Mary Schmidt Campbell facts for kids

Mary Schmidt Campbell (born October 21, 1947) is a leader in the worlds of art and education. She has worked as a museum director, a government official, and a college president. From 2015 to 2022, she was the 10th president of Spelman College, a famous college for women.

Before leading Spelman, she was the dean of the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. She also served as the commissioner for the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, helping to support art and culture in the city.

Early Life and Schooling

Mary Schmidt Campbell was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on October 21, 1947. Her parents were Elaine and Harvey Schmidt. She was a student at the Philadelphia High School for Girls.

After high school, she went to Swarthmore College and earned a degree in English literature in 1969. She then traveled to Zambia to teach English at Nkumbi International College. When she returned to the United States, she studied art history at Syracuse University and earned a master's degree. Later, she earned a doctorate (Ph.D.) in humanities from Syracuse. Her final research project was about the artist Romare Bearden and his work.

Career Journey

In 1974, Schmidt Campbell began her career as a curator at the Everson Museum of Art in Syracuse, New York. A curator is someone who takes care of the art in a museum and decides how to display it.

Leading the Studio Museum in Harlem

From 1977 to 1987, Schmidt Campbell was the executive director of the Studio Museum in Harlem. When she started, the museum was a small organization in a rented loft. Under her leadership, it grew into the country's first accredited museum for Black fine arts. An accredited museum is one that meets high standards set by the American Association of Museums.

She helped the museum move into a large 60,000-square-foot building. She also organized many art shows to display the work of leading Black artists, helping more people see and appreciate their art.

Supporting Arts in New York City

In 1987, New York City's mayor, Ed Koch, asked Schmidt Campbell to be the city's cultural affairs commissioner. In this job, she was in charge of the Department of Cultural Affairs. This department supports major cultural places like museums, theaters, zoos, and botanical gardens.

She was known for helping both large and small arts groups all over the city. Soon after she started, the stock market crashed, and the city had to cut its spending. She worked hard to protect the arts budget from major cuts. One of her biggest projects was a campaign called "New York and the Arts: A Cultural Affair," which encouraged people to enjoy cultural activities in the city.

In 1989, she was reappointed to her role by the next mayor, David Dinkins.

Dean at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts

On October 1, 1991, Schmidt Campbell became the dean of the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. As dean, she helped the school grow by adding new programs like digital media. She also worked to bring in a more diverse group of students and teachers.

She started a program called the Tisch Talent Identification Process in 2008. This program helps talented students who need financial help to attend the school. Under her leadership, Tisch also started new departments, including a program for recorded music with famous music producer Clive Davis.

In 2009, President Barack Obama appointed her as the vice chair of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities.

President of Spelman College

Schmidt Campbell became the president of Spelman College on August 1, 2015. During her time as president, Spelman's ranking in the U.S. News & World Report list of best colleges improved significantly. For 13 years in a row, it was ranked the number one historically Black college or university (HBCU).

She retired from Spelman College on June 30, 2022. The current president is Dr. Helene D. Gayle.

Awards and Honors

Mary Schmidt Campbell has received many awards for her work. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, which is a special honor for leaders in their fields. In 1986, she received a Candace Award from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women.

She also holds honorary degrees from several universities, including Swarthmore College, Colgate University, and Syracuse University. An honorary degree is given to someone to recognize their great achievements.

Personal Life

Schmidt Campbell is married to George Campbell Jr., a physicist. They have been married since 1968 and have three sons. She currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

Published Works

Schmidt Campbell has written books on different subjects. She has also written articles about education. In 2020, she wrote an opinion piece for The New York Times about how the COVID-19 pandemic was affecting colleges. She also appeared on the TV show PoliticsNation with Al Sharpton to talk about the challenges faced by historically Black colleges and universities.