Notable Alumni of Spelman College

Stacey Abrams 1973–

Georgia politician and voting rights activist

Bachelor of Arts · Interdisciplinary studies · Class of 1995

Also attended: Yale University, The University of Texas at Austin

Sibling: Leslie Joyce Abrams (Yale University, Brown University)

Marian Wright Edelman 1939–

Founder of the Children's Defense Fund

Also attended: Yale University

Spouse: Peter Edelman (Harvard University)

Christine King Farris 1927–2023

Civil rights activist, sister of Martin Luther King Jr

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Father: Martin Luther King Sr. (Morehouse College)

Mother: Alberta Williams King (Spelman College, Hampton University)

Adrienne Adams 1960–

Former speaker of the New York City Council

Bachelor's degree · Psychology · Class of 1982

Also attended: CUNY York College

Marcelite J. Harris 1943–2018

First African-American female general in the U.S. Air Force

Rosalind Brewer 1962–

Former CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance

Bachelor of Science · Chemistry

Also attended: University of Chicago, University of Pennsylvania, Stanford University

Lisa D. Cook 1964–

Economist and Federal Reserve governor

Also attended: University of California-Berkeley

Ruha Benjamin 1978–

Sociologist and professor at Princeton University

Bachelor of Arts

Also attended: University of California-Berkeley

Monica Cox 1901–

Professor of engineering education at Ohio State University

Also attended: The University of Alabama, Vanderbilt University

Alice Walker 1944–

Novelist, first Black woman to win Pulitzer for Fiction

Attended until 1963

Also attended: Russell Sage College, Sarah Lawrence College

Spouse: Melvyn R. Leventhal (New York University)

Child: Rebecca Walker (Yale University)

Tati Gabrielle 1996–

Actress known for You and The Last of Us

Esther Rolle 1920–1998

Actress known for Maude and Good Times

Also attended: Yale University, CUNY Hunter College, The New School

Keshia Knight Pulliam 1979–

Actress who began as a child actress

Tayari Jones 1970–

Author of An American Marriage

Also attended: Arizona State University-Tempe, University of Iowa

LaTanya Richardson 1949–

Actress in theatre, film and television

Spouse: Samuel L. Jackson (Morehouse College)

Bernice Johnson Reagon 1942–2024

Singer, composer and civil rights activist

Also attended: Howard University, Albany State University

Mattiwilda Dobbs 1925–2015

Coloratura soprano; first black singer at La Scala

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Faune A. Chambers 1976–

Actress in Bring It On Again

Spouse: Fonzworth Bentley (Morehouse College)

Maia Campbell 1976–

Former actress known for In the House

Mother: Bebe Moore Campbell (University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus)

Cassi Davis 1964–

Actress in Tyler Perry's House of Payne

Attended until 2009

Kokui Selormey Hanson 1978–

Ghanaian media personality and broadcaster

Also attended: The New England Conservatory of Music

Bernice King 1963–

Minister, lawyer and daughter of Martin Luther King Jr

Also attended: Emory University, Grinnell College

Father: Martin Luther King Jr. (Emory University, Morehouse College)

Mother: Coretta Scott King (The New England Conservatory of Music, Antioch University-Los Angeles)

Alberta Williams King 1904–1974

Civil rights organizer, mother of Martin Luther King Jr

Also attended: Hampton University

Spouse: Martin Luther King Sr. (Morehouse College)

Child: A. D. King (Morehouse College)

Janet Bragg 1907–1993

Aviator, first Black woman with unlimited commercial pilot license

Nursing

Also attended: Loyola University Chicago