Program Director
Office | 404-270-5664
Fax | 404-270-5666
Michelle S. Hite, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of English at Spelman College, where she also directs the Ethel Waddell Githii Honors Program and prestigious international fellowships. Her teaching and research interests in death and mourning in African American Culture, Southern Studies, and Toni Morrison support the Literary and Textual Studies concentration in the major.
Dr. Hite’s most recent publications use Beyonce and rapper Andre Benjamin to explore death and mourning in African American culture. Her most recent meditation on Toni Morrison appeared in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution after the author’s passing. She can also be heard discussing the cultural impact of Morrison’s loss in conversation with NPR’s Rose Scott. Dr. Hite’s manuscript, Toni Morrison and Portraits of Human Richness is currently under contract with McFarland Press.
Program Coordinator
Office | 404-270-5665
Fax | 404-270-5666
Email | ccooke@spelman.edu
Cynthia Cooke has been an employee of Spelman College since 1992. She has given excellent service to the Honors Program since 2006, first as the Senior Administrative Assistant and now as the Program Coordinator. Before that, she was instrumental in the creation of one of the College’s core requirements, African Diaspora and the World. Also during her years here, she worked with the Spelman College Nursery. Working with the Honors students has become a major source of pride for her. Seeing the young ladies come in as fledgling seekers and leaving as independent scholars have provided her with continuous fulfillment. Cynthia has a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from Georgia State University.
The 2024-2025 E-Board
President
Mackenzie Hickson is a third year Health Science major and Comparative Women’s Studies minor. With aspirations to attend graduate school to receive her MPH in Social and Behavioral Sciences before pursuing a DrPH to ultimately develop programming to address how poverty, incarceration, and the development of chronic health conditions are linked in Black communities. This is Mackenzie’s third year on the Executive Board, as she has served previously as the Co-Community Service Chair and First Year Liaison. She joined the Ethel Waddell Githii Honors Program E-board because she invested in cultivating an intellectual community that is fun and rewarding while also being challenging. Her goal is to make everyone feel included and supported through our events and interactions.
Vice President
Amia Loveless is a senior Psychology major, Biochemistry minor from Teaneck, New Jersey. With aspirations to attend graduate school to receive her PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience , Amia hopes to have a career as neuropsychologist before eventually becoming a psychology professor. This is Amia’s third year on the Executive Board, as she has served previously as the Publicity Chair her first two years. She joined the Ethel Waddell Githii Honors Program E-board because she had a desire to become further involved with the program, specifically, by contributing to the intellectual community.
Secretary
Gabi Harris is a third-year Comparative Women’s Studies and Political Science double major from Richmond, Virginia. Gabi has aspirations to become a civil attorney and policymaker after Spelman College. This is Gabi’s first year on the executive board. She joined the Ethel Waddell Githii Honors Program E-board to form meaningful relationships with other Honors students and to have an opportunity to cultivate a welcoming community.
Jayda Harris
Co-Publicity Chair
Jayda Harris is a junior Health Sciences Major on the Pre-Medical track from Baltimore, Maryland. Jayda aims to attend medical school and receive her Masters in Public Health after her matriculation at Spelman. With aspirations of serving the community that molded and guided her, Jayda aspires to become a Obstetrician Gynecologist who serves the Greater Baltimore area. In addition, Jayda also yearns to become a certified Doula and Lactation Consultant to support her work as an OB/GYN. This is Jayda’s first year on the Executive Board, serving as one of the Co-Publicity Chairs. She joined the Ethel Waddell Githii Honors Program E-Board because she has a passion of becoming a change agent and a leader not only in the Spelman community but in a smaller intellectual community full of inspiring and engaging scholars as well. It inspired her to strengthen her engagement in a community that prioritizes scholars having the control to fully display their intelligence, curiosity, and love for learning.
Co-Publicity Chair
Logan Smith
Community Service Chair
Carson Pauling is a second year Biochemistry Major on the from Atlanta, Georgia. Catherine has aspirations to enter the field of Aerospace Medicine to help advance the future of human flight and space exploration. She joined the Ethel Waddell Githii Honors Program E-board to help create and promote events that will help Honors Students serve their community, while learning from those experiences.
Co-Social Service Chair
Jayda Hendrickson
Co-Social Chair
Blair Moore
Upperclasswoman Liaison
Jordyn Smalls
First-Year Liaison
Sophia Wade
Intern
Shelby Rae Williams is a second-year Health Science major and Spanish minor on the pre-med track. She is striving to become an obstetrician gynecologist. This is her second year on the executive board serving as an Intern. She joined the Ethel Waddell Githii Honors Program e-board to be hands-on with the mission and goals of the honors program.