A quarter century ago, Spelman College, a highly rated liberal arts educational institution for African American women in Atlanta, received a $20 million gift from Bill and Camille Cosby. As a result, an endowed visiting professorship was established at the college and in 1996, the college opened the Camille Olivia Hanks Cosby Academic Center.
Now, on the heels of accusations of rape by nearly 20 women against Bill Cosby, Spelman College has removed the Cosby name from the endowed professorship. In an email sent to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, a college spokesperson stated:
“The William and Camille Olivia Hanks Cosby Endowed Professorship was established to bring positive attention and accomplished visiting scholars to Spelman College in order to enhance our intellectual, cultural and creative life. The current context prevents us from continuing to meet these objectives fully. Consequently, we will suspend the program until such time that the original goals can again be met.”
Aku Kadogo, who was serving as the Cosby Endowed Professor for the 2014-15 academic year, is now listed as a “Spelman Distinguished Visiting Scholar.”