Leadership Highlight: Spelman College’s Student Government President Cori’Anna White

In an effort to highlight the people who are leading colleges and universities across the nation, we at Watch The Yard reached out to Spelman College and did an interview with Cori’Anna White, the 2025–2026 Student Government Association president.

The position of student government president is a highly respected role and there is a special pride that one takes in being elected by their peers to lead. Cori’Anna White, who is majoring in Political Science, is from Miami.

She is a proud Spring 2025 initiate of Delta Sigma Theta.

We interviewed Cori’Anna White and talked to her about her position, goals, future and what it means to hold this type of leadership position in 2025–2026.

Read the full interview below.

What is the biggest thing you’ve learned as a student government president so far?

The greatest lesson I have learned as President of the Spelman College Student Government Association is the importance of perseverance—never giving up when meaningful progress is still possible, no matter how difficult the journey may be. Throughout my tenure, I encountered numerous obstacles while working to institute policy change, but those challenges taught me the value of building allyship with faculty and staff and remaining undaunted in the face of resistance. By cultivating trust, collaboration, and shared purpose, I was able to turn barriers into pathways for impact and ensure that student voices were not only heard, but acted upon.

What made you decide to attend Spelman College for undergrad?

I decided to attend Spelman because I wanted to be fully immersed in a culture rooted in Black excellence and sisterhood. During my senior year of high school, I was admitted into Spelman’s Honors Program and assigned to read Overground Railroad: The Green Book and the Roots of Black Travel by Candacy Taylor. That experience deepened my understanding of Black history and showed me how Spelman equips its students not only to learn from the past, but to actively shape the future. In that moment, I knew Spelman was where I belonged.

Spelman further affirmed its belief in my potential by naming me a Dovey Johnson Roundtree Presidential Scholar upon my admission—a full-ride scholarship that solidified the institution’s commitment to my educational excellence.

How has Spelman College molded you into the person you are today?

Spelman has taught me to embrace my Black culture, has strengthened my confidence in my abilities, and has pushed me to grow in countless ways. At the core of Spelman is sisterhood, and throughout every chapter of my college journey, I have had sisters to lean on and faculty and staff who have genuinely invested in my development and success—both within and beyond the gates of Spelman College. What began as a campus has become my home, and I will forever be indebted to Spelman for the role it has played in shaping me not only as a woman, but specifically as a Black woman.

What specific initiatives have you headed up this year (or are planning) and how do you think they will improve the school and surrounding community?

As the 84th President of the Spelman College Student Government Association, I have worked to ensure that every student’s voice is heard, represented, and transformed into meaningful change that will enhance the Spelman experience for years to come. Under my leadership, the 84th SGA administration has launched six key initiatives, each designed to address pressing student needs while strengthening community, wellness, and belonging.

We are developing a student lounge to provide a safe, on-campus space for collaboration and study, reducing the need for students to travel off campus for essential resources. Through the Greek Plots initiative, we are working to establish dedicated spaces for sororities that promote unity, service, and organizational visibility. To advance accessibility and wellness, we are launching a free menstrual pad and tampon dispenser pilot program in residence halls beginning in February. Lastly, we are working with faculty for their approval in recognizing mental health as an excused absence, ensuring equitable and compassionate academic policies.

Beyond these initiatives, I am leading efforts to strengthen student-advisor relationships through tailored campus surveys and advancing transportation solutions to support commuter students. I meet regularly with senior administrators and campus partners to move these efforts forward and ensure they are institutionalized for long-term impact.

In addition to these policy and programmatic efforts, the 84th SGA Board has achieved significant organizational milestones, including the creation of the SGA website, the launch of the SGA TikTok platform to increase transparency and engagement, the revival of the SGA President’s Book, and the formal establishment of the SGA Senate, our legislative branch, to strengthen shared governance and student representation.

Together, these initiatives and accomplishments reflect our commitment to building a more accessible, empowered, and connected Spelman community.

How is your student government administration/school currently working on attending to the mental health of students?

Mental health has been a central focus of my life, not only during my college experience but since grade school. As a result, when I arrived at Spelman College, I was deeply committed to supporting the mental and emotional well-being of our students. Throughout my time at Spelman, I have worked to strengthen our partnership with Counseling Services to expand access to care, including providing free group therapy sessions for students. One of these sessions, which I personally facilitated, was specifically designed for student leaders—addressing the often-overlooked assumption that those in leadership positions do not need support themselves.

In addition to traditional therapy initiatives, I have prioritized innovative and inclusive approaches to wellness. Through partnerships with local organizations, we introduced puppy therapy on campus, recognizing that healing and stress relief can take many forms beyond conversation alone. We also created mental health care packages that included stress-relief tools, mocktails, notebooks, and other resources, offering students both tangible support and moments of joy during particularly stressful periods such as midterms and finals. These events also allowed students to capture memories through photos, reinforcing reminders of their worth and resilience.

As the Spelman Student Government Association, our approach to mental health is rooted in both access and community. We are committed to providing meaningful resources while also creating welcoming, engaging spaces where students can pause, connect, and recharge—whether that means stopping by for a mocktail between classes or contributing to a photo book that serves as a lasting reminder of care and belonging.

We also recognize that high-energy moments, such as homecoming, can bring both excitement and stress. To support student safety and mental wellness during these times, we partnered with Fetii to provide free transportation for Spelman students throughout homecoming week and during a portion of the semester.

Collectively, these initiatives, in addition to our goal of making mental health absences excused absences, reflect our unwavering commitment as the Spelman Student Government Association to prioritize mental health in meaningful, accessible, and innovative ways—ensuring that students feel supported, seen, and valued.

What does leadership mean to you?

Leadership is a multifaceted concept, but at its core, it is rooted in service to others. A true leader inspires individuals to become the best versions of themselves, encourages critical thinking, and empowers others to be active participants in meaningful change. Leadership involves inviting diverse perspectives and welcoming differing viewpoints, as true representation is reflected in inclusive decision-making. A strong leader is also one who can make difficult decisions while remaining empathetic to the experiences and perspectives of others, and who is willing to enact change when it is necessary. Ultimately, a true leader is both a mentor and a confidant—someone who leads with courage, conviction, and an unwavering commitment to outcomes that justify the effort required to achieve them.

We now live in a digital world, what do you think schools need to do to represent themselves online in 2025–2026?

Living in a digital world presents many benefits, but it also creates a contentious landscape in which individuals are often exposed to conflicting information. To address this, it is imperative that institutions take a leading role in the digital age by educating students on how to critically engage with information through digital mediums while also actively meeting students where they are. As many students are deeply engaged with social media, it is essential that institutions maintain a strong presence on these platforms to foster connection, provide guidance, and directly address the concerns and questions students may have.

Why do you think Watch The Yard is important to Black students and college culture?

Watch The Yard is deeply important to culture not only within Black communities, but globally because it amplifies the initiatives, traditions, and excellence promoted by historically Black colleges and universities. It also highlights the impactful work of the Divine Nine within their respective spheres of influence. This platform is vital because it educates audiences on the history and ongoing efforts of these organizations while inspiring individuals to see how they, too, can participate in a global movement committed to meaningful and necessary change in communities around the world.

Beyond this, Watch The Yard is rooted in community, serving as a bridge that connects diverse populations and strengthens collective understanding across cultures.

What do you plan on doing after graduation?

After graduating from Spelman College, I plan to pursue a Juris Doctor and a Master of Business Administration to prepare for a career in public service. My ultimate goal is to become a politician who effectively advocates for the needs of her community. Alongside my commitment to public policy, I am deeply passionate about business and finance and have spent the past several years working on Wall Street, with plans to continue pursuing business endeavors professionally.

We at Watch The Yard would like to commend Cori’Anna White for her work as the student government president of Spelman College .