Johnnetta B. Cole

Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole isthe director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art (NMAfA). She will be the keynote speaker during the 2016 Fair360, formerly DiversityInc Top 50 Announcement Dinner on April 19 in New York City.

Before assuming her current position in 2009, Johnnetta Cole had a long and distinguished career as an educator and humanitarian. Through her work as a college president and university professor and through her published works, speeches, community service and consultations with corporations and not-for-profit organizations she consistently addresses racial, gender and all other forms of inequality.

Dr. Cole served as president of Spelman College and Bennett College for Women. She is the only person to have served as president of these two historically Black colleges for women in the United States. She is also Professor Emerita of Emory University from which she retired as Presidential Distinguished Professor of Anthropology, Women’s Studies and African American Studies.