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Timelines and Chronologies

​​​​​​This guide is designed as a resource for timelines and chronologies of college history, including information about athletics, campus buildings, diversity, coeducation, and more. Archives, Special Collections & Community.

1975-2000

◆ 1976 

Leonard Satterwhite hired as full-time admission staff for minority recruitment

Mary Farmer was the first woman to graduate after spending all four years at Davidson

 

◆ 1979 

Ruth Ault (Psychology) was the first Jewish professor at Davidson

 

◆ 1980 

Women’s Center started (later becomes Union Committee in 1982)
President Spencer forms Committee on Minorities to "remain alert to the concerns and needs of minorities at Davidson, especially members of the black minority, to monitor our progress in that area and to make recommendations."

 

◆ 1982

Paula Moore Miller was hired as Assistant Dean of Students and was the first African-American to serve in that role.

Martin Luther King Lecture series begins (later develops into Black History Month Cultural Arts Series).

 

◆ 1983 

Thelma Adair is the first African-American woman to be elected to the Board of Trustees.

 

◆ 1984 

President Kuykendall appoints Task Force on Racial and Ethnic Concerns. Final Report leads to Project ’87 – a list of goals for increasing diversity at Davidson College. View the digitized official report .

 

◆ 1985 

College hosts Symposium on Black Concerns in Higher Education.

Beadsie Woo '86 elected as SGA President. First female, person of color, and Asian-American to serve in the role. 

 

◆ 1986 

First Gay support group formed sponsored by Chaplain’s Office, the College Union, and the Residence Life Office (RLO).

 

◆ 1987 

Love of Learning program developed by Davidson College to increase minority enrollment in colleges official launches. Led by Rev. Brenda Tapia who was the first African-American and female chaplain at the college, the program ended in 2005. A similar program, Freedom Schools, was added.

Davidson Black Alumni Network begins and holds its first meeting during Homecoming.

 

◆ 1988 

Faculty approve Cultural Diversity Requirement on March 29, 1988

Rosemary Zumwalt became the first woman to be elected faculty vice-chair pro tem.

In the 1988-89 school year, Davidson begins participation in COSEN (Carolinas Ohio Science Education Network), which offered summer research opportunities for students. Funded through the PEW Liberal Arts Enrichment Program, the program had provisions for supporting African-American  and women students in science and mathematics.

 

◆ 1989 

College catalog has entry for services for learning disabilities
 

◆ 1990 

First African-American alumni trustee elected, William S. Hutchings II '78

Second Family Program started to encourage special relationships between African-American students and Davidson faculty and staff.

An Assistant Dean of Students is assigned to work with students with learning disabilities.

Davidson participates in Leadership South, a consortium of five leading southern liberal arts colleges working to improve public education. Program includes offers of summer academic enrichment programs, graduate fellowships for minority graduates, recruitment of minority faculty and development of a minority alumni network.

A.C.E.S (Academic and Career Enrichment for Students) Program began. Coordinated by Dean of Students, the program was designed to improve minority student retention.

Celebrating Diversity Lecture Series started

 

◆ 1991 

Gender Studies added to curriculum

 

◆ 1992

FLAG - Friends of Lesbians and Gays founded (Renamed in 1999 to BGLAD [Bisexuals, Gays and Lesbians at Davidson]; Renamed in 2001 as Gay-Straight Alliance)

Campus Harmony Committee begins first book discussion for new student orientation

Nancy Cable becomes first woman to serve as Dean of Admission

 

◆ 1993

In the 1992-1993 academic year. Anthony Foxx '93. In the 1992-93 academic year, Foxx was elected as SGA President. First African-American to hold the position.

College awarded Philip Morris 3-year grant “Tolerance on Campus: Establishing Common Ground"

Sexual orientation appears in the non-discrimination policy in the college catalog for the first time

College hosts Coeducation 20th Anniversary celebration.

 

◆ 1994 

Ethnic Studies Concentration added to curriculum

 

◆ 1995 

Mwandi, Zambia summer program started

Nancy Fairley is first tenured African-American woman faculty member

Pre-Orientation program offered for minority students (now STRIDE)

 

◆ 1996 

Ghana summer program started

 

◆ 1997 

 Asian Studies Concentration established

Residence Life Office makes accessibility improvements to Belk and Richardson dormitories.

 

◆ 1998 

Organization of Latin American Students (OLAS) founded

Gender Resource Center opens in student union (founded by FLAG and Women’s Issues Committee and first housed in Belk Residence Hall)

College holds Coeducation 25th Anniversary Celebration with Gloria Steinem as Reynolds Lecturer

 

◆ 1999 

Davidson College suspends classes for Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations (See this Davidsonian article for details of the festivities.) 

 

◆ 2000 

Asian Culture and Awareness Association founded

Gender Equity Study published

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