Maleka Donaldson, EdD

Hometown – Columbus, OH
Undergrad – Harvard College, AB, Biology
Graduate School – Harvard Graduate School of Education, 2011, EdM Human Development and Psychology, Harvard Graduate School of Education, 2014, EdM Learning and Teaching, Harvard Graduate School of Education, 2017, EdD Human Development & Education
Current – Assistant Professor, Education and Child Study, Smith College

Maleka Donaldson Gramling is a 2002 graduate of Harvard University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology. Along with academics, while in college she dedicated herself to several organizations: the Kuumba Singers, Sisters of Kuumba, Eliot House An Evening with Champions, Harvard-Radcliffe Christian Fellowship, and ’02 Steppers. Since graduation, she worked at the Boston Consulting Group, and currently is serving in a year long fellowship at the Council on African American Affairs. Also, she was recently married to Jonathan M. Gramling, who she met while in the Kuumba Singers at Harvard.

In her senior year at Columbus Alternative High School, Maleka Donaldson was a valedictorian, National Achievement Scholar, Senior Class President, Secretary/Treasurer of Student Senate, National Honor Society board member, and a leader in her church youth group.

“Throughout my college experience, it has been a real challenge to find balance between academics, extracurricular activities, social life, spiritual life and personal time,” Maleka says. “The scholarship made my college experience better because it decreased financial stresses and allowed me the time to focus on my search for that delicate balance. I am so appreciative of the CAP Foundation for supporting me and helping me to create and reach for higher goals than I had ever imagined.”