About President Tatum
When Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum became the ninth president of Spelman College in 2002, she set an expectation that Spelman College would be recognized as one of the finest liberal arts colleges in the country – a place where young women of African descent could say, “This place was built for me and it is nothing less than the best!” With her creative energy focused on five strategic goals – Academic Excellence, Leadership Development, Improving our Environment, Visibility of our Achievements, and Exemplary Customer Service (collectively known as Spelman ALIVE), Spelman College has experienced great growth. Spelman is now widely recognized as one of the leading liberal arts colleges in the nation. Applications have increased more than 40% in the last six years, making Spelman one of the most selective w omen’s colleges in the United States.
During her tenure, the Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement (LEADS) was created and its annual Women of Color Leadership Conference established as a national professional development resource. In 2008, the Lehman Brothers Center for Global Finance and Economic Development was established with a $10 million gift, the largest corporate gift in Spelman’s history, creating new curricular opportunities, including the introduction of Chinese language instruction. In addition, opportunities for international travel have increased for both students and faculty through the establishment of the Gordon-Zeto Endowed Fund for International Initiatives. Scholarship support for students has virtually doubled since 2002, and opportunities for faculty research and development have expanded significantly. Through the Every Woman, Every Year Initiative launched in 2006, alumnae support of the annual fund has doubled. Campus improvements include the award-winning renovation of three historic buildings and campus expansion, including newly acquired office space and the 2008 completion of a new “green” residence hall, increasing housing capacity on the campus by more than 25% and establishing the campus commitment to environmental sustainability for the 21st century.
In addition to being an accomplished administrator, Dr. Tatum is widely recognized as a scholar, teacher, race relations expert and leader in higher education. A clinical psychologist by training, her areas of research include racial identity development, and the role of race in the classroom. The recipient of numerous honorary degrees, in 2005 Dr. Tatum was awarded the prestigious Brock International Prize in Education for her innovative leadership in the field. Her best-selling titles include Can We Talk About Race? And Other Conversations in an Era of School Resegregation (2007) and Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Other Conversations About Race (1997). She is also the author of Assimilation Blues: Black Families in a White Community (1987).
Actively involved in the Atlanta community, Dr. Tatum is a member of several boards including the Executive Committee of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, the Woodruff Arts Center and the Community Foundation of Atlanta. She is also the co-chair of the Early Education Commission of the United Way. A member of the President’s Advisory Board for the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Dr. Tatum also serves on national boards including the Institute for International Education and the Council of Independent Colleges. She is a former board member of the Association of American Colleges and Universities, and past chair of the American Council on Education Commission on Racial and Ethnic Equity in Education.
Dr. Tatum earned a B.A. degree in psychology from Wesleyan University, and M.A. and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from University of Michigan. She also holds a M.A. in Religious Studies from Hartford Seminary. She has served as a faculty member at the University of California at Santa Barbara, Westfield State College, and Mount Holyoke College, where she also served as dean and acting president.
President Tatum is married to Dr. Travis Tatum, a retired college professor; they are the parents of two adult sons.
