GHS’s own Mary Schmidt Campbell named new president of Spelman College
Spelman College named Mary Schmidt Campbell its 10th president.
Campbell is the dean emerita of the Tisch School of the Arts and university professor in the Department of Art and Public Policy at New York University. She starts Aug. 1, following Beverly Daniel Tatum’s 13 years as Spelman’s president, Spelman College issued the following release late Saturday afternoon:
Today the Board of Trustees of Spelman College announced the selection of Mary Schmidt Campbell, Ph.D. as the College’s 10 th president since its founding in 1881. Dr. Campbell assumes the role officially August 1, 2015, having served as dean emerita of the Tisch School of the Arts and university professor in the Department of Art and Public Policy at New York University.
Dr. Campbell’s experience spans both the private and non-profit sectors.
Dr. Campbell received a B.A. degree in English literature from Swarthmore College, an M.A. in art history from Syracuse University, and a Ph.D. in humanities, also from Syracuse. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and sits on the board of The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. A former member of the Board of Trustees of the New York Shakespeare Festival, Dr. Campbell also served for 12 years on the Board of Managers of Swarthmore College. She holds honorary degrees from The College of New Rochelle, Colgate University, City University of New York, Pace University, Maryland Institute College of Art and Swarthmore College and is the recipient of a number of awards and honors.
She lectures widely around the country and around the world and has authored many papers and articles on a range of subjects including African-American art, urban cultural policy issues, leadership and arts in education. She is co-editor of Artistic Citizenship: A Public Voice for the Arts (New York: Routledge, 2006) and co-author of Harlem Renaissance: Art of Black America (New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1987) and Memory and Metaphor: The Art of Romare Bearden, 1940-1987 (New York: Oxford University Press & The Studio Museum in Harlem, 1991).
“Spelman College could not have made a more outstanding choice than Mary Schmidt Campbell to be its next president,” said New York University President John Sexton. “She is an institution builder, and she draws the best out of everyone around her. Loved by students, respected by faculty, she is a real leader – brilliant, strategic, funny, energetic and warm. NYU and the Tisch School of the Arts will miss Mary keenly, but we are very happy for the Spelman community and take great pride in knowing all the wonderful accomplishments she will achieve there.”
A 1965 Graduate of Girls High celebrating her 50th reunion this year and a member of Girls High’s Court of Honor of Distinguished Daughters, Dr. Campbell is the mother of three sons, the grandmother of six grandchildren, and the spouse of Dr. George Campbell, Jr., president emeritus of The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art.