At their regular business meeting on October 13,1971, a group of changemakers signed a document formalizing University-wide admittance for women. Attending were University President Rev. Dexter Hanley, S.J., and trustees: the Rev. J.A. Panuska, S.J., and Mary Scranton, the Board’s first female trustee.
Fifty-one years to the date of that monumental decision, the University community gathered in the Weinberg Memorial Library’s Charles Kratz Scranton Heritage Room to begin what the event’s presenter Michelle Maldonado, Ph.D., described from the podium as “a year of gratitude”: the 50th Anniversary Celebration of Coeducation.
As event emcee, Dr. Maldonado, the interim provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, offered a tribute to the women accepted into undergraduate education in 1972, and the others before them who put that change in motion:
“These celebrations matter. I’m very aware that I’m standing in front of you in this space because of these women, and be-cause of this decision … it’s so important for us to remember that there are still women alive who created spaces for us that did not exist for them.”
“All of these good people are standing on the shoulders of giants,” said the 29th President of The University of Scranton Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J.
“In thinking about these remarks for today, I learned a lot about the history of women’s contributions to the life of the University long before the first undergraduate class.
- In 1938, women began to be admitted here, but only in the night school. During that same decade, the University began to hire women as adjunct instructors.
- In 1937, the original library hired … the first female librarian.
- In 1950, the master’s degree in education program included nine men, but also three women.
- In 1969, women were hired for full-time tenure track positions and their names should be known: Dr. Ellen Casey in English, Terry McGlinchey in Theology, and Sister Alice Louise Davis in Education.
- In 1970, Mary Scranton became the first woman trustee.
“And so, we see the evolution of justice unfolding throughout the years.”
After initial conversations over the summer, a workgroup with representation from constituencies across the University was formed at the start of the Fall 2022 semester.
“The Coeducation 50th Anniversary Workgroup has been tasked with identifying ways for the University to honor and observe this important milestone in our history,” said Lauren Rivera, J.D., M.Ed., interim vice president Student Life and dean of students and event co-chair.
The Coeducation 50th Anniversary Workgroup Chairs
- Lauren Rivera, J.D., M.Ed., interim vice president Student Life and dean of students
- Elizabeth Garcia, J.D., executive director, Office of Equity and Diversity/special assistant to the president
Committee Members
- Gerald Zaboski, senior vice president for the Office of the President
- Michelle Maldonado, Ph.D., interim provost/senior vice president, Academic Affairs
- Frani Mancuso, assistant vice president, Annual Giving and Engagement
- Maryjane Rooney, director, Strategic Outreach/president’s events
- Sarah Kenehan, Ph.D., executive director, Center for Humanities
- Gerianne Barber, director, Counselor Training Center
- Brandice Ricciardi, assistant director, Cultural Centers, Jane Kopas Women’s Center
- Susan L. Poulson, Ph.D., professor of history
- Marzia Caporale, Ph.D., professor of world language/culture
- Samantha Gurn ’22, G’23, student representative
- Mackenzie Longo ’23, student representative
COEDUCATION 50th ANNIVERSARY EVENTS
Fall 202210.13.23
The University’s Class of 2020 Gateway illumination To begin a yearlong 50th Anniversary Celebration of Coeducation, the University offered a tribute of light, illuminating the Class of 2020 Gateway to represent a milestone of change, and held an opening ceremony at the Weinberg Memorial Library’s Heritage Room.
Upcoming / Ongoing Events
10.11.22 – 4.23.23
“Going Coeducational: Women on Campus 1923 –1972”
This exhibit at the Weinberg Memorial Library presents the history of women’s educational opportunities on campus starting with Nellie Brown, the first woman to take a class at what was then St. Thomas college in 1923, through women taking evening classes starting in the mid-1930s, women being admitted to the new graduate school in 1950 and culminating in the University going fully coeducational in 1972. The exhibit is based on research conducted by Kathleen Reilly ’17 for her honors thesis “Girls at the “U”: A History of Coeducation at the University of Scranton.”
3.01.23 – 3.31.23
March 2: A screening of the documentary “Fair Play,” followed by a facilitated conversation about wage gap, the effects of gender roles in families struggling to maintain their work-life balance and intersectionality, will take place March 2 at 6 p.m. in the Rose Room of Brennan Hall. “Fair Play” is based on the best-selling book written by Eve Rodsky.
March 4: A “Talk Back” led by Susan Poulson, Ph.D., professor of history at the University, will immediately follow the 8 p.m. March 4 performance of “Little Women: the Broadway Musical” by The University of Scranton Players in the McDade Center for Literary and Performing Arts.
March 7: A Salary Negotiations Workshop, offered by the University’s Center for Career Development, Office of Human Resources and Jane Kopas Women’s Center, is set for March 7 at 6 p.m. in room 405 of the DeNaples Center.
March 8: The Women of Vision and Courage Award Presentation and Celebration will take place at 3 p.m. on March 8, International Women’s Day, in the McIlhenny Ballroom, DeNaples Center.
March 13: Carol Rittner, RSM, D.Ed., distinguished professor emerita of Holocaust and Genocide Studies and the Dr. Marsha Raticoff Grossman Professor Emerita of Holocaust Studies at Stockton University, New Jersey, will present “The Courage to Care” as part of the Schemel Forum’s World Affairs Luncheon Seminars. The talk begins at noon on March 13 in the Rose Room, Brennan Hall.
March 28: In recognition of the 50th anniversaries of Title IX and coeducation at Scranton, a full-day Women’s and Gender Justice Teach-in, hosted by the University’s Ellacuria Initiative will take place on March 28 in the PNC Auditorium of the Loyola Science Center.
March 29: The highest-ranking female official at the Vatican, Sister Nathalie Becquart, XMCJ, will discuss “Pope Francis, Women and Synodality,” at 7 p.m. on March 29 at 7 p.m. in the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center. Sister Becquart was appointed by Pope Francis as the undersecretary of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops.
March 30: A screening of the film “The Seeds of Vandana Shiva” will take place on March 30 at 7:30 p.m. in the Moskovitz Theater of the DeNaples Center.
4.12.23
“50 Years of Coeducation” Alumni Panel
4.27.23 | 4.28.23 | 4.29.23
* The University of Scranton’s Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program and the English and Theatre Department will perform “Emilie: La Marquise du Châtelet Defends Her Life Tonight” at the Studio Theatre of the McDade Center for Literary and Performing Arts. Performances are set for April 27, 28 and 29 at 8 p.m., and on April 30 at 2 p.m.
