Santa Clara University Alumni

Timeline

1777
Jan 12, 1777, Mission Santa Clara is ceremonially founded along the banks of the Rio Guadalupe. The Mission was named after St. Clare of Assisi and became the first California Mission to be named for a woman.
1851
Santa Clara College founded by Jesuits John Nobili and Michael Accolti (pictured).
1912
Santa Clara College becomes University of Santa Clara.
1920
"Flappers" have a presence on campus.
1930
The Catala Club is established as a women's service organization, dedicated to supporting Santa Clara University.
1930's
Women appear on campus for social events and as employees.
1940s
Women take classes at University of Santa Clara during World War II on a government program.
1946
A wave of GI's and their wives live in Veteran's Village on campus after World War II.
1948
Women are enrolled in the evening business school.
1955
Margaret Chamberlin is the first woman on faculty.
1956
Women are admitted to the School of Law.
1957
Women are admitted to the graduate programs in arts and sciences.
1957
Two dozen nurses from O'Connor Nursing School enroll at University of Santa Clara.
1958
Women are admitted to the business graduate program.
1961
Martha Patricia O'Malley is the first coed undergraduate applicant.
1961
"Tradition Shattered!" — Santa Clara University becomes the first Catholic co-educational institution of higher learning in California to enroll women in the undergraduate program.
1961
Villa Maria Apartments are the first residence for women students.
1962
The Society of Women Students is established.
1962
Viola Kamena is appointed first Dean of Women.
1962
Marian Olsen Doscher is the first woman to receive a graduate degree (MBA) from University of Santa Clara.
1962
Mary Somers Edmunds is the first woman to receive an undergraduate degree.
1963
The first graduates of the School of Law include Mary Emery ’63 J.D., Director of Law Library (1963-2011) and Associate Dean of the Law School, 1985.
1963
Graham Residence Hall for Women is completed.
1963
Mary Grace Colby becomes the first female Athletic Administrator.
1963
First Homecoming Queen: JoAnne Sanfilippo '66.
1963
First women elected to class office:
Gail Snowgrass '66 - Sophomore Class Secretary, Mary Novakovich '67 - Freshmen Class Secretary.
1964
The first women enter the undergraduate engineering program.
1964
First women receive bachelor's degrees from the School of Business: Judith Francoeur, Mary Graves, Marianne Ravizza.
1965
First two women elected to ASUSC (Student Body) office:
Marion (Billie) Lambert '66 - Social Vice President, Sherry Campbell '67 - Recording Secretary.
1967
Laura E. Arnold is the first woman to receive the St. Clare Medal.
1968
Nancy Streuter becomes the first woman to graduate with an engineering degree.
1971
Mary Woods Bennett becomes the first female to serve on the Board of Trustees.
1971
Katye Sherman becomes the first female chairman of SCAAP.
1974
First female editor of The Redwood, Susan Lindner, '76.
1975
Margaret "Peggy" Holm '76 becomes the first woman Student Bar Association (SBA) president.
1976
Rita Tamayo '76 becomes the first female ROTC cadet commander at Santa Clara and the first in the United States.
1976
First female athletic scholarship recipient - Darby Teichgraeber '77 (tennis).
1978
Kathleen R. Bui ’65 becomes first female national president of the Alumni Association.
1981
Roberta Furger ’82 becomes the first woman editor of the student newspaper, The Santa Clara.
1981
Women's Studies program is established.
1984
First female chair of Board of Regents: Dr. Marjorie Evans.
1987
Mimi Allen becomes first woman president of the Associated Students.
1994
Women Studies Minor is established.
1994
Mary Ellen Fox becomes first female chairperson of the Board of Fellows.
2000
Denise Carmody becomes the first woman provost.
2000
Cheryl Levick becomes first female athletic director at SCU and the first female athletic director in the West Coast Conference.
2000
Maureen Breiling, Dina Hadi, Corinna Hu, Theresa Kuhlman, Amy Slaughterbeck, and Adelia Valdez make history as the first all-undergraduate, first all-female team in the United States to design, build, and launch satellites into space.
2001
Women’s soccer team wins the first Division 1 National Championship for women’s athletics.
2005
The Board of Trustees approves Women’s and Gender Studies as a major.
2008
Noelle Lopez becomes the first female Rhodes Scholar Award recipient.
2011-12
Commemoration of the 50th anniversary of women at SCU.