Census Information Center History

Center History

The Spelman College Census Information Center (CIC) was established in 2000 with the support of faculty members Drs. Romie Tribble and Jack Stone (Economics Department) and Bruce Wade (Sociology Department).

The Center is housed in the Sociology and Anthropology Department and flourished under the leadership of Dr. Wade, who served as the program's director from its inception until his passing in 2018. From 2018-2020, Dr. Mona Phillips directed the program. The CIC is currently directed by Dr. Celeste N. Lee.

Spelman is one of four HBCUs in the nation that have a CIC, serves as the only women-centered college in the CIC network, and is the only historically Black college CIC that is not supported by a graduate student population. As a result, Spelman plays a critical role in elevating the ways in which Census data can illuminate intersectional experiences surrounding race and gender. Likewise, Spelman leads other CICs in training undergraduate students as Census data users.