Clark Atlanta University

Clark Atlanta University is a private, Methodist-affiliated historically black research university located in Atlanta, Georgia. It was formed in 1988 by the consolidation of two storied institutions: Atlanta University, founded in 1865 by the American Missionary Association with assistance from the Freedmen's Bureau, and Clark College, established in 1869 by the Freedman's Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The university is a member of the United Negro College Fund and is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity."

History

The institution's roots trace to the post-Civil War era, with Atlanta University being founded to educate newly freed African Americans. Its first president was Edmund Asa Ware, and it later became the nation's first graduate institution to serve African American students, awarding its first graduate degree in 1929. Notable figures like W. E. B. Du Bois taught in its sociology department and launched the seminal journal Phylon there. Meanwhile, Clark College originated as Clark University in 1877, named for Bishop Davis Wasgatt Clark, and relocated to its current Atlanta University Center site in 1941. The 1988 consolidation, spearheaded by presidents Thomas W. Cole Jr. of Atlanta University and Lucius H. Pitts of Clark College, created a comprehensive university under the leadership of its first president, Thomas W. Cole Jr..

Academics

It is organized into four schools: the School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Business, the School of Education, and the School of Social Work. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees, including prominent doctoral programs in areas such as African-American Studies and Social Work. It is particularly known for its mass media arts program, which has produced many notable figures in journalism and film. The research enterprise is supported by centers like the Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development and it maintains a strong partnership with neighboring institutions in the Atlanta University Center consortium, which includes Morehouse College and Spelman College.

Campus

The 126-acre campus is situated in the historic Atlanta University Center district, southwest of downtown Atlanta. The campus features a mix of historic and modern architecture, including landmarks like the Harkness Hall and the Henderson Student Center. It houses the prestigious Robert W. Woodruff Library, a shared resource of the Atlanta University Center that contains invaluable archives such as the W. E. B. Du Bois papers. Other significant facilities include the Davage Auditorium, the CAU Panther Stadium, and the Bishop Cornelius L. Henderson Student Center.

Student life

Student life is vibrant, with over 80 student organizations, including fraternities and sororities of the National Pan-Hellenic Council like Alpha Phi Alpha and Delta Sigma Theta. The university's athletic teams, known as the CAU Panthers, compete in the NCAA Division II as a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Major annual events include Homecoming and the CAU Jazz Festival, which draw participants from across the nation. Students also engage in community service and leadership development through programs affiliated with the Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement.

Notable alumni and faculty

Its alumni network includes influential leaders across various fields. In politics and law, notable graduates include Kenny Leon, Mack Wilbourn, and former Georgia State Representative Mable Thomas. In the arts and media, alumni range from Spike Lee and Jacque Reid to Kenya Barris. The faculty has been distinguished by scholars such as W. E. B. Du Bois, Mack Jones, and Tina McElroy Ansa. Other prominent alumni include business leader J. Veronica Biggins and civil rights activist Ralph David Abernathy III.

Category:Universities and colleges in Atlanta Category:Historically black universities and colleges in the United States Category:Private universities and colleges in Georgia (U.S. state)