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Spelman president named to NYC monuments commission

SPELMAN PRESIDENT INSTALLED--April 9, 2016 Atlanta - Dr. Mary Schmidt Campbell shows her medallion during Spelman College 2016 Investiture Ceremony at Georgia World Congress Center on Saturday, April 9, 2016. Mary Schmidt Campbell, former dean emerita of the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, was installed as its 10th president of Spelman College on Saturday at the Georgia World Congress Center. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

SPELMAN PRESIDENT INSTALLED--April 9, 2016 Atlanta - Dr. Mary Schmidt Campbell shows her medallion during Spelman College 2016 Investiture Ceremony at Georgia World Congress Center on Saturday, April 9, 2016. Mary Schmidt Campbell, former dean emerita of the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, was installed as its 10th president of Spelman College on Saturday at the Georgia World Congress Center. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM
By
Sept 14, 2017

Spelman College president Mary Schmidt Campbell was recently named to a mayoral commission that will help determine the appropriateness of various public art, monuments and markers in New York City.

The city’s mayor, Bill de Blasio, announced the creation of the commission Friday, recognizing the “important conversation taking place right now about history and representation in public art, monuments and markers” in the wake of deadly clashes in Charlottesville, Va. this summer over monuments to Confederate leaders.

Locally, the debate has included the carvings of Confederate leaders on Stone Mountain.

Campbell has several ties to New York, including leading the Studio Museum in Harlem for 10 years and as former dean of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.

About the Author

Eric Stirgus joined The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2001. He is the newsroom's education editor. Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., Eric is active in the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists and the Education Writers Association and enjoys mentoring aspiring journalists.

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