Martha Eunice Hilton (19 November 1899 - 18 October 1975) was

dean 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 adviser ...

for

Syracuse University Syracuse University (informally 'Cuse or SU) is a Private university, private research university in Syracuse, New York. Established in 1870 with roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church, the university has been nonsectarian since 1920. Locate ...

from 1935 for 1949. In this position she led the Student Dean Program for women, making many changes and improvements, leading to it becoming nationally renowned.

Career

Eunice Hilton was born on 19 November 1899 in

Lincoln, Nebraska Lincoln is the capital city of the U.S. state of Nebraska and the county seat of Lancaster County. The city covers with a population of 292,657 in 2021. It is the second-most populous city in Nebraska and the 73rd-largest in the United Sta ...

. She attended

Cotner College Cotner College, also known as Nebraska Christian University, is a former religious college located in present-day Lincoln, Nebraska, which was founded in 1889 by the Nebraska Christian Missionary Alliance. History In 1886, several local busi ...

from 1917 to 1918 before receiving Bachelor's and master's degrees in physical education from the

University of Nebraska A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, the ...

. From 1926 she taught English and history at McCook Junior College in Nebraska, where she was also

until 1931. In 1931, after graduating, Hilton travelled to

, taking the position of assistant dean of women after completing a one-year student dean program. Alongside this position she worked on a doctorate in education, becoming the first woman to receive a PhD from the School of Education's Student Dean Program in April 1934. When the then dean of women Eugenie Leonard went on leave 1935 Hilton assumed her role, temporarily at first, with the position becoming permanent in 1936. As dean of women, Hilton made many improvements to the university's Student Dean Program, including the introduction of new courses and a code of conduct. It became a nationally popular course, with applications made from around the United States. In 1943 she worked with others at the university to develop a course titled "The Status of Women and their Responsibilities" studying the roles of women in society; an early version of what would become

women's studies Women's studies is an academic field that draws on feminist and interdisciplinary methods to place women's lives and experiences at the center of study, while examining social and cultural constructs of gender; systems of privilege and oppress ...

. In 1949, Hilton stepped down as dean of women, instead taking the role of dean of the College of Home Economics, though she had less success here due to the declining interest in the field. Hilton moved to Denver where she worked at the

University of Denver The University of Denver (DU) is a private university, private research university in Denver, Colorado. Founded in 1864, it is the oldest independent private university in the Mountain States, Rocky Mountain Region of the United States. It is ...

as a professor of education until her retirement in 1966. During her career, Hilton took part in a number of other activities and held numerous other positions. She was president of the Council of Guidance and Personnel associations, a member of the New York state women's council, a vice-president of the

National Association of Deans of Women 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 ...

, and spoke at a number of venues on the topic of deans of women, and women in academia more broadly. In 1968 Syracuse University presented Hilton with an honorary degree, claiming that she had "contributed more to student personnel administration than anyone else in her time". Between 1992 and 2009 the university awarded a Hilton Scholarship Fund to one female graduate each year, named in her honour.

Personal life

Hilton married John Thomas Freeland in 1959. She died from illness on 18 October 1975.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hilton, Eunice 1899 births 1975 deaths Syracuse University faculty People from Lincoln, Nebraska University of Nebraska alumni University of Denver faculty Deans of women 20th-century American academics