Celebrating Women at Georgia Tech: A History of Milestones

Georgia Tech has a rich history marked by the significant contributions and milestones achieved by women in academia and athletics. This article chronicles key events that reflect the evolution of women’s presence at Georgia Tech, from the early admittance of female students to the establishment of supportive structures for women on campus.

Early Beginnings

• 1917: Women were first admitted to Georgia Tech’s Evening School of Commerce, paving the way for future educational opportunities.
• 1919: Anna Teitelbaum Wise became the inaugural female graduate of the School of Commerce.
• 1927: Dorothy M. Crosland was elevated to librarian and later made the first woman to lead as director of Libraries before her retirement in 1971.

1950s: Trailblazers in Education and Advocacy

• 1952: Elizabeth Herndon and Diane Michel were the first female undergraduates at Georgia Tech, initially restricted to programs not available elsewhere.
• 1954: Ella Wall Van Leer played a pivotal role in creating a supportive community, leading to the establishment of Tau Sigma, the first sorority at Georgia Tech.
• 1956: Diane Michel and Shirley Clements Mewborn graduated, with Mewborn later becoming the first female president of the Alumni Association.

Progress Throughout the 1960s

• 1960: The first female faculty member, Mary Katherine Cabell, began teaching at Tech.
• 1966: Sally Lam Woo made history as the first Asian woman to graduate from Georgia Tech.
• 1968: The Board of Regents permitted women to enroll in all programs at Georgia Tech.
• 1969: Fulmer Hall, the first women’s dormitory, opened its doors.

1970s: Inclusion and Achievement

• 1970: The first Black women, including Adesola Kujoure Nurudeen and Tawana Miller, enrolled at Georgia Tech.
• 1973: Clemmie Whatley and Grace Hammonds became the first Black alumnae after completing their master’s degrees in math.
• 1974: Georgia Tech’s women’s basketball team played its first game, marking the beginning of women’s athletics on campus.

1980s to 1990s: Breaking Barriers

• 1980: Dorothy Cowser Yancy became the first Black woman to receive tenure and be promoted to a full professorship at Georgia Tech.
• 1996: The first class of women was inducted into the Georgia Tech Sports Hall of Fame.
• 1999: Sue V. Rosser was appointed as the first female dean of the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.

21st Century Developments

• 2002: Celebrating 50 years of women’s enrollment, Georgia Tech documented an increase to 4,460 female students.
• 2015: For the first time, a female Wreck driver and presidents of both the Reck Club and the Student Government Association served simultaneously.
• 2022: Ellen Bassett became the first female dean of the College of Design.
• 2025: The Pathway of Progress will be unveiled, honoring influential women from Georgia Tech’s history.

The journey of women at Georgia Tech reflects a persistent expansion of roles, recognition, and opportunities. Each milestone signifies progress and the ongoing effort to support and empower women within the Institute’s community.