Rosalind "Roz" Brewer said corporate business strategies can address the investment gap for Black students in higher education [1].
The proposal suggests that the systemic underfunding of minority students in academic settings can be corrected by importing the efficiency and resource-allocation models used in the private sector.
Speaking in an interview recorded in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, Brewer discussed her transition from the corporate world to academic leadership [1]. As the Chair Emerita of Spelman College and the former CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Brewer highlighted how her experience leading a major retail pharmacy during the COVID-19 pandemic informed her current perspective [1, 2].
Brewer said that crises often provide the necessary catalyst for transformative change. She argued that the same urgency required to pivot retail operations during a global health emergency can be applied to the structural issues facing college aid [1, 2].
Regarding the lack of resources in academia, Brewer said, "It's not uncommon to be in an academic environment and find there have not been enough resources to support Black students; a corporate playbook can help solve that investment gap" [2].
Beyond her work with Spelman College, Brewer is extending her focus to broader community wealth. She recently joined the Board of Directors for the Black Economic Alliance [3].
"I’m excited to join the Black Economic Alliance’s Board of Directors to help drive financial prosperity in Black communities," Brewer said [3].
Her approach emphasizes that financial prosperity is not solely about individual scholarships, but about the strategic deployment of capital to create sustainable support systems within institutions [1, 3].
“"A corporate playbook can help solve that investment gap."”
Brewer's advocacy represents a shift toward 'corporate philanthropy' and operational management in the non-profit and academic sectors. By treating the funding gap for Black students as a resource-allocation problem rather than just a policy failure, she is pushing for a model where business-driven KPIs and strategic investment are used to ensure equitable educational outcomes.
