Spelman College Appoints Ayanna Howard as New President

Spelman College, a leading historically Black liberal arts institution for women, announced on Friday the appointment of Ayanna M. Howard as its new president. Dr. Howard, an expert in robotics and artificial intelligence, represents a significant choice for the college.

Previously, Dr. Howard served as the dean of Ohio State University’s engineering college. Her selection marks a shift for the 145-year-old college, which has traditionally seen leaders from fields such as medicine, anthropology, and psychology.

As the field of higher education encounters the rapid growth of artificial intelligence, Dr. Howard emphasized the importance for liberal arts students, especially at Spelman, to engage with these developments. She encouraged students to critically consider the ethical implications of A.I. technologies.

Spelman College, home to approximately 2,700 students, is widely recognized as one of the premier historically Black colleges in the United States. Dr. Howard highlighted the school’s flexibility in curriculum development and teaching as key strengths in adapting to technological advancements.

She assured that any curricular changes at Spelman would respect the college’s rich heritage and be developed through collaboration with both faculty and students.