Women’s Leadership Council

Boston University’s Women’s Leadership Council aims to engage Boston University alumnae in the intellectual, cultural, and educational life of the University. Programs and events featuring accomplished BU alumnae and faculty will provide opportunities to connect, network, mentor, and learn at all stages of their lives and careers.

• In 1877, BU student Helen Magill became the first woman in the U.S. to earn a PhD, marking a historic milestone. In 1881, BU alumna Marion Talbot helped establish the Association of Collegiate Alumnae, which later evolved into the American Association of University Women.
• On the BU campus, the first organization created by women to support and advance women’s advocacy dates back to 1912, leading to the appointment of BU’s first Dean of Women, Lucy Jenkins Franklin. In 1928, Franklin founded the HER House, the nation’s oldest all-female collegiate cooperative, providing affordable housing for female students.
• Lucy Wheelock, a pioneer in early childhood education, founded Wheelock Kindergarten Training School, which later became Wheelock College. In 2018, Wheelock College merged with BU’s School of Education, forming the Wheelock College of Education & Human Development.

Staff Contact

Alexandra Bopp Davies
Associate Director, Alumni Leadership Councils
617-358-0389 | abopp@bu.edu