Mary Yost (September 25, 1881 - March 4, 1954) was an American academic. She was Dean of Women and Associate Professor of English at
Stanford University from 1921 to 1946.
Career
Mary Yost was born in
Staunton, Virginia on September 25, 1881 and graduated from
Vassar College
Vassar College ( ) is a private liberal arts college in Poughkeepsie, New York, United States. Founded in 1861 by Matthew Vassar, it was the second degree-granting institution of higher education for women in the United States, closely foll ...
in 1904. After a year teaching English at
Wellesley College, she went back to Vassar to study a master's degree. In 1946, she was awarded an honorary degree by
Mills College
Mills College at Northeastern University is a private college in Oakland, California and part of Northeastern University's global university system. Mills College was founded as the Young Ladies Seminary in 1852 in Benicia, California; it was ...
.
Yost began teaching at the
University of Michigan
, mottoeng = "Arts, Knowledge, Truth"
, former_names = Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania (1817–1821)
, budget = $10.3 billion (2021)
, endowment = $17 billion (2021)As o ...
in 1917. She moved to
Stanford University four years later to take up the position of associate professor of English and Dean of Women, which she held until her retirement in 1946.
Other work
Yost was an honorary member in
Cap and Gown
Academic dress is a traditional form of clothing for academic settings, mainly tertiary (and sometimes secondary) education, worn mainly by those who have obtained a university degree (or similar), or hold a status that entitles them to assum ...
, an honor society for women undergraduates founded by
Edith R. Mirrielees. In 1922, she became vice-president 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 stud ...
's Department of Deans of Women's Western Division.
She took the position of vice-president of the
American Association of University Women's California division in 1923, progressing to vice-president of the National Board from 1933 to 1937. She was a member of the Palo Alto
Business and Professional Women's Club and 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 ...
. On retirement she was awarded an honorary LL.D from
Mills College
Mills College at Northeastern University is a private college in Oakland, California and part of Northeastern University's global university system. Mills College was founded as the Young Ladies Seminary in 1852 in Benicia, California; it was ...
"in recognition of her long service to women".
She was also active in several student groups and organisations while at Stanford, including the women's residence program.
Yost died of a heart attack on March 4, 1954, at her home on campus.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yost, Mary
1881 births
1954 deaths
American women academics
University of Michigan faculty
Stanford University faculty
Wellesley College faculty
Vassar College alumni
People from Staunton, Virginia