College (1995), Howard University (2009), and Gettysburg College (2017).
- In 1996, she received honorary membership in Phi Beta Kappa from Yale. She has also served as a Phi Beta Kappa Senator.
- In 1995, she received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement.
- She received a Candace Award from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women in 1988.
