The National Association for Women in Education (formerly known as The National Association of Deans of Women, the National Association of Women Deans and Counselors, and the National Association of Women Deans, Administrators, and Counselors) was an American organization founded in 1916 by Kathryn Sisson Phillips to support female

deans of women The dean of women at a college or university in the United States is the dean with responsibility for student affairs for female students. In early years, the position was also known by other names, including preceptress, lady principal, and advis ...

. The organization closed in September 2000 when it merged with the

National Association of Student Personnel Administrators The NASPA, Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education is a U.S.-based student affairs organization with over 13,000 members at 1,400 campuses in 25 countries. Founded in 1919 at the University of Wisconsin, NASPA focuses on professionals ...

History

Formation

Following large increases in the number of women in higher education in the late nineteenth century, the number of

also grew, establishing it as a professional occupation. In 1913 a graduate study program was created at

Teachers College, Columbia University Teachers College, Columbia University (TC) is the graduate school of education affiliated with Columbia University, a private research university in New York City. Founded in 1887, Teachers College has been a part of Columbia University since ...

for deans of women. Realising that an organisation was needed to coordinate training and connections for deans, in 1915 Kathryn Sisson Phillips initiated informal meetings for the 26 women studying for the position at Teachers College for discussions, with their first formal meeting occurring at a meeting of the

National Education Association The National Education Association (NEA) is the largest labor union in the United States. It represents public school teachers and other support personnel, faculty and staffers at colleges and universities, retired educators, and college st ...

on July 6, 1916. The association had begun publishing a yearbook by 1923 and a scholarly journal in 1938, the latter of which was edited by Ruth Strang.

Operation

While operating as the National Association of Deans of Women, the group carried out research, ran scholarships, and produced pamphlets regarding female students and deans of women. A group for African American students, called the Association of Deans of Women and Advisers to Girls in Negro Colleges and Schools, was formed by 1935. After

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

the association advocated and lobbied organisations and higher learning institutions to retain and hire women in policy-making positions. By the 1950s the organisation ran an annual meeting, a journal, and had over 1500 members. In 1951 the association's members voted to retain their autonomy and focus on women and in 1953 worked with the

American Council on Education The American Council on Education (ACE) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) U.S. higher education association established in 1918. ACE's members are the leaders of approximately 1,600 accredited, degree-granting colleges and universities and higher educati ...

to establish a Commission on the Education of Women, which was later disbanded in 1962. In 1956 then president Eunice Hilton announced that the organisation was being renamed to the National Association of Women Deans and Counselors. The 1960s saw the association's highest level of membership, with the organisation continuing to push for women's rights and equality. In 1971 the members again voted on the topic of merging with other education associations, with the result of remaining single-gender. By 1973, however, the organisation had decided to broaden its scope to other educational professions following the enactment of

Title IX Title IX is a landmark federal civil rights law in the United States that was enacted as part (Title IX) of the Education Amendments of 1972. It prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or any other education program that receiv ...

, renaming to the National Association of Women Deans, Administrators, and Counselors and began allowing men to join. In 1975 the association became the first organization in the United States to pass a resolution which refused to hold its conferences in states which hadn't ratified the equal rights amendment. By 1989 the association had taken on sole responsibility for the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders, which provided support, networking, and awards for collegiate women, and continued to publish its journal ''Initiatives'' as well as running conferences including this one. In September 1990 the association voted to change their name to the National Association for Women in Education, an alteration which was implemented at the association's 75th anniversary conference in 1991.

Marriot Management Services Marriott may refer to: People *Marriott (surname) Corporations * Marriott Corporation, founded as Hot Shoppes, Inc. in 1927; split into Marriott International and Host Marriott Corporation in 1993 * Marriott International, international hotel ...

gave the association $125,000 in April 1996 to assist "the development and implementation of innovative leadership training programs for women within ducation which led to the creation of the Institute for Emerging Women Leaders in Higher Education. In 1999 the association ran their first International Conference on Women in Higher Education, having taken it over from the

University of Texas at El Paso The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is a public university, public research university in El Paso, Texas, United States. Founded in 1913 as the State School of Mines and Metallurgy, it is the third oldest academic component of the Univers ...

Closure

Increased competition from other associations, a lack of funding, and a decrease in single-sex organisations contributed to the association deciding to cease operating in 2000. It left behind considerable funding to continue to support the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders.

Notable members

Anne Dudley Blitz Anne Dudley Blitz (January 27, 1881 – February 18, 1951) was an American college administrator. She was the first Dean of Women at the University of Kansas from 1921 to 1923, and Dean of Women at the University of Minnesota from 1923 to 1949. ...

, Dean of Women at the

University of Minnesota The University of Minnesota Twin Cities (historically known as University of Minnesota) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint ...

(1923 to 1949) and

University of Kansas The University of Kansas (KU) is a public research university with its main campus in Lawrence, Kansas, United States. Two branch campuses are in the Kansas City metropolitan area on the Kansas side: the university's medical school and hospital ...

(1921 to 1923) *

Una B. Herrick Una Brasfield Herrick (August 24, 1863 – August 10, 1950) was an American educator. A pioneer in higher education for women, she was the first Dean of Women at Montana State College (now Montana State University). Early life Una Olive Brasfie ...

, on the membership committee of the National Association of Deans of Women and was member of the Deans of Women Western Conference *

Lillias MacDonald Lillias M. MacDonald (November 25, 1885 – August 27, 1961) was an American educator. She established the physical education program at the University of Buffalo, and was the school's first dean of women, an office she held from 1922 to 1952. ...

, first Dean of Women at the

University at Buffalo The State University of New York at Buffalo (commonly referred to as UB, University at Buffalo, and sometimes SUNY Buffalo) is a public university, public research university in Buffalo, New York, Buffalo and Amherst, New York, United States. ...

Kate Hevner Mueller Kate Hevner Mueller (November 1, 1898 – August 10, 1984) was an American psychologist and educator who served as dean of women at Indiana University during 1938–1949. Biography Born Kate Lucile Hevner in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, ...

, editor of the NAWDAC Journal, 1960–1969. * A. Evelyn Newman, chair of the NADW, 1927

References

{{reflist Educational organizations based in the United States Women and education