Spelman College has taken a significant step in its mission to equip women of color for leadership in international strategic affairs and intelligence. Thanks to a $2.5 million grant from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the college is poised to establish the Spelman Strategic and Security Studies Center, a groundbreaking initiative that aligns with ODNI’s Intelligence Community Centers for Academic Excellence program.

This grant highlights ODNI’s dedication to strengthening U.S. strategic priorities through education while reinforcing Spelman’s commitment to cultivating future leaders in intelligence and security.

Through this five-year grant, Spelman will offer students enriched opportunities to broaden their expertise and experience. The center will provide study abroad programs, critical language training, and scholarships to support students in a proposed new minor in international strategic studies. 

Various departments will collaborate to develop the center, drawing on their combined expertise. The Gordon-Zeto Center for Global Education, led by Vice Provost Dr. ‘Dimeji Togunde, the Department of Political Science, chaired by Dr. Kasahun Woldemariam, and the Department of World Languages and Cultures, chaired by Dr. Jacqueline Alvarez-Rosales, will all play a role in shaping this dynamic program.

Dr. Tinaz Pavri, chair of Spelman’s Division of Social Sciences and Education and the principal investigator for the grant, emphasized the importance of the new center in positioning Spelman students for impactful roles. “This grant enables Spelman to prepare a cohort of students to take their rightful places in conversations that will shape, define, and critique international strategic affairs and national security issues,” Dr. Pavri shared, stressing that the center will empower students to bring their unique talents, values, and lived experiences into global discussions on security and strategy.

The Spelman Strategic and Security Studies Center will focus on enhancing academic programs that blend theoretical and practical knowledge in international affairs, intelligence, and security. The initiative will also include language training and cultural education, equipping students with essential skills for meaningful engagement in global operations. By nurturing a diverse pipeline of professionals, the center aims to strengthen the U.S. intelligence community with graduates whose backgrounds and perspectives will enrich strategic roles in international affairs.

Building on Spelman’s ongoing efforts in STEM, the new Strategic and Security Studies Center will affiliate with the Center of Excellence for Black Women in STEM. This innovative endeavor reflects Spelman’s vision for a future where Black women not only contribute to but lead in shaping the field of global security and strategic affairs.