Spelman College Ranked No. 1 Among Small Institutions for Gilman Scholars

25-Year Recognition Underscores Spelman's National Leadership — and Expands Opportunities for Students

Spelman College has been ranked the No. 1 top-producing institution for the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship among colleges and universities with fewer than 5,000 students, a distinction that builds on the College's recognition in the Gilman Program's 25th Anniversary Campaign. The campaign, led by the U.S. Department of State, recognizes colleges and universities that have supported the highest number of Gilman Scholars from 2001 to 2025.

As part of this milestone, Spelman was also named among the top 25 institutions nationwide producing Gilman Scholars across the program's 25-year history — positioning the College as a national leader in preparing students to be competitive, successful applicants and recipients. Spelman leads the nation among small institutions, ranking No. 1 among colleges with fewer than 5,000 students — ahead of Berea College (No. 2) and The Evergreen State College (No. 3), and among a distinguished cohort that includes Brandeis University (No. 4), Mercer University (No. 6) and leading women's colleges such as Mount Holyoke College (No. 9) and Barnard College (No. 10).

Administered by the U.S. Department of State, the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program provides merit-based awards to undergraduate students with high financial need, enabling them to study or intern abroad for academic credit. Now celebrating its 25th anniversary, the program has helped thousands of students nationwide gain critical global experience and career-ready skills that strengthen the nation's economic competitiveness and security.

"I am delighted to learn that Spelman College has been officially recognized as a Gilman 25th Anniversary Top Producing Institution. The leadership of Dr. 'Dimeji Togunde has distinguished us among small institutions for our excellence in supporting Gilman Scholars for a very long time," said Mark E. Lee, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs.

Central to this sustained success is the leadership of Dr. 'Dimeji R. Togunde, vice provost for Global Education and professor of Global and Diaspora Studies. Through the Gordon-Zeto Center for Global Education, Togunde and his team have built a comprehensive model that prepares students not only to study abroad, but to compete for — and win — nationally prestigious scholarships.

"Dr. Togunde has consistently delivered excellence in global education for Spelman, maintaining its vital role as an institutional pillar long after global education served as our QEP anchor. This achievement is a direct reflection of his leadership, his team, the faculty he is able to guide in leading global experiences, and the dedicated efforts of the Gordon-Zeto Center. We are grateful for all he has done for our students and for Spelman's global standing," Lee said.

Spelman's consistent recognition — both as a top producer over 25 years and as the current No. 1 among small institutions — reflects a deliberate institutional strategy: remove barriers, provide structure and position students to succeed. From semester study abroad and faculty-led global experiences to targeted advising and application support, students are guided through every stage of the process by Karen Clay, Ph.D., director for semester study abroad and cultural orientation, who serves as lead Gilman campus advisor.

"Dr. Clay's hard work and commitment to this initiative is commendable," said Togunde.

The recognition, he said, speaks to something deeper than program metrics.

"Spelman's consistent recognition as a topmost producer of Gilman Scholars validates the institutional success in ensuring that talented and high financial need students have access to transformative international experiences. This recognition underscores Spelman's laser-focused, long-term strategic priority aimed at providing every student, regardless of her socio-economic circumstance, with the skills to navigate diverse global cultural landscapes and to be successful as global leaders in a competitive global society."

He went further, describing the full scope of that commitment.

"Spelman College is undaunted in its efforts in producing the next generation of globally engaged, future-ready, 21st century workforce, who are poised to change the world through a variety of global learning initiatives including study abroad, international internship and service-learning, research abroad, internationalization of the curriculum, internationalization at home through engagement with global issues that are inherently local, and innovative Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) projects."

For students, the opportunity is tangible. The Gilman Scholarship provides awards of up to $5,000, with additional funding available for the study of critical need languages — making study abroad more accessible for Pell Grant-eligible students.

Spelman students interested in studying abroad are encouraged to explore the Gilman Scholarship early in their academic journey. With support from the Gordon-Zeto Center for Global Education, students can access advising, application workshops and faculty mentorship designed to strengthen their candidacy. Application cycles in October and March offer two opportunities during the academic year. Early preparation with the application, a carefully written essay that shows how study abroad or internship abroad will advance students' academic, professional and language goals, and ensuring that the required service project can be completed within six months of a student's return to the United States, are key.