Bowie State University News December 4, 2014 Johnnetta Cole to Address About 380 Graduates at Bowie State University Longtime educator Dr. Johnnetta Cole, who is the director of the Smithsonian National African Art Museum, will address about 380 graduates, including about 85 graduate students, at the Bowie State University commencement<http://www.bowiestate.edu/commencement/> on Friday, Dec. 19 at 10 a.m. The ceremony will take place in the university's Leonidas S. James Physical Education Complex. Dr. Cole is recognized for her leadership and service in a distinguished career as an educator and humanitarian, addressing issues involving gender, race and many other forms of inequality. She has served as director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art since 2009 and was previously president of Spelman College and Bennett College for Women. She made history becoming the first African American woman to serve as president of Spelman College in 1987. During her presidency Spelman was named the number one liberal arts college of the South. During her presidency at Bennett College for Women, an art gallery was opened, and programs were initiated in women's studies and global studies. Dr. Cole holds a bachelor's degree from Oberlin College, as well as a master's degree and Ph.D. in anthropology, with a focus on African studies, from Northwestern University. In addition to Dr. Cole, one of Bowie State University's oldest alumni will be featured at the commencement. Barbara Fletcher Martin, 92, a longtime educator and former chair of the Prince George's County School Board, graduated in 1943 from the Maryland Teachers College at Bowie, now Bowie State University, with a bachelor's degree in elementary education. Martin and her husband famously led the fight to reopen a school in the original building of the historic Highland Park high school in Landover, Md., where she currently lives. Highland Park was built as a school for black children before desegregation forced it to close. The school was reopened as an elementary school in 1999 and has since been declared a historical site. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.