Notable Women in Fresno State History

Maude E. Schaeffer – First female dean (Dean of Women), taught English, was also first acting librarian. Part of the first cohort of faculty at Fresno Normal School.

Agnes Tobin – First professional librarian, started in 1914.

Margaret Swift and Marguerite Hussey – First female coaches (intramural baseball, hockey, swimming, archery, track and volleyball), 1922.

Beryle Bollinger – First president of the Associated Women Students, 1922.

Alexandra Bradshaw (Art), Marguerite Hussey (Physical Education) and Blanche W. Taft (Home Economics) – First female department heads, 1923.

Virginia Sager Jansen – First female student body president, 1943.

Mary Carolyn Dobbs – Alumna, class of 1944.  Innovator in the field of Special Education.

Judy Chicago – Famous feminist artist faculty member in 1970, founded the first Feminist Art program in the U.S. at Fresno State.

Women’s Studies Program- started in 1972, Phyllis Irwin, first coordinator. 

Dr. Judith L. Kuipers – First vice president (for Academic Affairs), started in 1985.

Dr. Francine Oputa - First coordinator for the Women’s Resource Center, begun in 1996. 

Margie Wright – Championship winning softball coach, won NCAA softball national championship in 1998.