ATLANTA, Sept. 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Spelman College’s Gordon-Zeto Center for Global Education achieved record breaking global engagement during the 2025-2026 academic year, with a total of 498 students studying abroad across 35 countries in five continents. This data reflects a 31% increase from 380 students the previous year.
“I applaud my team in the Gordon-Zeto Center for Global Education — Dr. Kai McCormack, Dr. Karen Clay, Dr. John Givens and Ms. Stephanie Mathis — for their hard work and commitment to the College’s global education mission,” said Dr. ‘Dimeji Togunde, vice provost for global education at Spelman. “Given our compelling vision and global mindset, supported by consecutive strategic plans and institutional resources, this momentum along with the cultural curiosity of Spelman students to seek global knowledge within and beyond the gates of Spelman, bodes well for even a higher level of success. I am very excited by the possibilities of what we will be able to accomplish together during this coming year under Interim Provost Aditi Pai and President Ayanna Howard.”
To strengthen its commitment to ensuring Spelman students have access to a holistic global education, the College recently launched a variety of new international programs and courses, including:
· Theories and Practice of Leadership in Cape Town, South Africa
· The Impact of Globalization on Madrid, Spain
· Development & Social Change in Kisumu, Kenya and Dakar, Senegal
· Economic Progress & Sustainability in Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates
· Diasporic Research for Dance Performance in Marrakesh, Morocco
· Tropical Ecology and Infectious Diseases in a Changing World in Ecuador
Other new international programs include two global health internship initiatives in Barbados and South Africa, a global Black foodway trip to Brazil through Spelman’s Food Studies program, a summer internship program in Nigeria through the AUC Art Collective, and more.
Spelman’s faculty continue to demonstrate a vested interest in global engagement and the College’s strategic commitment to global education. Almost 89% of the 498 students studied abroad through faculty-led programs. In the 2025-2026 academic year, the number of faculty/staff who led study abroad programs increased by 52% compared to the previous year, indicating the pivotal role faculty play in the success of any institutional global engagement.
Spelman is nationally recognized as a leader in international education. Earlier this year, the College was ranked as the No. 1 top-producing institution for the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship among institutions with fewer than 5,000 students. Spelman was also named among the top 25 institutions nationwide producing Gilman Scholars across the program’s 25-year history.
Last year, Spelman was also recognized as a Study Abroad Leader by the Institute of International Education (IIE) Open Doors Report, ranking No. 17 among the top 40 U.S. Baccalaureate institutions for sending the highest number of students abroad, among other global engagement accolades.
Brijea Daniel Spelman College brijeadaniel@spelman.edu
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