Johnnetta Cole Named Director of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African Art

Johnnetta Cole, the anthropologist who served as president at both Spelman College and Bennett College for Women, has been named director of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African Art.

Dr. Cole has a solid record as a fundraiser and she undoubtedly will be spending a great deal of her time in efforts to boost the museum’s financial strength.

The museum has 9,000 pieces in its collection. In 2008, 322,000 people visited the museum.Dr. Cole is a graduate of Oberlin College. She holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in anthropology from Northwestern University.