Celebrating the Belle Ringer and Our Community
I HOPE THIS MESSAGE FINDS EACH OF YOU IN GREAT HEALTH AND HIGH SPIRITS. It is
with immense joy and pride that I serve as the new Director of Alumnae and Donor
Engagement at our illustrious institution. This role is not only a career but a true
alignment of my purpose and passion. I cannot thank you enough for your unwavering
support for me and the office of Alumnae Engagement. Whenever I reach out, you
answer with enthusiasm and a readiness to serve, and for that, I am deeply grateful. Your
commitment to sharing your stories and connecting with our sisters speaks volumes about the valuable legacy that Bennett continues to nurture.
Allow me to share a little about how I arrived at this place. Like many of you, I am a
PROUD Alumna. I first stepped onto this beautiful campus in the fall of 2006, welcomed
by the trailblazing educator, world-renowned anthropologist, and 14th President of
Bennett College, Dr. Johnetta B. Cole. I hadn’t visited or toured the campus prior to
my arrival, but on August 14, 2006, something magical happened—I fell in love. In full
transparency, I had no idea how profoundly my life was about to change for the better.
Bennett embraced me, shaping me into a global leader, visionary, and innovator—prepared to take on the world. The epitome of our motto: “Where the girl meets the woman she will become.”
Bennett provided me with opportunities I never dreamed possible. From serving on
the Royal Court and as a member of the Student Government Association to traveling
abroad with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, each experience solidified my confidence. As a first-generation Dean’s List and honor student, I developed a mindset that truly anything is possible when your foundation is solid, your worldview is intact, and you execute your values. It was here that I was encouraged to realize that graduate school was an option for me. I went on to obtain my MBA and, in the fall of 2024, began my doctoral journey. Bennett kept me engaged, focused, inspired, and out of trouble. Shaping me into the leader I am today.
In 2022, during the student-led protest over mental health resources, I happened to drive by campus. While I frequently passed by, this time felt different—a pull at my heart, a sense of conviction. I realized it had almost been 20 years since I first arrived, and life had kept me busy, but I had not been as engaged with my alma mater as I had hoped. At the intersection of Washington and Bennett Streets, I knew—it was time. Time to water Bennett as she had watered me. From that moment, I decided to reconnect with the college, and I have been serving ever since.
As the Belle Ringer continues to evolve, I welcome all positive input that will contribute to the advancement of our beloved institution while aligning with its mission and vision.
My prayer for you as you read this issue is that you remember:
• How valuable you are as an alumna.
• How much we want to stay connected with you.
• How we can collectively move forward in unity.
Bennett College remains committed to educating, celebrating, and developing young
women into the doctors, scientists, advocates, creators, innovators, and entrepreneurs of
the 21st century. I hope this issue of the Belle Ringer encourages you to return home, to
participate, and to be present for the exciting things happening on campus. I am honored to serve you, and I am grateful that Bennett chose us to be a part of HERstory.
Onward and Upward, Sisters!
True to Thee,
MARTINA GIBBS DOWDY MBA ’11
Director of Alumnae and Donor Engagement
