Mary Schmidt Campbell

Dr. Mary Schmidt Campbell became the President of Spelman College in 2015. A leading liberal arts college for women of African descent located in Atlanta, Georgia, Spelman has long enjoyed a reputation as the nation’s leading producer of Black women scientists

Prior to her leadership at Spelman, Dr. Campbell served in a variety of cultural leadership roles in New York City, including Dean of the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, Commissioner of Cultural Affairs of the City of New York, and the Executive Director of the Studio Museum in Harlem. Dr. Spelman was also a member of the New York City Mayor's Advisory Committee on Culture (1991-2000); Board of Directors, New York Shakespeare Festival (1993-); Board of Managers, Swarthmore College (1987-99).

She is the co-author of Harlem Renaissance: Art of Black America, Memory and Metaphor: The Art of Romare Bearden, 1940-1987, and An American Odyssey: The Life and Work of Romare Bearden. 

Dr. Campbell received her B.A. in English literature from Swarthmore College. She earned her master’s in art history as well as her Ph.D. in humanities from Syracuse University.