- Born: Oct. 19, 1936, Jacksonville, Fla.
- Education: Bachelor's degree from Oberlin College, master's degree and doctorate in anthropology from Northwestern University
- Professor at Washington State University, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Hunter College, City University of New York and Emory University
- Author of several textbooks
- Sat on the transition team, with a focus on education, for President-elect Clinton ; chairwoman, United Way of America; sat on the boards of Home Depot, Merck & Co. , NationsBank South, Coca-Cola and the Jimmy Carter Center
- President of Spelman College in Atlanta for 10 years.
- Taught at Emory University.
- President of Bennett College for Women in Greensboro.
- First woman elected to the board of Coca-Cola Enterprises
- First African American chairman of the board of the United Way of America
- President of the Association of Art Museum Directors
- Member of the scholarlyadvisory council of the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
- Cole's administration
- Raised about $30 million of a $50 million fund-raising campaign - with a goal to raise the remaining $20 million before June 2007.
- The endowment grew from $7 million to $10 million. * Alumnae giving increased from 14 percent in 2002 to 30 percent 2006.
- Alumnae have given more than $1 million for four consecutive years.
- Renovation of three campus buildings, improvements to campus grounds.
- Formation of the Johnnetta B. Cole Global Diversity and Inclusion Institute.
- Apr. 27 2002: Bennett’s board of trustees voted unanimously to hire Cole.
- Jul 15, 2002: Cole takes office.
- May 10, 2003: Alumnae give Bennett $1 million, their largest gift ever.
- Jun 26, 2003: Bennett announces plans for a $50 million capital campaign. Former Senator Bob Dole is named campaign chairman.
- Jun 30, 2003: Bennett ends its fiscal year with a $300,000 surplus, its first in three years.
- Oct 2003: Bennett raises $2.75 million during Cole’s inauguration weekend.
- Dec 2003: Bennett is removed from probation
- Feb 2004: Cole is awarded the Joseph Prize for Human Rights by the Anti-Defamation League.
- May 2004: Unanimously elected chairwoman of the United Way of America’s board of trustees
- Apr 2005: Citing a group of disgruntled faculty hindering her work, Cole offered her resignation. Trustees and students refused to accept it and, after a swell of support from the campus and community, Cole withdrew her resignation two days later.
- July 2006: Cole announces her June 2007 retirement.
- Feb 2009: Announcement made that Cole will be named director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art on March 2, 2009.