HBCU Love, Legacy, & Leadership: Stacey Lee Spratt’s Success Story Started At CAU

From the moment Stacey Lee Spratt stepped onto the campus of Clark Atlanta University, she was not just following in her family’s footsteps but laying the foundation for a life defined by love, legacy, and a commitment to empowering others—values deeply rooted in her HBCU experience.

For Stacey, attending an HBCU wasn’t just a choice; it was an honor. “Both my parents went to Clark College, my brother went to Morehouse, and my other brother went to Howard,” she explained to OffTheYard. “So we literally are an HBCU family. It’s always been so important to us.” From an early age, Stacey was immersed in the vibrant culture of HBCU homecomings and the values of education and community. “Being around my mom and dad and hearing them talk about the importance of not just HBCUs but education and being around people that look like you… I understood the importance early on.”

Stacey’s personal connection to CAU was undeniable and held a deeper meaning for her.. 

“Going to Clark Atlanta was like coming home,” she shared. “One teacher, Dr. Jenkins, was like a mom away from home for my dad, and she treated me the exact same way.” This sense of familial support extended throughout her dual degree engineering program. “Mrs. Linda Brown Clark was instrumental in making sure I finished the program, just like my brother before me,” Stacey added. “It was truly like a village was waiting to take care of me.”

The lessons Stacey learned at Clark Atlanta still resonate with her today. 

“Clark Atlanta’s motto is ‘I’ll find a way or make one,’ and I live by that every single day,” she said. “I apply it to my business, my life, and even my work with young students, helping them find a way through education, scholarships, and opportunities.”

Stacey has taken this ethos of giving back to heart. In a powerful collaboration with Slutty Vegan CEO/ fellow CAU grad Pinky Cole, Stacey helped pay off the debts of 30 graduating seniors at Clark Atlanta. “Seeing what Robert Smith did at Morehouse inspired me,” Stacey said. “I thought, ‘Hey Pinky, there are students who won’t be able to graduate unless we help them.’ And we did it. Giving back to my alma mater in the same way it gave to me was so important. It gave to me, not just from an educational standpoint, but from everyday living standpoint. And so I wanted to figure out a way to give back to those students, and that’s exactly what we did.”

Beyond financial contributions, Stacey has also impacted countless lives through mentorship. That mentorship includes training and mentoring over 100 HBCU queens and hiring over 100 HBCU students throughout her Haute Behavior firm.

 “I always tell my mentees, ‘Don’t be like me. Be better than me,’” the former Miss Michigan USA  OffTheYard emphasizing the importance of offering not just financial support but also guidance and opportunities. “Helping someone can’t take away the blessings God already has for me. It’s about giving them a chance to excel and expand beyond what they thought possible. I want any and everyone that has come into contact with me or learned from me to be better than me, be greater than me, be the greatest of all time.”

Stacey’s dedication to HBCUs extends through her work as the Director of UNCF’s Empower Me Tour which has offered over $14.5 million in scholarships to students. 

 “The Empower Me Tour is all about educating young people about HBCUs and the opportunities they provide,” said Stacey “We visit places where students may not even know HBCUs exist, like Los Angeles and Milwaukee, and show them that college is attainable with scholarships and support.”

Her love for HBCUs also extends into her personal life, as she found love with a fellow Clark Atlanta graduate, Dalen Spratt. The two first crossed paths when the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. member was advising the Greek organizations on campus. Later, a chance conversation led Dalen—who is eight years her junior—to ease her concerns about their age difference, and Stacey’s found bliss with her “homie lover friend.”

“HBCU love came out of nowhere,” Stacey told OffTheYard with a laugh. “I was in my husband’s DMs trying to hook him up with someone younger, and he said, ‘I don’t want anyone if it’s not you.’ I could not have picked a better baby daddy. And I mean that.”

The married couple are now raising their daughter, Axel, surrounded by the same HBCU legacy. “Her blood is HBCU,” Stacey joked. “But more than anything, I want her to grow up to be a good human being.”

Not only does Stacy have HBCU love, she has HBCU success and it’s evident in her co-ownership of Harlem Hops, a craft beer bar with a mission to educate Black and Brown communities about brewing while encouraging young people to attend HBCUs. 

“We created Harlem Hops with community at the forefront,” she explained. “Our nonprofit, Harlem Hopes, provides scholarships for students to attend HBCUs.”

Her contributions have not gone unnoticed. As an honorary co-chair of Clark Atlanta’s Spirit of Greatness Gala, Stacey continues to raise funds and awareness for HBCUs.

 “It’s an honor to be recognized alongside such amazing people,” she said. “My father received an award almost 10 years ago, and now here I am, following in his footsteps.”

Ultimately for Stacey, she hopes her HBCU legacy culminates in three words; “Job well done.

“I hope people say I provided opportunities for Black and Brown kids, taught them about entrepreneurship, and encouraged them to keep going even when it felt impossible. That’s the legacy I hope to leave for my daughter and everyone I’ve had the chance to impact.”