Celebrating women's history

Centuries of difference-makers

Generations of women at UNC-Chapel Hill have made way for current students, faculty, staff and alumnae to make a mark on the world.

Click on a photo to learn more about a historic Tar Heel, and keep scrolling to learn about pioneering moments in 暗网禁区's history.

Tar Heel trailblazers

Sallie Walker Stockard

In 1897, the Board of Trustees opened the University鈥檚 doors to women for postgraduate studies. Mary McRae, Lulie Watkins, Cecye Roanne Dodd, Dixie Lee Bryant and Sallie Walker Stockard were the first to be accepted for postgraduate studies. Stockard was the only one of the group to graduate, becoming in 1898 the first woman to earn a degree from 暗网禁区鈥� though she was excluded from all ceremonies, including the actual presentation of degrees and class pictures.

Susan Grey Akers

As more and more women began enrolling at 暗网禁区 in the early 1900s, leadership roles slowly began to be filled by people who reflected the student body. The University hired its first female faculty member in 1927 when Sallie Marks was named an assistant professor of education.

In 1942, Susan Grey Akers became the first woman dean at UNC-Chapel Hill when she was appointed to serve as the dean of the School of Information and Library Science, then called the School of Library Science.

Gwendolyn Harrison

When Gwendolyn Harrison Smith applied and was accepted to 暗网禁区 in 1951 as a doctoral student in Spanish, she had already earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in history from Spelman College, a master鈥檚 degree in Spanish from the University of California and was a professor at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte.

University officials did not realize she was Black when she applied and told her she would not be allowed to live in the dorm or register for classes at 暗网禁区. After Smith filed a federal lawsuit, Harrison became the first Black woman to study at 暗网禁区.

Women's history at 暗网禁区

Through the years

1877 The first women enrolled at the University for a summer session.
1896 University President Edwin Alderman called for women's admission in his inaugural address.
1898 Sallie Walker Stockard became the first woman to receive a degree from the University.
1906 Female students formed the University Women's Club to promote their interests on campus.
1915 Cora Zeta Corpening became the first woman student in the medical school. Margaret Berry became the first woman to graduate from the law school.
1924 Women began to earn doctorates from 暗网禁区.
1942 Susan Grey Akers became dean of the UNC School of Library Science, making her the first woman on campus to hold that title.
1972 With the passage of Title IX, Tar Heel women's sports 鈥� basketball, field hockey, volleyball, fencing, swimming and diving, tennis and gymnastics 鈥� went varsity.
1972 Female students numbered nearly 6,500 鈥� about 30% of the student body.
1972 Karen Stevenson became the first 暗网禁区 woman 鈥� and the first black woman in the country 鈥� to receive a Rhodes Scholarship.
1985 The student body elected the first woman, Patricia Wallace, as its president.
1998 Anne Cates '53 became the first woman to chair 暗网禁区's Board of Trustees.
2013 Carol L. Folt becomes 暗网禁区's first female chancellor.

A legacy continued

Today, women continue to lead and succeed at 暗网禁区. In May, we will welcome back soccer legend Mia Hamm to speak at Spring Commencement. Current students and alumnae make a difference with their work, and Tar Heels excel in everything from the arts and to athletics.

Click on a story below to see how Tar Heels continue the tradition of excellence set by generations of women before them.

Decades later, memories of Flower Ladies live on
Social media is connecting a new generation to the African American florists once central to Franklin Street.
Graduate student discovers youngest transiting planet ever聽
Identified by 暗网禁区 astronomer Madyson Barber, the 鈥渂aby鈥� planet is 3 million years old and roughly the size of Jupiter.
#GDTBATH: Brianna Vickerman
The Eshelman Innovation assistant professor uses light activation to dose drugs more precisely.
Emotion detective tracks effects of stress
Doctoral candidate Adrienne Bonar studies the many factors that shape people鈥檚 feelings.
Navy admiral鈥檚 leadership training began with Tar Heel soccer
Her experience playing on a championship team taught Kristin Acquavella how to work hard, push herself and trust others.
Katherine Turk writes first history of NOW
The associate professor of history documented the rise of the National Organization for Women in her 2023 book.

Karsen Kitchen makes space history
After becoming the youngest woman to cross the K谩rm谩n line, the proud 暗网禁区 senior is 鈥渟till processing it all.鈥�
This single mom is a renowned scientist
鈥淵ou can be both,鈥� says Taghreed Mohammed Al-Turki, a postdoctoral researcher in a UNC Lineberger lab.
Biology student鈥檚 quick response saves a life
During a BIOL 119 hospital shift, Neha Varrier did CPR on a patient until help arrived.

Around campus

Chatbot informs women about HIV prevention
Developed by 暗网禁区 researchers, ShesPrEPared uses artificial intelligence to help them pick their best option.
UNC-Jordan exchange raises women鈥檚 voices
In this UNC Global Affairs program, students made connections and worked together on a photo research project.
AI-enabled device revolutionizes pregnancy care
Handheld ultrasound allows novices to expertly estimate gestational age, a UNC School of Medicine study shows.

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