THE WOMEN OF MARYLAND
The Faculty and Staff who have made a difference!
Charlotte Ann Vaux joined the University of
Maryland at the beginning of the second term, 1916-1917.
Her home is in Washington, D.C. After her career at Prep
School in West Virginia, she decided to take up the noble
art of farming, and for that purpose she entered M.S.C. She
has the honor of being the first Co-ed to graduate from this
institution.
M. Lucia James- The first African American
to become a full professor (Education - 19701977) at the University of Maryland. Her
responsibilities included the oversight of the
School of Education's curriculum lab. See
College of Education history site.
Eugenie Clark- Professor emeritus Eugenie
Clark is known as the "Shark Lady" thanks
to her world-renowned shark research.
Shirley Strum Kenny - Kenny, while a
professor of English, was the first woman to
serve as chair of what is now known as the
University Senate (1977-1979). She is
currently the president of the State
University of New York at Stony Brook.
Sandra Greer - Greer, a professor of chemistry
since 1983, chaired the 1988 university committee
charged with determining the feasibility of and
implementation strategies for recommendations
included in the landmark report "The Education of
Women Students of the University of Maryland,
College Park : Issues and Opportunities" (referred
to as "The Greer Report")
Marie Mount - Long-time dean of the College of Home
Economics; Marie Mount Hall was named for her in 1969.
Alma H. Preinkert - The first woman registrar of the
University of Maryland (1936 - 1954). Preinkert Field House
is named after her, as is Preinkert Drive. Read about the
mystery surrounding Alma Preinkert's death.
Agnes Saunders and Frieda Wiegand - The first
female faculty members (1919). Saunders was a
professor of home economics and served as
acting dean of the school of home economics for
the 1919-1920 academic year. Wiegand was an
assistant professor of textiles and clothing.
Adele H. Stamp - Alumna and beloved first Dean
of Women (1922-1960). She said her primary job
was to "deal with the stream of life that flows
through the university." When Stamp retired in
1960, the Board of Regents granted her emeritus
rank, the first woman to receive this highest
faculty honor. The Stamp Student Union was
named after her in 1983.
Missy Meharg - 20 seasons with the Terps as
women's Field Hockey coach has now produced
four of the five NCAA championships (first back-toback championships), six ACC titles and 6 seasons
with 20 or more victories. She's been National
Coach of the Year 5 times.
Mary Shorb - Shorb was responsible for
the discovery of a microbe which led to
the commercial development of vitamin
B12. She served as a research professor
at Maryland from 1949 to 1972 in poultry
husbandry
Rachel Louise Carson - A professor of zoology
at Maryland in the 1930s, Carson wrote "Silent
Spring" - a call to action on the environment that
resounds loudly today. Her birthday could
become a state holiday. (See
www.rachelcarson.org for more information.)
Brenda Frese - The first maryland women's
basketball coach to win 34 games and a
national championship (2006). You can add
new mom of twins too!
Anne Turkos - The first woman to hold
the title "University Archivist" at the
University of Maryland.
Deborah A. Yow - The first female athletic
director at Maryland and in the Atlantic
Coast Conference (ACC).
Lucy Wilson Benson - The first female
commencement speaker (June 3, 1972). Benson was
president of the League of Women Voters.
Anna Euretta Richardson (Home Economics) - The first
woman to receive an honorary degree from the
university (1930).
Queen Elizabeth II - The first (and only!) British
Queen to see a Terps football game. She came to
Byrd Stadium in 1957 to see Maryland beat UNC.
Mrs. John L. Whitehurst - The first woman to serve on
the board of regents (1934-1966).