Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole

Born in Jacksonville, Florida, Cole received her undergraduate degree in anthropology from Oberlin College in Ohio and a Master’s and Ph.D from Northwestern University. Her teaching career began at Washington State University and continued at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Hunter College in NY and Spelman College in Atlanta where she directed the Latin American and Caribbean Studies Program and assumed the role of president. Many of her academic publications juxtapose the unique experiences of different racial groups within the feminist movement. She has become one of the first academics to recognize and explore the significant differences and commonalities. With the hope of raising public consciousness, she emphasizes how ignoring the distinctions can engender discrimination and how promoting the common ground can create the dialogue necessary for progress. Currently, Cole is a Distinguished Professor Emerita at Emory University.