Clark Atlanta University

SUMMARY

Clark Atlanta University is a private, Methodist-affiliated, historically Black research university located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Established through the consolidation in 1988 of Atlanta University (founded 1865) and Clark College (founded 1869), it is part of the Atlanta University Center consortium and offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programmes across arts and sciences, business, education, social work, and related fields.

HISTORY

Atlanta University was founded on 19 September 1865 by the American Missionary Association, with support from the Freedmen’s Bureau, to provide advanced educational opportunity for formerly enslaved African Americans. In its earliest days, it used modest facilities; for instance, an early teaching space included a repurposed boxcar in which classes were held at the site of the Friendship Baptist Church. The institution was formally chartered in 1867 and began offering postsecondary instruction by 1869; by 1873 its first graduating class received normal (teacher training) diplomas.

Over time, Atlanta University increasingly focused on graduate education and scholarly research. In 1929, Atlanta University adopted a graduate-school model, affiliating with nearby institutions such as Morehouse and Spelman for undergraduate education. The university became a hub of social sciences, liberal arts, and significant research, launching graduate schools in library science, education, business administration, and social work mid-20th century. Eminent scholars, notably W. E. B. Du Bois, taught at Atlanta University’s departments, contributing to the pioneering “Atlanta Studies” in sociology and civil rights research.

In 1869, Clark University (later Clark College) was established by the Freedmen’s Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church (which later merged into the United Methodist Church). It was named for Bishop Davis Wasgatt Clark, the first president of the Freedmen’s Aid Society. Originally, its first classes were held in a sparsely furnished room in Clark Chapel in Atlanta’s Summer Hill district. In 1877 Clark was chartered formally as a university.

During the late 19th century, Clark expanded, acquiring land in South Atlanta and growing its academic offerings. In 1883, Clark established a theology department in honour of Elijah H. Gammon; by 1888 that theological department became an independent seminary, now part of the Interdenominational Theological Center. Philanthropists such as Bishop Gilbert Haven supported the institution’s growth, envisioning Clark as a flagship among Methodist institutions serving formerly enslaved communities.

Through the 20th century, both institutions evolved amid the broader context of African-American higher education and civil rights. Atlanta University strengthened its graduate programmes; Clark College solidified itself as a reputable undergraduate liberal arts institution. The two, along with Morehouse, Spelman, Morris Brown, and the Interdenominational Theological Center, formed the Atlanta University Center consortium, coordinating programmes, library services, and shared resources. On 1 July 1988, Atlanta University and Clark College officially consolidated to form Clark Atlanta University. The merger aimed to unify the strengths of both institutions — Atlanta’s graduate research capacity and Clark’s undergraduate liberal arts tradition — into a single comprehensive university. Post-merger, CAU sought to develop a coherent identity bridging research, teaching, and social mission.

In recent decades, the university expanded programmes, strengthened research infrastructure, and launched capital campaigns. In 2020, a gift of US$15 million from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott became the largest individual donation in the university’s history. In 2021, the university announced a 10-year campaign to raise US$250 million for scholarships, infrastructure, research, and endowed professorships and continues to navigate challenges in higher education funding, graduation rates, and competition, while emphasising its mission of advancing social mobility, community engagement, and excellence in scholarship.

VISION

Clark Atlanta University’s vision is deeply rooted in the ideals of empowerment, social equity, and intellectual leadership. The founding schools (Atlanta University and Clark College) were established at a time when educational access for African Americans was limited; their purpose was to educate and to uplift communities, challenge inequality, and produce leaders who would transform society. The integrated vision for CAU emphasises combining rigorous academic standards with a dedication to public service and community transformation. The leadership envisaged a university that would act as an engine for social justice, economic mobility, and civic engagement throughout Atlanta and beyond.

TOP FASHION COURSES

Clark Atlanta University offers a Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design (Concentration) within its Department of Art & Fashion under the School of Arts & Sciences. The Fashion Design concentration emphasises training students to design apparel for diverse markets, balancing creative, technical, and economic considerations intrinsic to the fashion industry. Within that programme, courses such as History of Costume explore fashion’s progression from ancient to modern eras, emphasising cultural, environmental, and aesthetic influences. The CAU Fashion Lookbook is an editorial project initiated by CAU’s Department of Art and Fashion. This project showcases student and alumni design work in a professional, publication-style format, offering exposure, portfolio development, and practical experience in fashion presentation. The Lookbook also  helps students bridge the gap between academic training and real industry expectations.

KEY TEAM

• George T. French, Jr., Ph.D. — President of Clark Atlanta University

• Charlene D. Gilbert, Ph.D. — Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

• Silvanus J. Udoka, Ph.D. — Dean of the School of Business

• J. Fidel Turner, Jr., Ph.D. — Dean, School of Education

• Sebrena Jackson, Ph.D. — Dean, School of Social Work

• Christopher Bass, Ph.D. — Interim Dean, School of Arts & Sciences

• Gregory B. Morrison — Chair, Board of Trustees

• Leonard Walker — Vice Chair, Board of Trustees

• Stephanie Russell — Secretary, Board of Trustees

JOB INTEGRATION RATE

Clark Atlanta University publicly publishes career outcome statistics via its Career and Professional Development Office. According to Niche, CAU reports that 91% of graduates are employed within one year after graduation — a figure often used as a proxy for integration of alumni into the job market. Longer-term, data from alumni outcomes show that, on average, former CAU students earn approximately US$28,000 in their early careers. After ten years, average earnings rise to about US$38,400 for alumni working full time.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Clark Atlanta University is regularly ranked among prominent HBCUs in U.S. News & World Report. Its nanoscale science centre (the Center for Functional Nanoscale Measures) has produced more Black Ph.D. graduates in nanoscale science than any other HBCU. The CAU Fashion Lookbook initiative itself has gained attention as a platform showcasing underrepresented designers among HBCU students and alumni.

In recent times Clark Atlanta University was named as a Fulbright Historically Black College and University Institutional Leader for 2025. Each year, this initiative recognizes those HBCUs with exceptional engagement with the Fulbright Program, the U.S. government’s flagship international academic exchange program. “At Clark Atlanta University, our engagement with the Fulbright Program underscores our commitment to preparing scholars for a globalized world,” said President George T. French, Jr., Ph.D. “This partnership enriches our academic community by providing invaluable opportunities for our students and faculty to engage in transformative educational experiences abroad.”

REFERENCES

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