About Us

The New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs, active in the women’s rights movement, convinced Mabel Smith Douglass to lead the effort to establish a women’s college as part of Rutgers University. Mrs. Douglass convinced the Rutgers trustees to support the venture. The Federated Women’s Clubs raised funds to support the project. The venture also received revenue from the Smith-Hughes Act, which supported home economics education. In September 1918, the New Jersey College for Women opened its doors to 54 students.

The New Jersey College for Women grew rapidly during its first full decade. Under Dean Douglass’ leadership, the college created new departments and built five academic buildings, using both private and state funds. Voorhees Chapel and three residential campuses also date from this era and served as the focal points of an active and vibrant residence life program. The Class of 1922 created the first yearbook, newspaper, Yule Log, Sacred Path ceremony, and the Associate Alumnae of Douglass College. Pictured is the 1929 Glee Club.

During the Great Depression, construction came to a standstill. Enrollment stopped growing. Yet under Dean Margaret Trumbull Corwin, the College grew more diverse. The first Latina, African-American and Asian-American students graduated. The College also developed its first recruitment plan, and the Associate Alumnae become a vital organization with a professional staff. Pictured above is Julia Baxter Bates NJC'38, the first Black student to graduate from Douglass. 

The decade opened with the College community actively supporting the allied cause in World War II. Students and faculty formed relief organizations, rolled bandages and entered war production industries. With the war’s end, Dean Corwin led the planning for a larger institution with new programs and facilities. Pictured is Eleanor Roosevelt at Douglass.

In 1955, the New Jersey College for Women became Douglass College, in honor of its founder. To mark the occasion, the college introduced a new Alma Mater and College Seal. Halfway through the decade, Dean Mary Ingraham Bunting moved into the Dean’s Home at 23 Nichol Avenue. She established new programs for summer research internships and college re-entry for mature women—the first such programs in the nation at a traditional college.

Dean Ruth Marie Adams oversaw the largest group of building projects in the College’s history. She created the College’s first honors program and the first program for students who were economically disadvantaged. The College established committees to address the civil rights and women’s rights movements, as well as the Vietnam War. Students had more flexible graduation requirements and were no longer required to attend chapel. Also during this time, the College created formal policies for affirmative action.

Dean Margery Somers Foster abolished the honors system and curfew and established the Educational Opportunity Fund program. During this time, Douglass streamlined admissions, registration, and financial aid. It also established the Women’s Studies Program for Rutgers University. The College retained its historic mission of providing an education for women. In response to co-education in the other colleges, Dean Jewel Plummer Cobb created the Douglass Scholars Program and new recruitment initiatives.

Rutgers established the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, effectively ending the distinct Douglass faculty. Dean Mary S. Hartman created the Douglass College Fellows. The Douglass Project for Rutgers Women in Math, Science and Engineering began, as did the Emerging Leaders Program. Douglass joined the National Public Leadership Education Network (PLEN) and became the home of the Blanche, Edith, and Irving Laurie New Jersey Chair in Women’s Studies. Pictured is the Douglass Black Students' Congress in 1981.

Dean Barbara A. Shailor recognized the importance of technology and strengthened relations with corporate partners. Under her leadership, Douglass wired residence halls for internet access and renovated College Hall and Voorhees Chapel. In this decade, Douglass also established the Institute for Women’s Leadership. Students could live in the cutting-edge Bunting-Cobb Science and Math Residence Hall, pursue a certificate in international studies, or undertake a Mabel Smith Douglass Honors thesis. Pictured is Field Day in 1997.

Douglass began the new century with its ninth dean, Carmen Twillie Ambar. Dean Ambar oversaw a number of programs designed to prepare Douglass students for the world of globalization. Among these programs was the Global Village, a collection of special interest houses. During this period, Rutgers made major changes to education in New Brunswick. As a result, in 2007 first-year students entered a transformed Douglass. Any woman at Rutgers could be a Douglass student.

In August 2010, Dr. Jacquelyn Litt became the tenth dean of Douglass. Under her leadership, Douglass has reshaped its educational experiences to engage talented and diverse students. Peer mentoring, community service, career development, and global education have become hallmarks of a Douglass experience. Douglass launched new residential learning communities to support women in STEM fields.

Led by Dean Litt, the College began a new decade of excellence. A new curriculum empowered students to better immerse themselves in learning opportunities. The College helped fund Scarlet and Black, a university-wide archival project examining the history of racism at Rutgers and New Brunswick. Additionally, Douglass adapted to face the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, innovating opportunities for students through remote learning.