50+ Years of Coeducation
Coeducation weekend may be over, but there are still so many ways to connect and continue the celebration! Mark your calendars for this upcoming event:
- Coeducation Panel at the Bechtler Museum
May 21 | Charlotte, North Carolina
Details coming soon!
Past events included:
- Women's Basketball Game vs. St. Joe's
January 27 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Women's Basketball Pregame with Dr. Susan Roberts
February 28 | Lake Norman, North Carolina - 14th Annual Katherine M. Bray Women's Leadership Conference
March 23 | Davidson, North Carolina
The 50+ Years of Coeducation on-campus celebration was a huge success filled with inspiring content and quality connections.
Check out some of the coverage from the weekend:
- Kick-off Panel: Paving the Way with Purpose watch this video recording moderated by President Doug Hicks ’90 and featuring panelists Patti Phillips Clark ’77, Bo Phillips ’74, Mitzi Short ’83 and Vicki Switzer ’74
- Keynote Panel: Ceiling Shatterers watch this video recording moderated by Kristin Hills Bradberry ’85 and featuring panelists Julia Edwards Ainsley ’09, Ann Clark ’80, Anna Katherine Clemmons Clay '01 and Olivia Ware ’78
- Herstory: Leadership and Lessons watch this video recording featuring TEDx-style presentations from Kenzie Leonard '24, Natalie Russell '25, President Emerita Carol Quillen, Anne Stanback ’81 and Janet Stovall ’85
- Keynote Address by Elizabeth Kiss ’83 read this transcript featuring Davidson’s first female Rhodes Scholar; Warden of Rhodes House and CEO of the Rhodes Trust, the first woman to hold this position
Explore photos from the weekend using password "coed" to view this Coeducation Weekend Photo Gallery.
Stories from 50+ Years of Co-Education
More News
Looking Back
In 1972, the Davidson College Board of Trustees expanded admission by allowing women without family connections at the college to transfer.
The final step was to allow women to enter as first-years, with the first full class entering in the fall of 1973.
The journey toward coeducation started much earlier. In 1861, young women took classes at Davidson, including some of President Kirkpatrick's seven daughters. This continued with other campus leaders and their families. The first real step came in 1969, when female "exchange students" from seven other colleges took classes at Davidson, usually during their junior year. In 1971, Davidson hosted its first international coed, Regina Jung of Tubingen, West Germany. By this time, the Trustees were ready to make a change for women at Davidson College.
So, why is there a “+” after 50? In 1972, Davidson became officially coeducational, and women were admitted as full degree-seeking candidates.
Marianna “Missy” Boaz Woodward ’73 was the first woman to graduate.
We recognize 1973 as the 50th anniversary, but 1972 was a key year.