Hopps is an alumna of Spelman and has been a member of its board of trustees since 1989.
The committee will identify a successor to Johnnetta B. Cole, who will step down in June after nine years as Spelman president. Cole is widely credited with raising the school's profile nationally and leading a capital campaign that netted $113 million, the largest ever by a historically black college or university.
"This committee has a vital responsibility," said Hopps, "to fill the presidency with someone who is a visionary, and who can build upon the work Johnnetta Cole has done here."
- S.S.