Spelman College CFO Dawn Alston Wins 2026 Atlanta Business Chronicle Award — Spelman College

Event summary

Dawn Alston, Spelman College CFO, named 2026 CFO of the Year in Nonprofit, Government, and Education sector by Atlanta Business Chronicle.
Alston's career at Spelman spans nearly three decades, starting as a Research Technician in 1999.
Under Alston's leadership, Spelman transitioned to a future-ready, outcome-driven financial framework.
Key achievements include securing financing for a state-of-the-art residence hall and advancing a joint housing project with Morehouse College.
Spelman opened the 86,000-square-foot Mary Schmidt Campbell Center for Innovation and the Arts under Alston's fiscal stewardship.

The big picture

Dawn Alston's recognition as 2026 CFO of the Year underscores Spelman College's strategic shift towards fiscal resilience and outcome-driven financial management. This aligns with broader trends in higher education, where institutions are increasingly focusing on sustainable financial models to secure their future. Spelman's achievements in infrastructure, innovation, and student-centric investments highlight the importance of robust financial leadership in driving institutional growth and mission fulfillment.

What we're watching

Financial Framework: How Spelman's transition to an outcome-driven financial framework will impact long-term sustainability and growth.
Strategic Investments: Whether Spelman can sustain its momentum in securing financing for major infrastructure projects and enhancing student-centric investments.
Leadership Continuity: The pace at which Spelman can cultivate internal talent to maintain financial leadership excellence following Dawn Alston's tenure.