‘It’s UATL’ Podcast: Spelman College’s New President Opens Up

Dr. Ayanna Howard Talks About Leading the Next Chapter at One of America’s Top HBCUs

Spelman College President Dr. Ayanna Howard recently joined the It’s UATL podcast to discuss her vision for the future of the HBCU, the role of AI in education, and the importance of Black women finding their voices

As Spelman’s 12th president, Dr. Howard brings in a unique background of expertise as a nationally recognized expert in robotics, artificial intelligence and human-centered technology. With a background in technology, Dr. Howard acknowledges the importance of remaining committed to advancing the humanities and liberal arts.

In the interview, Dr. Howard shared that her holistic mindset stems from viewing STEM and the liberal arts as interconnected rather than focusing solely on one discipline, a background that fuels Spelman’s top positioning among HBCUs.

Spelman’s place in this is really the intersection of STEM and liberal arts, humanities, and the creatives,” said Dr. Howard in the interview. “It really is that kind of ecosystem.”

With AI on the rise, Dr. Howard emphasized that the goal in higher education should be for AI to serve as an assistant in the service of the respective disciplines, rather than replacing them. According to Dr. Howard, users should approach AI with a "healthy fear," given its many complexities.

As president, Dr. Howard said she plans to preserve Spelman’s rich history while still pushing the institution to challenge existing systems. Her aspirations for the College include ensuring continued growth and evolution, with a focus on more collaboration and partnerships among schools within the Atlanta University Center Consortium and the greater Atlanta area.

Listen to full interview here.