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Women’s Center

About Us

Located in Franklin House on West Side Row since its opening, our facility is an intimate meeting place for organizations, study groups, or anyone looking to get together in a friendly, welcoming space.

three women making peacesigns

Mission

The Margaret Cuninggim Women’s Center is an affirming space for women and for all members of the ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ community that actively resists discrimination in all forms, including sexism, by providing resources and educational programming.

Values

We Believe

That progress toward gender equity calls all of us to be champions for change.

We Work

To build community across differences by creating spaces for open dialogue.

We Strive

To foster a community of belonging on ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½â€™s campus and to empower all people to have a voice.

History

Margaret Cuninggim

Margaret Cuninggim

Founded in 1978, the Margaret Cuninggim Women’s Center is named after the last Dean of Women at ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½, Margaret Cuninggim. Serving from 1966 to 1973, Cuninggim witnessed many changes across campus due to the burgeoning women’s and civil rights movements. Her portrait, along with those of other significant women at ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½, is hanging on the walls of the Women’s Center’s conference room as part of an initiative acknowledging the history and achievements of women at ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½.

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Women's History Campus Tour

This digital tour highlights key locations around campus that celebrate some of the significant women and initiatives in ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½â€™s history.

Explore

Nancy Ransom, first director of the Women's Center

Women's 'Firsts' at ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½

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Click the timeline below to see and celebrate "first" women, going back to 1875.

  • Timeline
    • 2020 – Candice S. Lee: First woman to Vice Chancellor for Athletics and Athletic Director, as well as the first Black woman to head an SEC athletics program.
    • 1999 – Martha R. Ingram: First woman to serve as chairman of the Board of Trust (1999–2011)
    • 1999 – Lauren Briskey: First woman Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer (Administration).
    • 1998 – Camilla Benbow: First women Patricia and Rodes Hart Dean of Education and Human Development at ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½â€™s Peabody College.
    • 1987 – Sharon Fluker: First African-American woman to become an Assistant Dean of the ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Graduate School
    • 1987 – Barbara Bowen: First woman to chair a department (French and Italian) in the ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ College of Arts and Sciences.
    • 1986 – Enid Katahn: First woman professor at Blair School of Music (professor of piano).
    • 1985 – Francis Edwards: First woman elected president of the ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Alumni Association. (BSN, 1953; MSN, 1976)
    • 1983 – Allaire U. Karzon: First woman to become tenured at ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Law School.
    • 1983 – Joan Chandler: First African-American woman department head (Director of materials distribution) in Medical Center.
    • 1981 – Pat Pierce: First woman director of ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Opportunity Development Center.
    • 1980 – Lillian Wynn: First African-American to graduate from the ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Divinity School.
    • 1980 – Charlotte Fischer: First woman tenured in ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ School of Engineering.
    • 1979 – Bertha Holliday: First African-American faculty member of Peabody College.
    • 1978 – Kim Shafer: First woman elected president of the ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Student Government Association.
    • 1978 – Nancy Ransom: First Director of the ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Women’s Center.
    • 1978 – Janice Jones: One of two first African-American woman to graduate from ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Medical School.
    • 1978 – Mary E. Higgs (Skipp): First director of University Publications.
    • 1978 – Darlene Dailey: One of two first African-American women to graduate from ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ School of Medicine.
    • 1977 – Henrietta R. Davis: First woman Director of Personnel, 1977.
    • 1977 – Mary E. Higgs (Skipp): First woman editor of University Publications.
    • 1976 – Ingebord Mauksch: First woman awarded an endowed chair at ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ (Valere Potter Distinguished Professor of Nursing).
    • 1975 – Sallie McFague: First woman Dean of the ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Divinity School and first woman Dean of a theological school in the United States.
    • 1974 – Mildred Stahlman: First woman to chair the ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Faculty Senate.
    • 1974 – Eve Lee: First African-American woman to receive a Ph.D. from ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ (German).
    • 1973 – Ruth G. Zibart: First woman named Associate Dean of the ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ College of Arts and Sciences.
    • 1973 – Marice Wolfe: First woman named University Archivist at ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½.
    • 1973 – Margaret Cuninggim: First woman to hold the title of dean for student life at ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½.
    • 1972 – Martha C. Daughtrey: First woman faculty member appointed at the Law School.
    • 1970 – Bobbi Perdue: First African-American woman to graduate from the ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ School of Nursing.
    • 1968 – Portia Poindexter: First African-American woman to be awarded a graduate degree at ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ (M.A.T. in History).
    • 1966 – Susan Gray: Founder and first director of the Peabody Demonstration and Research Center for Early Education.
    • 1964 – Mary J. Werthan: First woman on the ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Board of Trust.
    • 1964 – Elsie Quarterman: First woman Chair (Department of General Biology).
    • 1956 – Mia Hardcastle: First women Engineering Founder’s Medalist. She was also the first woman president of the Engineering Alumni Council.
    • 1945 – Vera J. Jones: First woman to receive B.E. from the ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ School of Engineering.
    • 1942 – Betty Freeman: First woman editor of The Hustler.
    • 1933 – Linda Rhea: First woman to earn a Ph.D. in English at ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½.
    • 1930 – Shirley C. Titus: First Dean of the ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ School of Nursing.
    • 1930 – Susie C. Kachelhoffe: First woman to earn Bachelor of Divinity at ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½.
    • 1929 – Imogene P. Earle: First woman to earn Ph.D. (Biochemistry) at ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½.
    • 1929 – Thelma B. Bowie: One of two first women to graduate from ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ School of Medicine.
    • 1929 – Louise A. Beard: One of two first women to graduate from ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ School of Medicine.
    • 1925 – Ada B. Stapleton: First Dean of Women and first woman appointed professor of English at ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½.
    • 1922 – Anna M. Bowie: First woman faculty member in the ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ School of Medicine.
    • 1919 – Marie H. Means: First woman to earn a Ph.D. from Peabody.
    • 1919 – Dorothy B. Loomis: First woman editor of The Commodore1919 – Clara M. W. Allen: First woman to receive L.L.B. degree.
    • 1918 – Christine M. Gilbreth: First woman to graduate from ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Dental School.
    • 1913 – Mary W. Haggard: First woman named University Registrar at ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½.
    • 1902 – Daisy Tuttle: One of the first three undergraduate women elected to Phi Beta Kappa at ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½.
    • 1902 – Martha M. Maslin: One of the first three undergraduate women elected to Phi Beta Kappa at ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½.
    • 1902 – Amelia B. Martin: One of the first three undergraduate women elected to Phi Beta Kappa at ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½.
    • 1902 – Anna Brown: First ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Alumna to be elected Phi Beta Kappa.
    • 1900 – Martha E. Hunnicutt: First woman winner of the Founder’s Medal.
    • 1891 – Annie Paschall: First woman to receive an entering scholarship at ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½.
    • 1879 – Kate Lupton: First woman to receive a ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ degree (Master of Arts).
    • 1875 – Julia Sears: One of two first faculty women at Peabody College.
    • 1875 – Emma B. Cutter: One of two first faculty women at Peabody College.

    Retrieved from the .

Portrait Unveiling Margaret Cuninggim Women’s Center ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Nashville, TN
Candice Lee (left), ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½â€™s first female athletic director and vice chancellor for athletics, with artist Donna Woodley, whose portrait of Lee is displayed at the Women’s Center.
Portrait Unveiling Margaret Cuninggim Women’s Center ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Nashville, TN
Visitors, including artist Diane Davich-Craig (right), stand beside the portrait of Margaret Cuninggim.

Margaret Cuninggim Women's Center

2304D ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Place
Franklin House
615-322-4843
womenctr@vanderbilt.edu

Mailing Address
2301 ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Place
PMB 351513
Nashville, TN, 37235

Hours
School Year: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Summer: Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.