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 adviser ...

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

National Association of Student Personnel Administrators The National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) is a U.S.-based student affairs organization boasting more than 13,000 members at 1,400 campuses and 25 countries. Founded in 1919 at the University of Wisconsin, NASPA is one ...

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, health, and psychology of Columbia University, a private research university in New York City. Founded in 1887, it has served as one of the official faculties and ...

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 stude ...

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, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

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 1,700 accredited, degree-granting colleges and universities and higher education ...

to establish a Commission on the Education of Women, which was later disbanded in 1962. In 1956 then president

Eunice Hilton Martha Eunice Hilton (19 November 1899 - 18 October 1975) was dean of women for Syracuse University from 1935 for 1949. In this position she led the Student Dean Program for women, making many changes and improvements, leading to it becoming nation ...

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 the most commonly used name for the 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 educat ...

, 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 hot ...

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 research university in El Paso, Texas. It is a member of the University of Texas System. UTEP is the second-largest university in the United States to have a majority Mexican American stud ...

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, formally the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, (UMN Twin Cities, the U of M, or Minnesota) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Tw ...

(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, and several satellite campuses, research and educational centers, medical centers, and classes across the state of Kansas. Tw ...

(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 *

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