Beverly Daniel Tatum

Beverly Daniel Tatum is a psychologist, president emerita of Spelman College, and the bestselling author of Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?, one of the most influential books on race and identity in America. She speaks on racial identity development, creating inclusive communities, and addressing racism in schools and organizations, bringing decades of research and institutional leadership to every presentation. Dr. Tatum’s insights have shaped diversity conversations in education and corporate settings for over two decades.

Academic & Institutional Leadership
Dr. Tatum served as the ninth president of Spelman College, one of the nation’s premier historically Black colleges, where she led a comprehensive campus revitalization and strengthened the institution’s academic reputation. Before Spelman, she was a professor and administrator at Mount Holyoke College and the University of California, Santa Barbara. She holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Michigan.

Author & Thought Leader
Her landmark book, now in its 20th anniversary edition, remains essential reading on how racial identity develops across the lifespan and how organizations can foster genuine inclusion. She is also the author of Can We Talk About Race? and has been featured as a thought leader by major media outlets. Her keynotes deliver research-grounded frameworks for understanding racial identity, building inclusive cultures in education and the workplace, and creating environments where diversity genuinely thrives.

• Conversations on Race and Racism
• Closing the Empathy Gap: Community Building Through Dialogue
• The ABC’s of Inclusive Leadership
• Breaking the Silence: Embracing Cross-Racial Dialogue