May 2024 marks 50 years since the trailblazing women of the Class of 1974 graduated as members of the first fully-coeducated class of the University of Virginia! The Alumni Association is excited to honor and recognize this very special anniversary with programming planned in partnership with a steering committee of 1974 alumnae.
Reflections of the Class of 1974
This summer, we sat down with members of the Class of 1974 and those involved in those first years of full coeducation as they shared their experiences in the early ’70s and beyond. Hear their stories.
Breaking Through, Going First
September 25-26, 2024
In continued celebration of the 50th reunion of the Class of 1974, the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences and UVA Alumni Association held a University-wide symposium in September 2024 honoring the transformational impact of the first classes of undergraduate women.
Events for 1974 Women at Reunions
This May, the Alumni Association hosted a series of events exclusively for the women of 1974 and their registered guests to reunite, reflect and celebrate. Thank you to all who joined us for an unforgettable weekend! We hope you enjoy watching (or re-watching!) these incredible programs from our time together on Grounds.
Alumna Author Chat: You Say You Want a Revolution? The Story of the Women Who Coeducated UVA
Alumni of all classes are invited to join this interactive session, featuring Dickie McMullan (Col ’74) interviewing Gail Burrell Gerry (Col ’74) about Gail’s soon-to-be-published book with the University of Virginia Press, Here to Stay: The Story of the Class of Women That Coeducated the University of Virginia. The session will explore the obstacles overcome by the women of ’74 and how those challenges led to achievements. Wyatt Andrews (Col ’74), award-winning broadcast journalist, will provide an introduction and commentary. As an early reviewer of the book, he called it “very well done, well researched, and culturally revealing.”
Celebration Luncheon for the Women of the Class of 1974
Join fellow 1974 alumnae, University leaders, and friends of the class for an exclusive Reunions luncheon.
Alumnae Panel: Reflections from the Women of 1974
A panel of 1974 alumnae will reflect on their unique journeys, the ways they forged community and created space for women on Grounds, and the lessons they’ve carried with them as alumnae. Panelists include:
- Susan Pfiester Anders (Col ’74)
- Diane Kirchner Knetzger (Col ’74)
- Barbara Golden Lynn (Col ’73)
- Dickie McMullan (Col ’74)
- Claudia Russell (Arch ’74)
- Barbara Savage (Col ’74)
Special Gift for the Women of 1974
Celebrate this milestone with a special commemorative scarf honoring the women of 1974. It decorated with the ginkgo leaves that are so iconic to Grounds and symbolize hope, strength, and resilience.
Buy the 1974 Puzzle!
Celebrate the trailblazing Class of 1974 with a puzzle featuring objects, documents, and photographs reflecting the transformation of women’s experiences at University of Virginia. This image was originally created for Retold, which marked the 100th anniversary of the Board of Visitors resolution allowing some women to enroll in select graduate and professional programs and the 50th anniversary of full coeducation in 2020.
More Resources
The history of the University of Virginia is not complete without women’s stories. Take a look at our timeline highlighting the achievements and milestones of UVA women.
1974 Alumnae Steering Committee
- Ms. Alda G. Biddell (Education)
- Ms. Margaret Ann Brown (Arts & Sciences)
- Mrs. Patricia Jones Burnette (Education)
- Mrs. Patricia K. Epps (Arts & Sciences)
- Mrs. Patricia H. Fralix (Nursing)
- Ms. Gail Burrell Gerry (Arts & Sciences)
- Mrs. Janet Palmer Hamel (Arts & Sciences)
- Mrs. Dale M. Hill (Arts & Sciences)
- Ms. Sylvia Fortney Hunt (Education)
- Ms. Karen Juul-Nielsen (Arts & Sciences)
- Ms. Joan L. Kennedy (Architecture)
- Ms. Susan Clements Kiely (Arts & Sciences)
- Mrs. Connie Clark Laudenschlager (Arts & Sciences)
- Mrs. Terry J. Lockhart (Arts & Sciences)
- Ms. Mary Bland Love (Arts & Sciences)
- Frances Dickinson McMullan, MD (Arts & Sciences)
- Mrs. Paulette J. Morant (Arts & Sciences)
- Ms. Christine M. Ozyjowski (Commerce)
- Barbara D. Savage, J.D., PhD (Arts & Sciences)
- Mrs. Elizabeth Fitz Scott (Education)
- Ms. Betty L. Shotton (Arts & Sciences)
- Ms. Barbara E. Wilkinson (Arts & Sciences)