Spelman College, the private women’s liberal arts institution in Atlanta, has announced that it received a $100 million gift, which is the largest single donation ever bequeathed to an HBCU, CBS News

During an appearance on "CBS Mornings" on Thursday (Jan. 18), Dr. Helene Gayle, president of Spelman, expressed her excitement for the generous gift.

"I'm just feeling overjoyed," said Gayle. "This is such a historic moment, and it will mean so much not only to the girls who are at Spelman now but for young women far into the future. It's just amazing."

The donation was made by billionaire couple Ronda E. Stryker, a Spelman trustee, and her husband, William D. Johnston, chairman of the wealth management company Greenleaf Trust. 

Gayle also shared that Spelman’s track record of academic excellence allowed the school to be in a position to be the recipient of such a large investment and that Stryker sees the impact of the college firsthand as a trustee.

“When I talk to women who graduate from Spelman, they say, 'We developed such a sense of ourselves, such a sense of confidence that we know we can go anywhere, that when we're in a room, we belong there,'" Gayle said. "And that's the power of what Spelman and a Spelman education can do. And that's what Ronda Stryker has had the opportunity to see, up close and personal.”

Lovette Russell, chair of Spelman's board of trustees, spoke about how the gift will greatly impact Black students, who often navigate immense financial hurdles in pursuit of their education.

“As a student, I experienced the power of this historic institution and how it transforms the futures of talented young women," Russell said in an announcement to students. "I know that some of the brightest young women who dream about coming to Spelman are facing financial hardships and barriers toward higher education. What I am sharing with you today is a major step to ensure more young women can achieve their dreams."

The news of Spelman as the recipient of the largest donation in HBCU history is evidence of another banner academic year for the school. In September 2023, Spelman was ranked as the top HBCU in the nation in the U.S. News & World Report 2024 Best Colleges list for the seventeenth year in a row.

Additionally, Spelman ranked 7th on the list of Most Innovative Schools, 9th on the list of Learning Communities, 21st on the list of Service Learning, 33rd on the list of Study Abroad, and 54th on the list of Best National Liberal Arts institutions.

Congratulations to the administrators, students and alumni of this revered institution of higher education.