Fred Mitchell: A Full Circle Moment

When Fred Mitchell walked across the stage at Clark College in 1985, he never imagined that almost 40 years later, he’d be back, this time serving his alma mater as part of the Clark Atlanta University administration.

A business marketing major at Clark, Fred (known as Doug to many) was previously enrolled at Washington State University, where he played football. He decided to transfer because he was seeking a new experience. His aunt, A CAU alumna, and educator, whom he fondly describes as “a very forceful lady” encouraged “I want you to go and experience HBCUs.”

She sponsored a three-week campus tour throughout the Southeast, visiting schools in Alabama and Mississippi. His travels culminated in Atlanta, where he also toured Morehouse College. But Fred recalls that spending the last four or five days of the trip at Clark College truly changed his life. “I immediately fell in love with the Clark experience,” he says.

As a young man from Seattle, Washington, Clark introduced Alumnus Mitchell to a diversity among Black people he had never experienced. “It gave me the opportunity to go to school with people whose parents were farmers, people whose parents were the firsts in corporate positions, and sons and daughters of civil rights leaders. It gave me exposure beyond what I grew up in,” he reflects.

“Their attitudes, their focus, how they’re approaching school—I just see a lot of hope in our students and our future.”

But diversity wasn’t the only gift Clark gave him. “More importantly,” he adds, “it prepared me for what I would face and how I should approach life after college. Clark gave me the foundation to understand who I was while I continued to prepare for who I would be. HBCUs in general and Clark specifically, prepare our students to carry themselves with confidence and to know what to expect as they move beyond their communities.”

Upon graduation, Fred accepted a position with Kraft General Foods/Maxwell House in a sales role, where he remained for six years. He was then recruited by Western Union, where he stayed until 2001. Over the years, his responsibilities grew alongside his title, culminating in his role as an area director.

As Alumnus Mitchell’s career at Western Union flourished, he lived in Connecticut, New York, Illinois, and Missouri. He later returned to Chicago to join UNCF as an area director for corporations and foundations. His work with UNCF then took him to Indiana and New Jersey, where he remained for about 18 months before being promoted to regional director. After 24 years of dedicated service, he retired as a vice president in 2025.

Fred says he had already decided to retire, but during his time at UNCF, he discovered a deep passion for HBCUs. So when the opportunity arose to continue that work at his alma mater, he couldn’t imagine saying no. “I thought the opportunity being presented to me was a sign that I needed to take a little more time to do a little more,” he reflects.

As associate vice president for development, Fred raises funds in support of the university and its students, an assignment that aligns perfectly with his personal goal of giving today’s students an educational experience comparable to his own. He adds, with a smile, that one of the best perks of the job is the opportunity to engage directly with the students.

Fred describes the students he meets as mature and engaging, interacting with genuine respect. He fondly remembers a 45-minute conversation with a young man who stopped him in the cafeteria, and a young woman who, without any prompting, greeted him warmly with, “Good morning, king,” as they crossed paths. “I see students who really understand what this school can do for them. You see and hear it when you talk to them. They’re making sure they have the right training.”

A member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and vice president of the Beta Psi 1923 Foundation, Fred cites the members of the Beta Psi Chapter as an example of the positive interactions he’s witnessed since returning to Clark Atlanta University. “Their attitudes, their focus, how they’re approaching school—I just see a lot of hope in our students and our future,”

Fred, who says he made lifelong friends at Clark, offers current students some heartfelt advice: “Allow yourself to be open to friendships, engage as fully as you can in learning experiences and socially, and find a mentor because it will change your life. The school will help you understand who you are and who you can become. That’s what Clark did for me in 1982, and it’s why I’m back here today.”

And for alumni, he says, “Understand that once you’re gone, you have to come back and give back.”

Attendance at the 2025 Clark Atlanta University homecoming game was impressive-23,462 according to the NCAA! Our crowd was fourth in attendance for HBCU games that weekend, only behind the Magic City Classic (Alabama State vs. Alabama A & M), South Carolina State vs. Norfolk State, and Grambling State vs. Jackson State.

Thank you, Panthers, for your enthusiastic support!

Recent Philanthropic Gifts Help University Transform Lives and Communities

When philanthropists invest in an institution, it is a statement of their belief in the mission, strategy, and outcomes of that institution. In recent months, Clark Atlanta University has been the recipient of several major gifts that speak to our donors’ commitment to supporting our successful efforts to provide an accessible and relevant education that transforms the lives of our students, who then transform the world, one community at a time.



On November 3, the university announced receipt of a $38 million gift from philanthropist Mackenzie Scott. The funds—which bring Ms. Scott’s total investment in Clark Atlanta University to $53 million, the largest private donation in the university’s history—are unrestricted and will significantly enhance CAU’s capacity to develop its academic programs and expand resources for student scholars.

“The magnitude of Ms. Scott’s generosity significantly enhances our capacity to expand the student success initiatives and support infrastructure already underway, preparing students to thrive on the global stage for generations to come,” said Clark Atlanta University President George T. French Jr., Ph.D.

Several weeks prior, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation contributed $16.5 million to the university as part of the foundation’s $50 million commitment to HBCUs. The funding will establish gap scholarships primarily for junior and senior students in good academic standing who have exhausted all other financial resources. Beginning in 2026, the scholarship program will help address financial barriers that often force promising students to abandon their education, which is especially important at a time when many students face increased financial pressure that can prevent them from completing their degrees.

In response to this gift, President French said, “Far too often, we see talented students forced to leave school not because of academic challenges, but due to financial constraints. We are profoundly grateful to the Arthur Blank Family Foundation for this historic investment in our students’ futures.”

These remarkable gifts remind us of the powerful impact of generosity on our university and on the students who will become the next generation of leaders and changemakers. As we celebrate these investments, we invite our alumni family to join us for Giving Tuesday on December 2.

Shelbra Caruthers

Clark Atlanta University '03

American Cancer Society,

Interim Senior Vice President,

Chief Diversity Officer

How did you choose Clark Atlanta University?

I had a few false starts along my collegiate journey, as my grandmother was diagnosed with lung cancer. I withdrew from a prior school and returned to South Florida to become a full-time caregiver. Fortunately for us, she lived much longer than doctors had predicted so I decided to return to school. I took my credit cards, rented a van and my mother and I moved my grandmother and all her medical equipment up to the metro Atlanta area. Not wanting to restart the engineering program that I had previously began, I attended a mixer in the Atlanta University Center where I met the presidents, faculty, and staff from the AUC institution. After a few conversations, I was told that I was meant to be a student at CAU and to bring my transcripts to the Office of Admissions. I followed up and became a student at CAU.

Tell us a bit about your career trajectory.

I was a member of Clark Atlanta’s first paid internship program with Georgia Pacific, which resulted in a permanent job as a customer service representative in the building products division. That division was sold and became BlueLinx in 2004, where I was promoted to customer service manager. While in that role, I volunteered for stretch assignments that involved qualitative and quantitative analytics. Leadership then created a senior distribution analyst and program manager role for me, working in and eventually leading the organization’s third-party logistics operation. I spent a total of 13 years at BlueLinx.

After taking a year off to travel and spend time with my family, which had an extensive history with cancer, I was looking to volunteer with the American Cancer Society (ACS). I also applied and was offered an analyst position in their supply chain division. It was an intentional step back from the spotlight, people leadership, and a demanding schedule, so that I could maximize time with my family. In eight months, I was promoted to senior analyst. I then became a senior process consultant and senior project manager on a newly created team, affording me the ability to work with developers in India and design and implement processes for new technologies.

In 2021, when the new CEO arrived at ACS and created the organization’s first chief of staff role, her executive team recommended me for the position. When her tenure ended in 2024, I remained as chief of staff, supporting the interim CEO through the transition from 2024 to 2025. When his tenure ended, I stepped away briefly to focus on my son’s freshman year of high school but soon returned at the request of both the new CEO and the outgoing interim CEO to serve once again. Today, I am honored to serve as interim senior vice president and chief diversity officer, focused on driving results that matter, creating lasting organizational impact, and ensuring that inclusion and belonging aren’t just concepts we talk about—they’re values we live and lead every day.

How did Clark Atlanta University prepare you for success in the workplace?

Clark prepared me for success in a myriad of ways, not the least of which was the lesson of grace. I was a student who, initially, was not on scholarship. (As the young people say, “Life was life-ing.”) To support myself—and at times my family—I held three jobs. Very early in my journey at CAU, I also lost my grandmother to lung cancer. I had a work-study job, a job off-campus, and an internship.

When I needed grace, I only had to speak up, and the professors and staff would extend it during those very human moments. They reminded me they cared about my entire journey, not just my campus experience. Those experiences continue to influence how I approach teamwork, collaboration, and leadership today. My success has not been solely because of hard skills; it has been because of the soft skills that were nurtured at Clark Atlanta.

What is the most impactful lesson CAU taught you?

I often quote, “I’ll find a way or make one,” almost weekly. Throughout my life, I have often found myself to be the first—first in my family to graduate from college, among other milestones. When you’re the first, you often have to read and research more, fail more, and sometimes feel pressure to present as though you have it all figured out. But when I don’t know the answer or the way forward, this motto frees me to say, “I don’t know, but I’ll figure it out.”

What is the best gift CAU gave you?

I didn’t have much free time while enrolled at CAU, but I made some lasting friendships in the business school. One student, who was assigned to the same finance class project as me, instantly became my friend and she is my sister today! Clark made a way for me to financially support and grow my family.

Why is it important to you to give back to CAU?

We are blessed to be a blessing. I haven’t done all the things I’ve done or achieved all the things that I’ve achieved on my own; that took a village. It would be a shame for me or any of us to not pay that forward.

THE PANTHER SCENE

Each month, it is our pleasure to share photos of the CAU family engaged in activities that showcase how we live, work, and play. We appreciate your submissions and encourage you to continue sending photos that amplify our engagement. 

This month, we are sharing the moments we captured of Homecoming 2025. For those of you who were present, we hope these photos will bring meaningful memories--and for those who couldn’t join us, we hope they offer a glimpse of the celebration.

Also, please click here to view even more glimpses of Homecoming 2025!