Mount Holyoke College Notable Alumni

Mount Holyoke College, one of the Seven Sisters colleges, has a long and distinguished history of educating women leaders. Since its founding in 1837, Mount Holyoke has graduated more than 50,000 women who have gone on to make significant contributions to their fields and the world at large.

Notable Alumnae in Academia

Mount Holyoke alumnae have made their mark in academia as professors, researchers, and administrators. Some notable examples include:

• Vivian Torley (Class of 1955): A pioneering chemist who made significant contributions to the field of bioinorganic chemistry. She was the first woman to receive the American Chemical Society’s Award in Pure Chemistry.
• Alice Paul (Class of 1905): A leading figure in the women’s suffrage movement, Paul founded the National Woman’s Party and helped secure the passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
• Anna Julia Cooper (Class of 1884): An educator, writer, and civil rights activist, Cooper was one of the first African American women to earn a doctorate. She was a founding member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Notable Alumnae in the Arts

Mount Holyoke alumnae have also made significant contributions to the arts. Some notable examples include:

• Emily Dickinson (Class of 1869): A renowned poet, Dickinson wrote nearly 1,800 poems, many of which were published posthumously and are now considered classics of American literature.
• Judith Sargent Murray (Class of 1803): A playwright, poet, and essayist, Murray was a leading figure in the American Enlightenment. Her play, “The Gleaner,” was the first play written by a woman to be professionally produced in the United States.
• Eudora Welty (Class of 1937): A Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Welty wrote novels, short stories, and essays that explored the lives of ordinary people in the American South.

Notable Alumnae in Business and Finance

Mount Holyoke alumnae have also achieved success in business and finance. Some notable examples include:

• Judith McGaffey (Class of 1972): A former CEO of Avon Products, Inc., McGaffey was one of the most powerful women in the cosmetics industry. She was also the first woman to lead a Fortune 500 company.
• Susan Cain (Class of 1989): An author and speaker, Cain is known for her work on introversion and the power of quiet. Her book, “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking,” has sold over 3 million copies worldwide.
• Amy Edmondson (Class of 1985): A professor of leadership and management at Harvard Business School, Edmondson is a leading expert on team effectiveness and organizational culture. Her book, “The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth,” has been translated into over 20 languages.

Notable Alumnae in Government and Public Service

Mount Holyoke alumnae have also made their mark in government and public service. Some notable examples include:

• Hillary Clinton (Class of 1969): A former U.S. Secretary of State, U.S. Senator, and First Lady of the United States, Clinton is a leading figure in the Democratic Party. She was the first woman to be nominated for President of the United States by a major political party.
• Madeleine Albright (Class of 1959): Albright served as U.S. Secretary of State under President Bill Clinton. She was the first woman to hold this position.
• Nancy Pelosi (Class of 1962): A former Speaker of the House, Pelosi is the first woman to lead the U.S. House of Representatives.

Notable Alumnae in Science and Technology

Mount Holyoke alumnae have also made significant contributions to science and technology. Some notable examples include:

• Jane Colden (Class of 1819): A pioneering botanist and naturalist, Colden published a number of works on the flora of the Hudson River Valley. She was the first woman to be elected to the American Philosophical Society.
• Helen Gilbert (Class of 1935): A mathematician and computer scientist, Gilbert was one of the first women to work on the development of the electronic computer. She helped to develop the UNIVAC I, the first commercial electronic computer.
• Joann Lublin (Class of 1976): A science journalist and author, Lublin has written extensively about the role of women in science and technology. She is the author of the book, “Power Up: How Smart Women Win in the Workplace.”

Table of Notable Mount Holyoke College Alumnae

Table of Mount Holyoke College Alumnae by Field

Table of Mount Holyoke College Alumnae by Class

Table of Mount Holyoke College Alumnae by Accomplishments