ATLANTA– Spelman College President Dr. Helene D. Gayle is taking a personal leave of absence, the nation’s historically top-ranked black college announced Friday.
Spelman College did not provide a reason for Gayle’s departure, but said in a statement that it was “effective immediately.” daily duties as interim president.
“We can assure you that Spelman will continue to function seamlessly in the spirit of our core values of care, commitment, integrity, reliability and trust,” the school said.
Gayle became Spelman’s president in 2022 after former president Mary Schmidt Campbell retired. The school is part of the Atlanta University Center, a consortium of four historically black schools.
Before joining Spelman, Gayle served as president of the Chicago Community Trust, one of the nation’s largest community foundations. She is also an epidemiologist who has spent decades fighting AIDS and HIV and leading an international anti-poverty group.
Brewer had been involved in overseeing the college for seventeen years. She served as board chair for 12 years, working with three Spelman presidents and chairing the two most successful fundraising campaigns in the university’s history. She also previously served as president and CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Chief Operating Officer of Starbucks and CEO of Sam’s Club.
“During this transition, my focus is on guiding Spelman by supporting leadership, maintaining stability and ensuring we continue to meet the needs of our students,” Brewer said in a message to the board, according to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution. “We will build on our strengths while embracing change as we chart the best path for Spelman’s future. It is a privilege to give back to the institution that has given me so much, even as I continue to grow in my own career.”