Spelman College has named Ayanna Howard as its next president, with a start date of Aug. 1. Howard, currently dean of Ohio State’s College of Engineering, brings a robotics and human-centered technology background and is stepping into a role expected to further strengthen Spelman’s STEM pathways and institutional partnerships. In parallel, Wilkes University, Elmira College, and Jessup University announced new presidential appointments tied to enrollment, fundraising, and program expansion goals. Together, the moves signal continued competition for student demand and institutional resources, with leadership teams emphasizing academic growth and operational scale.