Mable Parker McLean (1922 – January 27, 2012) was an American academic administrator who served two terms as president of

Barber–Scotia College Barber–Scotia College is a Private college, private Higher education accreditation in the United States, unaccredited Historically black colleges and universities, historically black college in Concord, North Carolina. It began as a seminary i ...

from 1974 to 1988 and 1994 to 1996.

Life

McLean was born in 1922 and was raised near Southern Pines in

Moore County, North Carolina Moore County is a County (United States), county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, its population was 99,727. Its county seat is Carthage, North Carolina, Carthage and its largest com ...

. Her mother died when she was nine years old and she was raised with her younger sister by aunts and her grandmothers. She moved from

Carthage Carthage was an ancient city in Northern Africa, on the eastern side of the Lake of Tunis in what is now Tunisia. Carthage was one of the most important trading hubs of the Ancient Mediterranean and one of the most affluent cities of the classic ...

to Concord in 1939. McLean completed her first two years of undergraduate studies at

, graduating in 1941. She finished a bachelor's degree in education from Johnson C. Smith University. McLean worked as an elementary school teacher. She served as an instructor at

Bowie State University Bowie State University (Bowie State or BSU) is a public historically black university in Prince George's County, Maryland, north of Bowie. It is part of the University System of Maryland. Founded in 1865, Bowie State is Maryland's oldest his ...

. She completed a master's degree in education at

Howard University Howard University is a private, historically black, federally chartered research university in Washington, D.C., United States. It is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity" and accredited by the Mid ...

. She completed post-graduate studies at

Northwestern University Northwestern University (NU) is a Private university, private research university in Evanston, Illinois, United States. Established in 1851 to serve the historic Northwest Territory, it is the oldest University charter, chartered university in ...

Catholic University of America The Catholic University of America (CUA) is a private Catholic research university in Washington, D.C., United States. It is one of two pontifical universities of the Catholic Church in the United States – the only one that is not primarily a ...

, and

Harvard University Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...

. From 1947 to 1963, she was an instructor at Johnson C. Smith University. She was a professor and head of the elementary education department at Barber–Scotia College from 1963 to 1973. From 1973 to 1974, she was a college dean. In 1974, McLean became its ninth president, succeeding John Gresham. She was the first female president. At the time, she was the nation's only Black woman college president. She was succeeded by Tyrone Burkette in 1988. In 1986, she became the first female elected chair of the council of presidents of the

United Negro College Fund UNCF, the United Negro College Fund, also known as the United Fund, is an American philanthropic organization that funds scholarships for black students and general scholarship funds for 37 private historically black colleges and universities. ...

. In 1993, she was inducted into the National Black College Hall of Fame. From 1994 to 1996, she returned to Barber–Scotia College as its president, succeeding Asa T. Spaulding Jr.. She served as its interim president in 2006.

Personal life

McLean married Earl McLean, her high school sweetheart in 1955. They had a son. Earl died in 1981. McLean died on January 27, 2012, from heart failure.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:McLean, Mable Parker 1922 births 2012 deaths People from Carthage, North Carolina Barber–Scotia College alumni Barber–Scotia College faculty Johnson C. Smith University alumni Johnson C. Smith University faculty Bowie State University faculty 20th-century American women academics 20th-century American academics 20th-century African-American women 20th-century African-American academics African-American women academic administrators American women academic administrators African-American academic administrators Heads of historically black universities and colleges in the United States Women heads of universities and colleges