Bennett College

Bennett College

Official Bennett College seal
Motto	"Celebrate. Educate. Oasis."
Type	Private women's college
Established	August 1, 1873
Affiliation	United Methodist Church UNCF
Endowment	$15 million
President	Julianne Malveaux
Students	780
Location	Greensboro , North Carolina , United States
Campus	Urban
Colors	Blue and White
Nickname	The Belles
Website	bennett.edu

This article is about the historically black women's college in Greensboro, North Carolina. For the women's college in Millbrook, New York which existed from 1890 to 1978, see Bennett College (New York).

Bennett College is a four-year liberal arts women's college in Greensboro, North Carolina. Founded in 1873, this historically black institution began as a normal school to provide education to newly emancipated slaves. It became a women's college in 1926 and currently serves roughly 780 undergraduates.

Oprah Winfrey and Maya Angelou have recently offered public support to Bennett College.

History

Bennett today

Bennett College has 780 students, all women and primarily of African-American descent, enrolled in one of Bennett's 24 degree programs. Bennett is currently ranked #16 among the top historically black colleges and universities, both for its academic achievements and its relatively reasonable tuition rates. Today Bennett is reorganizing and revitalizing its campus and academic infrastructure. Bennett's brother school is Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. This relationship developed through the close and historic friendship of former Bennett College President Dr. David Dallas Jones and former Morehouse College President Dr. Benjamin E. Mays.

Institutional Goals

• To achieve and maintain fiscal stability.
• To increase and stabilize student enrollment and retention.
• To improve the academic standards and competitiveness of the College.
• To upgrade and maintain the College's physical plant facilities to accommodate the academic, cultural, social and residential programs.
• To enhance and support the social, cultural and spiritual development of the students.
• To optimize philanthropic support and advance College relations.
• To maximize the potential and ability of employees to contribute and develop professionally within a supportive College environment.
• To create a College culture that embraces and commits to continuous improvement.
• To develop a deepened sense of community at Bennett College.
• To build stronger relationships with local, regional, national and international communities.
• To identify Bennett College as a United Methodist Church related college while respecting religious diversity.

Philosophy

Bennett College's undergirding philosophy is that a high-quality college experience should provide its women students with strong academic and co-curricular programs that encourage their personal development, endorse life-long learning, and prepare them to meet the needs of an ever-changing society. Bennett College values and respects every member of its community. As a United Methodist Church Related institution, the College believes that education should be related to humanitarian ends.

Presidents of the College

There have been fifteen principals or presidents of Bennett College

1. W.J. Parker (principal) (1874 - 1877)
2. Reverend Edward O. Thayer (1877 - 1881)
3. Reverend Wilbur F. Steele - (1881 - 1889)
4. Reverend Charles N. Grandison - (1889 - 1892)
5. Dr. Jordan Chavis - (1892-1905)
6. Reverend Silas A. Peeler - (1905 - 1913)
7. Professor James E. Wallace - (1913 - 1915)
8. Reverend Frank Trigg - (1915 - 1926)
9. David Dallas Jones - (1926 - 1955)
10. Dr. Willa B. Player - (1956 - 1966)
11. Dr. Isaac H. Miller, Jr. - (1966 - 1987)
12. Dr. Gloria Randle Scott - (1987 - 2001)
13. Dr. Althia F. Collins - (2001 - 2002)
14. Dr. Charles Fuget - (2002, interim)
15. Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole - (2002 - 2007)
16. Dr. Julianne Malveaux (beginning June 1, 2007)

Unique academic programs

Bennett has incorporated three new programs that are aimed at increasing students' awareness of the struggles and accomplishments of all women, especially those of African descent; and staying in-step with the ever-changing climate of today's globally integrated society: Womanist Religious Studies, Global Studies, Africana Women's Studies and The New Academy.

ACES stands for "Academic Cultural Enrichment series". It is a series of lectures and presentations of a religious, cultural, or academic nature. Students are required to wear certain attire to aces. The dress code is business attire. The programs give students the opportunity to enhance their cultural and intellectual development, learn how to appreciate and accept ideas and beliefs different from theirs learn how to listen and in general, acquire behaviors that often make a significant difference in how one is perceived and accepted by others. Students are expected to attend a certain amount of aces programs by the end of the semester.

Bennett College for Women’s Mission / Philosophy: “The College welcomes students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds, recognizing that the educational experience is enriched and strengthened when multiple voices are represented and heard. Operating in an interdisciplinary, learning-centered environment, students, working with faculty and staff, will learn to use sophisticated intellectual skills, think analytically, and solve problems in ways that respect a variety of viewpoints and deepen their understanding of different cultures.”

Bennett college offers 20 majors and 19 minors under 3 divisions: Division of Natural and Behavioral Sciences and Mathematics, Division of Social Sciences and Education, and Division of Humanities. These disciplines include degrees in bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, bachelor of arts and science in interdisciplinary studies, bachelor of social work, and the bachelor of fine arts. Bennett also offers five dual degree programs including Chemistry/Chemical Engineering with NC A&T, Chemistry/Pharmacy with Howard University, Mathematics/Mechanical Engineering with NC A&T, Mathematics/Electrical Engineering with NC A&T and Mathematics/Industrial Engineering with NC A&T. The majors are listed below:

MAJORS

• Arts Management (Music & Visual Arts Tracks)
• Biology (Teaching And Non-Teaching Tracks)
• Business Administration
• Chemistry
• Computer Science
• Elementary Education (K–6)
• English (Teaching And Non-Teaching Tracks)
• Interdisciplinary Studies
• Journalism & Media Studies (Formerly Mass Communications)
• Mathematics (Teaching And Non-Teaching Tracks)
• Political Science
• Psychology
• Social Work
• Special Education
• Visual And Performing Arts, B.F.A Degree (Three Tracks: Theatre, Music, And Visual Arts)
• Chemical Engineering (Dual Degree Program)
• Electrical engineering (dual degree program)
• Mechanical engineering (dual degree program)

MINORS

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Mathematics
• Computer Science
• Psychology
• Special Education
• Economics
• Journalism and Media Studies
• International Affairs
• Political Science
• Sociology English
• Entrepreneurship
• Global Studies
• History
• Music
• Philosophy
• Religion
• Spanish
• Theatre
• Women’s Studies
• Writing

According to the Bennett College 2010-2011 Academic catalog.

Bennett College for Women uses strong co-curricular programs to uplift women creating well-rounded programs geared towards women’s leadership goals.

Global Studies Center

Journalism and Media Studies

The Department of Journalism and Media Studies offers students a foundation that provides skills required to become good communicators. JMS majors are encouraged to be committed to scholarship and critical thinking, theoretical experiences (e.g., course work, seminars, and workshops), and a variety of practical opportunities (e.g., internships, online, print broadcast publications). In addition, the JMS Department will seek to acquire and to maintain standards of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (AEJMC) and its national accrediting body. In keeping with its vision to seek accreditation, the JMS Department uses current standards of the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications as directives.

JMS Directory

Dr. Yvonne Welbon- Department Chair/ Assistant Professor JMS (336) 517-2306 ywelbon@bennett.edu Tamara Jeffries- Assistant Professor JMS (336) 517-2375 tjeffries@bennett.edu Keonte Coleman- Assistant Professor JMS (336) 517-1835 kcoleman@bennet.edu Sheri Clawson- Adjunct Professor JMS sclawson@bennett.edu Leoneda Inge- Adjunct Professor JMS linge@bennett.edu Carol Davis- Adjunct Professor JMS cadavis@bennett.edu Michael Carter- Adjunct Professor JMS mcarter@bennett.edu

JMS Groups

Bennett Banner- Print/Online Newspaper- www.bennettbanner.com

• View the Bennett Banner on Digital NC.org.

Belle Magazine- Print/Online Magazine- www.bellemagonline.com Belle Media Group- Belle Media Group (BMG) houses five news and lifestyle media platforms in the Journalism and Media Studies Department at Bennett College for Women. Belle Vision- Online and campus television station Belle Air- Online radio station

Building History

The Journalism and Media Studies Department, formally known as Mass Communications, was originally inside Shell Hall Complex, which was built in 1991 and named for Ernest and Juanita Shell, its major donors. Bennett received almost $4 million from alumni, federal funds and major donors. Now, the old heating plant, Annie Merner Plant houses the Journalism and Media Studies Department.

Residence halls

There are seven residence halls on the campus of Bennett College, four underclassman (Barge, Reynolds, Jones, and Pfieffer), two upperclassman (Player and Cone), and one (honors hall) specifically for the college's honor students. five out of seven residence halls have two floors with communal bathrooms on each end of the halls, there is a parlor which serves as as living room area, there study rooms; Willa B. Player is the only Hall with a kitchen other than the honors hall. The Honors Hall which is one of the most recent additions to the campus, has three floors and Pfeiffer has floors also. The rooms are suite styled with mini kitchens, living rooms, and personal bathrooms in each. Other amenities include a full kitchen and a conference room on the second floor. The third floor has a computer lab, where students may study and do homework.

Referred to as Living Learning Centers, Bennett College houses its students in the following several facilities:

• Carrie Barge Hall
• Laura Cone Hall
• Robert E. Jones Hall
• Annie Merner Pfieffer Hall
• Willa B. Player Hall
• Jessie Reynolds Hall
• Honors Hall(2010)

This school year (2010-2011) Bennett College opened its first new building in 28 years. The honors dorm opened this fall with suite style rooms. Each room is a suite, included in the suite are two beds, a bathroom, and a small kitchen area with a microwave and mini refrigerator. The honors dorm also has a computer lab, study room, meeting room, and a full kitchen. This dorm is a part of a $22 million dollar capital improvement program for the college.

"Residence life provides each student with important opportunities for learning and practicing the positive values of communal living. The College’s approach to residential living is to stimulate independence, critical thinking skills, and maturity as the student is learning to evolve individually yet collectively in a group environment." -Residence Life

Each hall is assigned a Residence Director, along with four Residence Assistants. Together the RD and RA make up the Residence hall staff. They serve the residence by helping out with issues whether it be concerning a room, roommate, or anything personal that they may assist a residence with. Regulations range from health inspections, room checks, curfew (this applies to freshwomen only), hall meetings etc. On specific occasions, the staff host specific functions such as sister chats, movie nights, and academic study sessions.

As far as visitation goes, residents are allowed to have up to a certain number of guest come visit them at once. Guest may be entertained in the parlor's of the halls but not an individual's bedroom. Guest may stay overnight if they are female, check with the RD, and pay an overnight fee.

Source: Prospective Students. "Residence Life." Bennett.edu. <http://www.bennett.edu/sareslife.asp>

Student organizations

There are over 30 campus social, service, religious, and the student government association organizations.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Zeta Xi chapter Purpose: to cultivate and encourage high scholastic and ethical standards, to promote unity and friendship among college women, to study and help alleviate problems concerning girls and women; to maintain a progressive interest in college life and to be of service to all mankind.

Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society Purpose: to promote high scholarship; to encourage sincere and zealous endeavors in all fields of knowledge and service; to cultivate a high order of personal living and to develop an appreciation for scholarly work.

Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society Purpose: to encourage superior academic achievement among students their first year in institutions of higher learning; to promote intelligent living and a continued high standard of learning and to assist women and men in recognizing and developing meaningful goals for their roles in society.

Barge Hall Council Purpose: to provide quality programming and events for the residents of Barge Hall and to build community, promote a safe, clean and responsible living environment.

Belles of Peace Purpose: Encourage unity among members and the campus community. To encourage personal growth and the upholding of high moral and ethical standards within the college community.

Bennett College Ambassadors Association Purpose: to assist the Office of Admission with recruiting students and recruitment activities in order to increase enrollment.

Bennett College Choir Purpose: to establish a group of students who are disciplined through music who represent the college as ambassadors.

Beta Kappa Chi Honor Society Purpose: to foster academic excellence and research in the sciences; to recognize student achievement in the sciences.

Biology Club Purpose: to join all majors together for a collective and to raise awareness on health issues.

Notable alumnae

Name	Class year	Notability	Reference(s)
Dr. Glendora M. Putnam		first African-American woman to serve as president of the national YWCA
Faye Robinson		opera singer
Dr. Hattie Carwell		noted research scientist and expert in the study of radiation
Barbara Hamm		the first African-American woman to serve as a television news director in the United States
Patricia Brown		Moderator of the Presbyterian Church (USA)
Yvonne J. Johnson		first black mayor of Greensboro, North Carolina
Dr. Linda B. Brown		author and professor of English at Bennett College
Dr. Allethia Lee Allen		professor-emeritus, University of Washington
Dr. Dorothy L. Brown		first African American woman general surgeon in the south and to serve on the Tennessee State Legislature
Belinda Foster		first African American District Attorney in North Carolina
Dr. Talia McCray		noted research scientist
Maidie Norman		Actress
Marion L. Bell		noted educator
Monica Conyers		former Detroit City Council Member
Michelle Huff		Founder of Huff Entertainment
Kimberly Morton Cuthrell		Author of book series "Splinters of My Soul"
Mary Jacobs		Durham City Council at large (1997 - 2001), Durham Board of Commissioners (2002 - 2004)
Sandra Smith		Activist

More Notable Alumnae

Dr. Carlinda Purcell, '72 was the first African-American or African-American female to serve as superintendent of the Montgomery (AL) Public School System. She is now the deputy superintendent for academic services in the St. Louis public school system. Dorothy Lavinia Brown ’41 was an African-American doctor, legislator and the first Black female surgeon in the South. From Philadelphia, PA, . In addition to her first in southern medicine, she also became the first single woman in Tennessee to adopt a child. In 1966 she became the first African-American woman to be elected to the Tennessee State Legislature for a two-year term. She tried in 1968 to run for a seat in the Tennessee Senate, but lost. One of the main reasons she lost the election was her support to liberalize the abortion laws in Tennessee. She was a fellow of the American College of Surgery. She was a past member of the board of trustees at Bennett College.

Glendora McIlwain Putnam '45 served as assistant attorney general for civil rights in Massachusetts before serving as chair of the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination. She extended her work, serving as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in Washington, D.C., and as an equal opportunity officer for the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency. Putnam has served in leadership positions for many non-profit organizations. She was the first national president of the YWCA, Currently, Putnam sits on the board of trustees for the YWCA Retirement Fund, Inc. and the Museum of African American History at Boston, as well as the New England Committee for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., the board of directors for the Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights and the executive committee for the Boston University Law School Alumni Association. She has previously been honored with such accolades as "Woman of the Year" by the Greater Boston Business and Professional Women’s club, "Woman of Achievement" by Boston Big Sisters,"Outstanding Senior Lawyer" by the Women’s Bar Association, a Humanitarian Award from the NAACP (Boston branch), a "Black Women Who Make It Happen" award by the National Council of Negro Women, a "Silver Shingle for Distinguished Public Service" award by BU Law and a Distinguished Achievement Award from the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association.

Carolyn Robertson Payton ’45 - When President John F. Kennedy was elected, Carolyn Payton was chosen to help in developing the procedures that would be used to select trainees to serve in the Peace Corps. Later, she became a field assessment officer, responsible for evaluating trainees’ likelihood of success overseas by administering psychological tests, conducting personal interviews, and analyzing clinical observations, "faculty grades and assessments, peer reviews, and other pertinent information". . In 1967, Carolyn became the director for the Caribbean region of the Peace Corps, after spending a lot of time overseas observing volunteers and trying to determine what kinds of things could be done to enhance their experiences. In 1977, Carolyn Payton was appointed by President Jimmy Carter to be the director of the United States Peace Corps. She was the first woman and the first African-American person to hold the position.

Belinda Foster ‘79 1st. African American District Attorney in the state of North Carolina.

Yvonne Johnson ’64 1st.African American mayor of Greensboro

Patricia Henry ’69 1st African American Plant Manager (Brew master) at Miller Brewing Company. She was the first to hold this position at any American Brewery. Barbara Hamm Lee ’78 one of the first African American female news directors in the United States. Presently serves as radio personality and producer in Hampton, VA. Myrtle Woodard Figureas ’64 was elected the first African American mayor of Gainesville, Ga. Kelly Denise Gorham’94 Mrs. Gorham began her professional career as co-founder and Vice President of Movers Networkã, along with Tyrone Gorham, who later became her husband. Movers Network was a contract labor and moving service that provided residential and commercial services to its many clients. From there, Kelly served as Executive Director of the Miss WALJO Gospel Music Awards Pageant and developed its theme, “Godly Women Without Compromise”, while mentoring young women, ages 18 – 25, in character development and lifestyle evangelism. Later, Mrs. Gorham was the Director of Programs & Training for FUTURE FOCUS 2020, a futurist think-tank that is an independent institute of the Babcock Graduate School of Management at Wake Forest University (in Winston-Salem, North Carolina). As the Director of Programs & Training, Kelly was able to engage organizations in both the public and private sectors conducting market research, assessing best practices and examining future trends and the driving forces (social, technological, economic, environmental and political) that may enable or inhibit future progress. Some of her clients include: Sarah Lee, Evangel Word Ministries, U.S. Customs and Border Control, Cincinnati Urban League, Winston-Salem Housing Authority, Georgia Department of Technical & Adult Education – New Connections To Work Program, and many other organizations.

Amanda Pecchioni ’97 - Bachelor of Arts in mass communications, minor in political science, with honors, Law School: Howard University School of Law, graduated in 2000 Admitted to Practice: Indiana, United States District Court – Northern District of Indiana, United States District Court – Southern District of Indiana. Amanda is a member of the Ice Miller's Intellectual Property Group. She concentrates her practice in the areas of intellectual property prosecution and litigation, licensing, and franchising. Brandi Hunter-Davenport ‘99 Graduated in 2001 from Florida A & M University with a Master's of Science in Journalism. Currently pursuing doctorate of Leadership and Administration through Indiana University of PA and is employed as a program specialist with the American Lung Association of Pennsylvania. Before joining the nonprofit sector, she worked in Governor Edward Rendell's press office as a deputy press secretary. Dr. Keisha Reed, ‘98 She obtained her Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2002 and currently operates her own a general dentistry practice in Raleigh, NC where she provides comprehensive dental care to children and adults.

Willacin Gholston, '99 was granted a Ford Fellowship for graduate studies at the University of Michigan - The Gerald Ford School of Public Policy and received her Masters of Arts Degree in Public Policy in the Spring of 2003. From August 2003 to June 2004, she worked under the leadership of Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie as a Sojourner (missionary) of the Women’s Missionary Society of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and was the Executive Director of the M. Joan Cousin Women & Youth Empowerment Center (MJC) located in Lobatse, Botswana (Southern Africa). She implemented the H.A.N.D.S. (Holistic Approach to Nurturing and Developing Skills) Program for orphans and destitute youth ages 0 to 19 years old that provided Christian counseling, academic tutoring, cultural enrichment classes, and a feeding component. She also helped to secure funding resources to begin the M.M.E. (Motivating, Mobilizing and Empowering) Program that equips the local women with economic empowerment skills to combat the socioeconomic determinants of HIV/AIDS. She is currently working towards her second masters degree in the Divinity Program at the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. Elizabeth Fryar, '00 After graduating with honors in 2000, she accepted a full scholarship and stipend sponsored by the National Science Foundation to attend Howard University to pursue a Doctorate in Pharmacology. In addition, she presently is working on her second degree in nursing to become a Nurse Practitioner.

Neda Brown ’01 currently serves as Vice Consul in the Non-Immigrant Visa Unit at the United States Embassy - Bogotá and has her own clothing line named "Brownskin Apparel." Juanita Page Cook '52 Juanita's scientific career began immediately upon graduation from Bennett in 1952 with her appointment as a chemist at the National Institutes of Health. Progressing rapidly, her work led her to become the lead technician in her field. In 1971, she was appointed the Equal Employment Opportunity Coordinator. Subsequent to her success in this position, the Office of Special Concerns was established with Juanita as the director. Juanita received more than 12 professional awards during her career. Among them are the 1979 NIH Director's Award, the 1987 Beta Kappa Chi National Scientific Honor Society Award and the 1987 Association of Minority Health Professions School Award. She retired from a very successful career in the federal government in 1987. Beverly Buchanan ’61 is an African-American artist who explores Southern vernacular architecture in her art. Ms. Buchanan's work is widely collected and can be found in several major museums. Beverly Buchanan uplifts and enriches the southern aesthetic by presenting those aspects of southern life that are often forgotten; she brings attention to details through vibrant color and undisturbed formation. Joyce Dunn Garrett '65 is the founder/artistic director of the Excellence Without Excuses Program, a choral performance she created for the Eastern High School Choir of Washington, DC. Numerous national television appearances with some of the world's top entertainers have included Christmas in Washington with Presidents Ronald Reagan, George Bush, William Clinton, and George W. Bush. She currently serves on the team of directors for the Men and Women of the Gospel Kennedy Center concerts sponsored by the Washington Performing Arts Society. Selected to assemble and direct large choirs for two millennium events held at the Lincoln Memorial, she currently produces choirs for performances at the Kennedy Center Honors and the National Symphony "Pops" Orchestra concerts conducted by Marvin Hamlisch.

Norma G. “Cindy” Jones ’73 Retired Navy Lt. Commander Norma G. Cindy Jones is the former director of the Navy’s Family Advocacy Treatment Center in San Diego. She was named Outstanding Social Worker of the Year in 1973. Cindy has a master’s degree in social work from West Virginia University. She has worked to make services available to Navy families in Alaska and other locations in the US, London and Bahrain. She was an active educator on family advocacy issues for the Navy, as well as the local communities where she worked. Cindy’s work resulted in increased staffing for Navy mental health and family advocacy services. She has developed domestic violence response teams, crisis intervention for survivors of sexual assault, has provided direct clinical services and trained all military personnel regarding Family Advocacy Programs in the areas under her purview. Cindy served on the San Diego Mayor’s Council on Domestic Violence and the San Diego Child Abuse Council. She has earned the Navy Commendation medals, two Navy Achievement medals, numerous letters of appreciation from US embassies and Department of Defense Schools, as well as social work agencies in Scotland and the United Kingdom.

Helen J. Ellison Newberry McDowell ’24 – Oldest Living Bennett College Alumna Born on September 28, 1903, in Abingdon, Virginia, Helen Newberry McDowell was the fourth of fourteen children. Her mother, Caroline, was orphaned in Cleveland, Ohio, and raised by her uncle Frank Donahue in Abingdon, where her mother met her father, Samuel. McDowell attended Morristown Industrial School, where her mother taught, and went on to Bennett College. Graduating in 1924, she attended Teacher's College in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. McDowell then attended Howard University from 1928 to 1931, earning her M.A. in education.

McDowell began teaching in 1925, and after earning her M.A. went on to teach at Morgan State University in Baltimore. In the 1940s, McDowell bought six houses in Washington, D.C., and converted them into rooming houses for students. From 1949 to 1973, the Newberry House was home to many students from Howard University's School of Religion. McDowell also ran a wedding salon out of Newberry House. McDowell began teaching at Phelps Vocational High School in Washington, D.C., in 1950, and taught English there until her retirement in 1973.

McDowell was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on July 30, 2003. It was not easy, but Mrs. McDowell graduated from Bennett College in 1924. Throughout her career, Mrs. McDowell worked hard and made it a point to invest in educating young African Americans. In addition to her contributions to UNCF and other charities, Mrs. McDowell paid tuition for many friends and family members who had the commitment and desire to do well in school. Although she never had children of her own, the siblings, godchildren, nieces and nephews she helped through school have rewarded her by completing their college education and pursing professional careers. Helen McDowell has made an art of giving and helping others. Her giving has been influenced by her loving Christian spirit and life long work in the church. By her own admission, she "could have been a millionaire a million times over." But, she chose to share her resources with the thousands of deserving students helped by UNCF each year. “ She died in October, 2010.

Maide Ruth Norman ‘38 – actress, appeared in such movies as Gone With the Wind

Faye Robinson ’64 an internationally acclaimed opera singer

Jennifer Ferris ’96 has her own public relations company ZDennis media Group. She recently handled the public relations for the City of Atlanta Bureau of Cultural Affairs public art commissions, installations and dedications.

Sharon Sanders Brooks ’81 is a city councilwoman in Kansas City, Mo. She represents the third district and is a historical consultant.

Valerie Callendar ‘82 – is an internationally recognized, board certified dermatologist who owns own clinic.

Andrea Harris ‘70 – Director of Institute for minority Development

Jacquelyn Grant ’70 became involved with the Women's Studies Program at the Harvard Divinity School within the Women's Research Program in 1977. Her involvement there led to the creation of the Women's Studies in Religion Program, and she remained there until 1979. Grant founded the Center for Black Women in Church and Society at the Interdenominational Theological Center in 1981, where she continues to serve as director and professor. As a practicing minister, Grant has served as the assistant minister at Flipper Temple African Methodist Episcopal Church from 1980 to 1982. She is presently the assistant minister at the Victory African Methodist Episcopal Church in Atlanta.

A successful author, Grant has written or edited several books, including White Women's Christ and Black Women's Jesus: Feminist Christology and Womanist Response, the all-time best selling book released by Scholars Press, and her most recent book, Perspectives on Womanist Theology. Grant was the recipient of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Ministry Award in 1986 and has been nominated as the Woman of the Year in Religion by the Iota Phi Lambda Sorority. She also appears in Who's Who Among African Americans. Grant and her husband, the Reverend John Collier, live in Atlanta.sought after religious author Marion Tasoco ’60 city councilwoman in Philadelphia, Pa. in the 9th district. She is recognized as one of the most influential people in the city. Orial Redd ’46 is the Vice President nad Executive Editor of the Westchester County Press, a weekly newspaper owned by her and her late husband. She is also a retired Deupty County Clerk for Westchester County. Barbara Hodge Freeman ‘61– owns car dealership in Indiana – Heritage Ford Mercury Company

Tammi McCall ’94 actress, radio personality Tammi Mac . Her acting career smiled on her as she set UIL theater competition records at Jack Yates High School of Communications, in Houston, Texas. She was also Texas state UIL runner-up, under the leadership of her acting coach and mentor Sandra Shelton. As a high school student Tammi Mac began her radio career at Texas Southern University's radio station, KTSU 90.9 FM, as host of the slow jam show, "Simply Soft". As an academic scholarship graduate of Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina, she carries a Bachelors of Science and Arts degree. At Bennett College she also continued to soar in her radio success, becoming host of WQMG-FM 97.1's morning show. While matriculating at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro, Tammi Mac participated in theater competitions with North Carolina A&T University because of the lack of opportunities for black students in theatrical productions at UNCG. Perservering, she received her Master's of Fine Arts in theater from the University of North Carolina - Greensboro. Tammi Mac's radio career soon moved her to Birmingham,Alabama where she held the number one morning show for four years, until moving to Los Angeles in 2003. Mac is represented by William Morris's voice-over department and does extensive voice-over work and also produces radio and television commercials under her production company, MACJACK. You can listen to her nightly on 102.3KJLH, as she hosts her relationship show, "The Backseat" or log onto www.kjlhradio.com. Otherwise, watch her on the big screen or small as this proficiently, skilled actress rises among the ranks of Hollywood.

Chaundra Luckett ’06 is the producer of the Ten O’Clock news at Fox Carolina in Greenville, SC Betty Brown ’72 was elected district court judge in Guilford County, North Carolina.

Doraleena Sammons-Posey ’76 is the Director of the Fulton County Human Services Department in Fulton, County, Ga.

Veronica Burgess ’77 is an administrative judge for EEOC in the San Diego, Ca. local office

Michelle Huff ‘95 owns an entertainment company called HUFF Entertainment, Inc. She has managed and organized such events as Usher's album release party for Confessions, Casio’s watch launch for Oceanus, the Neptune's album release party, Alicia Key's US American Bowl Half-time performance. She also manages Ashanti and Tamia.

Hattie Carwell ’70 Research Scientist and Author. She is the newly elected president of the national Technical Association, the oldest minority technical organization in the US founded in 1925. She is also the co-founder of the Museum of African American Technology Science Village in Oakland, CA.

See also

• Spelman College
• Women's Colleges in the Southern United States
• Morehouse College

References

• Guy-Sheftall, Beverly. "Black Women and Higher Education: Spelman and Bennett Colleges Revisited." The Journal of Negro Education, Vol. 51, No. 3, The Impact of Black Women in Education: An Historical Overview (Summer, 1982), pp. 278-287.

External links

• Bennett College
• Oprah puts spotlight on Bennett College
• Owens, Donna M. "Daughters of the dream: Bennett College, one of only two colleges for Black women, had recently fallen on tough times. Now, led by the visionary Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole, it's blending the traditions of the past with present-day needs to secure its future". Essence, Feb, 2005
• Hatchett, John. "Hidden from history: Bennett College women and the Greensboro sit-ins"
• "Straight Talk: Morehouse's Homecoming: Miss Bennett College & the SGA Special Events Coordinator tell all about the trip to ATL", 16 December 2004
• View the Bennett College student newspaper on DigitalNC.org.
• View Bennett College student yearbooks on DigitalNC.org.