Torrie Dunn, C’2017, learned early on to use her struggles as motivation for success. From age 8 to 18, she grew up under the care of legal guardians, who set her and her siblings on a path to a college education. She was drawn to Spelman because of its strong legacy of empowering Black women and supportive sisterhood, said the early education major from Stockbridge, Georgia.
Her sister, Torrina Dunn, is a sophomore at the College. They both serve as Spelman Ambassadors. “I think growing up with legal guardians made me more determined and motivated because someone stepped up to raise my older brother, younger sister and me. My getting into college was rewarding to them,” she said. “You hear sob stories about children who are wards of the state. Life was not easy starting out, but you can use that as motivation to succeed. I think it’s my job to keep paying it forward and showing appreciation.”
I want to have a knowledge of law and education to make policies to 
benefit children of color. I want to stop the school-to-prison pipeline.”
During her time at Spelman, Dunn has participated in study abroad programs in Ghana and Trinidad and Tobago. In December, she is traveling to Cuba with the Spelman Education Department to learn more about the country’s educational system. After graduating in May, she plans to attend law school and earn a juris doctor degree in education law. Her goal is to advocate for children on the policy side of education. “A lot of policies are made by people without an educational background,” she said.
“I want to have a knowledge of law and education to make policies to benefit children of color. I want to stop the school-to-prison pipeline.”