Ranked as the number one HBCU in the country for the 14th year in a row, Spelman College has a
long history of educating and preparing women of color to earn advanced degrees in Science,
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics fields and become STEM leaders and
professionals. This track record has led to the Department of Defense designating Spelman
College as the first Center of Excellence for Minority Women in STEM (COE-MWS). Spelman’s
accomplishments, considered against the current national backdrop, illustrates the critical role
this unique institution plays in preparing STEM professionals and leaders that are representative
of the diversity of our nation.
The COE-MWS expands on the College’s effective strategies to
educate Black women in STEM and facilitates the synergy of all
programmatic and research initiatives in the Division of Natural
Sciences and Mathematics. This synergistic collaboration
among programmatic and research programs in the NSM division
will impact all STEM majors and increase the number of minority
women obtaining advanced degrees in STEM and going on to become
STEM professionals and leaders.
Pillars of Excellence
Serving as the foundation for the COE-MWS are its three pillars of
excellence:
- Research
- Academic Advancement
- Leadership & Professional Development
Guided by the pillars, the
COE-MWS serves as the hub for all STEM undergraduate research,
training, and programmatic activities in NSM division. The pillars are
the tenets that have resulted in the success of Spelman STEM graduates and are aligned with the
College’s strategic plan and DoD strategic goal of achieving “dominant capabilities through
innovation and technical expertise.”
