The Women of Maryland

Eugenie Clark — Professor emeritus Eugenie Clark is known as the "Shark Lady" thanks to her world-renowned shark research.

M. Lucia James — The first African American to become a full professor (Education - 1970-1977) at the University of Maryland. Her responsibilities included the oversight of the School of Education's curriculum lab.

Shirley Strum Kenny — Kenny, while a professor of English, was the first woman to serve as chair of what is now known as the University Senate (1977-1979). She served as president of the State University of New York at Stony Brook from 1994 until her retirement in 2009.

Sandra Greer — Greer, a professor of chemistry since 1983, chaired the 1988 university committee charged with determining the feasibility of and implementation strategies for recommendations included in the landmark report "The Education of Women Students of the University of Maryland, College Park: Issues and Opportunities," also known as "The Greer Report".

Linda H. Martin — First woman webmaster of the University of Maryland.

Marie Mount — Long-time dean of the College of Home Economics; Marie Mount Hall was named for her in 1969.

Virginia Peasley — First University of Maryland Women's Athletics Director (1929).

Alma H. Preinkert — The first woman registrar of the University of Maryland (1936 - 1954). Preinkert Field House is named after her, as is Preinkert Drive. Read about the mystery surrounding Alma Preinkert's death.

Agnes Saunders and Frieda Wiegand — The first female faculty members (1919). Saunders was a professor of home economics and served as acting dean of the school of home economics for the 1919-1920 academic year. Wiegand was an assistant professor of textiles and clothing.

Mary Shorb — Shorb was responsible for the discovery of a microbe which led to the commercial development of vitamin B₁₂. She served as a research professor at Maryland from 1949 to 1972 in poultry husbandry.

Adele H. Stamp — Alumna and beloved first Dean of Women (1922-1960). She said her primary job was to "deal with the stream of life that flows through the university." When Stamp retired in 1960, the Board of Regents granted her emeritus rank, the first woman to receive this highest faculty honor. The Stamp Student Union was named after her in 1983.

Cindy Timchal — Timchal is the first woman in collegiate women's lacrosse history to compile 300 victories.

Anne Turkos — The first woman to hold the title University Archivist at the University of Maryland.

Deborah A. Yow — The first female athletic director at Maryland and in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

OTHER WOMEN'S FIRSTS AT MARYLAND

Lucy Wilson Benson — The first female commencement speaker (June 3, 1972). Benson was president of the League of Women Voters.

Lillian Cleveland Compton (Educator) — The first woman to receive an honorary degree from the university (1954).

Queen Elizabeth II — The first (and only!) British Queen to see a Terps football game. She came to Byrd Stadium in 1957 to see Maryland beat UNC.

Mrs. John L. Whitehurst — The first woman to serve on the board of regents (1934-1966).