Title: Professor Emerita
Company: Spelman College
Location: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Dr. Johnnella Butler, EdD, Professor Emerita at Spelman College, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Educators for dedication, achievements, and leadership in academia.
With five decades of experience to her credit, Dr. Butler has established a successful career in education, specializing in liberal education, curriculum inclusion, consulting, and networking. She currently serves as faculty of the Executive Leadership Academy and affiliate faculty of the University of California, Berkeley, Center for the Studies of Higher Education, a position she has held since 2012. Her experience also includes professor of comparative women’s studies at Spelman College from 2014 to 2022, professor emerita of comparative women’s studies at Spelman College from 2005 to 2020, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Spelman College from 2005 to 2014, professor and associate dean at the University of Washington, Seattle from 1989 to 2005, associate professor and chair at Smith College from 1974 to 1989, and instructor of English and Black studies at Towson State University from 1970 to 1974. Additionally, she has contributed to panels for PEN America and served as assistant editor at the Center at Berkeley. Laying a solid educational foundation, she earned a Bachelor of Science from the College of Our Lady of the Elms, a Master of Arts in teaching from Johns Hopkins University, and a Doctor of Education in English literature, multicultural studies, and Afro-American literature.
Dr. Butler has also dedicated her time to the board of directors of the Association for American Colleges and Universities since 1989. In light of her impressive undertakings, she was awarded an honorary degree in humanities from the College of Our Lady of the Elms, received grants from the Mellon Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Ford Foundation, and held the dean’s liberal arts professorship at the University of Washington. Additionally, she takes great pride in establishing a graduate program in African American studies and American ethnic studies at the University of Washington. A notable highlight of her career was receiving a grant to implement multicultural curricular requirements at 26 community colleges and four-year institutions across Washington state. She attributes her success to her parents, both of whom were educators, and her formative years studying at a Catholic school. Looking ahead, she aims to collaborate with colleagues from the Executive Leadership Academy, located at the heart of Berkeley, to produce two edited volume books addressing some of the most pressing challenges and issues currently facing higher education. Additionally, she has plans to write a memoir, tentatively titled “Identity and Struggles for Education and Democracy,” which will recount the collaborative efforts of her and her spouse throughout their careers.
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