Yolanda Watson Spiva, C'91

Yolanda Watson Spiva, C'91

1. Alumna Trustee Interest Statement

Spelman College transformed my life. As a member of the Class of 1991, I arrived on Spelman's campus and left with not only a degree, but a sense of purpose, a community of sisters, and an unshakeable belief in what Black women can accomplish. I want to give back at the highest level of institutional leadership. 

Throughout my career focusing on higher education access and completion, I have worked to expand opportunities for students like the women walking Spelman's campus today. As President and CEO of Complete College America, I lead a national organization dedicated to closing equity gaps in college attainment: a work not only shaped by my own experience, but also deeply aligned with Spelman's own mission. I bring a practitioner's understanding of the policy, funding, and partnership landscape shaping higher education, and I want to put that expertise in the service of the institution that shaped me. 

Serving as an Alumna Trustee would allow me to connect Spelman's strategic vision to the broader national conversation about the value of HBCUs, the urgency of student success, and the power of mission-driven institutions. I am committed to Spelman's continued excellence, financial strength, and enduring relevance - not only as an alumna but also as someone whose professional life has been dedicated to ensuring more students can access and complete a college education. 

2. Engagement with Spelman as Advocate, Donor and Volunteer

My engagement with Spelman has been ongoing and multi-dimensional across the decades since I graduated. I am a lifetime member of the National Alumni Association of Spelman College (NAASC) and have volunteered with the NAASC in every city where I have lived and worked. I am a consistent donor to the annual fund, Class gifts, the President's SafetyNet fund, and other campaigns. I was also a Charter Member of the Dream the Boldest Dreams Endowed Scholarship, established to honor Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole.

As a volunteer, I have mentored Spelmanites and Spelman women for decades: hosting interns in my workplace, serving as a reviewer and feedback provider for Spelman Research Day, and conducting mock interviews for juniors and seniors in the Spelman honors program as they pursued internships, fellowships, and post-baccalaureate opportunities. I have actively encouraged young women of all backgrounds to consider a Spelman education, and I have facilitated the attendance of four members of my own family, three of whom have graduated and one who will be attending.

I also volunteer with the Braven program at Spelman as a mentor, and my organization, Complete College America, serves as a strategic partner to Braven at Spelman, providing job and internship opportunities across the Complete College America (CCA) Alliance.

3. Personal and Professional Experience

My preparation for this role is the sum of a life and career spent at the intersection of education, equity, and leadership. 

Educational excellence: I hold a Ph.D. and have dedicated my career to advancing college completion and academic success for underrepresented students. As President and CEO of Complete College America, I lead a national organization that partners with states, systems, and institutions to close equity gaps and improve student outcomes. 

Leadership: As a CEO, a board member and advisor for nonprofits and for-profits, and a recognized voice in national education policy, I have built and sustained partnerships across the public, private, and philanthropic sectors and understand how to lead complex organizations through change toward measurable results, with strong governance, strategy, and accountability. 

Philanthropic: Having led three national organizations, I have worked closely with boards, foundations, and corporate partners, including national education funders such as the Gates and Lumina Foundations, to align resources with impact. I am a Charter Member of the "Dream the Boldest Dreams Endowed Scholarship" honoring Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole, a lifetime NAASC member, and a consistent donor to Spelman College. 

Community service: My service is both professional and personal, from mentoring students and hosting interns to supporting multiple family members' attendance at Spelman. I also contribute my service and leadership to local and regional chapters of Jack and Jill of America to support Black women who are mothers, am an active 35+ year member of a public service sorority and contribute ongoing volunteer work in my local community. 

4. Initiatives to Promote Spelman to the Outside Community

While I am not an official Ambassador, I consistently champion Spelman's impact domestically and internationally. Most recently, during travel to Senegal and The Gambia in partnership with U.S. institutions, I helped facilitate greater collaboration with HBCUs on the continent, speaking extensively about Spelman's legacy and the transformative power of its education. I often share my personal connection to the institution, spanning four generations of family attendance and the broader impact that educating Black women has on families and communities.

My advocacy is also rooted in scholarship. Through archival research conducted for my dissertation and subsequent book, I have worked to elevate Spelman’s history and ensure its lessons are not lost. I have presented at conferences and NAASC meetings on Spelman's contributions to higher education, particularly in areas such as academic excellence, philanthropy, and leadership within the HBCU community.

Beyond scholarship, I promote Spelman through mentorship and professional engagement. I have encouraged young women from diverse backgrounds to consider Spelman, resulting in multiple family members enrolling and graduating. In my role as President and CEO of Complete College America, I engage national leaders across policy, philanthropy, and higher education, consistently positioning Spelman and HBCUs as exemplars of mission-driven excellence and social mobility. Whether through partnerships like Braven or conversations with key stakeholders, I actively and enthusiastically advance Spelman's story and impact.