Staff Profile
Robert Hackett
From the Heart of The Bonner Foundation: Elaine ...

In celebration of Elaine Wheeler's retirement, we honor her invaluable contribution to the Bonner Foundation. Her commitment and mentorship have been instrumental in our growth as a Foundation and the Network we have today. As she embarks on her retirement, we celebrate her legacy of dedication and look forward to the path she has paved for us.

From the Heart of The Bonner Foundation: Elaine Wheeler's Retirement Celebration
Robert Hackett
Announcing the Refreshed Bonner Wiki

With over three decades sharing campus examples, guides, and documents to download, the Bonner Foundation is excited to announce a recently updated Bonner Resources Wiki.

This summer, the five National Bonner Summer Interns at the Foundation — Anu Baskar (George Mason ‘24), Camila Guayasamin (The College of New Jersey ‘24), Dominique Dore (University of Houston ‘22), Mikaela Chin (High Point University ‘24) and Selah Ndouta (Capital University ‘22) — worked with the Foundation staff to refresh the look of the wiki’s homepage and, more importantly, update campus examples and other documents.

They devoted particularly attention to the Bonner Program Management and Community-Engaged Learning sections. In addition, Mikaela and Dominique also created a short video on how to navigate this wealth of knowledge.

Announcing the Refreshed Bonner Wiki

Spelman College

Bonner Office of Civic Engagement at Spelman College – Empowering Women Toward More Civic Engagement

Bonner Office of Civic Engagement at Spelman College – Empowering Women Toward More Civic Engagement

Spelman College in Atlanta is dedicated to enhancing community engagement programs to promote civic responsibility and innovative problem-solving. The college is striving to achieve recognition from the Carnegie Foundation for its community engagement initiatives, including the SpelREADS Literacy Program and the Refugee and Forced Migrations service-learning course. As a leading Historically Black College or University (HBCU), Spelman College believes that community engagement plays a vital role in cultivating leadership skills and empowering students to make meaningful contributions to society.

Bonner Alumna Announce as United Foundation of Central Florida New Board Member & A Bonner Student is One of Five New Junior Board Members

Bonner Alumna Announce as United Foundation of Central Florida New Board Member & A Bonner Student is One of Five New Junior Board Members

United Foundation of Central Florida is pleased to announce on its Eight Year Anniversary the appointment of one new board member, Nadia Oakley, and five new junior board members, Nerstafara Emilzo, Melissa Monde, Shannon Biassou, Christie St. Vil, and Gardyson Etienn

Spelman Bonner Alum to Serve in U.S. Department of Education

Spelman Bonner Alum to Serve in U.S. Department of Education

Kabrillen Jones, Spelman College Class of 2015, is one of the latest Spelman alumnae to join the President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris administration.

In February, Jones was named special assistant in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services at the U.S. Department of Education.

Propel Center, a New Global HBCU Hub for Innovation, Learning & Social Impact

Propel Center, a New Global HBCU Hub for Innovation, Learning & Social Impact

Morehouse, Spelman, and other HBCUs partner with Propel Center to create a first-of-its-kind hub for all 100+ HBCUs to connect students and faculty from across the community. The goal is to provide HBCU students with the knowledge, skills, tools, and resources necessary to transform the nation’s talent pipeline and workforce. Curriculum options will include artificial intelligence and machine learning, agricultural technologies, social justice, entertainment arts, app development, augmented reality, design and creativity, career preparation and entrepreneurship tracks.

The announcement made by Apple highlighted their $25 million gift towards the initiative as part of their $100 Racial Equity and Justice Initiative (REJI) to help dismantle systemic barriers to opportunity and combat injustices faced by communities of color.

Apple’s announcement featured Jared Bailey, Morehouse Bonner Scholar in the Class of 2021, noting that he “has integrated Apple’s coding and creativity curricula into his public health and community service work as part of the school’s partnership with Apple, a collaboration that is expanding further with the launch of the Propel Center.”

Spelman Bonner Scholar Named Andrew W. Mellon Undergraduate Curatorial Fellow

Spelman Bonner Scholar Named Andrew W. Mellon Undergraduate Curatorial Fellow

A Spelman College art history and international studies double major and Bonner Scholar is the second student from the College to earn a 2019–2021 Andrew W. Mellon Undergraduate Curatorial Fellowship.

Destinee Fillmore joins an incoming cohort of 12 students selected to participate in the competitive program, which was designed to encourage undergraduates to pursue graduate studies in art history and curation.  

Fillmore began her two-year fellowship at Atlanta’s High Museum of Art this fall where she works with curators and staff on exhibitions, collections and programs. 

Spelman Bonner Scholar Among Inaugural Minority Entrepreneur Fellows from HBCUs

Spelman Bonner Scholar Among Inaugural Minority Entrepreneur Fellows from HBCUs

ATLANTA (February 18, 2019) – A Spelman College student is part of an inaugural cohort of fellows in a program that aims to increase minority entrepreneurs from historically Black colleges and universities.

Destinee Filmore, C’2021, is among the 25-member cohort of the Mary Ellen Pleasant Entrepreneur Fellowship program. The MEPE Fellowship, an outgrowth of a partnership between The Penn Center for Minority Serving Institutions and minority-owned recruiting marketing platform, The Whether, is part of a $775,000 Innovations in Career Advising grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

“These types of learning opportunities contribute to the transformational experiences that shape the lives of Spelman students,” said Darryl Holloman, Ph.D., vice president for student affairs.  “Destinee’s selection aligns with Spelman’s efforts to train innovative change agents who, in turn, have a positive impact on the world. We are proud of Destinee for this accomplishment.”

Zero Hunger Internship Pilot Cohort Reflects on Internships

Zero Hunger Internship Pilot Cohort Reflects on Internships

October 29, 2018 - from Congressional Hunger Center Blog

This summer, four Bonner students traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in the pilot cohort of the Zero Hunger Internship Program, a new initiative developed by the Congressional Hunger Center and the Bonner Foundation.

Leveraging the Congressional Hunger Center’s policy education and leadership development expertise and the Bonner Foundation’s extensive network of service-focused leaders, the program gives students in the Bonner network an opportunity to learn about federal anti-hunger policy and gain firsthand experience working with nationally-focused organizations. After the internship, these student leaders bring back their new anti-hunger advocacy skills to their campus communities.