Department of Economics

Historical State Timelines
Department of Economics
Please note that some historical materials may contain harmful content and/or descriptions. Learn how we’re addressing it.

1930s

1933 First woman received MS in economics

Katherine W. Sams became the first woman to earn a MS in economics.

1960s

1962 First African American faculty member hired

Vivian Henderson became the first African American faculty member after taking a position as a visiting professor in the Department of Economics. Henderson was a friend of Martin Luther King, Jr., and he later became president of the historically black Clark College in Atlanta.