Spelman College Establishes a Student Exchange Program With the Berklee College of Music

Historically Black Spelman College in Atlanta has established a student exchange program with the Berklee College of Music in Boston. The mission of the Berklee-Spelman exchange program is to promote educational opportunities in music and liberal arts to female-identifying students of African descent; to facilitate cultural and social integration through the study of music performance, theory, and history, with a specific focus on jazz and contemporary music; and to increase the participation of African American women in jazz.

The Berklee-Spelman exchange was conceived several years ago by its founding director, Tia Fuller, a Grammy-nominated recording artist, saxophonist, bandleader, and professor in Berklee’s ensemble department. Fuller, a magna cum laude graduate with a bachelor’s degree in music from Spelman College, collaborated with Paula Grissom-Broughton, an assistant professor at Spelman College, to develop the program.

Professor Fuller’s inspiration stemmed from a life-changing musical experience at the historically Black all-women’s college. Specifically, she was influenced by Joe Jennings, who founded the college’s jazz program in 1983 and directed the Spelman College Jazz Ensemble for 30 years.

“Ultimately, it is my goal to reinstate the jazz ensemble and instrumental program at Spelman College. The exchange program is allowing young women of color to have the balance of experiencing Black excellence at an HBCU and the diverse musical community of Berklee,” Professor Fuller said.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Get the JBHE Weekly Bulletin

Receive our weekly email newsletter delivered to your inbox

Latest News

Higher Education Grants or Gifts of Interest to African Americans

Here is this week’s news of grants or gifts to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.

Temple University President JoAnne Epps Dies Suddenly at Campus Service

JoAnne A. Epps, acting president of Temple University in Philadelphia, collapsed on stage during a celebration of life ceremony for Charles L. Blockson on September 19, where she was scheduled to speak. She was taken from the stage to Temple University Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. President Epps was 72 years old

Professor Michael Dawson Wins Award From the American Political Science Association

Michael C. Dawson, the John D. MacArthur Professor of Race, Diaspora, and Indigeneity Studies and professor of political science at the University of Chicago, received the Charles E. Merriam Award from the American Political Science Association. The award is given to a person whose published work and career represent a significant contribution to the art of government through the application of social science research.

Several HBCUs Obtain Grants From the Institute of Museum and Library Services

The Institute of Museum and Library Services, an independent federal agency, has announced 64 grants totaling $20,363,297 to support libraries and archives across the country. Some of these grants have been awarded to historically Black colleges and universities.

Featured Jobs