Standing On the Shoulders of Giants
Less than two decades after women achieved the right to vote, women established a presence at the University. Women were officially admitted into the evening college beginning in 1938, and to the graduate school since its inception in 1950. The first female reference librarian M. Dorothy Lynn, below, was welcomed in 1937, and the first faculty were hired for full-time tenure track positions in 1969.
“The 50th anniversary we celebrate is that of the University becoming fully coeducational. In 1972, women were admitted into what were then the two day-school undergraduate schools, the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Management, [now the Kania School of Management],” said Frank X.J. Homer, Ph.D. ’64, professor emeritus of history, University historian and current adjunct professor in history. While recognizing this milestone, the University remembers and celebrates all of the women who came before.
1937
The library hired M. Dorothy Lynn, A.B. in Library Science as the University’s first female reference librarian.
Source: University of Scranton Yearbooks
1938
Brother Denis Edward, then president, formally decided to admit women to the University’s evening programs, codifying a practice that had begun a few years before. The day school remains exclusively male.
Source: The Scranton Journal, Fall 2013
1942
Evening School students (and siblings) James, Lucille, Jane, and Margaret Loftus, 1942.
Source: The University of Scranton News Clippings
1950
The graduate school was coeducational from its inception in 1950. Shown, the first graduates, earning an M.A. in Education, June 1952.
Source: The University of Scranton Photos and Documents
1960
Women students attended evening classes in 1960, and by June 1961, 61 area women had earned degrees.
Source: Alumni Magazine, June 1961
'U of S Goes Modern; Admits Women Students'
Trustees signed a document formalizing University-wide admittance for women Oct. 13, 1971. Five weeks later, in an interview with The Scranton Times, University officials reported a “sharp hike in the number of admission inquiries” with “co-ed applications” accounting for one-third of a 65 percent increase in freshman applications for the 1972 fall term. One headline from that time: “U of S Goes Modern; Admits Women Students.”
1970s
Extreme Makeover: Dorm Edition. Dormitory counselor Mrs. Brenda Bosha welcomed to Fitch Hall the first 53 women who lived in campus dorm rooms for the fall 1972 semester.
Source: University of Scranton Photos and Documents
1972
Orientation Day for #Royals1976. Admissions Director Fr. Bernard McIlhenny, S.J., welcoming several women students and their parents outside of Gunster Memorial Student Center during freshman orientation. The students were among the first women to enroll in the University’s daytime undergraduate school.
1976
In 1976, Grace Hosie, shown, was the first woman enrolled as a full-time student at the University to win a Fulbright Fellowship.
Source: University of Scranton Newspaper Clippings, Mayfield Gazette, May 3, 1978
1976
Graduates at the 1976 commencement, shown, included the first women accepted into full-time undergraduate education at the University in 1972.
Source: Terry and Paula Connors Photograph Collection
Sweeping Away the Competition Since 1980
New on campus in the 1970s: women’s athletics, including women’s basketball, field hockey, and soccer teams, shown, among others. In less than a decade, they were earning the spotlight for excellence on the field. “Scranton Women Sweep Away Competition” reported The Scranton Times, referencing varsity and junior varsity victories that continued “the Lady Royals’ three-year domination of the Middle Atlantic Conference.”
Source: University of Scranton Athletics, University of Scranton Course Catalogs, University of Scranton Yearbooks
A Decade of Milestones
Notable accomplishments by women continued throughout the 1980s, with milestones marked by firsts: coed valedictorian, class with nearly 50 percent women enrolled, national athletics championship and Dean.
1980
Karen Pennington, a graduate from the groundbreaking class of 1976 is the first woman appointed as associate dean.
Source: University of Scranton Newspaper Clippings, The Scranton Times, Nov. 30, 1980
1981
Belinda M. Juran, shown, the first female valedictorian in the history of the University College of Arts and Sciences, is congratulated by Dr. Vincent Ponko Jr., academic vice president.
Source: The Scranton Times, July 26, 1981
1985
In 1985, the largest class in the school’s history at the time was comprised of 48 percent women. Freshmen women students ranked 126 points above the national average for SATs. On the court, the Lady Royals earned a national championship. Source: The Scranton Times and University of Scranton Course Catalogs
Education, Empowerment and Mentorship
1991
The University approved a concentration in women’s studies in 1991. Named as the program’s first director was Jean Wahl Harris, Ph.D., who coordinated work on the concentration from the time it was proposed in 1989.
Source: The Scranton Times
2001
Women’s Center is renamed to honor its founder, Jane Kopas, Ph.D. Kopas, shown at far left, began her career at the University in 1978 and contributed to the progress of both the women’s studies program and the committee on the status of women. She established the center in 1994, just prior to her retirement.
Source: University Press Release, 2001
2021-2022 | Forward Thinking
Over the past two years, athletes have earned All American Honors in women’s cross country, basketball, lacrosse, volleyball and field hockey. Women’s teams lead the school in Landmark Championships in basketball, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, cross country, and softball. Source: University of Scranton Athletics In 2022, undergraduate school enrollment at the University reflects 35% more women than men. Graduate school enrollment at the University reflects 43% more women than men.
