Ordered Steps: The Life and Career of Dr. Audrey Forbes Manley

Dr. Audrey Forbes Manley's journey arcs from Mississippi cotton fields to the highest levels of American medicine. Born in Depression-era Jackson, she was four when her beloved grandmother was rushed from their home and never returned. Moments earlier, Audrey had vowed to "become a doctor and help people like you." That promise-sustained by deep faith-carried her through poverty, family upheaval, and the barriers of race and gender. After graduating from Spelman College and Meharry Medical College, Manley forged a 40-year career in pediatrics and public health. She shattered ceilings as the first African-American woman appointed Assistant Surgeon General and later served as Acting Surgeon General of the United States, championing sickle-cell research, women's health, and equitable access to care. Her leadership in the U.S. Public Health Service garnered high decorations and inspired countless Black physicians, especially women. Returning to her alma mater in 1997, Manley became Spelman's eighth-and first alumna-president. Over five transformative years she strengthened finances, expanded the campus, modernized facilities, and attracted distinguished faculty, all while instilling her conviction that faith, scholarship, and service can change lives. From the cotton rows of Mississippi to the Surgeon General's office and the presidency of Spelman College, Dr. Audrey Forbes Manley embodies resilience, purpose, and the healing power of vision guided by grace.