Presidential Speaker Series: Dr. Beverly Tatum on Hope for Higher Education

Join President Wendy Cadge for the inaugural lecture of the Presidential Speaker Series. Amanda Cox, Assistant Professor of Sociology, and Paul Joseph López Oro, Assistant Professor and Director of Africana Studies, will join Dr. Beverly Tatum in conversation on her recent book, Peril and Promise: College Leadership in Turbulent Times, and the promise of hope for higher education.  

Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum is the author of the New York Times best-selling book, “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?” and Other Conversations About Race as well as Can We Talk About Race? and Other Conversations in an Era of School Resegregation.  Dr. Tatum’s most recent book, Peril and Promise: College Leadership in Turbulent Times was published in Fall 2025 and delivers thought-provoking perspectives on the contemporary challenges and opportunities facing higher education in a time of rapid social change.  

An award-winning psychologist widely known for her expertise on race relations and as a thought leader in higher education, she is president emerita of Spelman College. Her thirteen years as the president of Spelman College (2002-2015) were marked by innovation and growth and her visionary leadership was recognized in 2013 with the Carnegie Academic Leadership Award. The combination of her expertise and her engaging, conversational style make Tatum a sought-after speaker on the topic of higher education leadership, strategies for creating inclusive campus and work environments, and the impact of race in the classroom.

The first 50 attendees will receive a complimentary copy of Dr. Tatum’s new book, Peril and Promise: College Leadership in Turbulent Times. There will be a book signing at the conclusion of the event.