Notable Alumnae

Arts & Entertainment

EVA NEAL RUTLAND (C’37) - Writer of Harlequin romance novels and other literature. Her novel, No Crystal Stair, covers the struggles and triumphs of Black people in the
20th century. Due to total blindness, she writes by using a computerized voice synthesizer.

MATTIWILDA DOBBS JANZON (C’46) – Retired opera singer and music professor; Debuted at La Scala in a Rossini opera, becoming the first African American to perform there; In 1956, she debuted at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

BERNICE JOHNSON REAGON, Ph.D. (C’70) - Founder of Sweet Honey in the Rock, the Grammy award-winning African-American female a cappella group; Served as the William and Camille Cosby Endowed Chair Professor of Fine Arts for 2002-2004.

TINA McELROY ANSA (C'71) - Novelist whose works include Baby of the Family (1989), Ugly Ways (1993), The Hand I Fan With (1996) and You Know Better (2002). She and her husband, Jonee’, are producing their first feature film, the movie adaptation of Ms. Ansa’s best-selling novel, Baby of the Family.

PEARL CLEAGE (C'71) – Fiction writer, playwright, poet, essayist and journalist; Her books include Some Things I Never Thought I’d Do (2003), I Wish I Had a Red Dress (2001), and her debut novel, What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day (1997), which was an Oprah Book Club selection in 1998 and appeared on the New York Times bestseller list for nine weeks. Her articles have appeared in Essence magazine and other publications.

LATANYA RICHARDSON JACKSON (C’71) – Stage, film and television actress who starred in the comedy, The Fighting Temptations, and appeared alongside her husband, Samuel L. Jackson, in the thrillers, Kill Bill Volume 2 and Volume 1. Other movie credits include Losing Isaiah, Malcolm X, and U.S. Marshals. She also appeared in the HBO movie, Introducing Dorothy Dandridge , and the documentary, Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives; Television guest star roles include Boston Public, NYPD Blue, Judging Amy, Once and Again and Ally McBeal. She made her directorial debut with the Lifetime film, Hairstory; Member of the Spelman College Board of Trustees.

VARNETTE HONEYWOOD (C'72) – Internationally renowned artist; Creator of the image of the Little Bill character for the award-winning children’s book series authored by Bill Cosby, and the animated series currently seen on the Nickelodeon Network.

KATHLEEN MCGEE-ANDERSON (C’72) – Television producer and playwright; Served as writer and consulting producer for the Showtime Television series, Soul Food, the longest running Black dramatic series in television history; She was an original writer and consulting producer for the Lifetime Television series, Any Day Now , supervising producer on 413 Hope Street , and a consulting producer on Touched by an Angel.

IRIS LITTLE-THOMAS (C’79) – Actress; Co-starred in the HBO Film, Everyday People, which premiered in June 2004; Portrayed civil rights legend Rosa Parks in the HBO Original film, Boycott, a critically acclaimed docudrama; She has had a recurring role as Judge Barbara Lusky on the television drama, Law & Order.

ROLONDA WATTS (C'80) – Noted journalist, actor, writer and talk show host; President/CEO of her own production company, Watts Works Productions. She has guest starred in several television shows from West Wing and The District to
Yes, Dear and The Bold and The Beautiful. She also landed the role of "Jena Rutherford" in Rikers, a feature film starring DL Hughley.

SHAUN ROBINSON (C’84) – Actress and weekend co-anchor and correspondent for Access Hollywood, a nationally syndicated entertainment news magazine show. She co-hosted NBC's coverage of the 2004 Tournament of Roses Parade and has made cameo appearances in the movies, Bruce Almighty, America's Sweethearts and Dr. Doolittle 2.

SHERRI A. MCGEE (C’87) – Writer; Co-author of Skinny Women Are Evil: Notes of a BIG GIRL in a Small-Minded World, written with the actress, Mo’Nique. Her articles appear frequently in ESSENCE and other magazines.

TAYARI JONES (C’91) – Received recognition as Best New Author by Black Issues Book Review for her debut novel, Leaving Atlanta (2002); The book was named Best Novel of the Year by Atlanta magazine and #1 Buzz-Worthy Southern Novel by Creative Loafing magazine.

TANIKA RAY (C’94) – Host of the Head 2 Toe, a beauty and style show airing on Lifetime Television and a co-host of Lifetime Now; She also has served as host of SoapCenter, on the SOAPnet, designs her own eclectic jewelry and contributes to US Weekly’s Fashion Police column.

LAURIE CUMBO (C’97) – Founder and Director of the Museum of Contemporary African Diaspora Art (MoCADA), Brooklyn, New York 's first and only museum with a focus on the art, culture and history of African Americans and the African Diaspora; ESSENCE magazine referred to her as a “one-woman art world tour de force” in a February 2001 profile.

KARAN KENDRICK (C'98) – Choreographer, actress, vocalist, producer; Toured in CROWNS: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats, a stage performance for which she received a Helen Hayes Award nomination; Founder and director of Bliss and Feet Center for the Arts in Fort Valley, GA.

STEPHANIE SCOTT (C’98) – Associate Beauty Editor for ESSENCE magazine.

KEISHA KNIGHT-PULLIAM (C’2001) – Actress; Played the role of Rudy Huxtable on the ‘80s television hit, The Cosby Show.

DANICA TISDALE (C'2001) -- Named Miss Georgia 2004, becoming the first African American to wear the crown in the pageant's 60-year history; The former Miss Atlanta competes for the title of Miss America in September 2004; Doctoral degree candidate in English at Emory University .