Sylvia Elizabeth Mathis (July 7, 1949 – October 22, 1983) was the first

African-American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from any of the Black racial groups of Africa. ...

woman to become a

Special Agent In the United States, a special agent is an official title used to refer to certain investigators or detectives of federal, military, tribal, or state agencies who primarily serve in criminal investigatory positions. Additionally, some special ...

for the

Federal Bureau of Investigation The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic Intelligence agency, intelligence and Security agency, security service of the United States and Federal law enforcement in the United States, its principal federal law enforcement ag ...

. After serving for three years, Mathis left the agency, later dying in a car accident.

Biography

Mathis was born on July 7, 1949. She was raised in both North Carolina and Florida. In 1972, she graduated with a bachelors degree in Political Science from

New York University New York University (NYU) is a private university, private research university in New York City, New York, United States. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded in 1832 by Albert Gallatin as a Nondenominational ...

, and in 1975 earned her J.D. from the

University of North Carolina School of Law The University of North Carolina School of Law (branded as Carolina Law) is the law school of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Established in 1845, it is one of the oldest law schools in the United States and is the oldest law sch ...

. Her law school dean encouraged her to apply to the FBI Academy. Prior to joining the FBI Academy, Mathis shared,

“…I am interested in delving into the relation of defending of rights and enforcement of rights. Going into the FBI seemed like a natural step.”

Mathis arrived at the

FBI Academy The FBI Academy is the Federal Bureau of Investigation's law enforcement training and research center near the town of Quantico in Prince William County, Virginia. The academy occupies 547 acres (221 ha) on the US Marine Corps Base Quantico. It ...

on February 17, 1976. She was a pioneer at the time. Only 41 of the Bureau's 8,500 agents were women. After completing her training, Mathis received her badge and credentials as an

FBI Special Agent The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States and its principal federal law enforcement agency. An agency of the United States Department of Justice, the FBI is a member of ...

on June 2, 1976. Her first posting was at the FBI's New York Field Office where she would join the organized crime squad. In 1979, Mathis left the FBI to work as an attorney in New York. In 1982, she returned to Florida to care for her family. Mathis died in a car accident in at age 34 on October 22, 1983.

References

{{Authority control 1949 births 1983 deaths New York University alumni University of North Carolina School of Law alumni 20th-century African-American lawyers African-American women lawyers Federal Bureau of Investigation agents Accidental deaths in Florida

Biography

See also

References