wfn.org | Bennett College gets new president

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

April 29, 2002 News media contact: Linda Green7(615)742-54707Nashville,
Tenn.     10-31-71BP{190}

NOTE: A photograph of Johnnetta B. Cole is available with this report.

By United Methodist News Service

A well-known academic troubleshooter and college administrator is coming out
of retirement to become president of Bennett College, a historically
African-American women's school in Greensboro, N.C.

Johnnetta B. Cole, a retired anthropology professor and former president of
Spelman College in Atlanta, was named 14th president of United
Methodist-related Bennett on April 27. She is well known in academic circles
for leading Spelman to financial solvency and academic excellence.

Spelman and Bennett are the nation's only colleges that focus primarily on
African-American women. Bennett is one of 11 historically black colleges
related to the United Methodist Church.

Cole, 65, takes the reins July 1 from Charles Fuget, who had been serving as
interim president following the resignation of Althia Collins in December.
Collins had served for six months.

The board of trustees named Cole "an ideal choice to help Bennett face our
current challenges and fulfill our potential as a leading women's college,"
said Marian B. Tasco, chairwoman of the board of trustees.  

Bennett has been plagued with leadership controversy, falling enrollment and
a $2 million budget deficit. 

"Only the challenge to help Bennett College soar to the heights of its
possibility could have brought me out of retirement," Cole told students,
faculty and alumni during a welcoming ceremony. She expressed admiration for
the college. It "must be treasured," she said, "and we all have the
responsibility to nurture, invest in and protect her." A fund-raising
campaign would be undertaken to help restore the institution, she said.

The Rev. Joreatha Capers, administrator of the fund that serves the 11
historically black United Methodist colleges, praised Cole's selection. "She
will bring a lot of talent and wealth of experience to this position, and
the school will certainly benefit from all of the gifts that she brings,"
Capers said.

"I am deeply pleased and thankful to learn that Dr. Cole has graciously
accepted leadership of Bennett College. It is just for such a time as this
that her commitment, competence and caring are needed to the end that
Bennett's distinct mission as a United Methodist-related college will be
achieved," said the Rev. Jerome King Del Pino, top executive of the United
Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry.

In 1987, Cole became the first African-American woman to serve as president
of Spelman College and was known as "America's Sister President." She took
the helm at a time when Spelman was undergoing hardship and led a
fund-raising effort that raised $114 million, exceeding a goal of $81
million. Under her leadership, the school was rated by U.S. News and World
Report magazine as the best liberal arts college in the South.

Cole left Spelman for Emory University in 1998 to teach women's and African
American studies. She retired from Emory in 2001 but remains president
emeritus of Spelman and professor emeritus of Emory.

# # #

*************************************
United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org