Michelle Ebanks (BSBA ’83) | June 2023

Ebanks (BSBA ’83) has recently become the next President and CEO of The Apollo, the nation’s foremost African American performing arts center dedicated to Black arts and culture.

She previously served as CEO of Essence Communications, overseeing the nation’s leading media and communications company dedicated to African American women, including Essence magazine, the preeminent lifestyle magazine for African American women, Essence.com, the award-winning, daily online destination for African American women and the internationally renowned Essence Festival of Culture, one of the largest annual live music events in the world.

Ebanks began her career at Time Inc. as the general manager and financial director for Money magazine. She was also vice president in Time Inc.’s corporate division, where she led the acquisition of ESSENCE. Prior to joining Time Inc., Ebanks served as corporate business manager for Condé Nast’s 13 titles.