Spelman College Takes Mainstage to Discuss Business and Beauty During Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Conference

President and Faculty Emphasize Black Leadership and Opportunity in the Beauty Industry During the 2025 Annual Legislative Conference

Spelman College Interim President Rosalind “Roz” Brewer, C’84, and Spelman faculty members Dr. Leyte Winfield and Dr. Rosalind Gregory-Bass, C’92, led the ‘Business of Beauty’ Braintrust during this year’s Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference (ALC). The thought-provoking mainstage session featured a fireside chat and panel focused on the importance of amplifying diverse ownership and representation in the beauty industry.

The session began with an informative conversation between President Brewer and Maude Okrah Hunter, CEO and founder of The Black Beauty Roster. The two business leaders set the stage with an intimate discussion exploring how education fosters Black beauty entrepreneurship and the broader impact of Black leadership in beauty.

The conversation continued with a panel that brought together trailblazers who are reshaping the beauty industry, including Dr. Winfield, director of Spelman’s new cosmetic science program, and Dr. Gregory-Bass, health careers program director at Spelman. Other panelists included Sorelle Cooper, CEO and co-founder of Peel Haus; Janell Stephens, CEO and founder of Camille Rose; and Kym Lee, celebrity make-up artist.

During the panel, Dr. Winfield and Dr. Gregory-Bass highlighted the work HBCUs are doing to prepare students for leadership roles in STEM-driven beauty careers, including the development of Spelman’s cosmetic science program, the first discipline of its kind at an HBCU.

The ‘Business of Beauty’ session at the CBCF ALC highlighted how Spelman College’s cosmetic science program is redefining what innovation looks like when it centers the science of textured hair and melanin-rich skin,” said Dr. Winfield. “The panel was an opportunity to reaffirm the notion that beauty is not neutral; it lives at the intersection of race, gender, culture, and science. By positioning Black women as both innovators and scientific experts, Spelman is helping to shape a more equitable and evidence-based future for the beauty industry.”

Together, the panelists unpacked the barriers to equity in the beauty industry, the importance of amplifying diverse ownership and the actionable steps needed to ensure a more inclusive industry. From entrepreneurship to consumer advocacy, the dialogue offered both urgency and hope—equipping attendees with strategies to support systemic change and celebrate innovation in beauty.