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

"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