Student Profile: Jamilah Pitts, C'2012

Jamilah Pitts, C'2012, desires to leave an indelible mark on young students and positively impact the U.S. education system. The Columbus, Ohio native was recently awarded a $30,000 stipend by the Wilson-Rockefeller Brothers Fund to complete a master's degree in education. Pitts will be trained to teach in a high-need public school, be guided through the teacher certification process, and receive support throughout her three-year teaching commitment.

Read more about Pitts' fellowship

Teaching Takes Pitts Around the World

Two summers ago, Pitts spent five weeks in China teaching conversational English in a traditional classroom setting as a part of the Educational Services Exchange with China's Total Immersion Program. The WISDOM Center's Daughters of the Covenant program at Spelmam sponsored Pitts' experience.

Located on the Yuan Ming Yuan campus of Peking University in Beijing, the Total Immersion Program was developed to provide free training for elementary and middle school English teachers from China’s impoverished regions. The organizers hope the program will also stimulate the reformation of China’s educational system.

By helping Chinese teachers become more proficient in speaking English, Pitts explored her own call to the teaching profession as well as the diversity of cultures and religion.

Via email and teleconferencing, Rev. Rhodes, dean of Sisters Chapel and director of The Wisdom Center, served as a mentor to Pitts, who was required to establish a mission statement and address how her internship will impact her life. She will read several books including John Neafsey’s “A Sacred Voice Is Calling: Personal Vocation And Social Conscience.” She also completed weekly journal entries focused on how she sees God calling her to be a global citizen.

Pitts' Involvement at Spelman

Pitts is currently a member of the Spelman College Glee Club, Spelman College Ambassadors, the Miss Spelman and Her Court Advisory Board and Esther’s Circle Christian ministry.

She is also president of Movements of Praise, and served as senator for the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and was selected as Chief Justice for the junior class council. During spring break, Pitts traveled to Chicago with Esther’s Circle to participate in an urban project focused on healing race relations, injustice and poverty.

Upon graduation from Spelman, Pitts intends to pursue a career in education, first by teaching in the classroom, and then eventually entering the field of public policy.