eliminating racism - empowering women - ywca atlanta

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Jane on Leadership
As director of a leadership center Jane states "I have a vision to create a premier leadership center that provides cutting-edge leadership models. We want the Center to be a place where the concept of civic engagement as the foundation of democracy is explored from the perspective of African American women and other women of color, a convener of women from around the world to discuss leadership and civic engagement as a foundation for world peace."

Member and
Academy Class of ’86
As Executive Director of Spelman College's Center for Leadership & Civic Engagement, Dr. Smith is the former chief executive officer of Business and Professional Women/USA. She began her professional career in 1975 at Spelman College as assistant professor of sociology and director of freshman studies. She went on to work as assistant to President Donald M. Stewart, where she assumed responsibility for managing Spelman's seven million dollar Advanced Institutional Development Grant. She also served as assistant vice president for development of Atlanta University and held managing directorship positions in INROADS of Atlanta and INROADS of Detroit.

In 1991, Coretta Scott King invited Dr. Smith to serve as director of development at the Martin Luther King Center for Nonviolent Social Change. From 1994 to 1998, she reported directly to President Jimmy Carter when she directed The Atlanta Project, a community development initiative of The Carter Center.

Dr. Smith relocated from Atlanta to the nation's capital six years ago to assume the position of president and chief executive officer of the National Council of Negro Women. She was later appointed by President Bill Clinton to the National Women's Business Council, and by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to the Beijing Plus Five Conference delegation.

Dr. Smith holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from Spelman College, a master's degree in sociology from Emory University, a Doctorate of Education in social policy analysis from Harvard University, and honorary doctorates from Spelman College and Texas College.