Prime Highlights
- Spelman College has appointed robotics and artificial intelligence expert Ayanna Howard as its new president after nearly 18 months of interim leadership.
- Howard brings experience from academia, entrepreneurship and NASA, with a strong background in engineering, robotics and STEM education.
Key Facts
- Howard most recently served as dean of the College of Engineering at Ohio State University and previously spent 16 years at Georgia Tech.
- She succeeds interim president Rosalind Brewer, who will continue serving as co-chair of Spelman’s $500 million fundraising campaign.
Background
Spelman College has appointed scientist, entrepreneur and robotics expert Ayanna Howard as its new president, ending nearly 18 months of interim leadership at the historically Black women’s institution.
Howard will join the office in August after being selected by the college’s board of trustees. Board Chair Lovette Russell said the search focused on identifying a leader who could preserve Spelman’s legacy while guiding the institution through the evolving challenges and opportunities facing higher education.
Howard joins Spelman from Ohio State University, where she has served as dean of the College of Engineering since 2021. She is well known for her contribution in robotics and artificial intelligence and has built a career spanning research, innovation and academic leadership.
Before joining Ohio State, Howard spent 16 years at Georgia Tech, where she chaired the School of Interactive Computing and established the Human-Automation Systems Lab. She also co-founded Zyrobotics, a company that developed therapy robots and educational technologies for children with special needs. The organisation later transitioned into a nonprofit before ending operations in 2025.
Earlier in her career, Howard worked for more than a decade at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, contributing to advanced aerospace and robotics projects.
In a statement, Howard said Spelman’s mission remains critical as technology, the workforce and society continue to change rapidly. She added that the institution must prepare students to succeed and create meaningful impact in a changing world.
Howard succeeds Rosalind Brewer, a Spelman alumna and former corporate executive who took over as interim president following the departure of former president Dr. Helene Gayle.
Her appointment comes as Spelman continues expanding programmes in innovation, entrepreneurship and STEM education, including recent investments in arts, technology and Black women’s leadership in science and engineering.
